Olusegun Okedoye’s decision to pursue a career in engineering began with his simple love for creating and drawing. His creative talent naturally evolved into a passion for designing innovative engineering solutions for real-world challenges in the energy space. Today, as the transformational Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun is steering Mountains Energy Solution Limited toward sustainable growth and monumental achievements. He is driven by his core belief in delivering responsibly, beating deadlines, and exceeding expectations.
From Drawing Books to Engineering Blueprints
Olusegun has an inherent ability to create. When he was young, he considered himself gifted because of his talent to create things and draw with ease. And this, according to him, “stimulated his interest” to study engineering at the university.
At the university, he came to understand that it was essential to put his skills to good use if he wanted the opportunity to tackle global challenges such as energy sustainability, innovation, and improving access to resources. “It is a space where technology meets impact, and there is so much room for creativity and progress,” Olusegun explains.
“And, so far, I am enjoying what I do,” he adds.
Recapping 20+ Years of Professional Journey
Olusegun began his professional journey more than two decades ago. His first job was at Sudelettra Nigeria Limited, which he joined shortly after completing his national youth service. Prior to this, he received offers from two banks but turned them down. He chose to remain focused on his goal of joining an engineering company, where he could pursue his passion for becoming an engineer. When Sudelettra, a company specializing in engineering design, procurement, fabrication, and installation of oil and gas facilities, offered him a position, he promptly accepted it.
“At Sudelettra, I learned the fundamentals and rudiments of application of science and technology acquired from my University Education in the field of Engineering in solving everyday problems,” Olusegun says. He then moved to an Oil and Gas Engineering Design firm. There he gained direct exposure to oil and gas systems, design, and analysis while working with major international oil companies, such as Shell, Mobil, Chevron, and more.
Later, Olusegun transitioned from a design firm to a production company. First, he worked at Total E&P and then SEPLAT Energy, where he rose to the position of Engineering Manager. In May 2019, he joined Mountains Energy Solution Limited as Managing Director and CEO.
About Mountains Energy Solutions
Mountains Energy Solution, established in 2010, is an independent and wholly (100%) Nigerian Engineering Consultancy Company dedicated to providing responsive high quality and cost‐effective services to clients. It consults clients in the energy and power, oil and gas production, gas processing, and oil refining industries.
Under the visionary leadership of Olusegun, the company has successfully adapted technology and expertise in Engineering Design, Procurement, Construction, and Installation of MonoPod Wellhead Jackets and Standard Oil Manifolds. Olusegun points out that they are the pioneer indigenous oil services consultant in Nigeria to take on the challenge of engineering and fabricating a Wellhead Jacket for shallow water offshore. The project has since been completed, installed, and commissioned.
Another initiative that Olusegun has overseen is the Engineering Design of an Agricultural Solar-powered irrigation system for farms in Osun State, Nigeria. He says that this project guarantees year-round farming activities for raising oil palm and other arable crops. “This project eliminates seasonal farming and ensures all year-round farming because of the availability of water for farm operations,” Olusegun explains.
Over the years, Mountains Energy Solution has evolved into a full multi‐disciplinary consultancy group working on contracts varying in size from individual assignments to over 5,000 man‐hours.
Key Milestones Achieved
Since joining the company, Olusegun has achieved several key milestones. One that readily comes to his mind is the period when they were qualified to be listed on the Nigeria Petroleum Exchange Platform (NIPEX), which is the apex body for oil and gas participation in tendering and bidding for contracts in the industry. According to Olusegun, it was a significant milestone because they achieved it after undergoing a high level of scrutiny and had to provide comprehensive documentation and information to meet the requirements for listing on the exchange.
“My team and I worked hard to pull together the certification, documentation, and regulatory approvals required for the qualification to be approved as a competent contractor and listed on the exchange,” he adds.
For Olusegun, another equally important milestone is winning a contract to engineer, procure, fabricate, and install a mono wellhead jacket for one of their clients in shallow water offshore in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He points out that it was one of their major contracts offshore, so they had to set up a team of engineers to look at clients’ requirements and proffer suitable fit-for-purpose solutions to the challenge. “We cracked the problem and came up with suitable solutions, and Wellhead Jacket was engineered, materials procured, fabricated, and installed offshore,” he adds. “The structure is still working today.”
Olusegun highlights that milestone achievements tremendously positioned them to take up fresh and bigger challenges in the industry. “It announced and heralded our presence to industry players and established the depth of our competence, capacity, and capability for immediate future challenges and opportunities,” he says. “It has also improved our balance sheet.”
