Foreword
There are individuals whose paths you cross and not only do you feel grateful for the encounter, but the memory of it remains etched in your heart. Abubakar Suleiman, lovingly referred to as Abu unquestionably belongs to this category.
As the Group Chief Human Resources Officer of Sterling, I am both honored and delighted to introduce you to “Abu Said” – an e-book lovingly crafted by our dedicated employees to commemorate Abu’s 50th birthday.
Within these digital pages lies a collection of wisdom, insights, and reflections that attempt to encapsulate the essence of Abu’s transformative leadership journey. He is a true champion of innovation, a maverick in embracing alternative ideas, and a living testament to the power of free expression.
Abu’s remarkable ability to infuse life into our workplace has left an indelible mark on all of us, creating a culture that values experimentation, open dialogue, and the relentless pursuit of progress. His unwavering belief in the potential of each person has catalyzed a transformation that extends beyond our organization and into the very fabric of our society.
“Abu Said” is a mosaic woven from the threads of Abu’s incredible insights, curated from his speeches and interactions over the years. Through this e-book, we pay homage not only to Abu’s accomplishments but also to his enduring impact on Sterling Bank and the lives he has touched.
As you navigate through the pearls of wisdom contained herein, I hope that you find inspiration to shatter boundaries, explore uncharted territories, and embrace the unconventional with the same fervor that Abu exemplifies.
There are individuals whose paths you cross and not only do you feel grateful for the encounter, but the memory of it remains etched in your heart. Abubakar Suleiman, lovingly referred to as Abu unquestionably belongs to this category.
As the Group Chief Human Resources Officer of Sterling, I am both honored and delighted to introduce you to “Abu Said” – an e-book lovingly crafted by our dedicated employees to commemorate Abu’s 50th birthday.
Temi Dalley
– Group Chief Human Resources Officer
Sterling Financial Holdings Company
Abubakar Suleiman
– MD/CEO STERLING BANK LTD.
Leadership and Influence
“As leaders, we need to think carefully about the stories we tell and how they tie into what matters to the workforce.“
“You have to present a picture of the future that is beyond profitability and is appealing to people who seek impact.”
“If you can’t build a company that outworks a set of core values or a company purpose that speaks to something that deeply matters to people, then it is difficult to inspire and lead them.”
“I believe that if you are lucky enough to hold a senior role in a significant company in Africa, you have an obligation.“
“To lead is to trust; you are not their leader until they trust you and they will never trust you if you don’t trust them. To lead is to earn the trust of others. Don’t trust anyone that distrusts them. Hence, to lead is to trust.”
“Your advantages do not make you superior. Your exposure, your talent, your skills, your mental strength- these are advantages you are bestowed with. Your sacrifices, your commitment, your empathy, your patience- these you may take some credit for but they don’t make you superior.”
“Innovation can be as simple as changing where the door in the house is such that it serves better.”
“Diversity cannot thrive in a place of fear, no matter how much we preach. A truly diverse workplace has to be a place of freedom, a place where being different makes people attentive not dismissive. Then our diversity can be more than just ticking the boxes.”
“Any organization that’s not having uncomfortable discussions is not going anywhere.”
“Profit is only sustainable when your people are happy.”
“Across the fence, what is seen is not a perfect garden just carefully rendered patches and curated flowers, dutifully watered. All the imperfections are still there but invisible. Be kind to your relationships, they are better than you think. The grass ain’t always all green.“
“Every leader needs to take a break from the arena of power to reflect, free of the burden of entourage, the pressure of office and the hopelessness of negative narratives.”
“Success is self-reinforcing, you take the gift of life, you water it with gratitude, it leads to action and you harvest progress. It’s up to you.”
“To see an incredible performance, do a bit more, ask a few more questions, and prevent a few more mischiefs around you.”
“Wherever or whoever you seek your validation from controls you.”
“If it is easy and valuable, it has been done. If it has value but it is difficult, then you have a job. Stop searching for a purpose steeped in ease, that’s not how it works.“
“The day your subordinates stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them.“
Career and Growth
“Work harder than your peers and seek guidance through mentorship programs, reading and listening.”
