Meet the Queens on our final special #InternationalWomensDay Digital cover as we wrap up #WomensMonth – The Honeywell Women.
These women are some of the powerhouses at Honeywell Group who lead the teams to ensure the company delivers on its philosophy of consistently creating sustainable value for its stakeholders.
From Government Relations Advisory to Corporate Services, Finances to Governance, Sustainability, and Counsel, here’s a look at the women who play critical roles in the company that has been around for over four decades and creates, builds, and invests in great businesses that deliver long-term value and improve people’s lives.
Kemi Adeoye – Chief Financial Officer
Kemi Adeoye is Chief Financial Officer at Honeywell Group. She is responsible for accounting, financial reporting, and financial management for Honeywell Group Limited. She is also responsible for risk management and ensuring the adequacy and effectiveness of controls and Internal Audits across the Group. Kemi has close to 20 years of work experience spanning, finance, accounting, and corporate treasury management.
Prior to Honeywell Group, she worked with Baker Tilly, a leading Audit firm in Nigeria. While at Baker Tilly, Kemi led various audit engagements with local and multinational clients across different business sectors.
In 2006, she joined Honeywell Group as a Senior Business Analyst working across business functions over time. She has, at different times, been responsible for Business and Information Systems Management, Corporate Finance, Treasury Management, Financial Reporting, Budgeting, Portfolio, and Risk Management.
Kemi holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Oxford Brookes University and an MBA from the Lagos Business School. She is also a member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
Define the term “woman” in your own words:
A woman is a remarkable individual who has the ability to adapt and excel in various facets of life, exhibiting resilience in the face of challenges. When you hear “Woman”, you simply hear a fighter, lover, giver, and leader. She is a force to be reckoned with. A woman also gives life, she’s a life-giver because she births and creates new life.
Each year, International Women’s Day has a different theme. This year spoke to DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality, with a CTA of Embracing Equity. The month of March has been dedicated to push this message. How do you think leaders can create and embrace equity in the workplace?
It’s vital to recognize the value of inclusivity. Leaders should start by recognizing the difficulties that women encounter in the workplace. Regular evaluations of inclusion metrics, including hiring and promotion rates, and pay equity could be used to achieve this. Leaders need to also implement policies and practices such as flexible work arrangements and mentorship. By doing this, they can create a workplace where all workers feel appreciated, respected, and encouraged to deliver their best work.
Knowing what you know now, what career advice will you give a younger you?
It would be to always be true to myself. It’s important to never let other people’s perceptions of you shape how you see yourself, or to act in a certain way only to please them. Furthermore, it’s essential to be confident in one’s abilities and expertise, and you should never let somebody make you feel inferior.
How are you utilizing your position in your company to uplift and support women?
One of the things I do is ensure that the businesses we invest in are inclusive and support women in a way that aligns to the values of the Honeywell Group.
What is the one thing you would change for women and girls if you could?
One thing I would change for women and girls would be the perception of women being the weaker gender. It is a stereotype that has been perpetuated for centuries. This belief does not only undermine the capabilities and potential of women and girls, but also contributes to gender inequality and discrimination in various aspects of life.
Olasumbo Abolaji – General Counsel
Olasumbo Abolaji is General Counsel at Honeywell Group. She is responsible for legal advisory and dispute resolution functions for all operating companies within the Group.
In this role, she oversees the drafting, reviews, and negotiations of all commercial agreements. She also has oversight over the management and resolution of all disputes involving any of the operating companies within the Group.
Olasumbo has nearly 20 years of post-call experience in commercial legal practice, having worked in several full-service law firms in Nigeria. Prior to joining the Honeywell Group, she was an associate at Aelex Legal Practitioners & Solicitors. Olasumbo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, and a Master’s degree from the Cornell Law School, New York, United States. Olasumbo is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. She has attended several trainings in the area of commercial contracts.
Olasumbo likes to travel and watch football. She is an avid supporter of Arsenal Football Club and she is a fitness enthusiast.
Define the term “woman” in your own words.
A woman is an embodiment of strength, resilience, courage, passion, and compassion. Women are remarkable beings, with inner strength and inbuilt capacity to respond and adapt to a variety of circumstances.
