INTERVIEW WITH BUKUNMI OMIDIRAN..Microsoft Africa

CHRIST AMBASSADOR IN A DIGITAL AGE

" Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men" Prov 22:29.Bukunmi Omidiran is a man whose life has shown that truly diligence changes statuses and elevates positions. This graduate of Electronics and Computer Engineering from Lagos State University is an Enterprise Business Manger and is responsible for Business Development and helping Microsoft customers across the English speaking West African countries realize business values from Microsoft technologies. A Family man with a deep conviction of God and a strong stand against corruption was singled out recently by Microsoft's COO Mr Turner for his consistent customer engagement and He is currently ranked amongst the top 20% of Microsoft Global Staff. His schedule is very tight and it was indeed a privilege to have stolen some of his time. 

Be Blessed and inspired as we delve into the world of one God's finest minds :-

       What are your full names ?

My full name is Oluwabukunmi OMIDIRAN.

       What's your background like ?

I was fortunate to be born into a Christian home. Our family is a large one. We are seven kids, the first five kids are boys and the last two are girls. I am the fifth in the family and a unique position as well because I do not have an older sister nor a younger brother

I am from Okemesi-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government. I grew up in Lagos but I am deeply connected to my home town.

       Your educational background?

My primary school education was at Estate Primary School in Ogba, Ikeja. I have good memories of my days in the school and I still maintain relationships built in those early years of my life. I started my secondary school education at Ogba Grammar School, Ikeja in 1991 but only spent 2 years there because the family moved from Ogba to Iba so my father could be close to Lagos State University where he lectured. I then attended Awori College Ojo where I finished my secondary school education. I gained admission to Lagos State University in the 1996/1997 academic session and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelors’ Degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering

I also attended the Lagos Business School between 2004 and 2005 and obtained an MBA in General Management

       So how would you characterize yourself as a student ?

I prefer to refer to myself as a learner rather than a student. A student is someone who attends an educational institution. A learner does more than that. Learning is more than schooling. It is the process of acquiring knowledge and skills to solve current and future problems that we are passionate about thereby making the world a better place.

So my philosophy about learning impacted tremendously on how I functioned as a student. I wanted to understand how the world works, how technology advances humanity, the place of passion and purpose, how problems can be solved through critical thinking, quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Hence I did enough to succeed as a student and got good grades in school. My interest determined the quality of my grades. If I was interested in the subject, I would definitely get an “A” no matter how difficult the subject may be.

Even though I studied Engineering in school and enjoyed it, I was interested in other things as well. I was particularly fascinated by philosophy, politics and literature. I read the works of the ancient and modern day philosophers – from Aristotle to Plato to Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Since I was 17, I have been an aggressive and passionate learner. I buy books on impulse. It’s difficult for me to walk pass a book store and not stop by. I read to sleep. Everyone close to me knows about my love for books. Recently, myself and my wife were vacationing in the UK. We got into a mall in Essex and as soon as I saw the Waterstones bookshop, I naturally moved in and spent a good part of the day there reading and buying books. My wife just shook her head, smiled and continued with her shopping. She knew it would be impossible to get me out of the bookstore.

Another instance comes to mind. Several years back, myself and three of my siblings visited the Lagos trade fair after looking forward to it for several months. We all had our savings and there were too many items begging to be purchased. Similar to my siblings, I had initially planned to buy some fashion items but then I came across a bookshop and ended up spending the entire N4,000 I had on me on a single book. Everyone thought I was crazy to spend my year-long savings on a book. 

I am a life-long learner and more than ever, I see learning, not just schooling as the vehicle to take us into the future that we desire.

       Why did you decide to work for Microsoft and What does your job entail?

I joined Microsoft in 2007 because it signified a great learning opportunity for me. I wanted to understand what great companies do to succeed. When a company grows from $23bn to $78bn in revenue within a decade, you have to stop and ask yourself why. I am thankful to God for the opportunity. It’s been a great experience learning about structure, people management, leadership, accountability, perseverance, problem solving etc.

