Christina Soname is an amazing woman with an exceptional training skill and knowledge. A first class graduate of economics she heads the consulting team at LYD Consulting Limited, and has
deployed training interventions for organizations like Google, Lagos Business School, GTBank, First Bank,amongst others.
Sharing with Women of Rubies, she relates her journey;
Childhood Influence
I can say my childhood played a key role in shaping my interests and preparing me for the things I do now. First, the values my parents instilled in my siblings and I are the kind that makes us stand out all the time. Values including love, integrity, faithfulness, kindness, mutual respect, etc. I was that child that converted my mum’s flowers to my pupils. I will hold a cane in my hand and start to teach ‘my pupils’ just the way my own school teacher taught me that day. My mum will scold me for flogging her flowers, and I will insist that they didn’t do their assignment that’s why I flogged them (lol). Watching my mum’s exceptional delivery as a teacher really made me proud of her. My dad himself was great at impacting knowledge. He taught in church periodically and I was so absorbed by his methods. My exposure to my amazing knowledge impacting parents has had a great influence on me and what I do today.
Inspiration
A number of things actually. My interests, my skill set, and my understanding of the future of work and the role my industry will play in that future. I think that an organization’s most valuable assets is its people and the best that people can do is hinged on what they know. Helping organization’s equip their people to perform at their optimum is one of the things that inspired my choice of career. Moreso, a lot of valuable impact will be driven by the knowledge economy, in the coming days.
Major principle One major principle that guides me is ‘whatever your hand finds to do, do well’. I believe that if a thing can be done, it can be done well. Consequently, my how is to give my best. I allow my value system override my emotions. Regardless of how I am feeling, my actions are driven by what I believe to be right, based on the values I live by. For example, I wake up on some days and just feel like staying in bed. Maybe because it’s been a demanding week or just a desire to sleep some more. Whichever the case, my value for faithfulness and my respect for my employer will fuel my next course of action.
Another major thing for me is constantly developing my skill set. It positions me to deliver great work. I place a lot of value on knowledge, including learning from others. For me it’s not just about the formality of learning, but how that knowledge can impact on the value I add to my clients, and my world at large.
Work Based Challenge
Speaking of corporate training, one major challenge is organisation’s not giving priority to learning & development. Staff Training is usually the first thing some organisation’s cut back on in a lean budget system. It’s a challenge when employers do not understand the importance of training their staff and how a more knowledgeable staff will produce better results leading to the achievement of the organization’s goals in the short& long run. Some employers’ concern is ‘what if the staff leave after being trained?’ In response I ask ‘what if they stay?’
If given a role to help other women
I have a passion to see women become the best versions of themselves. Every woman’s dream is valid. I will be involved in women advocacy, formulating & driving empowerment policies starting from the grass root that seek to educate the girl-child and engage women in communities on sustainable & transformational models of empowering them to reach their highest potential.
I will also partner with agencies and organisations with similar vision in ensuring that women receive all round development.
Being a Compere and finding balance
Oh yes, this is one fun thing about me. I have been compering events since my teenage years. I have very commendable communication and engagement skills which I have further developed, over the years. There’s a side of me that shows up when I compere events. It’s a fine blend of skill and humor. I have a bias for formal and semi-formal events, but I sometimes host informal events like bridal showers, baby showers, etc.
I balance things out by taking on just as much jobs as my schedule can handle. I don’t try to be everywhere. When I receive a brief for a job that I can’t handle because of my schedule, I recommend a colleague. I encourage my clients to give me advance notice.
Keeping a detailed calendar of events helps me a lot in balancing things out. I record things that have to do with my family time, study time, etc. in my calendar. The overall impact is I am able to give time to most of the things that matter, in sufficient proportions.
Voluntary works
Yes I place a lot of value on charitable work. Asides what I learned from my parents in that regard, one of my internship placements at the start of my career really influenced my interest in voluntary service.
My volunteer experience, teaching for 1 hour a week at a state owned secondary school was really transformational for me. I feel like I learned more from the students than I taught them. I had a lot of sober reflections in that season of my life that helped me take defining decisions with regards my own life and how I use my resources.
I have been a part of a number of projects with different NGO’s who deliver value in my interest areas. I also serve on the advisory board of an NGO. One major thing volunteering does for me is help me to be a more grateful human being.