Each year, International Women’s Day has a different theme. This year spoke to DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality, with a CTA of Embracing Equity. The month of March has been dedicated to push this message. How do you think leaders can create and embrace equity in the workplace?
Leaders can foster an inclusive culture that encourages innovation, creativity, and success in the workplace by actively listening to women – their opinions and point of view. This encourages open and honest dialogue and demonstrates a commitment to act on the learned lessons.
Knowing what you know now, what career advice will you give a younger you?
I would advise my younger self to be bold, a lot more fearless and to take calculated risks. There is no limit to what you can achieve or become, and over analysing situations doesn’t get anything done. So, go beyond the mold that society has created for women, and take the chances/opportunities that are available to advance your development.
How are you leveraging your position in your company to uplift and support women?
As a general counsel, it’s my responsibility to ensure that I promote a zero-tolerance policy against victimization in the workplace. I continually strive to create an environment that allows women feel safe and comfortable enough to speak out against any form of discrimination or harassment without the fear of repercussions or blowback. We are very deliberate about encouraging this as a company.
What is the one thing you would change for women and girls if you could?
To change the narrative that women can only attain a certain/limited degree of success. There is really no limit and women can reach whatever heights they set their minds to achieve with diligence and hard work. We have to get to the point where women are allowed/promoted into positions that have traditionally been occupied by men.
Oluwayemisi Busari – Senior Adviser, Government Relations
Oluwayemisi Busari is Senior Adviser, Government Relations at Honeywell Group. She is responsible for leading and managing interactions with government and key regulatory bodies; supporting to ensure the key stakeholder group is effectively managed. Oluwayemisi is an accomplished legal practitioner with almost 3 decades of experience in the areas of company secretarial, corporate governance, litigation, and commercial law practices. Before now, she was Head, Group Legal, and Regulatory Affairs, where she was responsible for the legal activities of the Group and its member companies, while also serving as the Group’s primary interface with various regulatory institutions.
Through her multifaceted role at Honeywell Group, Oluwayemisi has developed a reputation as a strong commercial lawyer with deep insight and knowledge across several business sectors, including the Foods and Agro-allied industry, the Energy industry, the Solid Minerals industry, and the Real Estate industry. She has worked on a number of strategic transactions and has been involved in pivotal capital raising initiatives, including leading all legal and regulatory compliance activities towards the successful listing of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in October 2009. At various times, she has also been responsible for Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs, and HR & Admin. functions at the Group.
She started her career at Irving and Bonnar/ Bentley Edu Law Firm in Lagos. She rose to the position of a senior associate before she left to join the Honeywell Group. Oluwayemisi obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Lagos. Prior to that, she had studied English at the University of Ilorin. Following her call to bar, she earned a Master of Laws degree from the University of Lagos. She thereafter obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Lagos Business School in association with the IESE Business School. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and Federation of International Women Lawyers. She has attended various international and local training courses and conferences. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) and the Institute of Corporate Governance.
Oluwayemisi loves to counsel and mentor young people. She is passionate about God and the Islamic faith. Oluwayemisi is married with three lovely children.
Define the term “woman” in your own words.
I am not sure anyone should attempt to define women with mere words. We embody so much more than can be put into words.
Each year, International Women’s Day has a different theme. This year spoke to DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality, with a CTA of Embracing Equity. The month of March has been dedicated to push this message. How do you think leaders can create and embrace equity in the workplace?
We spend an average of 8 – 10 hours in the workplace. Apart from sleep, that is where most of our hours are spent.
It is very important that an environment that takes up so much of our time allows and encourages equity. It’s non-negotiable. And as such, the first step is to establish a culture that encourages and demands an inclusive workplace. We must first acknowledge how discrimination against women and other groups in society affects the workplace. There must be a conscious effort to ensure that workers are given fair and equitable opportunities based on their unique needs, as well as increase participation in efforts that support female engagement in the tech industry.
Then, as leaders, we need to ensure that equity isn’t just a slogan, but that there are actual policies that protect each gender, especially women.
Knowing what you know now, what career advice would you give a younger you?
