Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Princess Modupé Ozolua. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Princess Modupé, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
This is a very deep question because I struggled with this most of my life. In my personal life, my parents, siblings and other family members are much darker skin toned than I am. Although I have some light-skinned cousins, my features with curly hair and very light skin complexion are not “typical” West African features from a non-multiracial home. Therefore, you can only imagine what it was like being the only one that look different in a predominantly dark skinned Nigerian home.
As a way of downplaying being the only one in the room that look like me, I used to joke that I was “rented” to add color in family pictures. Although sometimes I felt I didn’t belong there, the endless love and support from my parents propelled me into being successful and indifferent to our obvious physical differences.
In my professional life, I was 27 years old when I pioneered cosmetic surgery in Nigeria, West Africa. Back then, it was uncommon for young women to establish such highly technical businesses plus pioneering such a controversial service put me in both national and international spotlight. My age, gender, business focus and physical appearance of not looking like a “typical” Nigerian, opened me to countless praises and attacks. Initially, whenever the press referred to me as “mixed race,” my father would write me letters scolding and demanding I corrected them because I was not mixed. The pressure came from every direction.
However, my parents and my son’s strong guidance and loving support always kept me focused on my different businesses and endeavors. To remain successful, the experiences changed my previously extrovert personality into an introvert and I learnt to unapologetically ignore and detach people that destabilized my balance.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Over the years, my brand has worn many hats; I started as an entrepreneur at 21years old, evolved into a philanthropist at 29 and in my late 40s, I started consulting for governments, charitable entities and private sector entities.
Throughout this metamorphosis, I lived an extremely busy and heck life that put work first before my home and self interest. My entire existence was around my businesses and charity work to the point that I had to always incorporate work into vacations. I also did not take time to appreciate my accomplishments nor make efforts towards having a positive work and life balance
Despite living the life others admired, I realized something was terribly wrong because I was extremely unhappy, so, on February 11th 2021, I embarked on a mandatory rest, heal and reflect journey in Istanbul, Túrkiye.
I deliberately picked Túrkiye because I needed a “quite” location where I barely knew anyone so I could be “still. and reflect.” I had to deep dive into myself in-order to rediscover whom I had evolved into over the years, identify what truly made me happy and most importantly, whom I want to metamorphosize into.
It was an extremely difficult process because for over 24 years I was always in the limelight and busy conquering one project or the other; I wasn’t used to being still, barely answering my 3 phones, meditating and literally staying indoors except going to the grocery store or taking quiet walks alone.
As though God wanted to reassured me that my 20years of selfless sacrifices to humanity wasn’t in vain; on February 19th 2023 (2 years into the healing process) I was unexpectedly honored with the United States of America President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for my contributions to humanity.
After a lifesaving 3-year isolation and indulging in a pre-post isolation celebratory journey to 14 countries in 2023, I am happy to finally “return” to the public space but strictly on my own terms.
These terms are built on the foundation that henceforth…irrespective of the project…it must enable flexibility to spend quality time with my son, those I care about and myself.
Therefore, I am no longer interested in operating high-capital businesses the demand all of my time. Instead, I will invest in other peoples businesses and receive my ROI at agreed terms. For my charitable activities, I am embarking on more structured long-term sustainable initiatives and currently planning an event in Atlanta later in the year that would connect Atlanta based charities to different African governments in order to support each other’s mandates.
I am also expanding my consultancy services which currently include the European Union’s Agents for Citizen-driven Transformation (ACT) Program and governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. I also have private sector clients in Dubai (UAE) and India whom I improve their CSR portfolios and assist other non-profit organizations on strengthening their projects and identifying partners.
In addition, I facilitate purchases of 22 carat Gold directly from local miners in Democratic Republic of Congo at highly discount rates against the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) prices for clients in Europe and Asia.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The harsh knowledge that some “good advise” are deliberately meant to make you fail, knowing when to activate stubbornness and compassion skills and knowing when to walk away were the most impactful in my journey.
I will never forget an experience I had about 23 years ago in Lagos, Nigeria while trying to park my car in front of my office building. A security guard was directing me into the parking spot and he kept saying “come closer, there is still space in front, Madam, come closer.”
Of course I trusted his guidance and kept following his instructions but just as I was about to drive further in, a stranger walking by shouted, “NO STOP!! There is a ditch in front of you!” I immediately stopped, looked at the guard in shock and he simply turned and walked away as though he hadn’t tried leading me into a ditch a few seconds earlier! I sat in shock watching him walk away without looking back at me nor apologizing for deliberately misleading me.
Although I decided that day that I would never immediately trust other people’s advice without due diligence but I repeatedly fell for deception along the way and have seen it play out many times in my life that some “concerns’ and friendships were Trojan horses deliberately meant to make me fail.
However, I still do not hesitate to consult a few people I respect on their opinions on certain issues, but I never take their input as law because we all have different temperaments, personalities and principles; but I might filter through obtained information and modify where necessary to overcome my situation.
My advice to others is be compassionate to peoples needs but know when to be unapologetically stubborn and stand your ground even if the world is against you. Do not fear failure, do not hesitate to consult others on their experiences nor ask for advise on issues because collective information amounts to priceless “knowledge” that will become useful at every point in life’s journey.
Also, do not shy away from unapologetically evolving! Based on YOUR definition, happily use those experiences to constantly alter yourself because experiences knowledge and skills are essential to your professional and personal survival.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I firmly believe before investing any effort into improving yourself, first know and accept your strengths, weakness, likes and dislikes. After asking myself difficult questions during my 3-years hibernation and self rediscovery, I observed I had been wasting efforts on things I loathed the most!
I previously thought they were “weaknesses” but they actually brought me great displeasure AND the harsh reality is I did not have the required skill set to successfully handle them.
An example is engaging in some aspects of human resources that required me to supervise and engage in the most basic operations of my businesses. Initially, I would enjoy it because I derive pleasure from engaging with my staff, but I quickly get frustrated over why I had to guide people on the most basic aspect of their jobs when I have more serious execute decisions to make!
Therefore, I have happily accepted and concluded I am NOT designed for any aspect of HR. I do not identify it as a weakness nor am I interested in improving it because there are people better skilled at doing that and they should be employed to maximize their strengths executing those responsibilities.
So, I believe it is better to go all in on your strengths, focus on what you are most efficient at and leave others more capable at handle other things. In addition, wasting time and effort trying to improve some weakness will only hinder one’s capacity and productivity in areas that require your undivided attention.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.modupeozolua.com
- Instagram: @princessmodupeozolua
- Facebook: @modupeozolua
- Linkedin: @princess-modupe-ozolua
- Twitter: @modupeozolua
- Youtube: @princessmodupeozolua
- Other: E-mail: PMO@modupeozolua.com
Image Credits
George Okoro Princess Modupé Ozolua
