Today is a good day in Lagos Business School (LBS), as I contested for the post of Governor Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28.
I show an interest by nominating myself few weeks ago when we were informed about the leadership role. Then, make an inquiry on it entails to be the Class Governor for Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28 in order to serve and roll out my strategic intent and what I feel should be applicable based on the details provided at my disposal to peruse through for compliance and record purpose.
We were sent mail for the election guidelines by our Programme director Mrs Toyin Mensah, the first was to elect an electoral officer in which we had two contenders that are close allies in person of “James and Otas”. Hence, James emerged winner for Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28; it was an open ballot online system set up by a good friend of mine Sinmi and we had a seamless election as first credit foot into the main course for our Cohort election and campaign.
The date of elections with the electoral guidelines update were provided by James to all via the MEBA 28 group mail being our new electoral Officer (a.k.a “INEC Chairman” )Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28.
Now, the real deal started when James made the cold call, if I acknowledged my nomination with interest; I acknowledge, YES! Suddenly we had another self-nomination who’s a contender, Guess who? My good “Tech- hackathon” Friend Sinmi…..haaaaa!!! Screamed and made a call to him in which he said he is really interested not a rumour. Hence, I count it as a “win-win”, whoever win will be our win and we both proceed to give it a good shot and not make the election for the Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28 boring.
Thus, we did not stepdown but we proffer to test the water by whose pitch will sail through and what will be the response from the Class if we both contest.
You’ll agree with me that most executives at the ongoing Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28 are veterans and expertise that will vote for based on their convictions or they vote against whose looking forward to see how you can get them persuaded before they make up their minds and make a point known beyond your beautiful smiles or sentiment. I love My Class Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28, they are the best in diversity and problem analysis.
We embark on campaign for one week, Sinmi provided a six (6) pager manifesto slides as first shot that sound like a political pitch to the class that set tune high. This hit the WhatsApp room and seems like what intend to do but sound a bit late to provide my slides that I have been working upon. The second, pitch was the social director Taiwo that provide a video which is part of my major plan for the campaign but I could not do such again because I always love to thrive for a difference in all I do and try to make unique pattern.
The question is what will I do differently to engage Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28 executives?
I decide being modest and use the as simple pattern of “…Never let them see you coming” by posting one on one chat to about 30 Executives of the Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28 via social Media WhatsApp handler with a short and precise manifesto as stated below:
Vote
Adeshina Lawal
For
EMBA28 Governor
Adeshina Lawal Cares to CREATE
C- Character with EMBA28 DNA.
R – Responsibility to represent EMBA28.
E- Empathy from unknown to known.
A- Active Participation.
T- Transparent Governance
E – Excellent Projection of EMBA28 beyond the Class room for Network, Business and Career Purpose’s.
#emba28governor2be
Did it work? Well, I think to an extent but the election day become a very funny day that my Internet started fluctuating right from the class session were my video was not reflecting and dragging to an extent where a question was directed to me first during the Data Analytics Session but with the patient attributes of Professor Bongo, made the whole waited and i was engaged to provide appropriate answer.
We then had an online election Guess what? ….. Someone out of the two jolly friends contesting for the post of social director step down with a short speech. We received acknowledgement and manifesto from the opponent. Also, the class then agree for all “un-oppose elected officers” to share their strategic intent in form of Manifesto for at least “2minutes”.
Above all, I gave a fantastic Speech based on my speech craft that was done earlier as Manifesto and got good feedback that the speech is awesome from someone that hardly speak in class while the election ended in favour of my friend Sinmi with 64% vs 34% win respectively which implies that I did not come to Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28 alone but allowing Lagos Business School Executive MBA Cohort 28 to pass through me and I will continue to share my experience in the next series…Series 5….stay tune!!!
Management Communications in the workplace.