Personal projects and activities
My husband and I are very interested in raising a godly home, and helping our contemporaries do same. To this end, we carry out a number of personal projects including hosting periodic meet ups where we have practical discussions about relationships and marriage. We encourage some level of accountability in these hubs.
Through my weekly publication on Instagram tagged ‘#dearyoungprofessional’ I share practical tips which help professionals and business leaders win at their daily endeavours. I am able to reach hundreds of young professionals weekly, through this platform.
Source of inspiration
The life of Jesus Christ challenges me the most. I am challenged by the fact that living is not necessarily in the length of years but in the quality of impact.
I have had different people I look up to, depending on the season I am. In my current season, I really look up to Mr. Bankole Williams and General Debola Deji-Kurunmi. These 2 outstanding global leaders have the most impact on me in my current season.
On being a Woman of rubies
I am a nurturer of my God-given abilities and an inspiration to other young women. It is great to know that just by being about my father’s business and living by the values I have come to adopt, others find some kind of inspiration in me and give themselves permission to let their light shine.
Advice to women aspiring to be in this field
I will say that the first task for any woman is to ensure that her heart believes what her head is saying. Whatever it is you desire to be, ensure that your beliefs about yourself and about life support your desires. It is possible to be saying you want something but you don’t even believe you can have it. Everyone’s belief system (i.e. their mindsets) eventually shapes their outcomes in life, whether they consciously realize it or not. Your beliefs are a product of a number of things like your upbringing, your experiences, your environment, etc. You must ensure that what you belief about yourself and about life, align with what you consciously desire to be or have.
For the person interested in consulting and corporate training, I suggest you take time to do some research on these fields of work. Understand what the trends are on a global scale, so you can take informed decisions that will position you appropriately in (for example) the choice of what aspect of consulting to go into, or what aspect of trainings to tap into.
Also take note of the required technical and soft skills and get them. The technical skills required will depend on the aspect of consulting or training you decide to go into. Some of the needed soft skills include excellent communication & presentation, people engagement and emotional intelligence.
If you can identify an internship opportunity to further enhance your skill gathering process, this will be very useful.
She says:
Hi Guys, if you’ve read my book “This Thing Called Purpose”, it’s no news to you that I went through a separation about 2 years ago, and a divorce. At the time when my divorce process started, I tried to search for content that talked about how to handle things. I couldn’t find anything in this part of the world, that I could learn from. I realize that Divorce is a “taboo” subject, and many people are either too ashamed to talk about it, or just don’t want to deal with 3rd party. I’ve just done a video on my YouTube channel, where I share 10 Things I learned from my divorce. I’m an advocate for trying to fix broken relationships, so…No… I’m not asking you to get a divorce.😑. (Had to get that disclaimer in, because some of y”all can tell your pastor that Adaora said….). This video is for people who have either been through a separation/divorce, going through one, or for anyone who has been in an intimate relationships that ended. .
In this video, I talk about some of the things I’ve learned, and how I believe it’s best to handle the entire process.
Watch the video below :
In her almost 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth is expected to give a special address to the nation. This would be her fourth time to do this and will take place in the coming weeks in a televised speech focused on pandemic.
According to The Times, the Queen will address the British public.
The Queen series of televised address are as follows:
-2002, on the eve of her mother’s funeral. Before this, she spoke to the public in -1997 following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and,
-1991, when she addressed the nation during the Gulf War.
Last week, the Queen shared a written message with the nation, she stressed the “vitally important role” the public has to play in the Covid-19 crisis.
“We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them,” wrote the Queen. “At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal.”
We can’t wait.
Joke, a call centre agent at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reveals her experience since the Coronavirus outbreak. Speaking with Zikoko.com she explained what her week look like.
MONDAY:
I stand up from bed by 5 am today. I say “stand up” because it’s not voluntary. I prepare my kids for school, cook their breakfast and pack their lunch boxes. My husband drops the children at school, while I prepare for work. All this happens before 8 am, which is my resumption time.
There was a time I was sure of closing by 4 pm, but since the outbreak of Covid-19, I get off work by 8 pm and I still take work home. I now work round the clock. This means that even when I get home, I still receive messages from people on the night shift asking for help in sieving calls from work. I have to prioritize and ask for further clarification from each caller, before determining whether to escalate the issue to the people on the field or not. So, I get off work physically by 8 pm, but I just replace it with working from home.
