Thank You, Andela!
Earlier today, I shared an update with my colleagues at Andela about my decision to take a personal sabbatical next month. With that, another chapter in my life’s journey has been written. I wanted to share my announcement email with my friends, family and everyone of you who has supported me during this chapter.
Dear Andela colleagues and friends,
There’s never a right time to say goodbye to a community I love from the bottom of my heart, and people I’ve built life-long relationships with.
After four tremendous years at Andela, I am transitioning out of my role as Vice President of Global Operations and into the Alumni Network on April 30.
I am immeasurably grateful for the privilege to have spent the last few years doing the hardest yet most fulfilling work of my career, with some of the most passionate and driven people I’ve met. My experiences at Andela have permanently reinforced my sense of purpose and enhanced my belief in what’s possible when incredibly talented people from diverse cultures and contexts come together to pursue a bold mission.
There are many things we take for granted here, because we simply label them “TIA”: the camaraderie that cuts across cultures and is evident throughout our various locations; the spirit of excellence and collective commitment to becoming better versions of ourselves; the desire to do what’s right and hold each other accountable; and the dedication to creating value for our communities and the world. We’re not perfect and not free of mistakes, but even in our imperfections, we inspire each other daily. I will profoundly miss being surrounded by EPIC-ness.
This is a bitter-sweet moment for me. It is difficult to leave when we’re still in the early days of a wicked global challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic. I am also disappointed that I won’t be able to visit our various offices one more time in person due to travel restrictions imposed by various countries (which I agree with). I’ve second-guessed my decision to leave a few times, but there just isn’t ever a perfect time. I take comfort in the leaders and subject matter experts we have across the organization.
On the topic of leaders, one of my most gratifying achievements is building the remarkable team leading our Africa delivery centers. As I move into alumni status, Omowale will continue to lead Africa operations, supported by a phenomenal team of Country Directors, completing a transition that we began last year. I know that senior-level departures can be difficult, but I also know that the ability for leaders to successfully pass the baton and enable others to step up is a sign of a healthy and maturing organization.
I am so proud of the dent we’ve put in the universe in such a short time, and I expect Andelans to continue writing the future. Removing the barriers that prevent engineers in emerging tech ecosystems from accessing the best opportunities and experiences in the world, is a mission that is fundamentally changing how the world engages with talented people, even beyond software engineering.
What’s next for me? I’m taking a personal sabbatical to rest, rest, rest, reflect, read, write, and re-energize. I’ll likely plan new sessions of Real Talk with Seni, and share my learnings with other entrepreneurs and leaders building companies. After some time off, I’ll plan my next great adventure in line with my life’s purpose of building an ecosystem of exemplary African businesses and leaders, and creating commercial bridges between Africa and the world. My wife, Motunrayo, and I will continue to be based in Lagos, Nigeria.
While I’m still around, I’ll be setting up Zoom office hours for anyone interested in connecting or learning more about why I wear the same black outfit every day, how I’ve had to fire and rehire myself into a new role every 6–12 months, and other reflections from building a transformational high-growth startup.
After April 30, you can reach me by email or @senisulyman on Twitter and Instagram.
This isn’t a “goodbye”. It’s a “see you around”.
Forever #TIA. Forever #EPIC. Forever #BlackOps.
Seni
PS: Jeremy, Christina, I can’t say thank you enough for taking me on this audacious journey of many lifetimes. We’ve contributed tremendously to lighting the spark for an entire generation of technologists.