Purpose-Driven Leadership: Shaping The Future of IT Compliance and Business Leadership
Abiola Olomola’s career journey is a testament to resilience, dedication, and a constant pursuit of excellence. She began her career in IT auditing at KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms, where she honed her skills in IT security. Her role involved conducting external penetration tests for banking systems and developing IT security policies in line with ISO27001/2 standards. She addressed security incidents such as malware and network intrusions, laying a solid foundation for her future in IT compliance and controls.
Following her time at KPMG, Abiola joined MTN Communications as a System Auditor. In this role, she was tasked with evaluating IT systems and data controls, conducting integrity checks, and ensuring the security of critical systems. One of her key contributions was spearheading the implementation of hard-disk encryption and USB lockdowns across the organization to combat malware. She also guided audit preparations according to internal audit guidelines. This experience demonstrated her growing expertise in the field, particularly in streamlining operations, improving security, and recommending process improvements.
Abiola’s career continued to evolve when she took on a senior managerial role as Deputy General Manager for IT Projects at a major utility company. She led a team of project managers, overseeing large-scale ICT commercial projects, ensuring that they met business objectives, regulatory requirements, and health and safety standards. One of her most significant achievements was the successful delivery of a metering project that addressed a critical gap in the company’s franchise areas.
Currently, Abiola serves as Senior Manager for IT Compliance & Controls at IHS Towers, where she plays a pivotal role in designing and executing the IT Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance program. Her responsibilities include scoping, testing, and reporting on IT controls, as well as providing compliance training. She has also played a leadership role in implementing IT transformations, developing governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) programs, and managing cyber risks under regulatory oversight.
Throughout her career, Abiola has remained motivated by her passion for innovation and continuous learning. She is committed to staying ahead of emerging technologies and trends, always seeking ways to improve systems, processes, and security frameworks. Her drive to make a positive impact, protect critical assets, and contribute to a safer digital world fuels her daily work.
Abiola’s approach to leadership is rooted in empowering others. She embodies the principles of servant leadership, prioritizing her team’s growth and development while aligning with organizational goals. Her leadership style fosters open communication, trust, collaboration, and creativity, which she believes are essential for driving innovation and achieving success.
Abiola’s adaptability in an ever-changing business landscape results from her commitment to lifelong learning, staying engaged with industry communities, and embracing technological advancements. By staying curious, open-minded, and ready to experiment, she ensures that she remains at the forefront of the IT compliance and security field.
In balancing her professional and personal life, Abiola has developed strategies that ensure productivity and personal fulfillment. One key strategy is setting clear boundaries between work and personal time. She uses notifications and apps to remind her when it’s time to disconnect from work, allowing her to focus on her personal life without distractions. She also prioritizes and delegates tasks, focusing on the most important responsibilities both at work and home. By being strategic in her commitments, she avoids overloading herself and prevents unnecessary stress.
Abiola leverages time management tools such as calendars and task management apps to organize both work and personal activities. These tools help her allocate time for meetings, family, exercise, and relaxation, ensuring a balance that doesn’t conflict. Learning to say no was a difficult but necessary lesson in her career, as it helped her protect her time and focus on her priorities.
Another essential aspect of Abiola’s work-life balance is scheduling personal time, treating it with the same respect as work meetings. Whether for exercise, hobbies, or family, scheduling personal time ensures it doesn’t get lost in the demands of professional life. Flexibility is also important; if work demands extra time, Abiola adjusts her schedule and ensures she compensates for it by taking time to recharge the next day.
Self-care plays a key role in Abiola’s balanced approach. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, sufficient sleep, and stress-relief activities help her stay mentally and physically healthy, making her more productive both at work and home. Communication is crucial as well; she keeps her colleagues, clients, and family informed about her schedule and availability, ensuring that everyone understands her commitments.
To manage the overlap of technology in personal and work life, Abiola disconnects from work emails and messages during personal time, using “do not disturb” modes to help her focus. Regular reflection allows her to reassess her balance, adjusting her commitments when necessary to ensure her time is well managed.
Abiola’s support system is vital in maintaining work-life balance. At home, she communicates her needs and prioritizes quality family time. At work, her team collaborates effectively to share the load, enabling her to stay productive without compromising her personal life.
Looking ahead, Abiola sees significant opportunities in the IT compliance and cybersecurity fields. The focus on enhancing cybersecurity frameworks to counter complex threats will continue, with AI-driven threat detection and real-time data analytics improving response capabilities. Additionally, regulatory compliance will evolve, particularly regarding data protection laws such as GDPR and CCPA, leading to more streamlined compliance processes and continuous monitoring.
IT Controls will remain a priority as businesses move to cloud environments. Initiatives to secure multi-cloud and hybrid infrastructures, along with stronger identity and access management controls, will be critical. The integration of AI and machine learning in security operations will automate threat detection and incident response, becoming more prevalent.
Building a IT Control-conscious organizational culture will also be key, with efforts focused on enhancing employee training and cybersecurity awareness. Disaster recovery and business continuity plans will remain a priority as companies prepare for potential disruptions. There will be a continued focus on improving disaster recovery strategies and incident recovery times.
The shift towards Zero Trust security models will increase, as businesses aim to minimize internal and external threats. Zero Trust frameworks, ensuring continuous identity verification, will secure networks and applications. Supply chain security will also be a focal point, with businesses working to strengthen third-party risk management to prevent attacks.
Digital transformation and IT modernization projects will continue to play a significant role, with businesses striving to improve IT infrastructures and data management capabilities. Collaboration on industry standards, particularly around emerging technologies like blockchain and AI, will set best practices for governance, compliance, and security.
Abiola’s legacy aspirations are centered around ethical leadership, empowerment, and inclusivity. She hopes to be remembered for promoting transparency, honesty, and fairness in leadership. Her goal is to inspire future leaders to embrace innovation, continuously adapt, and build diverse organizations. Through mentorship and empowerment, she aims to help individuals reach their potential and contribute positively to their communities.
She also wants to contribute to a legacy of socially responsible businesses, whether through sustainable practices or community engagement. In IT compliance, she aims to leave an impact on how businesses approach cybersecurity, data protection, and regulatory compliance.
Ultimately, Abiola aspires to inspire future leaders to focus on long-term impact, ensuring that their decisions contribute to societal well-being. One of her core values is promoting work-life balance, and she hopes to leave behind a model that demonstrates to future leaders that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of personal happiness or family time. By leading with purpose and focusing on sustainability, Abiola believes future business leaders can build organizations that thrive for generations to come.