Today is a rollercoaster because we are working hard to keep up with the number of calls. My colleague who worked the Sunday shift hasn’t been able to go home because his conscience can’t stand leaving us with such a large workload. So, somehow, he stays to support us and ends up working a 48-hour shift. This would have been strange to us in the past, but we are living in strange times.
When I get home, my husband has cooked for the children and I am thankful for that. I am one of the lucky ones who has a husband who is understanding. During this period, he has been extremely supportive and I don’t know how I would cope if he wasn’t. All I do is prepare stew for the week and he cooks and takes care of the children before I get back from work.
I am too tired to eat. I just want whatever sleep I can get. If I go to bed now, at least when someone at work calls me by 10 pm, I would have gotten 2 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
TUESDAY:
Every job has its ups and downs. It’s easy to envy other jobs from afar but if they tell you what their job entails, it wouldn’t look so glamorous. I studied Microbiology in university; I was looking for a job relevant to my field of study and that’s why I took this job.
This job gives you a thick skin. In a day, you can get up to 40 calls with people just calling to ask if the number is working. Today, I got a call where the person on the other end of the line was quiet. The person listened to me talk without saying anything. Another person called and said: “So, the line is even working. Una well done.”
Over the years, you learn not to throw stones at the person, to just laugh it off. As part of the customer service training, you learn that you can’t talk back to the person at the other end of the line, and they have a right to their opinion. No matter how annoying. So, I share the “joke” with my colleague and we laugh over it.
WEDNESDAY:
I have barely slept for 3 hours. I have been writing and coordinating reports about the outbreak and possible cases to send to the field agents. There was a time that I could go to sleep by 8:30 pm or 9:00 pm with no worries. Nowadays, I’m always worried that if I fall asleep, I will miss any call that comes in. And calls come in at odd times.
Today, I wake up feeling lethargic. My husband encourages me to get out of bed and to start preparing for work. He has been supportive even though my laptop has literally taken his place for now. He knows that I must show up whether I feel up to it or not…
I try not to think about how long I have to do this. I am just going to take this situation one day at a time for my own sake. Although, I am worried that despite all our efforts and advice at the NCDC, Nigerians will not adhere to instructions and the infection will spread and all this stress will be for nothing.
Today, I received a call that made my day at work. Someone called saying: “God will bless you, I just want to appreciate the work you people are doing for Nigeria.” I thanked the person on behalf of NCDC but the person added: “I am not praying for NCDC, I am praying for you.” This made me happy. At least someone somewhere appreciates what I am doing and my sleepless nights are not in vain.
THURSDAY:
Another thing I have also learned in this job is to separate home personality from work personality. At home, I am a mother, a wife. At work, I am a worker. I give each part its due diligence and that’s why today is painful for me because I know how much I give for each role.
I got a call and in between all the pleasantries and asking how I could be of assistance, the caller goes: “Please, don’t ask me what you can do for me. You and the government are wicked and stupid. I know there is no Coronavirus and you are joining the government to eat money when people are dying of hunger. Thunder fire your mouth.”
The worst part for me was how helpless I was. I could neither cut the call nor respond. I had to calmly sit through the insults until the caller was done.
After the call was over, I went out of the connect centre to the corridor and started to scream. “What sort of rubbish is this? Why would someone be so mean when I am just trying to do my best? Even as I am on the frontline, I am not sure whether I will get this illness or not, yet I still show up to play my part. Why would someone think this is a joke?” I let it all out before returning to the connect center calmer and lighter.
I scream because I can’t take the anger home. Over the years, I have learned to separate both lives if I want to strike a balance. I have little children at home aged 11, 8 and 6 who don’t know better. I don’t want to go back home as a different person from the one that left in the morning. I don’t want to be the person that was all smiles and cracking jokes in the morning and is now blank and edgy after work. If I am always angry and irritable, my children will run away from me once I get home.
FRIDAY:
These days I don’t even think of unwinding. In the past, I would relax by either going to watch a movie, going to visit a friend, or playing with my kids. Even if there was no social distancing, where is the time?
There’s no time to unwind because when I get even small breathing space from work, I am thinking of my family. How to make sure they aren’t affected too much by my current busy schedule. What should I buy in the house? The children, how will they survive this week? I am trying to make things as “normal” as I possibly can.
I don’t even have the time to be afraid because fear can even kill more than the disease. Over time, I have learned that whatever will happen will happen regardless of whether you are afraid or not. All you can do is get as much information as you can on prevention, adhere to it, and trust God.
