Name:
Timothy Akinnusi – Executive Head of Sales and Client Management at Nedbank Home Loans.

Where do you hail from/ where are you originally from (city, country)?
I’m originally from Lagos, Nigeria

Where do you currently live (city/country)?
I currently live in Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s been home for 25 years…

What did you study after completing high school?
After high school, I went to study a B.com, majoring in Marketing Management and Supply Chain Management.

Why did you choose to study that particular course/courses?
I had always wanted to be in business but it was only until the end of my first year that I knew I wanted to work with people and understand how to solve customer related issues…Either in the context of developing a new product that helped fulfill a need or providing a service to them. So marketing was of great interest to me because it dealt with consumer behavior and how people relate to products.

Did you get any funding from an organisation cover your studies?
No, I was fortunate enough to have parents who valued education and therefore made great sacrifices for my siblings and I to be able to get an education. It’s been the best gift they gave my siblings and I.

What was your first job?
My first job was working at a sport store as a shop floor assistant, during my first year university break. I was fortunate enough to travel to the U.K to work there for 3 months.

Industry you work and a brief description of the function of your industry (if Industry is too broad i.e. Banking, please describe it in the context of your specific team)
I work in banking and specifically in retail banking. The business unit I work for is called Home Loans, we exist to provide mortgage funding to consumers looking to buy home either for primary residence or investment.

Are you a manager of people, if yes how many?
Yes, the business unit I’m accountable for has a total of 200 staff and I have 7 direct reports.

What is a key leadership principle you have learnt/applied over the years in managing people?
Over the years, I have learnt to understand the role of culture shaping in leadership. Attributes such as Integrity, consistency and transparency are key to building a vital value called trust. And So trust between the people you lead is important to shaping a healthy work culture in which people are trusted to take ownership of their work and be committed to the organizations goals…because trust exist.

Describe a typical day in your life from the time you arrive at your office? 
Firstly, no two days are ever the same for me but what is consistent is planning my day to identify the most important tasks to be done for the day and week…then I spend time review sales metrics, reflecting on key projects and client campaigns. Then lastly I spend time connecting with my staff for the sole purpose of ensuring they have a work environment that allows them to be effective at their jobs.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started your first job?
Learn how to solve problems and make the most of every work opportunity given…it adds to your body work that will shape your career!

What challenges did you find along the way to where you are now in your career and how did you overcome them? 
Learning how to influence people was a challenge. I overcame this by learning how to earn their trust through showing my commitment to adding value through a problem solving attitude.

Share your secret to success, what would you say has allowed you to stand out from your peers? 
I’ve had an obsession with finding solutions to problems. People love problem solver. My attitude has always been to be willing to take risk if the worst thing that could happen was that I learnt a new skill or how to approach a situation differently…so Put a lot of life into your years, you’re never too young to take on big challenges.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Always keep a positive attitude and complain less about hard work and take more risk!

What advice would you give to a young person who wants to break into your industry?
Be prepared to be teachable and find out how you can add value to clients and stakeholders beyond what is expected of you. Going the extra mile will get you noticed…