Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli 
Years later, I am thrilled that I took option 3! Through the wonderful support of Fola Adeola and the Ford Foundation, and the hard work of a committed board, amazing staff and over 200 volunteers, I was able to successfully serve as FATE’s pioneer ED. The organisation operates offices in Lagos and Port Harcourt, has received numerous international awards and is recognised as one of the most professionally managed and performance-driven nonprofits in Nigeria. Wharton even profiled me back then! What an honour! Wharton Women Mean Business – Wharton Magazine (upenn.edu)
Happily married (to an old friend that I reconnected within Nigeria…this was all part of the Master’s plan, but I did not realise it when I made the move), Debt-free (Thank God!), I started Leadership Effectiveness Accountability & Professionalism (LEAP) Africa in 2002. Guess What? During the summer of 2003, with support from the Association of Women’s Rights in Development, NIA was born.
A little older, and hopefully, a little wiser, I have learnt more than ever before to lean on God’s direction rather than advice from any man or woman. For what it is worth, if you are faced with a major decision concerning your career, consider the ten prerequisites that God has placed in my heart…and may they be a blessing to you:
1. What are you passionate about? What gets you excited? If you are still unclear about what you are most passionate about, make a list of the things in life that make you angry! Rank them in order of priority! (In my case, poverty in Africa makes me angry. The dearth of credible, dynamic, innovative leaders on the African Continent makes me MAD…hence the rationale behind LEAP!)
2. What are you good at? What comes naturally to you? Now, I don’t mean technical skills…but softer skills. (e.g. I never realised how much I absolutely loved public speaking and training until I was put in a position in which I had to do it repeatedly. In your case, it could be that you make everyone around you feel comfortable, regardless of their social, economic and racial backgrounds.)
3. Are any of the skills that you listed above directly relevant to the passions that you noted in question 1? (e.g. since I love training, I believe that I could help more Africans improve their personal effectiveness by organising leadership institutes. In your case, it could be that since you love spending time with all types of people, and are deeply upset about the absence of good African restaurants in Boston, even if you hate cooking, you could consider opening a restaurant! You can always find someone else to do the cooking…while you focus on attracting and retaining the customers)
4. Would you be willing to do this for free? (Does the option still look attractive to you if you take all financial considerations out of the equation?) Success will always follow passion and talent! This will not happen overnight, so you need to have enough passion to see you through the empty bank account. Believe me, if you are passionate enough about something, you can always convince others to part with their money or time.
5. Would you be willing to do it even if it did not carry a prestige factor? (Oftentimes, we are trapped in resume-building mode and are only concerned about adding brand names to our repertoire. Have you ever considered the fact that you can create your own brand? Oprah is a brand! Believe me, fame follows passion, excellence and talent!)
6. When you pray about this opportunity, do you feel at peace about the opportunity? (Of course, you have to be at a place in your walk with God, when you can distinguish His voice from all others. Are you living a life that is Holy and acceptable unto God? Do you spend time in His presence? Are you humble before Him?)
7. Is this the right time? Are there any signs from God that indicate that this is the right time to pursue the opportunity? (By signs from God I mean what many of us call unexplained coincidences such as people popping into your life, open doors, unsolicited advice that is surprising on-point etc.)
8. Do your close friends think that this is a good move? (e.g. only talk to two or three close and consistent friends who have always told you the truth, even when it hurts!) If you don’t have a prayer partner, it may be wise to find one…consistent spiritual support is critical to success.
9. Do your progressive family members think that this is a good move? (e.g. believe me, when you step out in faith, you always need all the support that you can get, especially from your spouse and progressive family members!)
10. Are you prepared to remain committed to God and humble in spite of any success?
If your answer to most of these questions is YES! Then, make the bold move and step out in Faith!
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli is the President/CEO of the ONE Campaign. She has over 27 years of international development experience. Nwuneli started her career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in Chicago. She returned to Nigeria in 2000 to serve as the pioneer executive director of the FATE Foundation. In 2002, she established LEAP Africa to inspire, empower, and equip a new cadre of principled, disciplined, and dynamic young leaders in Africa. She is the co-founder of Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition – West Africa’s leading agrifood ecosystem consulting firm and AACE Foods, which produces a range of packaged spices, seasonings, and cereals for local and international markets.
Nwuneli serves on the boards of the Rockefeller Foundation, Chanel Foundation, Stanbic IBTC Group, Forum of the Young Global Leaders, and the Bridgespan Group.