International women’s day celebration- Bunmi Akano

CAREER HISTORY

Bunmi Akano is credited with over twelve years experience within the Aviation Industry to include Ground Operations Management, Customer service, Office Administration and Human Resource Management.  She graduated from the University Of Ibadan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology.  After a brief stint at the Bridge Clinic as a Trainee Embryologist, she made a complete change in career path when she was selected as one of the pioneer staff for Virgin Nigeria Airways as a Customer Service Executive. At Virgin Nigeria, she moved through the ranks to become the Lead Customer Service Executive and later served as the Office Coordinator where she was first exposed to handling transactional aspects of Human Resources at the MMA2 Terminal.

Bunmi’s career in Human Resources took a major turn when she got the role at Greater Washington Limited as the Human Resources Executive. She was eventually to lead the Human Resources and Administrative team as its head within three months of joining GWL.  In 2013, she was opportuned to join Air Peace Limited which was at the time a start up Airline with eleven employees and one Aircraft. She is responsible for starting up the HR Department at Air Peace Limited which has now grown to become Nigeria’s largest Airline flying into 20 destinations within and outside Nigeria.  She currently Heads the Human Resources team as the HR Manager. In this role, she provides strategic leadership and HR solutions to an almost 2,000 strong employee Organization which includes local and expatriate talent within an outside Nigeria. She has over the years gained experience and expertise in most generalist HR functions.

Bunmi holds the Senior Professional of Human Resources International (SPHRi) Certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), USA. She is also Member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) USA, a leading professional association devoted to Human Resource Management and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (ACIPM).

She is passionate about Human Resources and seeks to drive Organisational success by influencing its leaders to maintain a strong and positive culture and value based environment where people will thrive. She believes in the strength and potential of every individual and advocates for personal success which will birth Organisational success. She is currently attending the John Maxwell Online University where she plans to complete her certification in leadership, coaching, speaking and training in August. Another major career goal for her in 2019 is to become certified as a Global Professional Of Human Resources (GPHR).

And yes, she is very shy!!!

She is the first born and has two siblings, born in the 80s and raised by a rather tough mom. When she is not working to ensure Air Peace Limited acheives its objectives through its people, she is spending time with her husband and three daughters. Bunmi loves God and she credits Him alone for her achievements

I advise every woman out there that yes you can have a successful career and raise a family. You have to strike a balance and have a great support system and manage your time efficiently. Someone once told be to be 100percent present in any of my roles. So when I am at work, I give it 100 percent and when I am playing with my 2 year old or with my husband, I give it a 100percent. No role should distract another.

I have learnt that you have to prepare yourself for every opportunity that comes your way. Before you are told to do a presentation, prepare yourself for public speaking, before you are appointed a leader, prepare yourself by learning the art of influence and managing people. Prepare, prepare and get ready. Although you are never completely ready a 100percent for a new experience, there is a place for preparation and arming yourself with information required to execute and succeed.