Cultivate Courage In Your Organization

“If I can do it, you can do it.”

This is Jim Ovia’s message to entrepreneurs around the globe. He knows that with passion, courage, hard work, perseverance, and dedication to duty, anything is possible. And as the man who took Zenith Bank from a investment $4 million to $16 billion global banking institution, Jim is living his word.

With his inspirational and instructive tone, he is the mentor today’s aspiring entrepreneurs need to show them just what is possible. His story is proof that no matter how humble your origins, you can accomplish great things with the right frame of mind. It comes down to time-tested moral and business principles—like integrity, courage, and determination—and understanding that it is imperative to rely on one's own instincts, both in assessing your innate capacities and in evaluating new business opportunities.

Furthermore, Jim is driven to help leaders around the world transform their vision of Africa from “the Hopeless Continent” to a collection of “Rising Nations.” Africa has a fast-growing middle class that is ripe for new business ventures, both from local entrepreneurs and international investors. And this carries its own valuable lesson: You must never allow the perceptions of others to impact your own vision of what is possible for the future.

As he encourages entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity to invest in Africa, he also offers a reminder that the universal rules of prudence apply, just as they do anywhere in the world. An entrepreneur must ensure that due diligence is carried out in setting up any new business, regardless of the location.