“Incompetence is corruption, if not worse.”
“Luck is simply opportunity meeting preparation and preparation on my side means a lot of hard work.”
“Regardless of what your first job is, find out the requisite skills you need to grow in your chosen career path and do your best to acquire those skills or get mentored by those who have done what you want to do.”
“The most important gap in your life is between the value you create and what you are rewarded for, and the trick is to keep widening it. In relationships, let people owe you. At work, be under compensated and in public, be underestimated. Give more than you get.”
“A hunting family expects food to be killed and brought home every day, conservation be damned. The ranching family understands tendering and knows that there is a time to rear and a time to reap. Know the kind of investors you are carrying and be sure they are your kind, human kind.“
“A poorly executed power point presentation is not just poor slides, it is poor communication.”
“There’s a genius and there’s a fool in everyone we meet. Let the genius in you meet other geniuses and let the fool in you laugh with other fools but never ever put down a fool because you might kill the geniuses within.”
“Knowledge and experience are multiplied when shared.”
“Hope is as important as oxygen & freedom, don’t ever let anyone take yours away.”
“One of the most damaging things that can happen to you is to find reasons for your setbacks outside of yourself. Once there’s someone else who can be blamed, there’s someone else controlling your progress.“
“Whatever your destination is, whatever goals you have, you are better off getting there on time.”
“Let’s not focus our attention on measuring short-term output. We should figure out how to create long-term sustainability.”
“If you lose the pace, don’t lose the miles.”
“You can build or you can complain, it is not dignifying to attempt both.”
“We create value by taking something we believe in, projecting our vision into it, & then investing to make it a reality.”
Life Lessons
“Service to humanity (or to a nation) is like breathing, it can be done from anywhere. If you are not already serving where you are, you are unlikely to start from where you are hoping to be.”
“You are as knowledgeable as the ignorance you are willing to acknowledge, as comfortable as the sacrifices you have resolved to make and as free as the consequences you are committed to live with.”
“You cannot move forward without looking forward. We will have to stop living in our past & start mapping a future, start using all that knowledge of where we came from to create a roadmap to where we desire to be.”
“The choices we make will determine the path we take. It is either risk-on or risk-off. Never risk-free.”
“Optimism is not fantasy, it is the ultimate act of pragmatism. It is honoring what is possible & desirable even as we make sacrifices at the altar of what is present & undeniable. Vision is anchored in optimism but must be rooted in reality. Celebrate what is possible.”
“Where wealth is seen as a seedling to be nurtured, optimism reigns supreme, the future beckons, investment flows. If you treat wealth as a harvest, you live in fear of losing it.”
“Make a habit of listening when it’s most difficult to, there may be something worth hearing.”
“Friction is the enemy of speed, alignment accelerates progress. If our sole objective is progress, we must do everything possible to minimize friction.”
“If you can no longer find a reason to be hopeful, you cannot possibly find a reason to be helpful.”
“If you are only in groups where you are never wrong, you are becoming a dangerous person without knowing it. Be in uncomfortable groups, that’s the nature of diversity, the price of learning.”
“Even your adversity is a gift, it yields resilience and persistence, it builds character.”
“On some days, the most powerful thing you can do requires you to sit still, to seemingly do nothing – listening…reflecting…patience.”
“The biggest wins are to be found in the fog. Not many can see beyond the chaos but those who do will win big.”
“Two people looked at the same object, One saw potential, the other, hopelessness. The object is the same, it’s the vision that’s different. The lenses through which you look determines what you see.”
“No matter how high you jump, it will not make you taller. Let’s just calm down and do the hard work, greatness takes time.”
“Hope doesn’t mean things aren’t dark. It means you have reached deep down and found a possible pathway towards light.”
“I am an optimist. It is a glorious state of being, constantly seeing the good in others and the limitless possibilities in the future. I couldn’t imagine being otherwise.”