Articles by "LEADERSHIP"
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Kevin Kruse ,

What if one of the most widely revered management practices was completely wrong? Is it possible that the “open door policy” is harmful to managers and individual contributors alike?
Could it be that the “open door” just enables individual contributors to delegate their problems back onto management?
Photo: Pixabay/donterase
Photo: Pixabay/donterase
An open door policy refers to the practice of organizational leaders leaving their office doors “open” so that employees feel welcome to stop by to meet informally, to ask questions, or to discuss matters that have been weighing on their minds.
Of course, the goals of an open door policy are admirable—that’s why it’s so popular. The theory states that an organization uses such openness to build a culture of trust, collaboration, communication and respect regardless of an individual’s position in the hierarchy.
While the goals are noble, the disadvantages are real. When I asked my newsletter subscribers to share their real-world experiences with the “open door” I was flooded with replies, and all of them asked for anonymity, so I’ve changed their names below.
Recommended by Forbes
Employees May Be Afraid To Speak Up
The first problem is that many employees are afraid to speak up. Business professors James R. Detert (Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University) and Amy Edmonson (Harvard Business School) set out to analyze the reasons behind this in a joint study they conducted at a leading technology corporation.
In interviewing nearly 200 individuals from all levels and functions, they found that employees often chose to hold back from sharing information that could be beneficial for the company. Why? Self-preservation. The professors explain:
In our interviews, the perceived risks of speaking up felt very personal and immediate to employees, whereas the possible future benefit to the organization from sharing their ideas was uncertain. So people often instinctively played it safe by keeping quiet.
Detert and Edmonson go on to explain that “broad, vague perceptions about the work environment” often inhibited employees from speaking up. For example, some workers referenced myths of individuals who publicly shared their ideas, and were “suddenly gone from the company.”
Indeed, Gerry emailed me to describe what happened when he used the open door policy of his manager’s manager.
In a meeting with him, I told him about some of the problems of performance and communication we had with my immediate manager who was new and inexperienced. I also suggested some solutions… a few days later he told my manager what I said. That created a bad situation between the two of us. My manager soon left the company and a few months later I also was forced to leave.
Was there substance to these stories? It doesn’t matter. If the perception is there then the danger of employees holding back is automatic.
In other words, certain employees will naturally resist sharing their input. Putting the responsibility on those individuals to openly communicate their problems or suggestions for improvement is tantamount to locking that potentially helpful feedback in a trunk and throwing away the key.
Employees May Become Dependent On Leaders
For other employees, the problem is the opposite. In their willingness to share all of their problems and ideas with management, these individuals become overly dependent on company leaders. In essence, they become afraid to make most decisions without first running them by their superiors.
Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world’s foremost leadership coaches, explores the reasons for this in an essay he wrote for the Harvard Business Review. As Goldsmith points out, employees know their jobs—their tasks, roles and functions—better than anyone else in an organization. But not everyone is comfortable making decisions, and here is the critical point:
It isn’t possible for a leader to ‘empower’ someone to be accountable and make good decisions. People have to empower themselves. Your role is to encourage and support the decision-making environment, and to give employees the tools and knowledge they need to make and act upon their own decisions. By doing this, you help your employees reach an empowered state.
Ned, a manager of a business in Australia, tried to modernize the company culture partly through a wide-open door policy. He described the outcome:
I was working 70 plus hours a week, I had unwittingly created a culture of dependence whenever even the smallest problem arose… The stronger (more valuable) staff members did not feel empowered or even trusted in their roles, and were more likely to consider leaving. And the weaker (less valuable) staff members only grew more dependent. Which meant the stronger staff would leave and the weaker ones would stay. It would appear that my open door management policy had basically become a mechanism by which staff could delegate their problems back onto management!
As a leader, you have a responsibility to pass on valuable knowledge and experience through good training and coaching—at appropriate times. But leaving the door open discourages your people from appropriate bias-to-action, and limits the opportunities they need to grow.
April 25, 2016
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Glen Tullman

Despite the corporate world having encouraged mentorship for more than 35 years, it’s an outdated and imperfect model. In this fast-paced world filled with innovations and changing workplaces, you should redirect energy that would go to fostering a mentor relationship and instead find a personal board of advisors and develop a strong network that you own.
Rather than leaning on a single mentor, develop a professional network of advisors.
Rather than leaning on a single mentor, develop a professional network of advisors. (Shutterstock)
Early in my career, everyone was constantly talking about mentors—specifically how they could find the one who would change their lives. That single mentor who would give the advice, make the connections and offer the guidance that would accelerate a career. For some of my first colleagues, the search took on almost a messianic aspect: If only they could find the perfect mentor, they would be saved from a career stuck in middle management and instead be brought to the promised land of the senior executive ranks.

