Springboard Zone

#BehindtheScenes with Mr. Martin Eson Benjamin Former CEO , MiDA as he tells it all in the #EngineRoom this on Springboard, your #VirtualUniversity.

On today's episode of #Springboard, your #VirtualUniversity, Rev Albert Ocran hosted Rev. Dr. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church Ghana, where they discussed his leadership principles and life lessons gained throughout the years.

A conversation with two young entrepreneurs, Princess Dorcas Adegoke and George Agyeman-Budu, discussing opportunities, funding, marketing, supply chain and staying relevant on Springboard your Virtual University. Watch the video version here on YouTube [https://bit.ly/41xG8qJ].

Dr Elikem Tamaklo, Managing Director of Nyaho Healthcare Centre, is our first guest of the 2023 edition of #TheEngineRoom on #Springboard your #VirtualUniversity. We delve into his experiences as a healthcare administrator and explore some behind-the-scenes aspects of his life.

In this episode of The Dons' Conclave Prof Lydia Aziato, Vice Chancellor, University of Health & Allied Sciences, discusses her leadership lessons and prescriptions for world-class education in Ghana on #Springboard, your #VirtualUniversity.

In this episode of The Dons' Conclave Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources, discusses his leadership lessons and prescriptions for world-class education in Ghana on #Springboard, your #VirtualUniversity.

Prof. Bill Buenar Puplampu, Vice Chancellor of Central University, on #TheDonsConclave discussing his leadership lessons and prescriptions for world-class education in Ghana.

Rev. Albert Ocran hosts the Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Prof. Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, on #thedonsconclave, discussing his leadership lessons and his prescriptions for world-class education in Ghana on #Springboard your #VirtualUniversity

Rev. Albert Ocran hosts the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, on THE DONS' CONCLAVE, discussing her leadership lessons and her prescription for world-class education in Ghana on #Springboard your #VirtualUniversity

In this episode of the #MyTopTen series on #Springboard, Hon. Sam George, MP for Ningo Prampram, discusses the top five lessons of his life and his five tips for an ideal Ghana with host Rev. Albert Ocran.

In this episode of the #MyTopTen series on #Springboard, Araba Koomson of Joy News discusses the top five lessons in her journalistic journey and her five tips for an ideal Ghana with host Rev. Albert Ocran.

In this #MyTopTen conversation, Charlotte Osei discusses her five life lessons and five tips for an ideal Ghana with host Rev Albert Ocran on #Springboard, your #VirtualUniversity.

Rev. Albert Ocran discusses the leadership skills and competencies required to navigate uncertain times with leadership coach, organizational development specialist, and CEO of Busara Africa, Taaka Awori, on #Springboard, your Virtual University. Watch a video version on YouTube here,

A #MyTopTen conversation as Legal Practitioner & Host of Newsfile, Samson Lardy Anyenini, shares his top five life lessons and his five tips for an ideal Ghana on #Springboard, your #VirtualUniversity with host Rev Albert Ocran. Watch a video edition of this episode on YouTube here; https://bit.ly/3Zi0xPK

In this episode of the #MyTopTen series, Dr. Naomi Adjepong of Alpha Beta Education Centres discusses her transition from medical practice to educational administration. She shares her top five life lessons and her top five tips for her ideal Ghana on #Springboard, your #VirtualUniversity, with host Rev. Albert Ocran.

In this episode of #MyTopTen series, Jeremiah Buabeng shares his top five life lessons and his five tips for his ideal Ghana on #Springboard, your #VirtualUniversity with host, Rev Albert Ocran.

A #MyTopTen conversation with broadcaster, actress, and lecturer Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku, sharing her top 5 life lessons and her 5 tips for her ideal Ghana on #Springboard, your #VirtualUniversity with host Rev Albert Ocran.