I would tell her to keep building quality relationships in her personal life and within the industry. Good relationships and a supportive community are invaluable. I remember a specific relationship from my younger years with a lawyer that I once worked with on a project. He was not the most pleasant of characters, but I have always recognized the importance of building and maintaining relationships. Although this proved a rather straining relationship to maintain, I persevered. Years later, as my career grew and my cases became more complex and demanding, I ran into issues with a government agency. It was this same lawyer who happened to be close to the chairman of the agency, and who came through in helping me resolve the matter. You never know where help will come from, today, tomorrow, or decades in the future.
How are you utilising your position in your company to uplift and support women?
At HGL, over 60% of our work force is women. We are invested in ensuring everyone has equal opportunities for growth and development. In my position, I have the opportunity to motivate and inspire women and I do not take that for granted. It’s a responsibility I take very seriously, and I make time to counsel and offer mentorship to younger women I am paired with in the company.
What is the one thing you would change for women and girls if you could?
I would prefer not to use the word, ‘change’. Let me say that an integral part of who we are is self-confidence.
It is okay to be unsure of yourself as you grow. We need to learn to find ourselves, then build that self-confidence and awareness. They are powerful tools if we harness them properly.
Tomi Otudeko – Head, Corporate Services
Tomi Otudeko is Head of Corporate Services at Honeywell Group. In her role, she oversees various functions for Honeywell Group Limited including, strategy and project execution, human resources, information technology, communications, administration, and facilities management.
Tomi is a programme delivery expert with deep expertise in operational excellence and joined the Group in November 2017 to help set up Itanna, Honeywell Group’s corporate venture investing platform.
Prior to joining Honeywell Group, she led the implementation of integration activities for First Bank of Nigeria across 6 African countries and was Head, International Banking Coordination for its International Business: coordinating the implementation of strategic initiatives, business development and group management activities across multiple regions. Before joining First Bank, she was an Investment Manager at Stanbic IBTC Asset Management and advised various individual and corporate clients on financial management and investments. She also worked at IBM UK as a Business Development Specialist with a focus on process/service improvement through Strategic Outsourcing.
Tomi holds an LLB in Law from King’s College London and an MSc in Economics with Merit from the University of Manchester. She is a Prince2 (Practitioner) certified Project Manager, holds a Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from Stanford University and recently completed the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. Tomi is a Trustee of SWL Foundation, a non-profit based in Lagos.
Define the term “woman” in your own words
A woman is a strong, nurturing, and compassionate human being who is not afraid to speak her mind or stand up for what she believes in. She can be also described as a person who has traditionally been expected to fulfil certain roles and responsibilities in society, but who is increasingly breaking free from these boxes.
Each year, International Women’s Day has a different theme. This year speaks to DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality with a CTA of Embracing Equity, how do you think leaders can create and embrace equity in the workplace?
Leaders can create and embrace equity in the workplace by first creating a more diverse space, understanding the importance of equity and promoting it, and bridging the wage gap. Leaders can also be proactive in addressing inequities in the workplace, such as pay disparities, and underrepresentation of certain groups in leadership positions, and taking action to address any instances of bias or discrimination that are identified.
Knowing what you know now, what career advice will you give a younger you?
Don’t be too hard on yourself for not knowing what your “profession” is, it’s more important to know your “why” and when you do, you will find fulfillment in work. It is through the journey that you discover yourself. It won’t come straight away and that ok, Enjoy the journey, learn from and help your fellow voyagers and remember it’s a marathon and not a sprint.
How are you utilizing your position in your company to uplift and support women?
In my role in leadership, I occupy a privileged position of being able to pick my team and also set the tone for how our workplace is structured. This has enabled me to ensure we are able to give women in our workplace the flexibility to work while setting up structures in their personal lives to meet their other obligations. There is no one size fits all, as everyone is in different stages of life and has different responsibilities. However, many times women take on an oversized burden in their personal lives caring for their children, parents, and other relatives, as such they need to have the flexibility to enable them to be effective in life and in work. Being deliberate to create a workplace that supports flexibility has been an area of focus for me. I have been deliberate in ensuring the younger women in our team understand the opportunities available to them and are supported to aim high and embrace their uniqueness as individuals and women to make a difference.
