‘More women are leading, inspiring the next generation to follow’

Bukonla Adebakin is a seasoned people, strategy, and growth executive with over a decade of experience in financial, non-profit and management consulting. The Chief Operating Officer at Intense Group, holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, an Executive Programme in Social Sector Management from the Enterprise Development Center at Pan-Atlantic and a B.Sc. in Science and Technology from the University of Lagos. In this interview, she speaks on driving innovations, inspiring women.

What inspired you to pursue a career in Business Development and Management Consultancy?
In my earlier career stage, one of my major interests was to work in a variety of industries, as repetitive or routine activities/tasks don’t come naturally to me. The varied experience appeals to me as I get to learn about different sectors, analyse organisations, identify inefficiencies, and develop strategies to help businesses grow and succeed. Over the years, this has helped me develop a deep understanding of how businesses and organisations operate, from both a commercial and social impact perspective. Managing the operations of a communication agency requires strategic thinking to help clients build their brands, while running a non-profit demands a focus on sustainable growth and impact. These experiences gave me a strong foundation in problem-solving, adaptability, strategy, operation management, project management, and execution, which are at the core of consultancy work.

Additionally, working with a range of stakeholders from clients, community members, board members, donors, media, etc., gave me exposure to diverse perspectives and interests. A major skill that comes in handy when tailoring strategies to fit various clients or projects. Also, I don’t believe one should separate growth, either in revenue or otherwise, from positive impact. It should go hand in hand. Business development is about identifying opportunities to expand, while management consultancy focuses on optimising operations. These experiences have provided me with a unique and well-rounded skillset that has positioned me to take up positions from advisory to operations to management consultancy. My work has been at the intersection of communication, strategy, non-profit development, fundraising, and impact, which is a valuable perspective that many businesses and organisations will seek when looking for guidance and solutions.

How do you utilise streamlined operations to deliver measurable growth across multiple organisations and how have you been able to develop strategies that consistently deliver results?
Combining data-driven decision-making, flexibility, and alignment with both short- and long-term goals is crucial for creating strategies that reliably produce outcomes across numerous businesses, particularly when they are centered on streamlined operations and quantifiable growth. In my current role, I’ve had to optimise operations more often to meet current needs on the go and ensure client satisfaction and workload management due to the nature of the business. Creating an open environment where communication is as fluid as possible, the team is able to open up on needs, and clients are able to give feedback on the go so adjustments are made and alignment on the goal is key.

Operational efficiency that will consistently deliver good results requires a lot of flexibility and the willingness to change where required and quickly too. Necessary adjustments, such as constant communication, more cross-functional collaboration, clear reporting lines, leveraging technology to get things done faster, and creating standard operating procedures (SOPs), would reduce errors, help with consistency in various departments, and align all business functions with the overall business strategy.

During your time in the field, how have management consulting and business development evolved through the years?
There have been substantial changes in management consulting and business development over the years due to shifting market demands, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), access to data, and agile methodologies. Both fields have become more collaborative and data-driven, focusing on sustainable growth. Business development has also adopted these principles, ensuring that new opportunities, partnerships, and sales processes are adaptable and responsive to the market. There is also the rise in cross-border expertise, especially for businesses seeking expansion into emerging markets. The need for management consultants to understand regional nuances while providing solutions that work at a multinational level is applaudable, and we see a lot of consultants do this. Unlike before, now consultants are seen as long-term partners that can transform the company over time rather than just offering one-time solutions, just as business development, which is more than sales but a more strategic, long-term-focused role that extends to building relationships and strategic partnerships.

Would you say there are gender barriers within your space that limit women like you from getting certain opportunities?
To some extent, yes, both conscious and unconscious biases. However, with the increasing number of organisations addressing gender equality, we hope that we get there soon. A number of contributing issues that affect women in fully maximising their potential are not limited to work-life balance, family, role model representation within the workspace or industry, unequal compensation, or imposter syndrome. When I was promoted to a leadership position, it was tedious navigating as there was little or no guidance, and working with other senior male colleagues who were very competitive made the experience even more tedious. It was difficult to navigate when I was promoted to a leadership role since there was little to no guidance, and it was made much more difficult by working with other senior male (female-inclusive) colleagues who were fiercely competitive. Thankfully, there are more networks and communities that help with opportunities, mentorship, and sponsorship that can help women navigate their way around these issues to fully grow in their careers. Also, more women are rising to senior leadership roles, which is a win for all and paving the way for younger women to follow.

What are some of the biggest obstacles you have had to surmount to arrive at this stage in your career?
Throughout my career, I’ve faced numerous personal and professional challenges, which have significantly influenced my resilience, leadership, and problem-solving approach. From navigating politics in the company to delivering on goals repeatedly in spite of resource constraints (funding, limited manpower, etc.), to self-doubt, to failures, to balancing personal and professional life, to limited representation in leadership, etc., each of these obstacles required me to stretch my limits, embrace discomfort, and find innovative ways to overcome the challenges at hand. They also taught me the importance of adaptability, and staying true to my mission. Today, I view challenges as opportunities for growth and utilise my lessons to assist others facing similar challenges.

In your over a decade of experience, what has been your key learnings?
Some of my key learnings over the years that have kept me going are resilience and being open to learning as much as possible. Focus has also been a key part. Focusing on my own journey and not comparing myself with others helped me laser-focus on my own journey. This has helped me to be patient with myself, as the biggest lie we tell ourselves is, that there is a deadline to achieving success or at a particular stage. You can flourish at any point in your life as long as you continue to water it.

What drives you for success?
A combination of an exceptional desire to leave a legacy of value and worth drives me in anything I do or engage in. Knowing that I get things done excellently gives me so much joy. Even when I fail at one task, I take my learnings and get the next one done even better. This has earned me accolades such as the executor or Bukonla, who simply gets things done.