Key Lessons1. Legacy. I have always wanted to write as a legacy for the next generation. I didn't feel ready before, but I am at that stage where my biggest responsibility is to make an impact.2. Military Motivation. I was directionless during my National Service, drinking and sliding downwards. I went into the military looking for discipline. I loved the military but left after 7 years in protest without a Plan B.3. Business Wilderness. I went into business by default and spent 15 years experimenting with buying and selling, operating a sawmill, import and export of electricals, wines, air conditioning, construction, and oil business. I failed in a number of them.4. Business as a Protest. I started UT at age 45 in protest. If I, as a graduate, chartered accountant and retired army officer couldn't raise funds from banks, what could the ordinary person do? Instead of complaining, I decided to solve the problem.5. Finding your Business Call. What do you love doing? Do you love people? If you offer what you love doing to the people you love, you cannot fail in business.6. Point of Uniqueness. Our game changer was our promise to deliver in 48 hours, loans that were typically being processed in 3 months. People feel valued when you respect their time.7. Unorthodox Recovery Methods. We were holding the life savings of people in trust, and anyone we lent it to had to respect their obligations. I once had to confront an evasive defaulter who came to my own mother's funeral. Such was the commitment.8. Ubuntu. We are here to impact other people's lives and make the world a better place. It was a great feeling to employ people, solve problems and make the world a better place.9. Betrayed Trust. I believe in systems and institutions, but I believe even more in people. Some people I trusted, both internally and clients, betrayed my trust and hurt the business.10. Culture. Growing an organization organically allows for continuous infusion of culture. Integrating 200 new people into the business at once created challenges and diluted our culture.11. Growth & Reinvention. Grow your business but know when to reinvent. Reinvention is strongly recommended when you hit 150 staff. Some churches have shown the way with a great model of franchising.12. Biggest Tip to Youth. Everyone is made special by the Creator. You must know what you're put here for. First, acquire some education or learning, then listen to your call, provide a solution you really love, and you'll be far greater than me.

Summary of Key Lessons1. Career Navigation. It is okay to start out in life being unsure of what you want to do career wise. However, as you move on, clarity increases, and you must be willing to put in the effort.2. Power of Pictures. In 1985, as an undergrad, I took a picture in front of the Vice Chancellor's Lodge at Legon and declared, “I will be back.” 32 years later, I became VC at Central University.3. Decisions. My best career decisions were doing a PhD and going into academia, and secondly, deciding to lecture at Westminster University in the UK. Everything else sprung from these two.4. Mentoring. The key to mentoring is mutual respect and humility on the part of the mentee. Mentoring needn't always be close contact. Keith Philips at Westminster had a significant impact on me with just one defining conversation.5. Stay with the script.  I had financially juicy offers for corporate roles that would have diverted me from academia. I considered them but stayed the course. If you ever have to change your career, ask the right questions and don't jump without a clear plan.6. Respect for Humanity. All human beings are created in the image of God and deserve our respect no matter their economic status. A soul is a soul is a soul and is precious to God.7. Balanced Life. I love reading, driving, poetry and squash. Many executives are on a deliberate path to physical self-destruction and must make time for personal fitness.8. Patient Building. No one will hand you career opportunities on a silver platter; it takes time, continuous pursuit, the right attitude, being widely knowledgeable and being willing to volunteer.9. Unglamorous Work. I was inspired by a Legon student who helped her mother sell banana and peanuts to support her education. I carried and sold mangoes in my school days in Ada and cleaned floors in the UK to help fund my graduate education.10. Legacy. I want Central University to be known as a Christian institution where the ethos of the founder and church are clearly embedded. I want to entrench research and graduate students who are employable and ready for market.

Summary of Key LessonsFALLIBILITY. You are human. Recognize your human fallibility.HEALTHCARE SPEND. As we grow older, we spend more on healthcare; half of our healthcare spend is in our older years.PROACTIVENESS. Women tend to report healthcare issues earlier than men. They may therefore spend more, but they often have a higher life expectancy.RESPECT THE SCIENCE. If you choose to ignore the science, you increase your risks and the healthcare implications.KNOW YOUR OPTIONS. Knowing all your options in every situation makes things easier. And this also applies to healthcare.COVID-19 IMPROVEMENT. COVID-19 has increased our awareness, brought us closer to the healthcare system and improved the quality of facilities.CHECK UPS. Assess the state of your health every year. Identify and deal with health issues before they become serious.HEALTH FINANCING. Healthcare financing options include fee for service, family contributions, workplace support, social health insurance (NHIS) and private health insurance. Belonging to the NHIS is mandatory. It's not optional.CHOOSING A PROVIDER. In choosing a private insurance provider, check first that they are licensed, then speak to health service providers (HSPs) to confirm their credibility and payment history, check their financial strength and technical capacity.HEALTHCARE DEMANDS. The average individual in Ghana

Top Ten Lessons1. Importance - Communication satisfies various human needs including curiosity, human rights and, at the very apex, self-actualization.2. Technology and Communications - Technology has been at the very heart of all the changes in communication in the past twenty years.3. Access - Innovations have made technologies cheaper and more available. GSM and smart phones have increased access to technologies for everyone.4. Leveler - Our young people are far more adept at handling devices and there is no longer a great divide between them and their counterparts across the world.5. Connectivity - MTN Pulse curates relevant content and categorizes it on our app for young people. Zero rating ensures that connectivity isn't a barrier to learning and progress.6. History - In 1996, when this new era in telecoms started in Ghana, only 37 districts were connected. Caller ID and itemized bills were a novelty.7. Transition - MTN is not just a telecom service provider but a digital service provider. Our focus in Ambition 2025 is that everyone deserves a modern connected life.8. Digitalization - We are partnering with government and stakeholders to promote digitalization. Many are discovering that you don't need Brick and Mortar to do business or education.9. Fintech - Mobile Money has liberalized the economy in a more radical way than anything else has in recent years.10. Innovative Solutions - Wherever you are, and whatever you do, technology-based solutions have evolved in education, security. Technology should not be a barrier to your dreams.