What is the one thing you would change for women and girls if you could?
Access to quality opportunities that will empower them to build sustainable lives and outcomes for themselves. Providing access is both a personal and corporate goal and I feel privileged to be enabling the organisation to change outcomes and playing my small part in improving lives.
Yewande Giwa – Head, Governance & Sustainability
Yewande Giwa is Head, Governance and Sustainability at Honeywell Group, where she is responsible for implementing and managing the governance framework for the Group, ensuring compliance with internal and external rules. She is also responsible for Relationship Management functions for all operating companies within the Group.
In this role, she coordinates Board activities and ensures adherence to corporate governance standards and international best practices. She also has oversight for regulatory compliance and manages relationships with key regulatory bodies and agencies.
Yewande has over 15 years’ post-call experience in commercial and company secretarial legal practice. She began her legal career with Banwo & Ighodalo, one of the leading full-service law firms in Nigeria. She subsequently worked at Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited (now Forte Oil Plc) where she was primarily responsible for the legal function of the real estate unit.
Yewande holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, a Master’s degree in Commercial & Corporate Law from the University of London, United Kingdom as well as a Certificate and a Diploma in International Business Law from the University of London. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria, the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria and has attended several trainings in the areas of finance, corporate governance, company secretarial practice and compliance. Yewande likes to travel and read. She is married with children.
Define the term “woman” in your own words.
A woman is anyone she wants to be. She’s not someone who will let societal expectations define her. She is fearless, resilient, nurturing, and wise, a leader who is firm yet sensitive, and the ultimate multi-tasker. You can think of her as a person who can rise above challenges, both professional and personal, with grace and grit.
Each year, International Women’s Day has a different theme. This year spoke to DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality, with a CTA of Embracing Equity. The month of March has been dedicated to push this message. How do you think leaders can create and embrace equity in the workplace?
In order to advance equity, leaders must set the right tone at the top. They must ensure that the organization imbibes a culture which is gender-neutral, which recognizes and rewards all employees’ positive contributions, and which provides a level playing field for all employees to contribute their respective quotas and access opportunities. Women in particular must be more vocal about the work we do and the value we add to the organization, as we sometimes think (erroneously, in my opinion) that our work will speak for itself – “when you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are.” Once leaders set the tone at the top, it automatically cascades down to every member of the organization.
Research has shown that having more women in leadership positions can have numerous benefits for organizations, including increased innovation, improved financial performance, and better decision-making. Women are often underrepresented in top-level positions, however at HGL, our leadership team has about 60% representation of women. We also support our women with initiatives such as mentorship and sponsorship programs, leadership training and development programs, and policies that promote work-life balance.
Knowing what you know now, what career advice will you give a younger you?
I would encourage her not to be afraid of the unknown, and not to think that we must have it all figured out by a certain age. It’s okay to figure things out as you go along; they usually have a way of falling into place when you’re not looking!
How are you utilising your position in your company to uplift and support women?
My position as the Head, Governance and Sustainability, Honeywell Group affords me the opportunity to support policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Our CSR activities are targeted at initiatives that promote inclusion and access to equal opportunities. For example, one of the goals of our partnership with the Lagos State Government is to increase digital inclusion for women. The Honeywell Group in partnership with LSETF ( Lagos State Employment Trust Fund) has been funding the Lagos Innovates Talent Development Programme, an initiative to upskill young people in Lagos State to promote tech entrepreneurship and provide greater employment opportunities. We are pleased and encouraged by the year-on-year increase in the number of female candidates, and we continue to be dedicated to creating a talent pool of Nigerian tech experts who can successfully compete with their international counterparts.
What is the one thing you would change for women and girls if you could?
I would change the mindset that women are in any way inferior to their male counterparts, and that women have to choose between a career and a family. Like men, we can have it all.
About Honeywell Group
Founded in 1972, Honeywell Group began as a food trading company servicing the West African region before pivoting to importing a variety of goods including dairy products, stock fish, glass, and steel rods for the domestic Nigerian market. They have evolved to become an investment company, proud to be participating in major sectors of the Nigerian economy including foods, financial services, telecommunications, real estate, leisure and hospitality, energy, infrastructure, and security management.
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