Orifunke Lawal’s Visionary Journey with VCAP: A Quest for Impact, Growth, and Structural Excellence

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT VCAP, AND WHAT MADE IT THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU?

Lady With Balls had been existing for 3 years prior but it felt like we were stuck on one level. To be honest, I did not feel fulfilled because I felt that we needed to be doing way more than we were. I strongly felt that we needed to be doing more to be significant to our nation and Africa. This was why I had to join the Program; I knew that if I knew better, we would be getting better results.

DID YOU HAVE YOUR VISION CLARIFIED, OR DID YOU COME TO VCAP TO FIGURE THINGS OUT?

Before I joined the Visionary Compass Accelerator Program, I was at a stage of seeking clarity to refine my organization’s vision and priority goals.

WHAT INTRIGUED YOU THE MOST ABOUT THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE?

It can be difficult to choose the most amazing part, just like picking your favorite candy. However, the Core modules were like a superhero cape that changed my life in ways I never expected. The coaching calls and field trip felt like stepping into a cool adventure, full of secrets and surprises. And the bonus courses were total game-changers, like finding a hidden stash of goodies. Adding a splash of magic to my everyday routine, turning ordinary moments into something extraordinary. Gosh! It was an amazing experience overall.

DID YOU HAVE AN “A-HA!” MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR WAY OF THINKING ABOUT YOUR VISIONARY JOURNEY?

Visionary Launch: By being in VCAP, I have been able to understand better what we are supposed to be focusing on and I have also been able to communicate that with my core/central team. It has taken a lot to shift their gaze and attitude from where we used to be (that wasn’t serving us) to where we should be at this point. We have implemented changes in our structure and have begun to get more results in line with what we are expecting.

Furthermore, VCAP also allowed me to be able to refine and simplify our vision statement and it is way more effective to follow now. The organization will also soon be registered officially as an NGO with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria.

Revenue & Wealth: As a non-governmental organization, we were not able to get revenues. However, as a person, my earning potential greatly improved and I saw way more financial rewards for work (through my other expressions) than I had seen in all my previous years.

Institution: Our organization is growing with clarity, and more importantly, structure. We have cancelled some practices we had that weren’t working and we have launched newer ones based on where the organization is moving. I also started leadership training for all the leaders in the organization to be able to get them skilled enough to develop results for us and their personal lives.

Impact: In my time at VCAP, I have been equipped to facilitate impactful ventures across Lady with Balls and my other expressions. In Lady with Balls, we launched an intensive accountability program for young women in 2021, providing them with resources and enforcing a system that ensures that we can track their growth. At the end of the program, we were able to collate reports and saw that participants had gone on to achieve specific goals in their lives that they had been struggling to achieve long before. We have launched our quarterly physical meetups that allow our members (and other lovers of LWB) to meet together, and offer support, help, and encouragement where needed. We have been able to be of impact to our members physically, emotionally, in welfare, and even financially. We also can see the evidence of our impact in the number of people wanting to join the community every month and in the number of members actively wanting their friends to also be a part of the community so they grow like they are.

Right now, we’re at the Launch stage of the vision. I’ve moved through getting our leaders and members to be super clear about who we are and where we are going. And now, we are launching the next vision of the organization through:

– Arms (taking inspiration from the Mountains of Influence) of women who will be trained in different sectors, drive impact in their communities, and also be rewarded for the same. We want to launch knowledge webinars, projects, field trips, and regular reports that can allow us to provide support, inspiration, and direction for these women in partnership with Lady with Balls.

– We are launching our first SDG-focused project this March and every quarter, we will also be launching SDG-focused projects that will positively affect women in different locations, starting in Nigeria and moving to Africa.

– We are currently talking about partnership prospects with other organizations that align with our values. If this goes as expected, we will be able to reach more women in other countries in Africa.

40 WEEKS IS SUCH A LONG TIME. HOW HAS VCAP HELPED YOU TO AVOID BURNOUT AND HOW HAS IT IMPACTED YOUR WORK AND HOME LIFE? 

Personal Growth: I have experienced immense personal growth in my life and this has shown in how I now view things and handle them. I am not where I used to be early last year. I have more clarity, I am bolder and more confident and I now heavily believe in what I have been called to do. I have quit the competition mentality and toxically comparing myself with others in my field and I have even been more convinced not to do certain things simply because it is a popular practice. VCAP helped me to understand the importance of taking my gift to school and in my time at VCAP, I have recorded the highest financial investment I have ever made in my personal development; something that would not have happened without VCAP. I see visible changes in how I think, how I speak with people, and how I approach others. I am also more particular about the kind of excellence I deliver across all my expressions.