Top Ten Lessons from Nii Amankra-Tetteh1. Leadership & Followership. I am a product of incredible leadership (intended and unintended) and amazing followership. I have had the privilege of working with some really incredible people.2. Positivity. I struggle to see a bad experience in any place where I have worked. Every workplace served a good purpose in getting me here.3. Learning from followers. I learnt from colleagues like Peter, Farian, Charles, Bridgette, Jeff and Margaret. My four-hour experience in a teller enclosure with a team member taught me patience, routine and deepened my respect for tellers.4. Calmness. I am calmest when the heat is highest. It's come from years of watching others deal with challenges. A firm gets its signals from leadership. When you panic, it could be costly.5. Impact-focused. I am a challenge person; not a title person. I focus largely on what impact I can make on a role and the opportunity to learn and grow. That is why I transitioned from Bayport MD to Executive Director at UMB Ghana.6. Connections. When people feel they can connect to you with their hearts, they sacrifice beyond the call of duty.7. Failures. I once used time as an excuse not to complete an MBA Programme and lost £7,000 as a result. Interestingly, on a far busier role later, I made time for a similar programme.8. Trust. Many are skeptical about banking because of past experiences. Stronger regulation has been positive with stringent rules on directorships. Banking is a lot more transparent today and less mysterious.9. Consumer's Market. Banking is now a consumer's market and no longer a banker's market. Many banks have raised the bar with real-time measurement matrices and strict rules about customer service quality.10. Service Guarantee. Technology is the enabler of service quality, measurement and decision making.

Top Ten Lessons from Nii Amankra-Tetteh1. Leadership & Followership. I am a product of incredible leadership (intended and unintended) and amazing followership. I have had the privilege of working with some really incredible people.2. Positivity. I struggle to see a bad experience in any place where I have worked. Every workplace served a good purpose in getting me here.3. Learning from followers. I learnt from colleagues like Peter, Farian, Charles, Bridgette, Jeff and Margaret. My four-hour experience in a teller enclosure with a team member taught me patience, routine and deepened my respect for tellers.4. Calmness. I am calmest when the heat is highest. It's come from years of watching others deal with challenges. A firm gets its signals from leadership. When you panic, it could be costly.5. Impact-focused. I am a challenge person; not a title person. I focus largely on what impact I can make on a role and the opportunity to learn and grow. That is why I transitioned from Bayport MD to Executive Director at UMB Ghana.6. Connections. When people feel they can connect to you with their hearts, they sacrifice beyond the call of duty.7. Failures. I once used time as an excuse not to complete an MBA Programme and lost £7,000 as a result. Interestingly, on a far busier role later, I made time for a similar programme.8. Trust. Many are skeptical about banking because of past experiences. Stronger regulation has been positive with stringent rules on directorships. Banking is a lot more transparent today and less mysterious.9. Consumer's Market. Banking is now a consumer's market and no longer a banker's market. Many banks have raised the bar with real-time measurement matrices and strict rules about customer service quality.10. Service Guarantee. Technology is the enabler of service quality, measurement and decision making.

Legends of our Time with Dr. Winfred Mensah Hodasi, the first surgeon in Ghana to lead a team to successfully separate Siamese twins in 1999.

