From baby to boardroom peer. Odia Okoumassoun. CEO of the Day. Don't Let the Smile Fool You EP20

If you would like your company to participate in CEO of the Day - please send us an email: [email protected] happens when you take the leap from being an employee to sitting in the CEO’s chair—even if just for a day? In this episode of Don't Let the Smile Fool You, Uche sits down with Odia, who tells her remarkable story of stepping up as CEO of the Day. The conversation is filled with real moments of leadership growth, confidence, stakeholder management, and a surprising shift in family dynamics.Odia shares how her uncle, a CTO, began speaking to her as a peer after her CEO experience, and how her family’s respect for her changed overnight. She talks about leading performance meetings, tackling tough stakeholder conversations, and why being the CEO for just one day gave her a vision for her future career.The episode explores the challenges of leadership visibility in Africa and how young women can break stereotypes in business. Plus, Odia reveals how the role forced her to think bigger about her ambitions and helped her recognize her own capacity and capability. If you're inspired by stories of courage, ambition, and breaking barriers, this is one to watch.Whether you're a young leader, a woman looking for your next step, or someone who manages teams, Odia’s journey will show you just how much can change when you step into leadership—sometimes, even your family stops giving you pocket money!Chapters:00:00 Did leadership change the way your family saw you? Odia’s family reaction to her CEO moment05:35 The power of chairing the performance meeting and stepping into new rooms06:57 Stakeholder management: The skill Odia didn’t know she had until she was CEO for a day09:56 Gaining confidence hour by hour—how CEO for a Day retooled Odia's ambitions12:20 Visibility and expectations: How leadership brings both confidence and purpose17:06 Where does Odia see herself in 5 years? Reimagining career and private life19:31 Family shift: From receiving money to being asked for advice22:30 Quickfire round: One-word answers about leadership, stereotype-breaking, and advice for future CEOs25:55 Building a movement: CEO of the Day across Africa—share, nominate, become a leaderListen in for practical insights on career growth, breaking through stereotypes, and why visibility and confidence matter for young African women leaders.If Odia’s story made you smile, share this episode with someone who needs inspiration. Leaders and companies—your turn to help build the next pipeline of African women CEOs.Connect with Odia Okoumassoun:https://www.linkedin.com/in/odia-okoumassoun/Connect with Uche Ofodile:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ucheofodileTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uche_ofodileInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucheofodile/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ucheofodileofficial/