 Yet latching onto a single person for one’s entire career is no longer a sound strategy for long-term success. It doesn’t fit an economy where individuals may have worked for multiple companies and across industries by the time they are 35. If you put all your hopes in one person, you’ll inevitably be disappointed. Why? Because we’re all human and we’re all limited in some way. This isn’t about personal devotion or loyalty, although both might develop as you form relationships throughout your career. It’s about learning and shorter paths to success—both of which have less to do with one promotion or a slightly increased salary and more to do with finding your passion.


An aversion to career mentors is certainly not in line with prevailing practice. There is a whole cottage industry out there helping people find mentors, be mentors and choose mentors wisely. Companies are encouraged to learn corporate mentoring best practices and find models for helping their employees connect: 71% of Fortune 500 companies offer mentorship programs. And it goes further than that. Eighty percent of CEOs say they’ve had mentors in their career, but the real key is the “s.” Very few people actually reach the CEO suite with only one mentor.
The notion that mentors can help us get a leg up in our careers is not entirely wrong. But the idea of needing one mentor throughout life’s many stages is obsolete. You don’t want to get locked into one mindset just because that is how your mentor always approached things. You need to pivot and evolve as quickly as everything else.
It is vital to your career—whether you’re just graduating from college or getting settled into a new CEO chair—to create a personal advisory board. Instead of choosing a single mentor, develop a network of advisors who are of mixed demographics, in varied industries and at different stages of their careers. Traditionally you would turn to one mentor for all of your questions; a network allows you to gather strong advice from the person best suited to the task at hand.
One mentor cannot offer you a well-rounded view of the world and advice on how you should operate in it. You should seek conflicting advice from a number of sources and then analyze it to make the most informed decision on your own.
An advisory board also allows you to avoid the biggest problem that can arise: seeking a mentor’s advice about a job or career shift. Traditionally, mentors work with colleagues at their own company or firm. Back when people spent their entire lives employed at one company, that made sense. But in this era, the path to success tends to swerve from one establishment to the next. No matter how dedicated you are to your current company, you can’t position yourself as ready for the next promotion while simultaneously expressing doubts about your trajectory. A strong executive mentoring a junior employee may feel conflicted about helping them think through their options elsewhere.
The traditional mentor was generally someone older and far more experienced. A few senior, accomplished people are still essential to your network. But here are five more types of professionals who will round out “Team You”:
1. Colleagues. Look at your peers not as competition, but as professional advisors. Having thoughtful colleagues as advisors is critical because they are more likely to be honest with you. They understand what it’s like to walk in your shoes—they are often in the same situation themselves. Plus, since they are around your age, these friendships may develop into lifelong relationships that don’t retire when you still have many years left in your career.
2. Peers at different companies. Everyone knows the real value of business school is the friendships, which alumni tend to rely on for decades of career advice. Whether you attended business school or not, it’s important to continue finding similar opportunities to keep your network fresh. Executives and CEOs have long attended such forums as the Young Presidents’ Organization. (And, later, the World Presidents’ Organization—after all, the need for good advice never goes away, even after you age out of YPO at 49.) Organizations like these can help create wide, diverse networks across gender, geography and industry. My chief of staff attends Leadership Greater Chicago, which expands his perspective beyond his own company. Whatever forum you choose, use it to “mentor” you on all sorts of issues, with cross-industry advice.
3. Your employees. Don’t be too proud to check in with your employees and ask them for advice now and then. You’ll see a different side to the power equation. Getting a good team behind you is perhaps the most important thing you can do as a leader. Your direct reports will help you discover how to attract talent and be a sought-after leader better than anyone else.
4. People who have struggled. It’s very important to learn to deal with difficult situations from people who have already experienced them. Some people are so extraordinary at a particular skill, they don’t know what it’s like to be challenged (such as the leader who doesn’t find firing people difficult or a salesperson who always effortlessly seals the deal). Advisors who aren’t naturally adept in a specific area can teach you how they overcame the same challenges you’re facing. You want people who care enough to share.
5. Visionaries. Find someone who has demonstrated a clear vision in their field—even if it’s not your own industry. You might work in health care, but if you notice someone who is flourishing in aerospace, ask how they reached this pinnacle. Get out of your silo and talk to leaders who have taken radically different career paths. You’ll be amazed by how many people will talk with you if you only just ask. Some of my greatest advisors have been academics, leaders in government and people who have major accomplishments with global health in developing countries. Their vision helps me as a businessperson almost more than anything else, because they make me think more creatively about my own challenges.
Not everyone will love and cherish you like a single mentor would—and that’s OK. This isn’t about making friends (you should do that, too, outside the office); it’s about advancing your career and your life. Sometimes friends are not the best choice—they like you too much to see your flaws. A personal board of advisors allows you to candidly learn from a larger group of people as you grow. At times, you’ll find one advisor’s advice more useful than another’s; and over time, you may gain and lose advisors as your career takes off. This creates a healthy professional ecosystem.
In the end, ignore all the stressful advice to find that one transformative mentor. Be intentional about seeking out talent across many different areas—professional, social, educational and philanthropic. Find the smartest, most passionate people and help them succeed before you ask for anything in return.
With all the tremendous change that has occurred over the past few decades in business and technology, it’s funny that mentorship has remained the same. Career guidance is a much-needed map for young entrepreneurs who are entering unfamiliar territories. But the old map is no longer enough. They need something more like Waze, which takes information from many different sources and compiles it to find the best route to your destination. With help from a network of personal advisors, budding leaders can find the direction they need to forge their own path, not just travel the same route as everyone else. This is the age of the network—build yours.
Glen Tullman is the chairman and chief executive officer of Livongo Health.
April 23, 2016
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By Dan Levine