Top Ten Lessons from Kwami Sefa Kayi - #KwamiQUOTESMentoring. I didn't get access to my role models like Sam Jonah, Kwaku Sakyi Addo, Mike Eghan and Tommy Annan Forson when I was younger. I would have asked them questions as a reference point for decision making.Early Influencers. I was influenced by my mother, who presented Latin American Rythms at GBC, and George Crabbe, who put me on his laps at age ten and asked me a few questions on radio. But I never wanted the microphone.Military Attraction. My father was in the army; I grew up admiring the officers, their starchy uniforms, military vehicles and wanting to join the army. My mother didn't want that and with the help of people like Alex Ofori Karikari and Janet Owusu gently and prayerfully steered me towards writing and acting.Radio. Ekow Budu Manuel gave me my first introduction to a radio role. He showed me the ropes and gave me the opportunity on a youth show called ‘Leaders of Tomorrow'.Professionalism versus Ratings. Learning under Sam Yeboah, it wasn't about sensationalism and what sells. It was about research, informing, educating and entertaining. Today, some focus solely on entertaining, and it can get noisy.Role of Komla. Komla Dumor was at different times a fan, a friend, a competitor and again a friend. He brought life and verve to his show and rose to unimaginable heights. We often compared notes, even as competitors.Broadcasting in Twi. It was a totally new territory for me and it was almost a gamble. Komla thought it was crazy because his preference was for me to replace him at Joy when he was going to Harvard.Vocabulary. There is a need to constantly update your vocabulary to cover incidents and subject matters that do not feature in your regular reportage.  Broadcast Focus. I find myself handling more serious issues today than I did in the past. Things were politically more heated 20 years ago: but where we are as a nation requires a stronger developmental orientation.Board Role. I accepted a board role at the National Petroleum Authority because I decided I had to step up and contribute to solving national problems. I pray that I can make a meaningful impact.

Top Ten Lessons from Dr Yaw Perbi - #YawQUOTES Pivoting. COVID-19 required many things that were in-person to pivot online. That has led to increased reach. Today, we have leadership, impact, business and ministry without borders.  The new world of work. For my executive programme, I have different managers operating seamlessly from different countries. This requires an understanding of the dance of leadership.  Hybrids. The post-COVID-19 world will be an amphibian world; dominated by people who are able to excel both in-person and online. Those who can't manage this shift will be caught out.  Africa's Season. COVID-19 could be Africa's greatest opportunity and our season. We have more Christians than any other continent. We are ahead in mobile telephony penetration, mobile money and a number of potentially positive indicators. Destiny. I was almost not born alive. There was a medical complication that threatened my life; and my mother prayed and promised God that if I survived, I would be dedicated to him. Early Pointers. Responsibilities and leadership kept following me right from school. I acted as Jesus in my school play, was school prefect at various levels and got selected for three international leadership programmes. Interwoven threads. To the onlooker, my life may look scattered from medicine to ministry, to media to finance etc. But they are all interwoven and the common thread is leadership. Authentic Leadership. I have become a proponent of authentic and cross cultural leadership. More than ever before, the world needs GQ or Global Intelligent Quotient; an appreciation of different cultures and perspectives. The secular-sacred divine is not biblical. Jesus is interested in the whole world from Archaeology to Zoology. When the policeman or teacher or doctor understands that it is the work of the Lord, the world will be a better place. Secular work is full-time service.  Christian Work Ethic. With the numbers we have, if Christians translate our faith into the marketplace, there will be total transformation all around us. 

Top Ten Lessons from Gwyneth Gyimah Addo - #GwenQUOTES1. Entrepreneurial Foundations. My father, Allen Gyimah, was a consummate entrepreneur in his time, running the famous Video City as well as a thriving second-hand clothes business. In my school days, I tried my hands on selling stuff like milk powder.2. Standards. Set your own standards. People will often hail you for doing very little, but refuse to settle prematurely and keep aspiring to greater heights.3. Vision and Due Diligence. Paint a clear picture of where you're trying to go with your business and ask the key questions right at the onset. It helps you to stay focused on the journey.4. Money. Money should not be the end but a means to something greater. Excellence should always be the goal with serving people as the ultimate.5. Business as God's Work. God is more interested in your heart than your hair. As a person of faith, I wear the hair products with pride as God's creation. Interestingly, I see us at Hair Senta as doing the work of God.6. Gap and Need Philosophy. It is easy to succeed in a business that meets a need you can identify with. I never had hair and still don't. Hair Senta first met a personal need and became a solution to many. What we give our clients is confidence and options.7. Consistency. While varieties of hair are available, I do not recommend wildly contrasting wig styles for the same person. You must communicate a clear image and be consistent.8. Fear of the Unknown. I walked out of a multinational corporate banking job to start Hair Senta in my car boot. I was scared of potential difficulties; and that fear materialized as time went on and things became really tough.9. Relationships. Everyone needs people who believe in you. My brother, Gyo, is my coach, my brother, Gerald, my brands person, while my husband, Charles, is my biggest cheerleader. Each of them chose to believe in my future.10. Appreciating Customer Preferences. For years, I stocked and tried to sell what I thought my customers should buy till I almost went down. I learnt the hard way to listen and ask questions. Eg. Francophones prefer bright hair while Ghanaians are more conservative.

