Top Business Person & Philanthropist Shares his Advice with Mount Pupils
Today we welcomed a special visitor to Morning Meeting.
Head Anna Wilby spoke to Andrew Otiko who runs 16 companies, including Mobinet. Andrew talked about being prepared to take risks to put good ideas into practice and start successful solution-based companies.
Mobinet was born out of the fact that, once in Sierra Leone, Andrew had joined a queue for the bank that snaked around corners. That was when he decided that the people in the queue, who all had phones, could save time by using their phones to access banking services. Knowing that rural areas often have limited internet access, Andrew worked with a team to produce a simple solution, SMS-based banking. Success quickly followed with Mobinet now in 49 different countries.
Andrew is also a philanthropist working closely with a midwifery charity.
He also started working with Brass for Africa after meeting people in the music industry, including our very own Head Anna Wilby, and realising that people who are given access to music (and instruments) often then succeed in other areas. Through music Brass for Africa aims to address wider issues of social justice, drive social impact and transform lives. They have ‘Five Focus Areas’:
Gender Equality, Disability Inclusion, Community Empowerment, Workforce Readiness and Fulfilment of Music Potential.
Mount girls asked excellent questions after Andrew’s fascinating talk.
His advice was:
“Don’t sweat the small stuff, stay focused on the bigger picture. Set and work towards goals. You will learn from any mistakes, so don’t be afraid to take risks. Work with people who share your vision. I always recruit for attitude, not knowledge.”
Head, Anna Wilby, said:
“Since meeting Andrew in Hong Kong, he has become a friend. Our shared passion for music as a transformative tool has meant that Brass for Africa’s important work is very close to my heart. I hope to set up a relationship with The Mount where we can work in close partnership. I have always admired Andrew’s warm heart, talent for business combined with a tenacity to get things done. He is a role model for pupils everywhere and I was delighted he agreed to meet with Mount pupils and inspire them with his story, and drive to do good, entirely in line with our Quaker values.”
A pupil said:
“Andrew told us how he came to the UK from Nigeria when he was 14 and has since achieved so much. I like his calmness, even though he is very senior in business. He was so down-to-earth and interesting to talk to.”
The Mount’s 240 Years Public Lecture Series – and the recent Careers Week – has already seen many inspirational speakers visiting school. There are many more planned throughout the year. The next one will be Professor Maureen Carroll this Friday 21 March. She will talk about leading a research project on Roman gypsum burials in York. An examination of life, death, burial, and commemoration in the Roman world provides the context for the various sites and funerary monuments in Roman York presented in this captivating talk.
Admission is free and all are welcome.
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