In my current role, I am responsible for the Microsoft Education business across English speaking West Africa. My job is to impact all tiers of education by helping learners and teachers realize their full potential. ICT has a transformational role to play in advancing learning and I daily seek to drive new frontiers in ICT for Education. I also ensure that I monetize our education offerings and deliver business value to my internal stakeholders

       Our research tells us that your getting into Microsoft is a faith based tale, do you mind sharing with us the highlights?

Absolutely. I’ll share the experience and also highlight a few learning points.

I had completed my MBA and was working as a market intelligence manager with a top advertising company when I saw in the newspaper the Microsoft vacancy. The position required a technology background as well as an MBA. I immediately knew it was me Microsoft was looking for. I applied and went through a series of interviews. I later learned that over 2,000 people applied for the position and Microsoft wanted one person.

8 people made it to the final interview that was referred to as an Assessment center. Of the 8 people, I was the least qualified and I didn’t have the several years of experience the others had. Several of the candidates had degrees and MBAs from prestigious schools abroad. We had several of them flying into the country to attend the Assessment Center. The day started with a short briefing session, we were told that only one of us would be employed and Microsoft would spend N36m training that one person. So it was a real battle from the start, everyone wanted to beat everyone to gain the spot.

The first task was to read a business case, analyze, discuss amongst ourselves and come up with a solution. The interviewers didn’t say a word but watched us for 45 minutes as we battled amongst ourselves. Everyone wanted to dominate the discussion. Apparently they were looking for critical thinking skills, problem solving, persuasiveness, team work and leadership.

We moved on to the next task which required independent work. Again, we had some critical business problems in form of a case study and we were given 45 minutes for individual analysis and then delivered a presentation to a panel of 5 Microsoft senior leaders. I got an immediate feedback after my presentation. They were very impressed with my analysis, understanding of the business issues and the proposed solutions. I didn’t know how other candidates performed on that task but I was confident about my progress.

The next task was a role play. I was required to act as a consultant and my interviewer was my client. He had some problems with acquiring the right technology for his business and I was to help him make the right choice in technology acquisition at the right price point. The interviewer acted as a difficult client and asked deep questions that required great quantitative and qualitative skills.

The fourth session was another presentation on market sizing, opportunity discovery and sales strategy. Again, I was given time to prepare and I presented and answered questions for about 45 minutes.

We had spent eight straight hours going through an experience I considered to be intellectually challenging but rewarding. I was offered the job a few days later with a starting salary 200% higher than what I was earning in my previous company. I was flown to Prague, Czech Republic 3 weeks after my resumption to commence my training, I then went for series of trainings in The Netherlands, Germany, USA, Dubai and South Africa for 2 years. I have since travelled the world several times and currently taking this interview from Microsoft HQ in Seattle, Washington.

Here are 2 learning points from the experience

1.     Opportunities come to those who are prepared. I had spent several years reading and learning within and outside of the formal schooling system. The scripture says in Ecclesiastes 9:11 that “…time and chance happeneth to them all”. It’s always about timing and opportunity. Regardless of the place of your birth and upbringing, learning, knowledge and skills will set you apart and make you globally competitive and desirable.  Keep learning and the opportunities will come

2.     For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37). Keep your faith alive and be confident of your uniqueness as a child of God. Be sure to fulfill your part and God will surely fulfill His. Believe that you can achieve the impossible and it shall be so. I simply went through the process BELIEVING that it had to me.

A few days back, I drove through the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles and was amazed at what the human mind can conceive and achieve. The road construction was an architectural miracle. The Engineers drilled through mountains to create passage for people to experience a new world and the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. In 2011, myself and my wife visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris, we went all the way to the top and read how Gustavel Eiffel built was has become a global landmark. He received Thomas Edison as a guest in the tower on 10^th September 1889. I believe anyone can truly achieve the impossible. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “ to BELIEVE in yourself, that what is true for you is true for the entire world, that is GENIUS”

       Your job demands that you travel frequently, how does the family cope with your absence?