Top Ten Lessons from Esther Cobbah - #EstherQUOTES1. The World as a Garden. Celebrating our flora and fauna is part of good stewardship of God's earth. We need to take good care of the world God has given us.2. #MyBeautifulGhana. When we appreciate our beautiful ideas, beautiful plants, beautiful talents and beautiful people, we become healthier and wealthier.3. Talents. We need to rethink our careers; explore and nurture our God-given talents as professional opportunities.4. Early Career Focus. I grew up interested in anything that had to do with development and promoting mutual understanding. I never related them to communication.5. Introduction to Communication. Interestingly, a town crier (gong gong beater) and local hawkers triggered my interest in communications. Their rudimentary messages about banking, spring water and eggs caught my attention.6. Proud Cyto Girl. I am a proud Cyto girl. I went to public and local authority schools throughout my formative years. The teachers taught us well and parents had confidence in these schools.7. PR Pioneering. I studied communication and journalism in school but it was at USIS that I found my passion, that is Communication for National Development. I loved the challenge of pioneering external communications wherever I went.8. Communication as a Science. Creative communication without a scientific basis is useless. Data is an important foundation for getting it right.9. Empathy. Effective communication begins and ends with the other party. We often disseminate or transmit information and imagine that we are communicating. There must be mutual understanding; and it starts with listening.10.  Governance. There can never be good governance without effective communication. That's why a government can be convinced that it is serving the people and yet get voted out.

Top Ten Lessons from Rev. Akua Ofori Boateng - #RevAkuaQUOTES Childlike Faith. For my 8th birthday, I prayed that God should let my aunty bring me a Good News Bible, instead of a cake. Miraculously, she brought a Bible but, because it was a different version, I was disappointed.  A God who is ‘cool.' God created all of us, but He's cool. He wants to hangout and know our problems. He's funny. I don't find God to be unreachable and afar off waiting to punish us. I find him very accessible.  External Approval. Many of us live our lives trying to please other people; to score points on a marking scheme we've created in our minds about what would make us acceptable.  Duality. Most young people or teenagers are very adept at having two lives: their real life and the life that their parents know about.  Revenge List. In my anger and frustration, I created a revenge or hit list that had God, my French Teacher, and my Headmistress as the three greatest ‘offenders.'  Priest versus Miss Friday. A friend once suggested that I would become a priest and I got so upset. At the time, they called me ‘Miss Friday' because of my constant clubbing.  God's will and His glory. God will give you what is good for you and what will bring his glory; not what you want.  Marriage. Marriage is often misunderstood because we go in there looking for somebody to solve our problems without even knowing ourselves; who we are and what we really need.  Seeking God. I went to seminary, not to become a priest, but to know this God that I had issues with and tell him my peace of mind.  Inner Peace. This comes with knowing that God is in absolute control; that from day one, He's just working things out to achieve an ultimate purpose. 

Top Ten Lessons from Dr. Hazel Berrard Amuah - #HazelQUOTESAppreciating Diverse Exposures. My working foundations especially my leadership, discipline and competences were forged in various ways by the different places where I worked.Adaptation. Assimilation into a new industry sometimes requires taking a new course. I took a bet with my boss at Old Mutual and completed both the diploma and advanced diploma in record time to become a Chartered Insurer.Ownership. Guinness was about celebrating life, rewarding experience and taking full ownership of your function. It was fun working in a happy environment while delivering on your KPIs.Balance Sheet. Before you see any place where you've worked as problematic, draw a balance sheet of your opportunities versus your regrets, and you could get a different perspective.Volunteering. Develop a keen interest in taking on projects, especially in cross functional opportunities. Opportunities often come disguised in unfamiliar clothes but they stretch you and create networks and visibility.The Power of Apology. Saying sorry disarms both yourself and the person you've offended. It is a powerful tool for settling issues quickly.The Golden Triangle. Not all women are successfully able to navigate marriage, career and children. I got divorced, but I learnt so much from it and celebrate my female colleagues who have kept it all together.Engaging People. Be bold but respectful in dealing with people. Maintain eye contact when communicating verbally. Corporate interviews are often not looking at technical competence but at soft skills.Executive Grooming. There are ‘disqualifiers' in your quest to advance you career. Seemingly insignificant things like halitosis, table manners, grooming, appearance and other hygiene-related issues can easily stand in your way.Influence Peddling. There are people who will try to influence, pressurize, threaten or even bribe you to employ or promote their protégés. But you must stand your ground, do what is right and hold fast to your values.

