Guardian Woman Festival is committed to leading conversations as driving change among women across sectors. With its fourth edition on the way, hosted by Federal Palace Resort, the theme, ‘Women as wealth creators’, we spotlight Linda Ochugbua, Digital Sales Manager, BusinessDay Media. She speaks on her career journey, creating sustainable wealth and advice to women.

Take us through your career path?
I started my career in the oil and gas sector, where I built my foundation in marketing and customer service. Those early years taught me the importance of understanding people, paying attention to details and, most importantly, understanding that business is ultimately about solving problems for people. I moved into the media industry and that was really where my career took a different direction. I have now spent about 14 years in media, and I have had the opportunity to work across different areas of the business, from advertising and sales to sponsorships, events, partnerships and digital.

At BusinessDay, I have taken on different roles over the years. I started in advertising and sales, later became an SME Accounts Specialist Manager, then Head of Sponsorship, Events and Partnerships, and Head of Sales for Digital Platforms. Today, I am the Digital Sales Manager. I have also been fortunate to work with some of the biggest local and international brands, and to lead teams and projects that have challenged me to grow. Along the way, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Business Management and later went on to complete my MSc in Management with Distinction from the University of Surrey.

What does women creating wealth mean to you?
Women creating wealth goes beyond simply earning a good income. It is about a woman being able to create value, earn from that value, manage what she earns and build something that can continue to benefit her and the people around her. I also believe wealth is not only about money. It can be knowledge, relationships, intellectual property, a business, investments, skills or even the platforms you create for other people to grow.

A woman who has knowledge that she can turn into income is creating wealth. A woman who builds a business that employs other people is creating wealth. A woman who earns and makes wise decisions with her money, rather than simply spending everything she makes, is creating wealth. Women should not only be interested in getting paid for their work. We should also think about what we can own, what we can build and what can continue to generate value even when we are not actively working.

How are you creating sustainable wealth as a woman?
Sustainable wealth I starts with understanding that income and wealth are not the same thing. I have spent a significant part of my career building expertise, relationships and a reputation that have value beyond a particular job or position. I see those things as part of the wealth I am building.

I have also deliberately invested in myself through education and continuous learning. The more valuable your knowledge and experience become, the more opportunities you create for yourself.

Beyond that, I believe in building relationships properly. Some of the opportunities I have had over the years have come from relationships I built through doing good work and treating people well. You cannot underestimate the value of a good name. I also believe in creating things that can outlive your immediate effort. That could be a business, an investment, a project, intellectual property or even people you have helped to develop.

Mentorship is particularly important to me. I have had people who guided me at different stages of my career, and I believe part of building wealth is also helping other people become better and more capable. So, sustainable wealth is a combination of earning, learning, owning, investing, building relationships and creating value that can continue to grow.

What is your charge to other women on living purposefully?
My charge to women is simple, know who you are, know what you want, and don’t be afraid to take your own path. Sometimes, we spend too much time looking at what the next woman is doing and wondering whether we are behind. But everybody’s journey is different. You need to understand your own strengths, your own season and what success means to you.

I would also say, don’t be afraid to start small. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. Take the opportunity in front of you, learn from it and keep moving. And don’t build your entire identity around your job title. Your career is important, but there is more to you than what is written on your business card. Develop yourself as a person, build your financial knowledge, build meaningful relationships, take care of your reputation, learn new things, and be useful. Most importantly, be intentional about the life you are building. I would tell every woman, don’t wait for permission to become the woman you know you can be.