“I am proud of employees who have grown in rank. Some are still here, while others are no longer here but they remain friends of the company” – Adedamola Ojo
Adedamola Ojo, the Business Operations Manager at Aspire Power Solutions, is our focus in this edition of the Employee Spotlight Series. Join us as we delve into her interests, professional journey, and the invaluable insights she has gained over the years in the company.
Team Aspire (TA): Can you introduce yourself?
Adedamola Ojo: My name is Adedamola Ojo, the Business Operations Manager at Aspire Power Solutions. I am also a certified personnel manager under CIPM ( Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria)
TA: What do you enjoy doing outside of work, and are there any hobbies or interests you’re passionate about?
Adedamola: I enjoy writing fictional stories, hiking, history, great crime, and action movies.
TA: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Adedamola: I would love to travel to any country with a rich history, i.e., Egypt, Greece, China, etc. because I love to learn about places, people, and culture.
TA: What’s a fun fact about you that most people at the company might not know?
Adedamola: My inner child loves the beach and horror movies. Lol.
TA: What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy day?
Adedamola: Netflix and chill, worship music, or journaling.
TA: Can you share a bit about your role and responsibilities at Aspire Power Solutions?
Adedamola: I work closely with the team and management to ensure that our organisational goals are met while ensuring people grow beyond their current capacity. My role drives efficiency by constantly reviewing our processes and making them better. I also oversee the people operations at Aspire Power Solutions.
TA: What motivated you to join Aspire Power Solutions and the field it operates in?
Adedamola: The founder’s vision of providing alternative power sources to Nigerians intrigued me because, at the time, only a handful of structured companies were dedicated to this mission. What truly set Aspire apart was its customer-centric approach and a work environment that thrives on collaboration and teamwork. The company’s commitment, demonstrated by offering financing options to customers and responding to their calls even at odd hours, spoke volumes to me.
TA: How has your career evolved since you joined the company?
Adedamola: I started as the Office manager, who wore the hats of an Executive Assistant Administrator, Human resources personnel, and operations. Then I moved to People Operations, and now I handle the Business Operations role.
TA: Are there any specific projects or accomplishments at Aspire Power Solutions that you’re particularly proud of?
Adedamola: I am proud of employees who have grown in ranks. Some are still here, while others are no longer here but remain friends of the company. We have had people come in as corp members, trainees, or interns, and Aspire helped them define their career path. They left better than when they came in.
TA: What do you find most rewarding about your work here?
Adedamola: Working with people and enjoying their satisfaction after they successfully execute a task or, mostly massive projects we were scared to take on. In addition, the way the management pushes us to see that we are more than we think we are.
TA: Can you tell me about a time when you faced a significant challenge at work and how you overcame it?
As a recruiter, it can be challenging to find a great fit for a role. There was a time when we were actively recruiting for a Business executive, and it was hard to get the right fit because of the peculiarities of our sector. We had a solar boot camp for a selected few, and after days of sitting through courses and grading tasks, we had our candidate who later went on to work for about 4 years.
TA: How do you approach collaboration and teamwork within the company?
AO: We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we harness that with the mindset that when we win, we win as a team, and when we learn (lose), we learn as a team, so we give it our best shot!
TA: Are there any mentors or colleagues who have had a significant impact on your professional development at Aspire Power Solutions?
Adedamola: I have worked with Mustapha for a little over 4 years (I was MIA for 2 years plus), and I have known him for way longer. He constantly opened me to opportunities (I would have said challenging opportunities, but I realise they built my capacity to do more and made me hungry for more), which makes me think differently and dive into research outside my current sphere of knowledge.
TA: What do you see yourself doing in the next 5 years?
Adedamola: A stakeholder in creating value through people, regardless of their sector and level.