Top Ten Lessons from Kafui Dey - #KafuiQUOTESMy Hero. My hero in broadcasting has always been Larry King. I love the way he always asked simple but probing questions that drew so much from his interviewees.Power of Words. My father gave us a daily challenge to form 10 words, their meanings, phonetic transcriptions and use them in sentences. I have ‘remixed' this with my three sons.Education. We should make our education more practical, more project-based and less of copy copy. We should co-create interesting and exciting programmes with students.Research. Take time to understand everything about who or what you are understudying; how they dress, talk, walk, their demeanour and interests. In real life, copying is allowed.Social Skills. Treat all people with respect and show a genuine interest in them, no matter who they are. Everyone has a story and many want an opportunity to share a bit of it.Cyber bullying. People can create fake news to tarnish your hard-earned reputation just to get clicks and generate revenue at your expense. It can be a very painful experience.#MyBeautifulGhana. Domestic tourism remains underutilized. Other countries are generating tourism income from Ghana's cocoa and gold. We must add value to our tourist sites.Parenting. I go for a walk with each of my sons on the day of their birth - one on Mondays, one on Wednesdays and one on Fridays. We have our children for just a short while and we must take advantage of the now.Excellence and Creativity. These are the two biggest lessons of my professional life.Legacy. I am determined to leave every organization and everywhere I go far better than I met it.

Top Ten Lesson from Janet Sunkwa-Mills - #JanetQUOTESPersonal Legend. Each of us has a personal legend from God. It is a combination of our purpose, our talents, and our passion.Experience. Don't just sell a product or service. Deliver an experience that creates an emotional connection. “What your heart remembers, your mind never forgets.”Affirmations. Early in my career, an elderly lady I served, counseled me to pursue my talent as a beautician. This was affirmed by my boss in Kenya and a number of others till I eventually set up Jane'M.Appearance. Your visual imaging is important. Understand your body. Very often, even before you open your mouth, people have made conclusions about you and whether they trust you.Be Authentic. Be true to yourself and what you believe. When you pretend to be what you're not, it creates unnecessary stress and tensions that could eventually boil over.Values. My personal values, inherited from my grandmother and mother, are hard work, excellence, commitment and integrity.The God Factor. God places different people at crucial points in our lives to bring His mind and His peace into our situations. I describe them as angels sent from God.Adaptability. Corporate success often requires adapting to different environments in order to integrate. Working as an expat, I chose to lose weight or alter my appearance in certain countries just to fit in.Languages.  Languages are a great means of connecting with people and their identity. I speak a number of local and international languages; and they always open doors for me.Networking. Networking is currency. Without a chain of valuable relationships, you'll be found wanting in many situations.

#RashidaQUOTES - The top ten lessons from Rashida Saani Nasamu on Springboard Virtual University1. Apprenticeship. Working in my father's hardware shop on holidays was an early eye-opener into business. Parents in business must allow their children to serve and learn.2. Commercialize your hobby. You must be really interested in what you do. Food is an essential need; and I love cooking, so it was easy to go into the food supply chain.3. Alhaji's Wife Waakye. Waakye is a national brand asset for Ghana. The name Alhaji's Wife was carefully chosen and many get surprised that I am not even married to an Alhaji.4. Informal Sector. Demystify the informal sector so that people will stop queuing to be absorbed into the formal sector.5. Procrastination. My strongest attribute is that I do not procrastinate. If I believe in something, I simply go for it.6. Managing People. The skills I deploy in managing my construction staff are very different from those I depend on in my IT Consultancy or Media business.7. Entrepreneurship. We can create a culture of entrepreneurship by teaching people how to spot opportunities and patiently nurture them.8. Multiple streams of income. Many people are more endowed than you might think. Their most visible role could be a supporting pillar to a whole range of income streams.9. Accountability. I account for every minute of my time and every resource I have. I sometimes even send emails in the wash room. But I also make time to rest.10. Zealous. I bring passion to everything I do. I remember taking a client's order at midnight and getting a call for 100 more packs at 1am. We delivered at 7:30am prompt as promised.

#DoreenQUOTES1. Recognition. Every award is another reminder of God's hand upon my life. I am always grateful to God and don't take them for granted.2. Staying Motivated. After 26 years of hosting the same show, I still spend loads of time on preparation, reading and research.3. Greatest Lessons. In August 2010 on Springboard, my top three career lessons were humility, creativity and respect. Today, they are patience, understanding and people skills.4. Serendipity. God used my personal tragedy and a combination of events in my life to navigate me from my pharmaceutical dreams into broadcasting.5. Curiosity. If I didn't become a broadcaster, I would probably have become an investigator. I love watching CSI and trying to unravel mysteries.6. Motherhood. I feel truly blessed to be a mother to my twins. An effective support system is a priceless requirement for any mother who is a career professional.7. Divine Hand. God literally sent a relay of angels or Good Samaritans to support me at a crucial time in my life. When you pray God listens. And when He talks, we must listen.8. Greatest Asset. My greatest asset in life is my family and the blessing of knowing that we are all there for each other.9. Mentoring. My life was positively influenced in St. Roses by Father Andrew Campbell. Over the years, my big mentor and confidante has been Phyllis Marie Christian.10. Hobbies. I love reading, listening to music and dancing. I consistently do all three in my work

