Leadership has always been about serving others. As I moved up the corporate ladder and led both small and large teams, I tried different approaches, but servant leadership stayed with me. This style focuses on lifting people rather than asserting authority. I often think of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. He did not sit back and demand obedience. He met people where they were and served them. That example continues to guide how I lead my teams, support my clients, and contribute to the community.

I surround myself with people who are smarter than me, and I listen carefully. When you gather ideas and help others grow, strategy emerges naturally. Supporting people well allows them to support the organization in ways I could never achieve alone. That philosophy informs every decision I make, in both daily operations and long-term planning.

I want the people around me to feel empowered, capable, and seen. When we keep the focus on people first, leadership becomes a cycle of growth. Serving others builds credibility and trust while moving work forward effectively.

Giving Back

Financial success does not determine a person’s ability to give back. Many assume that donating money is the primary way to contribute, but giving takes many forms. Hiring people, mentoring, sponsoring, and sharing knowledge all create meaningful value. These acts strengthen the community without relying on financial windfalls.

Our accounting firm for example, partners with organizations like the CRA to provide tax services to seniors and low-income groups. I am not giving money, but I am giving time, skills, and expertise. That contribution creates an impact that cannot be measured in dollars. People benefit, trust grows, and networks expand.

Partnerships with community groups and nonprofit organizations amplify impact. Young entrepreneurs can contribute meaningfully through mentorship, sponsorship, collaboration, and professional services. Financial success can enhance giving, but it is not a prerequisite for meaningful change.

Giving back is a responsibility, and it is rooted in paying it forward. For me, that commitment led to a partnership with Calgary-based MNP, through which the MNP and Ufodike Business Award of Excellence for Black Post-Secondary Students was launched in January 2026. The award supports outstanding Black students across the province with scholarships, recognizing those who demonstrate excellence in their post-secondary studies in business and accounting.

Learning Up

Credentials have shaped how I understand authority and confidence. I encourage women to lean in and keep learning, building qualifications that strengthen both skill and credibility. Strong credentials earn respect and trust in professional settings. As a Forensic Accountant, when I testified as an expert witness, simply hearing my bio commanded attention. No one questioned my expertise, which allowed the discussion to stay focused on substance.

Board leadership further expanded my perspective. Supervising CEOs and weighing risk, strategy, and long-term vision broadened my thinking beyond day-to-day operations. Leadership at that level requires foresight, careful judgment, and influence over culture. It changed how I see organizational challenges and opportunities.

Continuous learning remains central. Gathering knowledge, expanding networks, and building credibility create the confidence to lead effectively. These habits underpin success in both corporate and entrepreneurial environments.

Entrepreneurial Lessons

Running a retail clothing store in downtown Calgary taught me resilience. The 2018 drop in oil prices led to layoffs and weakened consumer confidence, and the business ultimately did not survive. That failure left lessons that shaped how I approached future ventures. When we launched our accounting firm, I relied on the ability to adapt, pivot, and remain calm under pressure.

“Resilience is not about avoiding challenges. It is about finding the strength to rise every time you fall.”

This idea reflects the mindset I carried forward.

Knowing when to cut losses, when to adjust course, and when to pivot is essential. Setbacks strengthened my ability to take risks thoughtfully and navigate challenges with clarity and strategy. The lessons learned from failure influence how I model resilience for my team and peers.

Entrepreneurship reinforced the need for patience and adaptability. Leadership requires applying insights from past experiences while staying open to new approaches. Every setback became a building block for better judgment, stronger skills, and more strategic thinking.

Mentorship and Sponsorship

Mentorship plays a central role in developing talent, especially for women. Guidance helps people avoid pitfalls and accelerate growth. Sponsorship complements mentorship by advocating for someone in spaces they cannot access. I have seen careers transform when someone speaks on behalf of a mentee in unexpected rooms.

Many mentees treat mentorship as transactional, expecting immediate returns. I emphasize relationships, exposure, and long-term growth. Opportunities arise from advocacy and sustained guidance rather than quick exchanges.

Investing in people yields high returns. Encouraging them to take on challenging projects, even with the risk of failure, builds skills, resilience, and confidence. Mentorship and sponsorship together create leaders capable of thriving independently.

Compliance Strategy

Compliance is often overlooked because outcomes are not immediate. I see regulatory and ethical adherence as a competitive advantage. Organizations that maintain high standards signal credibility and trust to clients, employees, and regulators.

For Black business owners, compliance carries added significance. Limited resources and systemic barriers increase the stakes for ethical operations. Investing in tools, policies, and personnel to maintain compliance builds credibility, mitigates risk, and creates a more level playing field.

Treating compliance as a strategic function helps others see its long-term value. Ethical, transparent operations protect reputation, reinforce culture, and strengthen business foundations. Leadership requires promoting standards consistently and cultivating trust.

Misunderstood Value

Entrepreneurs often underestimate compliance, viewing it as a cost center or administrative burden. In reality, regulations and ethical standards safeguard against reputational and financial harm. Proactive compliance strengthens organizations and creates trust across stakeholders.

Resources exist to support understanding, from professional associations to regulatory guidance. Knowing how compliance integrates with operations, strategy, and governance allows leaders to anticipate risks, uphold ethical standards, and build sustainable practices. Awareness and education empower entrepreneurs to embed compliance into long-term planning. That approach fosters credibility, supports growth, and enhances organizational resilience.

Continuous Growth

Growth never stops. I stay in rooms where I am challenged and inspired. If I am the smartest person present, I am in the wrong place. Surrounding myself with capable, visionary people drives personal and professional development. Encouraging my team to lean in, learn up, and take on complex projects builds skills and confidence.

Failure teaches lessons that success cannot. Without experiencing failure, it is easy to become complacent or even arrogant. Effective leadership requires continuous learning, demonstrating resilience, and investing in people. Professional development, mentorship, and sponsorship form a cycle of empowerment. Leaders who commit to growth cultivate stronger teams, better outcomes, and lasting influence.

Pivotal Moments

Setbacks and triumphs both provide lessons. Board leadership, entrepreneurship, and mentoring have shaped how I approach strategy, risk, and culture. Surrounding myself with capable people amplifies my impact on teams, clients, and the community.

Modeling resilience, ethical conduct, and strategic thinking drives results. Leadership is a combination of service, credibility, mentorship, and calculated risk. Each experience builds the capacity to guide others effectively.

The Future

My focus remains on surrounding myself with people who elevate vision, execution, and impact. Investing in people creates outcomes that ripple across organizations and communities. Growth, ethical leadership, and continuous learning remain priorities.

I hope those I mentor, employ, and work with embrace leadership as service, strategy, and courage. That philosophy has guided my career, my ventures, and my life. Leadership that invests in others leaves a lasting impact, and that is the goal I continue to pursue.