You don’t have to have it all figured out, meet people, test out and try many ideas to find the one that excites and propels you forward, but also give yourself a break…it may take time, and in the meantime, you will do interesting and valuable stuff which will add to your unique perspective.
Nnenna Ilomechina is a Managing Director with Accenture Strategy, currently running the practice for Communications, Media and High Technology clients in the UK. Her focus is on helping executive teams tackle cross-functional and industry strategic issues from growth and innovation to operational efficiency in this era of massive disruption and convergence. Prior to Accenture Strategy, Nnenna spent several years in the restructuring and turnaround industry working for Corporates and Private Equity owned businesses.
Nnenna earned her MBA, focused on strategy and marketing from London Business School & Columbia Business School and her Bachelor in Computer Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Nnenna lives in Little Venice, London, and enjoys being a city dweller. Her hobbies include mentoring, writing, exploring different cultures and luxuries through travel, reading, experience journalism and photography. She enjoys spending time with her family and a close network of friends.
Top tips
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Meet many people, listen, most people want to help and most want to share their experiences
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Get public speaking training – always comes in handy, even if the “public” you only ever speak to is your team…
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Daily affirmations – post-it notes above your dressing mirror to remind you of your achievements and capabilities, to remind you to be grateful, and to build up your confidence. When moving through life at pace, we need those affirmations to remind us of what we have achieved and that we CAN achieve
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Ask for help, it is a sign of strength not a weakness
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Patience. It’s not a race.
Best piece of advice you have been given
“It’s not a race, life is not about the destination so much as the journey. Try many things, it’s ok to fail” – and for someone who is impatient and focused on finding solutions fast, this continues to be a challenge.
What I wish I knew early in my career
Mentor others early and often, it builds confidence and allows you to consolidate your experience, not to mention the abundance of benefits for those you mentor
Key advice for someone looking to progress
You don’t have to have it all figured out, meet people, test out and try many ideas to find the one that excites and propels you forward, but also give yourself a break…it may take time, and in the meantime, you will do interesting and valuable stuff which will add to your unique perspective.
What is the most memorable thing someone said to you
“You were born an original, don’t turn into a copy”. It reminds me to remain authentic and true to myself and to seek opportunities that enable me to grow while retaining my unique characteristics.