#GiftyAntiQUOTES in #TheEngineRoom on Springboard Virtual University1. Inspiration & Sacrifice - My main inspiration growing up was to make my father happy. I saw the many sacrifices he made and wanted to give him something in return.2. Legacy - I am always conscious of leaving a legacy. I want my daughter to grow up proud of what I have done. It puts me under pressure and influences everything I do.3. Mentorship - I benefited from the tough mentoring of people like Liz Hayfron Asare in my days at Ghanaian Times. She still reaches out to me even now.4. Social Media - It can be really challenging when you post something to encourage a vulnerable person and someone else deliberately misrepresents it just to trend.5. Emotional Pressures - There can be emotional pressures as people try to design your life to suit their needs or expectations. Be true to yourself and stay focused.6. Regrets - After a great O'Levels, I lost my way and ended up with a weak A'Levels, largely due to misplaced priorities and wrong relationships. It made me even more resolute.7. Youth Confusion - Many youth are impatient and confused in trying to reconcile the achievements of their mentors with their own realities.  Youth mentoring must be prioritized in our national development effort.8. Profitable Labour - I engaged in hawking and carpentry along the line just to raise funds for my education. I try to do everything I do with ‘swag' so I didn't find it shameful at all.9. Lifelong Learning - I continue to learn from every situation even now and, in everything I do, I seek to become a better person.10. Cultural Awareness - I have had to make a number of lifestyle changes as a chief's wife. You can call them lessons of ‘Oheneyereship'. Our culture has important lessons for societal preservation.

SHARING. My life has always been lived for others. I am inspired by Mother Teresa of Calcutta's mantra, “Doing something beautiful for God.” My parents also inspired me to believe in God GOD'S PROVISION. I worked as a labourer and later in a supermarket to save money for seminary. When I felt short by £10, an anonymous donor posted me exactly £10 pounds with a note to be a good priest. PERSISTENCE. I set off on the 13-day journey by ship to Ghana with little or no knowledge of Africa apart from my geography books. My colleague returned after the early challenges but I chose to stay and it's now 50 years. LEPER PRIEST. We've come a long way since my first encounter with a cured leper who brought me mangoes in 1974. I almost ran away. Today, many call me the ‘leper priest' and I actually live in Weija. We can still do better with stigma. BORROWED LIFE. I literally ‘died' of COVID on 11th July 2020. When, He gave my life back to me, God reminded me that I still had unfinished work to do. CONTENTMENT. l live a life of total contentment. I don't have a salary, a car or a bank account. I don't need anything. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13) RESTORATION. While ministering to prostitutes one night at a popular location, I saw people who knew me drive by with shock. The next day two of them came to church. That's how we've gotten some of them off the streets. GIVING HOPE. My ministry is about giving people hope. The toughest moments include being chaplain at Usher Fort and James Fort and praying for condemned prisoners just before they were sent to the firing squad. CELIBACY. I took the vow of celibacy because Jesus was POOR, OBEDIENT and CELIBATE. He didn't marry, so I chose to live that way as an eschatological expression. TEMPTATION. I get tempted like everyone else but I survive through prayer. I don't want to be so focused on the WORK of the Lord that I miss out on the LORD of the work.

Top Ten QUOTES from Kuami Eugene in #TheEngineRoomLesson 1 - GROWING UPI grew up in a tough neighbourhood dominated by social vices. My first musical performance was in the Presby church. It was so vigorous that the stage collapsed. The numerous invites that followed helped me move out of the ghettoLesson 2 - ROLE MODELMy mother is my biggest role model and the greatest influence on my life; from my faith to my career, character, philosophy, and even my lyrics. She prayed for me, disciplined me and, till today, always encourages meLesson 3 - MTN HIT MAKERThis is what brought me to light. I first heard about the MTN Hit maker in my teens but chose to wait for a couple more years till I was more ready and mature before participating. I thank God I didLesson 4 - TURNING POINTThe hit song ‘Angela' was my turning point. That song made me a household name. My first travel to the UK was to perform the song at the wedding of a couple, incidentally named James and AngelaLesson 5 – COMPOSITIONMusic comes naturally. I play several instruments and compose under different circumstances. Many dismissed Angela as a one-off. But after Confusion and other tracks did well, and they still didn't change their minds, I wrote “Wish me well.”Lesson 6 – RESPONSIBILITYI think deeply about my lyrics. Every music I put out there has a message. There are people from all walks of life who listen to me, young and old. I must impact them.Lesson 7 – EVANGELISTMusic is a more effective means of evangelism than any other channel. I see myself as an evangelist spreading good moralsLesson 8 - RUTHLESSNESSThe music industry is unkind and does not tolerate or forgive your vulnerability. The higher you go the more the pressure it puts on you.Lesson 9 - INDUSTRY EVOLUTIONIn my early days. I hire big equipments to do anything. But now, I can now do everything, including recordings, on my tablet. Easy access to music also means you need incredible talent, solid networks or divine favour to stand outLesson 10 – CONTENTMENTI feel special and always bless God for making me me. My greatest fear is to wake up one day and no longer be Kuami Eugene

