Standout: Beyond the Obvious | Kizito Okpebholo | TEDxUniversityOfBenin

Key Concepts

• Standing Out: Not about being visible or making noise, but about creating impact and adding value.
• Value Addition: Contributing positively to one's system, environment, employers, and family.
• Mentorship: Seeking guidance from experienced individuals to learn and grow.
• Problem-Solving: Proactively identifying and addressing challenges.
• Passion and Interest: Demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for one's work.
• Knowledge Expertise: Becoming a subject matter expert in a specific field.
• Double Promotion: An exceptional career advancement, indicating significant recognition.
• "Japa" (Nigerian Pidgin): The act of migrating abroad, often for better opportunities.
• Career Relaunch: Adapting and rebuilding one's career in a new environment or field.
• Originality and Genuineness: Being authentic and speaking from the heart.
• Resilience: The ability to persevere through failures and setbacks.

Summary

The True Meaning of Standing Out

The speaker begins by observing the contemporary desire to "stand out" in various aspects of life, from careers and relationships to social media trends. However, they argue that the harder one tries to be unique, the more they tend to blend in. True distinction, according to the speaker, transcends fleeting trends and moments. It is built upon trust, the creation of impact, and the consistent addition of value to one's surroundings – be it a system, environment, employer, or family. Standing out is not about mere visibility or making noise; it's about the tangible positive influence one exerts.

Early Career Growth and Value Creation

The speaker recounts their early career, starting as a personal banker (or "marketer") in Nigeria 19 years ago. Despite facing challenges and demanding targets (balancing deposit acquisition and income generation), they focused on learning, problem-solving, and adding value to their team. This involved actively seeking out and learning from mentors, offering assistance, and observing experienced colleagues, particularly during client interactions and large transactions.

A pivotal moment occurred two years into their tenure when a senior colleague with 15-20 years of experience resigned. The speaker and a colleague were tasked with analyzing the accounts of major clients. Out of four significant accounts, three were assigned to the speaker to manage. This opportunity arose because someone had observed their proactive approach, problem-solving passion, dedication to doing things right, and willingness to go "above and beyond" customer expectations. This led to the speaker becoming a knowledge expert and subject matter expert in areas like credit underwriting and risk management, with colleagues from other branches seeking their advice.

Recognition and Accelerated Advancement

The speaker also shares an experience of missing an initial promotion. However, their consistent hard work and value addition were recognized at the executive management level. An executive, who had only interacted with the speaker a few times, advocated for them, leading to an unprecedented double promotion within their branch. This highlights the speaker's argument that when one consistently does the right thing and remains focused, others will advocate for them, even in their absence. Decisions can be made in one's favor without their direct presence.

The "Japa" Dilemma and Career Relaunch

Approximately 13 years later, the speaker faced a difficult decision: to "japa" (migrate abroad) for better opportunities. Despite having a successful career, financial stability, and strong relationships in Nigeria, they planned and worked towards migration. However, upon reaching the point of departure, they experienced second thoughts due to the promising future they had built. Ultimately, they reluctantly migrated to Canada, initially taking a leave of absence and later a longer one.

Upon arrival in Canada, the speaker encountered significant challenges, including the onset of COVID-19, which made job searching difficult. Despite having developed themselves through professional exams and research, they struggled to secure interviews and faced skepticism about their ability to find good employment as an experienced professional.

Adapting and Thriving in a New Environment

Despite the initial hardships, the speaker remained focused and eventually secured their first job in the investment banking space. They embraced the opportunity to learn new skills and adapt to a different financial services landscape, effectively relaunching their career. They emphasize that standing out doesn't always require immense effort; clarity of purpose, knowing one's direction, and understanding that there are no shortcuts are crucial.

Landing a Dream Role Through Authenticity

The speaker then identified an opportunity at a dream organization. The job description perfectly aligned with a project they had undertaken without being hired for it. During a rigorous interview process, which involved multiple stages, the speaker attributes their success to being organic and original, speaking from the heart. This authenticity, they believe, made them stand out, leading to a role that significantly doubled their income and positioned them as a Vice President at a top global investment bank.

Redefining "Standing Out"

The speaker concludes by posing the question of what "standing out" truly means to individuals. They argue that it's not solely about academic achievement (e.g., high CGPA) or being the most talented. Often, employers look for originality, purpose, and genuineness. They urge listeners to remember that regardless of their circumstances, they can stand out by having purpose, passion, and determination.

The Power of Perseverance

The speaker stresses the importance of resilience. They highlight that many successful individuals who have "gone beyond the obvious" have faced numerous failures before achieving success. The process involves trying, failing, learning, and trying again repeatedly. Success, they assert, will eventually find those who persevere. The speaker reflects on their own experiences of perceived failure (during migration and job searching) that ultimately led to achieving their long-held aspirations. They attribute their success to humility, focus, building relationships, and fostering trust.