Some victims of the San Bernardino attack will file a legal brief in support of the U.S. government's attempt to force Apple Inc to unlock the encrypted iPhone belonging to one of the shooters, a lawyer representing the victims said on Sunday.Stephen Larson, a former federal judge who is now in private practice, told Reuters that the victims he represents have an interest in the information which goes beyond the Justice Department's criminal investigation.
"They were targeted by terrorists, and they need to know why, how this could happen," Larson said.
Larson said he was contacted a week ago by the Justice Department and local prosecutors about representing the victims, prior to the dispute becoming public. He said he will file an amicus brief in court by early March.
A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on the matter on Sunday.
Larson declined to say how many victims he represents. Fourteen people died and 22 others were wounded in the shooting attack by a married couple who were inspired by Islamic State militants and died in a gun battle with police.
Entry into the fray by victims gives the federal government a powerful ally in its fight against Apple, which has cast itself as trying to protect public privacy from overreach by the federal government.
An Apple spokesman declined to comment. In a letter to customers last week, Tim Cook, the company's chief executive, said: "We mourn the loss of life and want justice for all those whose lives were affected," saying that the company has "worked hard to support the government’s efforts to solve this horrible crime."
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said in a letter released on Sunday night that the agency's request wasn't about setting legal precedent, but rather seeking justice for the victims and investigating other possible threats.
"Fourteen people were slaughtered and many more had their lives and bodies ruined. We owe them a thorough and professional investigation under law. That's what this is," Comey wrote.
The FBI is seeking the tech company's help to access shooter Syed Rizwan Farook's phone by disabling some of its passcode protections. The company so far has pushed back, arguing that such a move would set a dangerous precedent and threaten customer security.
The clash between Apple and the Justice Department has driven straight to the heart of a long-running debate over how much law enforcement and intelligence officials should be able to monitor digital communications.
The Justice Department won an order in a Riverside, California federal court on Tuesday against Apple, without the company present in court. Apple is scheduled to file its first legal arguments on Friday, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym, who served as a federal prosecutor before being appointed to the bench, has set a hearing on the issue for next month.
Larson once presided over cases in Riverside, and Pym argued cases in Larson's courtroom several times as a prosecutor while Larson was a judge, he said. Larson returned to private practice in 2009, saying at the time that a judge's salary was not enough to provide for his seven children.
He said he is representing the San Bernardino victims for free.
(Reporting by Dan Levine in Oakland, California; Additional reporting by Curtis Skinner; Editing by Sue Horton and Mary Milliken)
February 22, 2016
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VATICAN CITY | By Philip Pullella

