Conversations On Leadership

NIGERIANS IN THE SQUARE MILE SYMPOSIUM

From its inception in 2008, the provision of support, guidance and mentorship to African professionals in London has been a primary objective of NISM. In pursuit of this objective, and in collaboration with the Programme for African Leadership at the London School of Economics, we are delighted to bring you:

Conversations on Leadership

Featuring

Segun Osuntokun, Managing Partner @ Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner;

Akin Coker, Private Client Partner @ Buzzacott and;

Busola Sodeinde, Founder @ Bearings Point

Three distinguished City professionals of Nigerian extraction - a corporate lawyer, a tax advisor and a banker turned social entrepreneur – share their career stories. Over the course of an hour all three will provide insights into challenges they faced climbing up the ladder in their chosen fields, and how they navigated them.

They’ll talk about the goals they set for themselves early on and what steps they took towards hitting those goals. The audience will hear tales about the things they’ve done right, lessons they’ve learned and the things they might do differently if they had another go round.

All three will share their views on leadership – what good leadership entails, how they developed their personal leadership styles and the strategies they employ to get the best out of their people. They’ll finish the session by answering questions from our audience on leadership and career advancement.

This is a must-attend session for those still plotting their way up the career ladder or seeking inspiration on how to be better leaders.

The panel session will be followed by a networking reception with beverages and light snacks provided.

This is a free, ticketed event with limited availability so book early to avoid disappointment.

About the Panelists

Segun Osuntokun

Segun became Managing Partner (London) of the merged Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in 2018 having joined Berwin Leighton Paisner as a Partner ten years earlier. Previously a Partner at DLA Piper and an Associate at both Eversheds and Wilde Sapte, he has been a corporate lawyer for close to 30 years.

In addition to his operational responsibilities as Managing Partner in London, Segun also leads BCLP’s Africa Group, its Civil Fraud Litigation Practice and its Energy Disputes practice (with particular focus on oil and gas and power sectors). His Clients include the African Development Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria and he is Recognised by Chambers and Legal 500 as a ‘leading individual’ for banking litigation and civil fraud, as well as a ‘foreign expert’ on Nigerian disputes. This year he has been included in the Powerlist of the top 100 most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage in the UK and in The Lawyer Hot 100, which recognises the most daring, innovative and creative lawyers from in-house, private practice and the Bar.

Born in Nigeria, Segun is a graduate of Oxford University and Queen Mary University of London.

Akin Coker

Akin joined Buzzacott in 2001; he is a Partner of the firm and heads up the Private Client team. His focus is on wealth preservation from a tax perspective, helping high-net-worth individuals and their families protect their wealth throughout their lives through careful planning. Akin advises on all aspects of tax planning and compliance reporting for clients with complicated financial affairs, often in multiple jurisdictions.

A qualified Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) and member of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT), Akin also specialises in assisting clients who have moved or are looking to move to the UK and require tax advice. Prior to joining Buzzacott, Akin worked in the Private Client team at a national practice.

Outside of work, Akin is a lay preacher and undertakes voluntary work as a mentor and counsellor for both young people and adults. He enjoys playing squash and watching football and is happily married with two adult children.

Akin was born in UK but moved to Nigeria at the age of 9 and spent his formative years there. Akin is a graduate of University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).

Busola Sodeinde

Busola Sodeinde is the Managing Partner of Bearings Point, a social impact start-up launching later this year. Until August 2019, she was the EMEA CFO for Global Markets at State Street Corporation, where she held 4 Board Positions within the institution. In a Financial Services career that has spanned 15+ years, she was Finance Director within the Investment Banking Division at Deutsche Bank and, prior to that, Senior Finance Business Partner for European Wholesale Banking at Lloyds Banking Group.

Whilst at State Street, Busola exercised her entrepreneurial flair by rapidly growing its FinTech hubs and utilising technology to re-engineer mature businesses, ultimately leading her to pursue her own dream of building businesses that have a direct social impact. She is a member of the elite women’s group SheEO, a global community of radically generous women supporting women-led ventures working on the World’s To-Do List. Busola also mentors women in business and young leaders, is a Trustee of two charities and works as an advocate for inclusivity and accessibility for people from hard-to-reach communities. Her leadership voice spans across the Corporate Sector, Entrepreneurial Circles & Social Impact.

Born in the UK, Busola holds an MBA with distinction from the University of Leeds and a BSC. in Economics from Middlesex University.

Ikenna Iroche (Moderator)

Ikenna is the Managing Principal of Black & Gold Advisory and a member of the executive committee of Nigerians In the Square Mile. An Executive Coach & Corporate Matchmaker, he has worked with clients across a range of industry sectors on four continents (Africa, Europe, the Middle East & North America) on a very wide variety of talent advisory projects. He began his career 20 years ago, working at three different headhunting firms prior to setting up B&G in 2013.

Ikenna’s work includes assisting blue chip firms in setting up new business units, growing market share and achieving greater diversity in their talent pools. He has helped entrepreneurs create compelling employee value propositions and build brand new businesses from scratch. He also provides executive coaching services to CEOs looking to improve their decision-making, managers seeking to become more effective leaders and rising talents preparing for leadership roles.

Born in Nigeria, Ikenna is a graduate of the London School of Economics.

About NISM

NISM is the professional network for Nigerians working in London’s Financial Districts looking to connect and make a difference. NISM is a vehicle for Nigerians in the UK diaspora to contribute to the development of a vibrant and professional financial services industry in Nigeria and, to contribute to stronger trading relationships between Nigeria & the UK. NISM connects its members through regular discussion events geared around topical issues and through biennial publications including The Nigeria Investment Survey – London Responds 2015, White Paper on Youth Unemployment 2017 and The Legal Guide to Investing in Nigeria 2019.