Sope Agbelusi, Founder, Executive Coach, Podcast Host, and Speaker, MindsetShift
I am a husband, father and someone who is on a mission to help leaders, founders, entrepreneurs, and organisations step outside their box. At age fifteen, I was a four-years-in Nigerian immigrant to the UK, and I was miserable. Not because I felt excluded, but because space had never been created for me to be included on my own terms. In those four years, I'd worked so hard to fit in I'd trapped myself in a box that had no room for my divergent, contradictory identity. No room for myself, in full. For most people, wherever they find themselves in their lives, that box I discovered is there. It comes in all shapes and sizes. It holds everything from fears to limiting beliefs to mindset. It's solid, and it's massive. The thing is, when you want to achieve and grow beyond others' beliefs (and, spoiler, your own), the only way to do it is to reset the framework. And shift your mindset.
Back at age fifteen, I decided enough was enough. From then on out, I would own myself. I'd speak up like me. Challenge the boxes. I was married at twenty-two and had my first child by twenty-three, and we were "PO" (that is not a typo). That how poor we were, we did not have the "or". However, despite the start we had, I knew that was not my destiny, I was determined to give my wife and kids a better life, and despite a lot of setbacks and challenges along the way involving racism and bullying, I navigated my way through the corporate ladder to the point I was offered a senior leadership position with the six figure title and position.
Steven Convey says - "If the ladder is not leaning towards the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster", and upon reflection, I realised that was not made me come alive. That was not where that change I wanted to make the world was going to happen. When I turned down a Director's position fast track in the corporate job I worked before going out on my own, it wasn't about the money or the business or even my job. It was about the box. It didn't fit. There are a lot of organisations that have been in boxes for years around inclusion, equity and psychological safety, and I want to help them step outside of their box, thereby creating an inclusive, equitable culture for others.
There are leaders who are stuck inbox because of their title, position, family etc. Leaders who are just existing instead of living and need a mindset shift. A mindset shift is where the new frameworks are made whether you want to be a better leader, a better entrepreneur, a better human. Whether you want to change your team, your culture or change the world. It all starts with you.
What do you believe? Which route have you travelled? What're your successes and your failures? Which stories do you tell yourself? The kind of environment where there's space for everyone - their identities, in full - starts with you figuring out you. Unlock yourself and your potential, and you can start spreading the word. That's when we start making solid shifts towards working environments where people can operate as included beings. There's real beauty in the complexity of who we are as human beings. There's also serious potential for growth in it.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
LinkedIn and Instagram, I can't decide between both. I like LinkedIn as it is a space I can challenge the "professional" way of doing things, showcasing one side of my personality as well as my work. Instagram is where I showcase the other side of my personality; for me, it is more personal. I talk more about family, relationships, faith, etc., on there.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
Have you ever told yourself, "I don't think I can do this," or "They'll never go for it," or "I'm not a good enough leader"? The things you tell yourself that hold you back. Imagine if you could remove all of those boundaries just by holding them up and actually looking at them. Figuring out where they come from and how to tackle them. At Mindset Shift, that's what we do.
We help innovative and rebellious leaders that want to make extraordinary things happen - for their teams, themselves, their businesses, their culture - unlock their growth. Through actionable coaching, workshops, leadership development, facilitation or speaking, we create foundational people-over-profit environments. The kinds where productivity and innovation soar, and culture, inclusion and equity sits at the heart of operations. My role and area of interest are focused on helping individuals and organisations step outside of their box, step outside of their comfort zone and take action.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
Seeing the transformation people make when they shift their mindset and starting to truly live life, stepping outside their comfort zone.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Step into your power and authority and stop try trying to be a cheap imitation of someone else.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
My faith, family and friends inspire, motivates and help me to move forward.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I am most proud of the journey my wife and kids have been on, and they have all have interesting journeys which are far from over but seeing them constantly deal with various challenges always makes me smile.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
It is a mixture of virtually and in person. Virtual is good as it allows me to meet people internationally, but in-person networking deepens relationships.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Mindset, Communication (Listening especially), Calmness, Patience, Authenticity, Tenacity.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
That I would be doing what I am doing now, I would have left corporate a long time ago or planned my exit better instead of taking a leap of faith into nothing. It makes for a great story, but it was not easy.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I admire Ray Dalio, and he is always learning and looking at ways to improve. He also models good leadership qualities. Tom Bilyeu built a billion-dollar brand and came from nothing, and it was a mindset shift that changed things for him. TD Jakes is an inspirational preacher as well as a good businessman, husband and father from all I see and read about.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Running, I used to hate running long distances, and for about twenty years, it was a massive issue for me, but about six years ago, I faced my fear, and it was life-changing as it allowed me to develop my mindset in all areas of my life. I ended up running a couple of half marathons and a marathon. I also enjoy watching football, supporting Arsenal as well as playing games with the rest of the family, and this ranges from board games to console games. It is always great to be able to show the kids daddy has still got it.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you been managed it?
The pandemic was hard on the business at first. All my in-person speaking engagements, coaching and workshops were cancelled, but it has slowly picked back up as everyone settles into the virtual way of doing this. Overall it has had a positive effect as it has given me access to an international market that was previous prudish above virtual speaking engagement, coaching etc.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
Yes, I have mentored a number of people, but I currently do not have a mentor.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Know your why because it is not easy; there will be a lot of tough days that will challenge you physically, financially, mentally and emotionally. You have to be sure because it is not worth subjecting yourself to things like abuse which I have received when talking about inclusion and equity. Also, make sure your actions speak louder than your words; your character will set you apart from others.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
They have the wrong mindset, and they have the wrong people around them; they compare their journey to others, they have a lack of patience and are not willing to play the long game.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
There is two: "You grow through, what you go through", "You can't heal, what you don't reveal".
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I like Netflix; they are trying to get things right from a cultural perspective, and the effort and action taken is appreciated by their employees. Wesleyan are also an organisation that are trying, they are not where they need to be, and they own that with action put into place to help them get there.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success for me is about having the freedom to choose how I spend my day; a couple of weeks ago, I took a day off to spend some time with my goddaughter, and that was a success for me.
Leadership lessons Are authentic - This means to be real, to be open and honest with your people. People will follow a leader they can relate to, a leader who takes the time to understand them and build a relationship with them. A leader who does not always get it right and who can admit when they are wrong. A leader whose words match their actions.
You don't always have to have or the answers or pretend that you do because if you do, then you need to change your environment. A leader should always be learning, growing and developing and be humble enough to know you can learn from anyone.