1. SELF DISCOVERYI watched newscasters like Gifty Anti and Beatrice Aidoo and admired their Confidence, Preparation and Delivery. I grew up a relentless desire to be relevant by impacting people through television.2. DISCIPLINEI learnt discipline and formality from my late dad, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Alexander Erskine, who recently passed on.3. TOP-OF-MIND AWARENESSI am not eager to be the first. I am determined to be the first that you will remember.4. PREPAREDNESSI went through years of preparation during which I leveraged my gifts and talents coupled with strategy. My first day on set was in 1997, when I had to step in for someone on Metro TV with barely 15 minutes notice. It was disastrous.5. HUMAN ENABLERSI treasure the generosity of people like Aunty Abena at Metro TV, who taught me to ask questions, Talal Fattal, who threw me into the deep end, and Nana Yaw, a camera man, who taught me camera-eye coordination. My dad really appreciated three not-so-frontline contributors; his driver, chef and bat man.6. PROBLEM SOLVINGI am inspired by things that don't seem straightforward. They inspire my curiosity and desire to explore solutions. Eg. National challenges.7. PERSONAL FAITHI talk to God consistently, everyday. I often hear the voice of God when I am about to make decisions. Some call it intuition, but I know it is God.8. MISTAKESI have made several mistakes in life. An obvious one was not pursuing formal media education earlier. I am correcting that with a Master's in Communication Management and thoroughly enjoying it.9. REJECTIONI have been rejected for being assertive and different. Sometimes people build a wall or frame a perception about you and expect you to fit in. Humility helps in navigating such situations. In spite of how I felt, every rejection I went through fit into my life's purpose.10. THE GREATESTI want to be the greatest; the very best at what I do. I have made a personal commitment to be excellent wherever I go. My contract is never signed with my employer but with myself.

Adjetey Anang' Top Ten Lessons1. OBSERVATION & OPPORTUNITY.In the beginning, I visited the places where actors rehearsed and just enjoyed them while learning by observation. I only seized my opportunity when one character failed to turn up.2. PROFESSIONALISM.Theatre can give you a role opposed to your personality, but you have to wear it and take it off like a garment. The conflict arises when people actually perceive you as the ‘bad boy' character and even go to the extent of shielding their children from you.3. INTELLECT & PHILOSOPHY.Theatre must make us think about societal change. It must not just be about humour and wit but also about sober reflection.4. FORMAL TRAINING.After performing for a while, I honed my craft at the School of Performing arts where I was largely influenced by Prof. Martin Owusu. I later proceeded to lecture at NAFTI.5. ADAPTATION.Taking on a part involves research and adaptation. To help me act the role of ‘Pusher' in ‘Things we do for love', I had to visit a number of bars to appreciate the mannerisms of the larger-than-life character I was trying to portray.6. INVISIBLE ROLES.Most industries are far larger than the people you see on the frontline. People like costumers and those in charge of special effects take time to really analyze loads and loads of details in designing for the part. Film is really a science.7. PERSONAL ETHICS.I walked away from a very lucrative contract that required me to endorse and drink alcohol for ethical reasons. It was a very difficult decision that required consultation and counselling but I look back now with gratitude because God rewarded me for my decision.8. EXCELLENCE.I will celebrate someone like Shirley Frimpong Manso who has the conviction and the guts to consistently insist on her standards of excellence. Shirley would typically make tough demands on A-List actors or actresses without pausing to consider who they are.9. FEEDBACK AND IMPACT.My greatest fear is insincere feedback. It is worrying when people hail you or praise you for work that you know feel short of the mark. My other fear is leaving my audience with nothing beneficial after a performance.10. TEMPTATIONS.The movie industry is fraught with temptation and nothing prepared me for it. I struggled to cope initially but my wife has been a great source of support and strength.

#TheEngineRoom with 2021 Artiste of the Year, Diana Hamilton on Springboard Virtual University

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