Yes I do a lot of travelling. My 5 year old daughter said to me the other day “Daddy, where are you going this time?”. She’s happy to let me travel because she knows there will be chocolates when I return. I try to travel with my wife whenever possible. Although that doesn’t happen often because she has her own busy schedule as well.

Technology also makes it easy to keep in touch. We Skype a lot and my wife and kids can see me practically every day even when I’m away.

       Do you think your background had any role to play in the man that you've turned out to be?

            Definitely.  My background and experiences culminated in my personal beliefs and my         journey so far. I believe in “nurture” and not only “nature” as the primary factor predicating    major life’s decisions and subsequent achievements.  .

            Your background nurtures you. I care deeply about the environment that people grow up in             because I believe we are mostly the product of our environment. I was lucky to be nurtured       in a Christian home with deep family values. I have some unforgettable anecdotes and           admonitions guiding me through the years and most of these came from my parents. My        parents had proverbs for everything. They taught us the richness of the Yoruba culture and             the wise sayings. I learnt to read the Yoruba bible before I was 9.

            They combined the richness of the Yoruba culture with biblical lessons and the combination             was unbeatable.

            For instance, my father would say “Bi Egun ban le ni, ka ma roju ni, bi o se re ara aiye , ni oun re ara orun” (If you’re being pursued by a Masquerade, keep persevering, as the mortal man gets tired, so is the “supposed” immortal man). The literal meaning of this is never to          give up on your goals.

       You shine as an ambassador for Christ today, but we're sure it didn't start out that way, who was Bukunmi before Christ found Him and how was he found?

I made the conscious decision to accept Jesus into my life when I was 17 and that has made all the difference. Even though I grew up in a Christian home, I didn’t know Christ personally, I went to Church on Sundays, went to Vigils etc simply because I didn’t have a choice. You couldn’t live under my father’s roof and not go to Church.

At the age of 13, I got exposed to indecent living. Between the ages of 13 and 17, I did a lot of things I wasn’t proud of. I really experimented with everything. I guess it’s because of my inquisitive nature and the bad company I kept. I wanted to see what was happening on the other side. I am fortunate to be alive because I could have been killed several times in those four years

I am glad Jesus saved me and showed me the path to life

       How has your relationship with Christ influenced your person and career ?

I operate daily in this dog-eat-dog market and I see a lot of Christians sacrificing their values at the altar of corruption. I deal with Government and commercial customers and I know first-hand the degree of corruption, nepotism and favoritism within the Nigerian environment. It’s difficult to get business done and compete with people who will do anything to win business deals. However, it’s also an opportunity to stand out and be identified with Christ. You may lose deals and opportunities in the short term but you will ultimately WIN.

My relationship with Christ helps me to set my priorities. Whatever I cannot get rightly is not for me. I have decided to look up ONLY to God as my source because I know the whole world fits into the hollow of His hands. Psalm 24 says the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell in it.

       We found an interesting piece about your early life and it portrayed you as someone who is very adventurous, would you say that's true and how has that helped in shaping your person today?.

     Yes, it’s true that I’m adventurous. My desire for learning drives me to always want more. I want more knowledge, more exposure, more achievements, more time for my family and friends, more opportunities to impact the world for good and for God. Jesus spoke a parable in Luke 12 about the rich fool who got satisfied and became complacent. I believe God wants us to do more for Him. So it’s good to be adventurous within the       confines of God’s plans for your life

       Who would you describe as your influences and how have they influenced you?

 My father greatly influenced me. Thirty five years before my birth, he had been born  into a family of ten kids that lived exclusively on subsistence farming. He had to trek five   miles every morning to school where he sat on bare floor and took classes under a tree.He would then in the afternoon, work in a cocoa plantation and finally end the day’s drudgery by finishing his homework under the illumination of a locally made, palm-oil lit lamp.

Through thick and thin, he became a tenured professor and made massive impact in public education. He used to study every morning from 4 a.m or thereabout. I didn't understand why he did that when he wasn't going to sit for any exam. Watching him do that sparked my love for reading and learning

I’m inspired by Bishop David Oyedepo because of what he stands for, his work ethic (he works 16 hours a day), his dedication to his vision and the impact that he has made in the world.

 I’m influenced by Steve Jobs because he thought differently. He knew from an early age     that       he wanted to make a dent in the world. It’s easy to blend in and to try to be politically  correct. Only “abnormal” people change the world

   How would you asses Nigeria's role and acceptability of Information technology especially the youths?

I’m impressed about the adoption of technology in Nigeria particularly among the youth. However, I’m concerned about the fact that we are mostly consumers of technology and not creators. We have a few young Nigerians blazing the trail and creating technologies that are locally relevant.

I believe we have a huge role to play in the burgeoning digital age. We need to get our youth beyond digital presence on social networks and the brandishing of fancy devices. We need innovators to help solve current and future problems. The more innovative we become, the more opportunities come our way. The more opportunities we have, the greater the wealth we can create.

 The most important pillar behind innovation and opportunity is Education and more than ever, we need quality, explorative and project based learning to deliver our youth from the dungeon of rote memorization to the haven of critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and innovation.

       On a lighter note, do you remember how you proposed to you wife?

It’s not what you’ll see in the movies. We had been friends for a while and on a warm evening whilst having dinner at Munchies on Ozumba Mbadiwe, I said to her “…babe – I wan marry you o…I serious o …. we've been great friends and I think if we marry, we’ll make a perfect couple”. She had a few objections but I convinced her I was the guy for her. That basically closed the deal

       What's a typical family time out like for your family and what are your hobbies?

We try to travel abroad on vacation as a family at least once in 2 years. At home in Lagos, we take the kids out to the common entertainment centers in town. Myself and my wife go out to watch movies based on recommendations.

My weekends are mostly dedicated to Church activities. I run a home fellowship on Saturdays and spend a good part of my Sundays in Church.

I am also a dedicated Arsenal supporter. I try to force everyone around me to be but that hasn't worked out for obvious reasons. I think though that with Mezut Ozil coming in, we have a good chance at the top two of the Barclays Premier League by the end of the season. I’m not just a football fan but a player also. Whenever I’m in Lagos, I try to play ball with my colleagues and friends at the Astro Turf in Ikoyi. I also enjoy swimming and hanging out with my core friends. They are fantastic people, very deep intellectually and spiritually. We are all strongly opinionated and always have things to agree and disagree on. I’m challenged anytime I get the chance to be with these guys.

       Lastly, there are lot of youths in the job searching business, what advice do you have for folks out there who want to be shoes like yours someday?

My first advice is to prepare. I believe 98% of success is preparation. Our education should get us prepared but at the moment that is scarcely the case. Hence, everyone needs to go out and seek knowledge. I know for a fact that most of our youth are not prepared and do not possess the 21^st century skills required to function effectively in the emerging market place. Companies everywhere are looking for talent. Preparation is key

Secondly, I think our youth need to start small. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones”.

I was earning N15,000 per month on my first job after school. I naturally outgrew that job by developing myself. However, the N15,000 job provided me the platform to learn and grow

Thirdly, I think we need to recognize our unique talent and seek careers that help maximize our strengths, interest and passion. That is the way to be fulfilled in the long term and to be successful. I understand that you may need to pick up a job to pay bills but that’s shortsighted. You need to decide what your life work is and pursue it with all energy and commitment. Paying bills won’t be an issue when you have the capacity to truly add value and be desirable

Nobody wants to employ someone because they pity them and want to give them a source of livelihood. Companies employ people who they think can make them successful. You need to see yourself as absolutely capable of helping a company succeed  

_______________________________________________________________THANK YOU!!!