Pope Francis on Sunday called for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty, saying the commandment "You shall not kill" was absolute and equally valid for the guilty as for the innocent.Using some of his strongest words ever against capital punishment, he also called on Catholic politicians worldwide to make "a courageous and exemplary gesture" by seeking a moratorium on executions during the Church's current Holy Year, which ends in November.
"I appeal to the consciences of those who govern to reach an international consensus to abolish the death penalty," he told tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.
"The commandment "You shall not kill," has absolute value and applies to both the innocent and the guilty," he told the crowd.
The 1.2 billion-member Catholic Church allowed the death penalty in extreme cases for centuries, but the position began to change under the late Pope John Paul, who died in 2005.
The pope added that there was now "a growing opposition to the death penalty even for the legitimate defense of society" because modern means existed to "efficiently repress crime without definitively denying the person who committed it the possibility of rehabilitating themselves."
Francis made the comments to throw his weight behind an international conference against the death penalty starting Monday in Rome and organized by the Sant'Egidio Community, a worldwide Catholic peace and justice group.
Francis, who has visited a number of jails since his election as pope nearly three years ago - the latest in Mexico last week - also called for better prison conditions.
"All Christians and men of good will are called on to work not only for the abolition of the death penalty, but also to improve prison conditions so that they respect the human dignity of people who have been deprived of their freedom," he said.
In the past, the pope also denounced life imprisonment, calling it "a hidden death penalty" and saying that more should be done to try to rehabilitate even the most hardened of criminals.
(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
February 22, 2016
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When Taylor Swift delivered her second acceptance speech of the night at the 2016 Grammy Awards, her words became required listening for every CEO, founder, and leader on how to turn controversy into a win.
 
By Lisa Abeyta



IMAGE: Getty Images
Taylor Swift, the famous pop star, may seem like an odd role model for today's CEOs, startup founders, or leaders. But after viewing her acceptance speech from last night's televised Grammy Awards, I am convinced it should be used as training material for anyone in a leadership position, because she managed to change her role in the public eye from victim into strong advocate.
It was a class act way to deal with painful personal attacks, but it was also a genius move that changed the conversation, garnered support from her base as well as a much wider audience, and raised awareness of a much higher cause than her own personal role in the public conversation.

Change the conversation.

It was during the 2009 VMA Awards that Taylor Swift's moment onstage was disrupted by Kanye West, and she was catapulted into a long, very public discussion about the controversy. Fast forward to 2016, when that same musician decided to claim credit for her fame while referring to Taylor Swift in vulgar, misogynistic terms in a song on his new album, forcing the star once again into the public arena because of his actions.
In the days leading up to the 2016 Grammy Awards, the public debated about the best way for Taylor Swift to respond and whether or not she should respond. But in her second acceptance speech of the night, she squashed the public debate while also becoming the first female artist to ever to win Album of the Year twice.
"If you just focus on the work, and you don't let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you're going, you'll look around and you'll know that it was you and the people who love you that put you there and that will be the greatest feeling in the world," she said in her acceptance speech.
How does this apply to us as leaders and CEOs?
When someone else is creating controversy and trying to drag us into their drama, our initial reaction is usually to talk about what is being said and how it isn't true. And while leaders should follow the guidance of their legal team when addressing erroneous claims, it is also good to remember what we learned in middle school -- that the more you talk about someone else's gossip, the more believable it becomes.
Taylor Swift refused to allow the conversation to remain about someone else's lyrics or behavior. She never said his name from stage or brought up his words. But she certainly addressed the controversy he created but took the power back by changing the conversation from how she was a victim to how she was a role model delivering inspiring advice.

Keep the message about your brand or goals.

Whether you are a founder of a new startup building tomorrow's best widget, the CEO of major corporation, or someone in leadership who has unfortunately found yourself in the midst of scandal, bad press, or a smear campaign, it is possible to use the controversy to remind your core demographic of why they should remain loyal and protective. Taylor Swift chose to remind her core fan base why they were fans in the first place -- she spoke directly to them. In doing so, she inspired loyalty among her core demographic and respect from a much wider audience beyond her own fans.

