Tosin Joel is a highly accomplished operations and supply chain executive with a wealth of experience in the field. With a background in leading technical operations for major multinational energy companies across Africa and Europe, Tosin is a well-rounded professional with a wealth of expertise in the field.
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Tosin’s drive and passion for success can be traced back to her education. She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan Business School and has completed the Stanford LEAD executive programs, equipping her with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the industry.
In addition to her professional career, Tosin is also the founder of GTBOOL, a networking organization centred on personal growth and sponsorship of high-talent professionals and start-ups. She mentors for the Silicon Valley Design Thinking (SVDT) club entrepreneurs on go-to-market strategies and was the Italian country director for the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD).
Breaking the Gender Glass Ceiling
Despite the challenges that come with being a woman in a male-dominated sector, Tosin has proven that she is more than capable of breaking the glass ceiling and achieving success. Women currently hold just 33 (6.6%) of CEO positions at S&P 500 companies, based on the January 2022 S&P 500 list. Tosin believes that the more representation women have in the industry, the easier it becomes for aspiring female leaders to make room for themselves.
The Attraction of Technology
What attracted Tosin to the tech industry was innovation, the opportunity to create impact, and the chance to give back. As a senior manager in tech, she has been able to position herself for optimization, leveraging her skills and expertise to make a difference in the industry.
Overcoming Challenges
One of the biggest challenges Tosin faced in her career was getting the credibility she needed to succeed. She believes that right mentorship early on is crucial for success, and without it, she wouldn’t have been able to achieve the milestones she has today.
GTBOOL: Empowering Job Seekers for the Future
Tosin’s organization, GTBOOL, is a human capital development VC that is dedicated to improving the skills and management of high-talent individuals. With a vision to help its members attain the best in business, career, and personal life, GTBOOL offers a global connection and solution-oriented products for early and mid-career professionals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tosin saw an opportunity to mentor and develop early and mid-career professionals in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. By matching leaders and aspiring leaders with executives in group and one-on-one mentoring sessions, she offered a unique perspective on business needs through the eyes of top global executives. This was a huge success, resulting in multiple job opportunities, startups, business ideas, collaborations, and business partnerships between VC-backed startups.
Tosin is proud of GTBOOL’s focus on value creation, which sets it apart from competitors. With a team of highly talented and ambitious industry leaders, GTBOOL is constantly seeking ways to improve its service delivery and deliver unique product propositions.
The future outlook for GTBOOL is bright, with plans to expand its offerings to SMEs and URMs across EMEA and NA, and to create value for local communities.
Peculiarities Hindering the Nigerian Workforce
Tosin believes that exposure and the right opportunities are the two main factors that hinder the Nigerian workforce from being prepared for the future of work. Many businesses in Nigeria, particularly SMEs, fail within the first three years due to a lack of right mentorship and a scalable business model.
Advice for Nigerian Entrepreneurs
Tosin’s advice to entrepreneurs in Nigeria is to strive for personal growth, create a growth environment for employees, listen to customer needs, talk to those who have done it, think long-term, ditch perfectionism, and get the right mentorship. For youths in the tech industry, she encourages them to innovate, push the edge, know their customers, and have a unique value proposition.
Tosin is a dynamic and driven woman who is dedicated to helping professionals and startups achieve their full potential. With her wealth of experience, strong leadership skills, and innovative approach, she is a valuable asset to the tech industry and a powerful advocate for financial inclusion.
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