3 lessons I learnt from interviewing Dr. Sam Adeyemi, by Goodness Chibuna

I remember sitting in front of the TV on weekends, glued to Success Power on AIT in the early 2000s. Dr Sam Adeyemi’s calm voice and impactful lessons on success and personal growth left a lasting impression on me. As a child, I didn’t fully understand everything he said, but his words stirred something in me and shaped how I viewed life.

Fast forward to last Thursday, and there I was interviewing Dr Adeyemi. It felt surreal—a full-circle moment. Interviewing someone whose words influenced my early years, I found myself not just listening but learning all over again. His insights were as profound as ever, but this time, they carried even more meaning.

Here are three lessons I learnt from that conversation:

1. True influence lies in service, not titles

Dr Adeyemi highlighted the need to rethink how we view leadership. Too often, leadership is associated with power and titles, but he reminded me that it’s about influence and service. Leadership is about empowering others and working toward shared goals. This mindset shift—from authority to service—is especially critical in Africa, where the obsession with titles often gets in the way of real progress.

2. The power of having a coach or mentor

No matter how talented or capable you are, having the right guidance can make all the difference. Dr Adeyemi spoke passionately about how coaches and mentors help leaders navigate challenges and avoid mistakes. His words were a timely reminder that we all need people who can offer perspective and help us grow. As he put it: “Without the right leadership support, even the most capable leaders may struggle to create meaningful change”.

3. Mindset is everything

Perhaps the most striking part of our conversation was his emphasis on mindset. The real obstacle to progress in Africa isn’t the lack of resources—it’s how we think about leadership and success. Dr Adeyemi explained that real transformation begins with a shift in mindset. “Change the mindset, and you’ll change the culture,” he said. Mindset shapes decisions, and those decisions ultimately shape the future.

Dr Adeyemi’s focus on mindset and transformation is also captured in his new book, SHIFTS, which provides six practical steps to transform your mindset and elevate your leadership.

This powerful message of transformation will be at the heart of the upcoming SHIFT Leadership Conference on February 8. The event also marks the 30th anniversary of Success Power, which first aired in 1995. Speakers like @Ibukun Awosika, Gabriel Ogbechie, and Cedric Nash will share their experiences and challenge common misconceptions about leadership and success.

Leaving that interview, I felt incredibly inspired—not just by his words but by the reminder that what we consume as children can shape who we become.

#MindsetShift #SamAdeyemi #SHIFTS