Bring focus to a higher cause.

In his book Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, Adam Grant explores the challenges of what he calls "Speaking While Female":
Across cultures, there's a rich body of evidence showing that people continue to hold strong gender-role stereotypes, expecting men to be assertive and women to be communal. When women speak up, they run the risk of violating that gender stereotype, which leads audiences to judge them as aggressive.
Because Taylor Swift did not focus on her own personal experience but spoke up about the higher cause of inequality for women, she reminded others that she is a leader and an advocate, not a victim. By encouraging young women to focus on their own work instead of the controversy that might surround them, she made it about all women, not just herself.
While personal attacks can leave us feeling wounded and angry, especially when those attacks are unjust, if we can turn our own personal pain into an authentic call to a higher cause, we can effectively neutralize the personal component of an attack while gaining respect and support from a much wider audience.
Taylor Swift may be best known as a famous pop star, but she is also a savvy business woman. It is never an easy thing to manage public image and brand -- for a new startup or a mega-star. And when things get personal, it can be easy to allow others to control the conversation about us and our brand. But we can all take a lesson from Taylor Swift on how to protect our company, our brand, and our image.

       How Scott Borchetta Signed Taylor Swift

February 17, 2016
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A member of the House of Representatives, Umar Yakubu Barde has advocated for the amputation of hands of those found guilty of stealing from the Nation's treasury. Speaking in an interactive session with the some journalist in Kaduna state yesterday January 18th, Barde who is a PDP member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, said those who stole in millions of Naira should have their hands amputated, while those who looted in billions of Naira should be hanged to death.


He called for special court rather than the conventional courts, saying that looters usually use such courts to delay justice.
“I am a believer of the fact that, people should be punished for whatever offence they commit. And I am also of the belief that punishment should also be segregated according to the offence. At least, your punishment should be commensurate with what you have done. For me, if you ask me, if someone steals from N1million to N100 million, they should cut his hand. Yes, there is nothing wrong with that, so that when we see him, we will know yes, he stole. And those that steal from billions upward should be hanged and their property confiscated. You can imagine this issue of arms deal. If you knew this money was meant for the procurement of arms, weapons, my brothers and sisters here, if you have a brother in the Army, he is sent to the warfront and because his weapons are archaic, he is killed. Do you now want to have sympathy for someone who knows that the money was meant for arms and he pocketed it? It is so painful, we have lost loved ones. If I am a judge and such a person is brought before me, I will confiscate his property and make sure he is killed also. Because he is guilty of the blood of the people killed in the warfront. We are living in a very funny country where people steal N1, 000 and they are put in jail for years. And where some people will steal billions and use that same billion to escape justice. That is not good enough. For me personally, let me let the cat out of the bag, some members of the National Assembly and I are of the believe that, we should have special courts for corruption cases. Because, if you look at the quantum of corruption in the country today, we are just talking about Dasuki Gate and look at the quantum of money and the number of people that are involved. You have not gone to the ministries yet. You have not even gone to the states and it is only ICPC and EFCC that are to do all these jobs. If we are fair to ourselves, the work is overwhelming. And you know, people will want to use the legal system to delay justice, and that is what is happening today. So, why don’t we have dedicated courts to handle all these corruption cases, so that justice could be dispensed quickly? I am aware of former governors who have cases with EFCC and they have not gone to court for the past eight years. So, this does not encourage the young people. It rather encourages them to steal, because if you can delay justice for 10 years, it means that is a good one. So, I think we need to put our heads together because corruption like hunger, does not know party, it does not know tribe or religion. We must as Nigerians take a very bold stand” he said.
January 19, 2016
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Tsai Ing-wen has been elected Taiwan’s first female president.

Ms Tsai, 59, leads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that wants independence from China, the BBC reports.



In her victory speech, she vowed to preserve the status quo in relations with China, adding Beijing must respect Taiwan’s democracy and both sides must ensure there are no provocations.

China sees the island as a breakaway province – which it has threatened to take back by force if necessary.

In her speech, Ms Tsai hailed a “new era” in Taiwan and pledged to co-operate with other political parties on major issues.

