Inspired by his programme at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Bola embarked on a consulting career where he has led transformation programmes for some of the largest companies in the world. He started his career working as a consultant in a London-based management consulting firm serving blue chip investment banks. Later in his career, he joined Deloitte Consulting as a Director & Leader of Strategy & Innovation. Currently, he is the Global Vice President at Mastercard Consulting.
Current job title and description of what this role entails:
I am the Global Vice President of Innovation & Transformation products at Mastercard. In this role, I lead a team of product and consulting experts who design and shape innovative digital solutions for some of the most complex payment challenges faced by banks, FinTechs, retailers and governments for all our regions; Europe, North America, Latin America & Caribbean, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa.
Tell us about your career journey since graduating from ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳?
Following my graduation, I was keen on a role that would throw me into the deep end of solving real world problems for demanding clients. I had a few job offers but decided to join a privately owned consulting firm in London - CWB (which was subsequently acquired by Thales). My role as a consultant exposed me to a series of strategy, risk and process projects for clients like Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank. This was my first opportunity to apply the core principles of design thinking that I had learned at the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.
My career in the city led me to other exciting roles in internal consulting, transformation and change management with companies like Legal & General Investments and Barclays. After almost a decade working the City, I embarked on a new challenge - Africa. The banks across the continent were undergoing a significant digital transformation and I wanted to play a role in that change. I worked with UBA and MT – an independent strategy firm as a Partner. I eventually joined Deloitte Consulting as Director & Leader of Strategy & Innovation for West Africa.
I joined Mastercard in 2019 and have held several senior positions including Business Development Leader for the Advisory business in Sub-Saharan Africa (the coverage was 32 countries), Area Business Head for West Africa and currently Global Vice President for our digital innovation products. I have gone full circle and now based in London.
How has the programme you studied helped your career since you graduated?
The programme was priceless in teaching core principles that went beyond management and information systems. In the typical ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ way, the course stretched my mind to always take a human centred approach to complex problem solving. These principles not only prepared me for my career but have also shaped my approach to life.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received?
“Always be obsessed with quality and protect your professional reputation with everything that you have…”
What’s the greatest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
It was adjusting to a pandemic world where my closest client interactions had to be done remotely.
What are your hopes for the future?
My hope is that digital technology continues to serve its original purpose - a tool that solves mankind’s most challenging problems and brings us all closer together. I hope that future generations will resist any technology that reduces the impact of human interactions or drives humanity apart.
Share with us your fondest memory of the Department of Management.
An absolutely great set of professors like Steve Smithson, Edgar Whitley, Shirin Madon, Ian Angell - who basically predicted almost everything happening with digital and AI today. And oh yes, great memories of endless debates with course mates in the Three Tuns!
If you would like to be profiled or if you would like to nominate a Department of Management alumni, please email dom.alumni@lse.ac.uk.