A seasoned human resources senior executive with local and global best practices spanning across various industries, Lara Yeku’s expertise cuts across HR Transformation, Talent & Career Management, HR Strategy, HR Metrics & Data Analytics, Organizational Design & Development, Training, Total Rewards, Performance Management, Talent Acquisition & Retention, Talent Architecture, Workforce Planning, HR Coaching, Succession Planning, NLP Coaching, Design Thinking etc.
Lara is also a qualified coach who is enthusiastic about assisting professionals in discovering their strengths and unleashing their potential in order to propel them into a more promising future. Lara Works with Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc., (FMN Plc), where she is now Divisional Director, Head of HR-Food Division.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Tell us about yourself and your story before joining FMN Plc.
I am a God-fearing, passionate, and purpose-driven young lady who views life from the angle that everything happens for a reason. If you are able to find your reasons, you will find your peace. I am a fun-loving, futuristic, and warm-hearted person. I enjoy meeting people and reading. Over the course of my career journey, I have worked with a number of organizations. I have functioned as a human resources officer at DHL Supply Chain. I also worked at Accenture as a human resources professional for 11 years prior to being promoted to the position of Country HR Lead of Accenture, Nigeria in January 2018. I found my new love; the Flour Mills of Nigeria, where I currently lead the Food Division as the HR Head/Divisional Director.
Tell us more about FMN Plc.
Incorporated in September 1960 and quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1978, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc. is one of Nigeria’s leading food and agro-allied companies. With a broad basket of food products, an iconic brand “Golden Penny”, and a robust pan-Nigerian production, distribution, and supply chain network. FMN is a fully integrated and diversified food and agro-allied group.
With a click to www.fmnplc.com you will have the full information about FMN
Why did you choose to become a human resources expert?
I discovered my purpose is to impact lives positively and I love the fact that HR focuses on value through people i.e talents, which in turn leads to various methods of designing, implementing strategies and delivering value to the organization. The most valuable part of any business is its talent, or people, and how to create alignment between the people and the business.
An organization’s human resources are its human capital, intellectual assets, or talents; the people who play critical roles in the company’s success. No matter what part of the business you are dealing with, whether it is finding where to put a new plant design, developing a new product strategy or even creating a cost structure, every business issue ultimately becomes a people issue. At the heart of it, you need to have people with the right skills, opportunities, and motivation to face those challenges and achieve business success. This is the essence of human resource management that drives business success. And this is why I love HR. It is about the people or talents that are the core of any business. I have a great ability to contribute and make an impact through people and HR happens to be the best space where my passion finds expression.
Having an interest in HR does not mean one will be successful in it. As an HR professional; success largely depends on the motive for joining the profession. Your motive will drive your actions and subsequent outcome or results.
What are your responsibilities as the Head of HR of the company?
I am responsible for providing strategic HR leadership by conceptualizing, formulating and implementing strategic business and people direction; leadership effectiveness; capability development; productivity driving; and organizational culture in the Food division. This is in collaboration with Food Leadership Teams and Business Unit/Function Heads, for continuous performance and productivity improvement, with their coaching and support.
How do you keep yourself and your employees motivated?
Being a coach has helped me to lead with empathy and from a stand point of care.
Some principles have been helpful as a leader, like;
- Spending time to know the employees so as to understand their peculiar needs
- Listening to unspoken words
- Involving my team members in decision making
- Build a “CAN DO” spirit in my Team members, as people can easily have doubts about their ability, especially when a task stretches their current ability, but my assurance is to always let them know that they can with the necessary support.
- Flexible work pattern to encourage work-life balance.
- Having regular and necessary team meetings to ensure everyone is on track with their objectives and KPIs
- Having meaningful and worthwhile goal(s) and rewarding and celebrating their achievement(s) can also help.
- Saying “Thank you” has also been a powerful tool, letting them know that their contributions are well appreciated. This helps to improve their sense of belonging.
What have you failed at and how do you overcome challenges?
I failed at the assumption and belief that only my functional expertise would get me a promotion. I neglected the balance between the behavioral and relationship parts. I missed promotions twice in my career because I did not realize the importance of building relationships and behavioral competence(s). I learnt the hard way.
Kindly describe how you will specifically know what success looks like for you. And what has been the best recognition that you have received as a professional?
Winning through people has been my best definition of success, helping people to succeed and do the seemingly impossible. God has called us to be successful; He did not create us for failure. Success is a choice, just as failure is a choice. Success is not just a place you arrive at one day; it’s a journey. It’s a continuous process you go through for the rest of your life. It never ends because you are limitless. You move from one stage or phase to another. There will always be new things for you to attain. There will always be new grounds to break/conquer. Therefore, you define success by knowing who you are, what you want to achieve, and creating a pathway to achieve your own defined success.
What advice would you give to the next generation woman leaders?
Define the purpose of your career and ensure your desire for your profession fits into it. Define your values and be clear about why you have chosen this path. Have the right mind-set, build your functional capabilities and build strategic relationships. These are essential because we spend the best part of our active lives pursuing our careers; it is important you get it right. Live your life to the best of your fullest expression. Live life purposefully. Earn leadership positions through dint of hard work and proven principles/purposefulness.
I will recommend a copy of my HR Storybook which comprises of stories of 56 HR professionals especially women who shared their career stories to share proven principles that has worked for them. You can order on Okadabooks, Amazon or Jumia.
What are your future plans to sustain the company’s and your success?
My organization has a clearly defined 5-year strategy plan that articulates our aspiration as a business. This is what will define and measure our success on a yearly basis to sustain our business, while my success is to remain focused on what makes me live meaningfully, focused on my purpose – impacting lives positively within and outside my organization.
Website: www.fmnplc.com