The will of the Taiwanese people would be the basis for relations with China, Ms Tsai said, urging both sides to show “dignity and reciprocity” in their relations.

She thanked the United States and Japan for their support and vowed Taiwan would contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Ms Tsai had a commanding lead in the vote count when Eric Chu of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) admitted defeat.

Mr. Chu congratulated Tsai Ing-wen and announced he was quitting as KMT head.

Taiwan’s Premier Mao Chi-kuo also resigned.
January 16, 2016
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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he will not relent in working for the democracy, peace and progress of Nigeria.

Jonathan stated this on his Facebook page after being honoured with the President’s Award by an African-American civil rights organisation based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

The 59-year-old organisation’s founder and first president was the renowned late American civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

SCLC’s National President/CEO, Charles Steel Jr., said on the organisation’s website that the award given to Jonathan was in recognition of his leadership in human rights, social justice and the universal fight for freedom.

Thereafter, Jonathan wrote on his Facebook page that the award would inspire him to work for the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.

He said, “I thank Dr. Charles Steele Jr, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and the executive of the SCLC for honouring me today (Thursday).

“It was also a pleasure to meet Naomi King, the sister of the late American Civil Rights leader and founder of the SCLC, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who was kind enough to attend the event and identify with the goals and aspirations of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.

“By this award, I am further inspired to continue to work for the advancement of democracy, peace and progress in Nigeria and Africa.”

Jonathan had last week won the African Sun Times’ 2015 International Person of the Year Award.

“In 2015, despite challenges, we held violence-free elections that transferred power from one political party to another and from an incumbent to the opposition, without rancour, bitterness or strife.

“In the process, we proved that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian or any national of any country for that matter. That, to me, is a most worthy testimonial of the character of the Nigerian nation and the resilience of our people, which is why I dedicate this honour to them,” the former president had said after receiving the award.
January 16, 2016
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The ICT sector was a beehive of activities with the successful launch of many products, services, projects and initiatives targeted at improving the lives of its loyal customers and clientele in 2015. 

MTN Nigeria, leading ICT and Telecommunications giant was not left out as it rolled out new innovative products and services as it continued to provide operational support to key sectors of the economy like banking, E-commerce, oil and gas and others.
The positive impact was clearly visible and beneficial to its customers and Nigerians in general. Below are ten projects and activities that made MTN the most-talked about brand in the ICT sector in 2015.