Also, because of the kind of person that I am, I don’t like things that I do to fail. This means panic comes last to my mind and I just do whatever needs to be done because my job is duty calling. I just know that I won’t always do this forever and there will come a time when I will rest and unwind.
But right now, I just want to go home and take a cold shower.
SATURDAY:
There’s training at work today. We are bringing on more people to help with the call centre effort and managing the numerous calls we receive every day.
Before this outbreak, we could conveniently handle the workload, but now, we need more hands so we don’t burn out.
There is a chain of reporting which we follow. The other call centre agents compile their reports to me along with suspected cases who have called in and have been thoroughly vetted based on travel history and symptoms. I then compile and escalate this report to the state epidemiologist. Every state has an epidemiologist who then notifies the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer at the local government level. This is the person who goes to the house address to verify the claims and then reports to the state epidemiologist who then reports back to the NCDC.
I am still on duty today even after the training and will probably take work home. Thank goodness I don’t have to come in tomorrow.
SUNDAY:
Well, there is no church service today so I can cook for the week. Sundays used to be my day of rest. I could afford to sleep in the afternoon after church. But now, I use it to prepare meals for the week so that my family will not be stranded.
What I most look forward to when this is all over is going on leave for like 2 weeks. Just travelling to a place where all I have to do is sleep, wake, eat and not talk too much. All this talking every day at work is making my throat pain me already; I need to rest.
I’m going to the market to buy ingredients for my meal preparation. I am back to work again tomorrow until when all this blows over. Then I can finally get to rest my throat and my eyes.
Serena Williams has opened up about how difficult she is finding social distancing.
The 23-time grand slam singles champion revealed on Instagram more than a week ago that she planned to spend six weeks at home because of the coronavirus crisis.
And, in a post on TikTok, Williams explained she is struggling to deal with the anxiety that she is feeling.
The 38-year-old said: “I wanted to take a minute and talk about my experience with corona. It started out with me feeling like, ‘Oh it can’t really affect me’.
“And then suddenly Indian Wells was cancelled and I was like, ‘Oh, OK, that’s weird but I have a little time off and I’m going to enjoy that time off.
“And then one cancellation led to another and then led to another and led to all this anxiety that I’m feeling.
“Now I’ve been social distancing for actually a really long time, for probably two weeks now, and every little thing makes me crazy.
“And by anxiety I mean I’m just on edge. Any time anyone sneezes around me or coughs I get crazy. I don’t hang out with anyone, and when I say anyone I mean my daughter.
“She coughed, I got angry and gave her a side-eye. I gave her that ‘angry Serena’ and then I got sad.
“I was like, ‘Is she ok? Is there something wrong with my daughter? Is there anything I can do?’ I just don’t know what to do, so instead of being relaxed I’m really under a ton of stress.”
The ATP and WTA announced earlier this week that there will be no tournaments until June, with the whole of the clay-court season called off.
Meanwhile, recently-retired Caroline Wozniacki revealed she had been unable to go home from a trip to Africa.
Accompanied by a photo showing the Dane and husband David Lee in masks, Wozniacki wrote on Instagram: “We got stuck in Africa but finally on our way home! Going to self quarantine as soon as we get back! Stay safe everyone!”
Source: WomanAfrica
A young lady microbiologist has taken it upon herself to seek a cure for the novel coronavirus.
.
Known on Twitter as @unofficialbibi she makea her intentions known while sharing photos of herself in a laboratory, stating how she intends to staying in the lab till she finds a cure for the disease.
She wrote: “As a Microbiologist….
. “I have entered the lab and I won’t leave until I find the cure for Corona virus…. #FightCOVID19 .
. “Wish me luck. Don’t forget to wash your hands and stay safe.” #coronavirus
A young female known as Dr. Amarachukwu Kalu Allison has been appreciated for her help in containing the corona virus.
Allison who is a doctor with Lafarge Cement Company led to the early diagnosis and timely containment of the first infection in Nigeria. According to the Ogun state ministry of health, Allyson played a huge role.
The Ogun State Government appreciates the young female doctor who suspected the index case in Nigeria in our State, Dr. Amarachukwu Karen Allison of Lafarge Nigeria. Her singular brillaince led to the early diagnosis and rapid containment of the first Covid-19 infection in
— OgunCovid-19Update (@OgunCovid19) March 21, 2020
Alison in response to the government’s tweet thanked God “for intuition and knowledge” and her teammates’ safety who worked alongside her at that time. She went on to say a prayer for health workers who have paid the supreme sacrifice around the world and families who have lost a loved one to the virus.
