Osayi Alile: On Networking, Strategy & Emotional Intelligence | Women Unlimited with Arese Ugwu

Description

Welcome to Women Unlimited, the official companion podcast to Lara Unlimited, where we interview real-life intrapreneurs who have conquered corporate leadership and are driving transformational change. Each week, host Arese Ugwu sits down with visionary women who have sat on boards, run public companies, and led high-impact projects—all while breaking barriers in male-dominated industries. In this episode, we’re honored to welcome Osayi Alile, CEO of ACT Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and youth across Africa. Osayi shares: Her journey from early career challenges to leading ACT Foundation How she created innovative programs that equip marginalized communities with life-changing skills The obstacles she’s overcome in boardrooms and boardrooms alike Her reactions to key scenes in Lara Unlimited and what they taught her about leadership 00:00 Welcome to Women Unlimited with Arese Ugwu 00:35 Meet Osayi Alile, CEO of ACT Foundation 03:00 Lara Unlimited and the Reality of Women at Work 05:20 Why Women Need to Be Prepared and Available 08:10 How Senior Women Can Open Doors for Younger Women 13:40 How Women Can Negotiate Better Pay at Work 18:00 Do the Backend Work Before Asking for More Money 20:10 How to Use HR, Finance and Internal Allies Strategically 22:20 Why Timing Matters When Negotiating Salary 24:30 How Women Can Articulate Their Value at Work 27:00 Why Women Should Brag Strategically 29:30 Building Your Personal Board of Directors 34:00 Building a Strong Personal Brand for Career and Board Opportunities 37:00 Using LinkedIn and Thought Leadership to Grow Your Visibility 40:00 How Personal Branding Can Lead to Board Seats 42:30 Positioning Yourself for Board Roles in Africa 48:00 Lara Unlimited: When a Woman Is Denied a Promotion 55:20 Why Talent Alone Is Not Enough for Promotion 57:30 What to Do When You Are Overlooked at Work 1:00:00 How to Speak Up Without Burning Bridges 1:09:00 Managing Conflict With Difficult Decision-Makers 1:15:00 Mentorship, Sponsorship and Opening Doors fo