1.    MTN Foundation at 10 Anniversary:
 One of the many ways through which MTN Nigeria shone brightly in 2015 was the impact it made, and has continued to make through its CSR vehicle, MTN Foundation. Founded in 2005, the foundation positively impacts the lives of many Nigerians through its several activities and amazing works. Supported by MTN with 1% of its Profit after Tax annually, several life-changing initiatives have been deployed with project partners and state governments in 550 locations country-wide to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians in Health, education, economic empowerment and Arts, culture and entertainment.
Apart from consolidating on existing projects by widening the pool of beneficiaries through its scholarship program, disability support project, EYEris project, school furniture donations, donation of dialysis and mammography machines across General Hospitals in the country which have positively impacted thousands of lives, the Foundation also launched its 'What Can We Do Together' initiative where Nigerians were invited to participate in and partner with MTN to identify and select areas of need requiring attention and support by socially responsible organisations like MTN. As a result of this collaborative process, 200 communities have benefitted from boreholes, transformers, school furniture and donation of household items for orphanages. MTNF has invested over N18bn on social investment projects countrywide.
In its bid to complement government’s efforts at providing succour to the needy, MTN Foundation also distributed relief materials to three Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps in North East, Nigeria in 2015.
The relief materials, meant to provide succour and restore hopes, were distributed to displaced persons in Government College, Maiduguri, Borno State; NYSC Camp, Yola, Adamawa State and Poponari Camp, Damaturu, Yobe State. The relief materials included mattresses, pillows, bed sheets, pillow cases, bathing soaps, disinfectants, cooking pots, kerosine stoves and cartons of noodles. 
Other significant interventions of the foundation in the year were the sponsorship of two popular dance dramas - Kakadu and Wakaa, The Musicals. The sponsorships were targeted at promoting and enhancing creativity in the Nigerian performative guild. The energy, creativity and the world class quality of the performances over a 5-day period generated rave reviews and a national buzz towards the end of the year.
Finally, as part of its continuous efforts at creating awareness on the importance of early detection of breast cancer among women, the foundation also sponsored series of events across  Nigerian cities in 2015 ranging from 'Awareness Walks' to polo tournaments.
2.    MTN Golf:
 For many years, MTN has sponsored the annual World Golfers Championship (WGC) and other golfing competitions. The tournaments have proven to be viable and reliable platforms for customer engagement and interactivity and equally reinforced its role as an enabler of socio-economic development across several fronts in Nigeria. Golfers and enthusiasts of the sport were treated to an impressive and exciting tournament in 2015.
3.    MTN Music+ Anniversary:
 The MTN Music+ anniversary was an innovative engagement platform called ‘Noiseless party’ put together to celebrate artistes and music lovers, while celebrating its success story since the past 18 months. This was the first of its kind in Nigeria and the event created a very high ‘talkability’ on blog sites and social media platforms.
4.    MTN Polo:
 The MTN Polo 2015 was another talking point for the telecoms leader. The event converged lovers of polo. MTN’s involvement in the promotion of Polo and other sports in the country made the Nigerian Polo Federation (NPF) President, Francis Ogboro, to shower encomiums on MTN. Through its charity gesture, the MTN UNICEF Charity Shield international polo tournament made a N5 million donation to UNICEF with respect to its campaign against HIV/AIDS pandemic among Nigerian children.
5.    MTN Prestige Launch:
 Another initiative that put MTN in the spotlight was the launch of 'MTN Prestige.' The company celebrated its High Value (HV) customers, 100 CEOs and captains of industry. They were treated to a night of alternative music at a prestigious musical event tagged ‘MTN Prestige’. The high point of this event was the launch of MTN Prestige, a loyalty and reward programme for its HV customers. They will enjoy a broad range of cost optimization, lifestyle and business benefits among others.
 6.    MTN Project Fame 2015:
 One of the enduring and most impactful ways through which MTN has been transforming the lives and empowering West African youths is the MTN Project Fame West Africa. For the past eight years, MTN Project Fame has been taking young talents off the streets and leading them to fame, stardom and economic empowerment. Many of them have moved on to establish profitable businesses and create jobs and employment for others. Some of the most commercially successful musicians in Nigeria today are alumni of the Project Fame Academy. The 2015 edition saw an 18-year-old Jeffrey Akoh winning the music empowerment competition, smiling home with a N5 million cash prize, one-year recording contract and a SUV.
7.    MTN Tech+:
 The MTN Tech+ congregated an ecosystem that promoted cutting-edge technologies through education, enterprise and innovation in the African Market through exhibition. As a major partner for the event, MTN used it as a platform to showcase its ICT credentials through high-tech demos and workshops. It also used the intervention to launch an innovative payment system called 'MTN Token.' This is a mobile phone service offering a single means of authentication for online services with high and comforting levels of assurance.
8.    MTN Best 11 Trutalk Win A Home Promo:
This promo generated a lot of buzz and excitement for MTN in 2015. The promo which was tied to the number ‘11’ afforded 11 customers on its network to address a human need- Shelter and own three bedroom houses worth N15m each (or cash equivalent). The houses were showcased by Lamudi Nigeria, through its vast array of developers. Also, every day, 24 people won N11,000 cash every hour.
9.    Sponsorship of Christian and Muslim Customers:
 MTN Nigeria made huge impact in the lives of some of its Christian subscribers as it sponsored over 20 customers on an all-expenses paid trip to Jerusalem for the year’s pilgrimage. The Muslim customers were not left out. 20 of its Muslim customers were also sponsored on an all-expenses paid trip to Mecca to fulfil some of their religious Hajj obligations. MTN has been sponsoring its Muslim and Christian customers to pilgrimages since 2008.
10. NCC fine on MTN:
The imposed N1.04 trillion ($5.2 billion) fine on MTN by the Nigerian Communications Commission over its failure to disconnect SIM cards with incomplete registration was another talking point in the country. The company which has been the industry leader was sanctioned for failing to disconnect 5.1 million lines from its network. Meanwhile, MTN filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, challenging the fine. 
January 13, 2016

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