I want to thank God Almighty for intuition and knowledge and also for the safety of my teammates and I who worked together at the time.
Special thanks to Lafarge, @NCDCgov @OGCovid19update @LSMOH @Fmohnigeria @IntlSOS for their prompt and professional https://t.co/Dm4cAU51ya
— Amarachukwu Karen Allison (@doctoramaraa) March 21, 2020
The state government also appreciated Lafarge for its cooperation in managing the spread of the virus in the state.
Blessing Adekoya is a final year law student of Olabisi Onabanjo University. She is a member of OOU Law Clinic, TAG Leaders Hub (Next Elites) and Junior Chamber International, Nigeria OOU Chapter where she is currently the Vice President 1.
Blessing owns her Fragrance and Perfume outlet named “Scenty Scents.”
*1. Let’s meet you. Who is Blessing?*
Blessing is the apple of God’s eye, a beautiful and inspiring young lady.
*2. What are your hobbies?*
Well, I love reading great books,listening to people, planning, eating and yes sleeping if that’s an hobby (laughs).
*3. Who and what inspires you?*
I would say God because I’m still in awe of him. The kind of love he showers on us despite all our imperfections sometimes leaves me shocked and confused.
Also I’m inspired by everyone who despite the odds are still sane and manage to be successful.
*4. What is your biggest fear?*
Having regrets. Waking up everyday and realizing I could have achieved something but I didn’t maybe because I didn’t put in enough efforts. I have been there before, it’s a place I don’t want to be again.
*5. You’re the Vice President 1 of Junior Chamber International, one of the top leading organizations of youths not just in Nigeria but all over the world. It is mostly conceived as an organization of Law students alone. How true is this? How has its membership helped you as a person and what can you say about opportunities the organization present or has presented to young citizens?*
Junior Chamber International is a non governmental organization of youths between ages 18-40. It is mostly conceived as an organization for law students because of the ‘Chamber’ in it’s name but it’s for all youths not law students alone.
JCI has helped in my self development. It has helped with getting rid of my shyness as I can address a large audience now , JCI has broaden my mindset and most importantly taught me that “Service to humanity is the best work of life”
JCI has a lot of opportunities to offer young citizens; Individual, Business, Community and International opportunities.
*6. One accessory you can’t leave home without.*
A big smile on my face.
*7. Your best quote*
Your Abnormal will be the new normal.
*8. You are the CEO of Scenty Scents. What prompted it? And what has been the major challenge so far?*
Actually it was prompted by the need to have more. I didn’t want to rely on allowances from my parents alone so I started the brand. I’m glad I did because it meet needs in a way, helping people’s personal hygiene and boosting their self confidence.
My major challenge so far is the stress of being an entrepreneur, there is a lot more to it than it meets the eye.
*8. What keeps you up at night?*
Being nocturnal, I work better with the quiet. I do house chores, read books, learn new things and surf the internet.
*9. If given the chance to be the President of Nigeria for a day, what will you change?*
The Police Force. There is so much to be looked into in that aspect.
*10. Country or city you’ll love to visit soonest?*
Dubai
*11. You are a member of TAG Leaders’ Hub(Next Elites). What is its aim? Any activity or programme you have been able to achieve through it?*
The essence of the creation of The Next Elites is to create a group of individuals who are Godly first and then, captains of industries or high government office holders who would help re-align the country and the world towards the proper functionality they should be at.
There is a lot to be achieved this year based on strict monitoring. Our thinking horizon by books we have been exposed to, financial, health, religious, relationship goals are being achieved.
*12. Where do you see yourself and your brand in the next 5 years?*
The name ‘Blessing Adekoya’ will be known for being a young lady with the difference. My brand will become bigger and better by God’s grace!
*13. If you were given the opportunity to address a group of girls five years younger than you, what will be your advice to them?*
You need to get out of your comfort zone. Stretch yourself. Try out things that would propel you to fulfilling your destiny. It doesn’t hurt to try. You can’t afford to settle for what you think is safe.
Everyone has the ability to be a winner. The fact that you fail some challenges doesn’t make you a failure, it’s only an opportunity to prepare better for the next challenge and tap into unseen potentials inside of you.
