Margaret Olele 
One of the classes I found both intriguing and worrisome was the elective philosophy class I took during my second year as an undergraduate. It questioned human existence from Berkley’s notion, suggesting we are mirages that have meaning only in the minds of others, to Descartes’ famous Cogito Ergo Sum, “I think therefore I exist”. At that time, I was glad it was only an elective, not because I shied away from deep thinking, but because I struggled to find a practical application. So what was the benefit of it all?
Years later, I found myself revisiting those philosophical musings, this time with a more profound understanding. I began to formulate my own philosophical musings: first, that I am because I am impacted by the environment I exist in; I thrive, therefore I exist.
These thoughts were born from my experiences as a career woman navigating the complexities of the workplace. Women typically stay longer in organisations, and this is not necessarily because of monetary rewards or perks, but because of the congenial nature of the workplace. The less toxic it is, the more a woman throws herself into it. However, the quality of leadership plays a crucial role in shaping the environment.
If the Head of an organisation is acerbic and narcissistic, the trickle-down effect is sometimes palpable, as seen in the way department heads treat their direct reports. The environment feels diseased; the leader’s infection widens like the ugly spread of ringworm if left untreated. If you don’t get out and quickly, too, you will be enmeshed in the diseased fungal ring…and forever damaged. It is essential to recognise these warning signs and know when to exit, especially given women’s tendency to persevere in challenging situations.. Don’t hope for change to happen by the wand of a fairy godmother; think and plan strategically for your thriving path.
My first job out of university is a good example. Armed with a Master’s degree in Mass Communication (specialising in Public Relations and Advertising), ready to conquer the world, I joined a medium-sized Advertising Agency. The company had interesting clients in the automotive, food, and other sectors, and I was so sure this was THE opportunity to prove myself —the near paradise. But Boom – serpent arrives in paradise, through the CEO of the Organisation. It was not the usual story of sexual harassment that I heard from my friends back then, but a unique one.
It started subtly at weekly meetings, where I would share thoughts on how we could approach the campaigns for specific clients based on my interactions and my client report. This man, a tall, near-bald man in his forties, will first glance, then glare at the document I shared, and then he looked at me with a condescending smile, “My dear, this is not the way it works… Don’t think because you have a Master’s in Mass Communication or a double master’s degree, you know all about advertising.” At the outset, I thought he wanted me to learn on the job, but each passing day it became a litany, at meetings, in front of clients – that was when I knew that this was not a boss interested in my growth, but psychologically trying to play pranks with my confidence and doubt my competence. It was not until I knew he had an OND qualification that I understood the root of his behaviour. What good leaders would see as an opportunity to leverage a good hire, these kinds of leaders see it as a declaration of war.
The worst kind of psychological torture in a workplace is when your boss undermines your abilities, your capacity to thrive, inflicting self-doubt through subtle innuendoes and gestures that slowly seeps the disease of doubt through every fiber of your being and shrouding you with the cloak of Who am I? I knew I had to leave. I walked away from this job after three months.
Looking back, I am grateful for that experience early in my career as a woman and a human. It taught me that my self-worth is the currency that opens doors to new opportunities. Do not get soaked into the fear of the unknown or hope for a miraculous change; instead, think strategically about your thriving path. Recognize the signs of toxicity and exit as quickly as you can. Your environment shapes you, and you have the power to choose where to thrive. I planned my exit, and when I closed the door of that ‘shop’ I knew what the next door would be like.
We should never forget that our existence is intertwined with our environment. “I thrive, therefore I exist”, should be a philosophy that guides us with self-assurance and purpose.
Margaret Obiageli Olele is a trailblazing CEO and Executive Secretary of the American Business Council. She brings over 30 years of experience engaging African governments on behalf of the private sector. Margaret’s corporate journey began at Clapperboard Network Television, the pioneering private broadcast media in Nigeria. She then spent 16 years with West African Seasoning Company, part of Ajinomoto Group, Japan, where she drove the company’s expansion into East Africa. At Pfizer, she served as associate director and later director of public affairs and communication, leading key initiatives such as the access and affordability project in Ghana and the SSA Sickle Cell Project. Margaret has provided expertise to various government agencies and has also offered capacity-building advisory services to several distinguished organizations. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the Graduate School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, teaching brand strategy and communication and a fellow of the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria.