Be So Good at What You Do That Gender Won’t Matter
If you need a reminder to let your own spunk shine in your career or business, Funmi might be the reminder you need.
As CEO and Production Designer of No Surprises Events, Funmilayo Viktor-Okigbo sets her business apart by being selective about what clients she takes, and implementing what she calls “event architecture”: the art of designing, specifying, planning and directing an event to perfection. As the now leading event production and management company in Nigeria, Funmi has pleased clients such as Google, IBM, Cisco, Guiness, and CitiBank.
Funmi founded her company in 2006 after an unlikely path and an education in mathematics and architecture. When she launched No Surprises Events, Funmi set out to change the way people think and feel about brands by curating unique experiences.
Funmi was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about her path to success.
What’s the bravest / gutsiest / riskiest / most creative thing you’ve ever done professionally?
FVO: I convinced a multinational company to engage our services for a major event. I didn’t have the experience at the time because my company was barely one year old, but the fear of failure propelled me to deliver beyond the client’s expectation. It’s one of my best events so far.
What experience have you learnt the most from?
FVO: Everyday I learn something new from my team, my clients, or strangers – everyone. It’s hard to say I have learnt from one person the most. Everyday is a new experience.
What do you think are the keys to success for women in your country?
FVO: Passion, focus, and hard work. Being a woman could be an advantage not a disadvantage. Be so good at what you do that gender won’t matter!
Funmi has lived out this advice out and continues to be an example in her growing success. She does this by keeping the client’s vision and end goal in mind, having fun and being bold in her work and ideas, surrounding herself with a sharp, dynamic team, and striving for excellence in all they do.
Read a more in-depth interview with her in Genevieve Magazine, The Punch Newspaper, or follow her on Twitter.