Dealing with Major Challenges
Like most leaders, Olusegun’s professional journey has also been strewn with challenges. As CEO of Mountains Energy Solution, the biggest challenge he has faced is managing and motivating his employees. According to him, it is his responsibility to set the tone for the company’s culture and to ensure that his employees are engaged and motivated. He shares that this has proven to be a challenge for him, especially in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business environment, where employees may be dealing with various personal and professional stressors.
“Another challenge I faced is managing growth and scale,” Olusegun says. Mountains Energy is on a growth trajectory. With the company growing, it has become increasingly complex for him to manage, as there are more employees, more products or services, and more customers. “The company’s growth posed a challenge for me to maintain the same level of quality and attention to detail that I had when the company was smaller,” he says.
Managing stakeholder expectations also turned out to be a challenge. From clients and customers to employees, there are numerous stakeholders with a vested interest in the success of the organization, and according to Olusegun, it is difficult for him to balance competing demands and make decisions that are in the best interests of the company.
And, finally, one of the biggest challenges he has had to deal with is managing his own time and energy. He explains that there are countless demands on his time, from managing employees and meeting with customers to attending conferences and networking events.
Olusegun manages to overcome some of the challenges he faces by focusing on building a “solid company culture” that emphasizes “transparency, open communication, and employee empowerment.” He also believes in implementing programs and initiatives that help his employees stay engaged and motivated, such as mentorship programs, leadership training, and employee recognition programs. In addition to that, he provides his colleagues with the tools and support they need to succeed and helps him drive the success of the organization.
When it comes to dealing with challenges stemming from the company’s growth, he strives to build a strong infrastructure that can support both growth and scale. In order to overcome them, he focuses on investment in technology and developing systems and processes, and he makes sure to hire the right people to manage different aspects of the business. “I also set and establish clear goals and objectives for the organization and communicate those goals effectively to all staff,” Olusegun says. “By doing so, everyone is aligned on the same vision and is working toward the same goals.”
And to navigate the challenge of managing his time, Olusegun tries to build a strong support system, and he establishes clear boundaries between work and personal life. He prioritizes self-care and well-being as well. “I make sure to take breaks and recharge myself whenever needed,” Olusegun says.
The Leadership Style and Core Values
Olusegun describes his leadership style as transformational, collaborative, and empowering. He believes in creating a positive and inclusive environment where every team member feels valued and motivated to contribute their best. Additionally, Olusegun is known for prioritizing open communication, active listening, and providing constructive feedback to help individual team members grow and develop their skills. “By encouraging teamwork and recognizing the unique strengths of each person,” Olusegun says, “I am poised to build a cohesive and high-performing team that can achieve our goals together.”
He has adopted four core values as a leader that guide his leadership. The first is visionary thinking. Olusegun explains that he has a holistic foresight of overall goals and a strategy to get there. His second value is emotional intelligence. Olusegun never loses focus or becomes easily disheartened. According to him, even when things are not going as planned, he values the ability to stay calm and hear what is unsaid. He keeps his composure even in the face of adversity.
Integrity is his third core value. “You can’t take anything away from this core value,” he says. “Without integrity, nothing is left to desire in a leader.” Olusegun believes in walking the talk and not saying anything just for the sake of it. He puts his words into practice and encourages his team to do the same.
And Inspirational communication is Olusegun’s fourth core value. He explains that inspirational communication forms the basis of team building at Mountains Energy. So, he prioritizes effective, inspirational communication and the development of others.
Work-Life Balance
As CEO, Olusegun has a demanding work schedule. So, how does he maintain a work-life balance? He admits it is tough, but he is able to manage it by staying organized and setting priorities based on their level of importance and value.
“It is important to have work-life balance,” he says. “My performance at work depends on how well I manage and maintain work-life balance.”
At work, Olusegun delegates and avoids the micromanagement syndrome. In addition, he sets goals and communicates effectively with team members. He also stays in touch with them and lends a helping hand when necessary. However, despite his hectic work schedule, he does not compromise on his family time and rest time. “It is very easy to get lost in a mirage of official activities and forget oneself in the midst of it,” he points out.
No matter how things are at work, Olusegun prioritizes his health and personal hygiene. “Regular medical checkups are scheduled to help ensure personal medical fitness and maintain focus on the goals,” he says. Additionally, he plans his holidays. During official trips and engagements, he takes advantage of any opportunity to take a break from active work office hours.
He also makes sure that his wife and children do not feel neglected. He maintains active communication with them, keeping them informed about his schedule and engagements. “I do not hesitate to integrate my family into my schedule to create a memorable family time,” Olusegun says.
“I nurture my family relationships and I cherish time with my family, friends, and loved ones,” he adds.
The Vision for the Future
As CEO, Olusegun envisions Mountains Energy Solution to be at the forefront of technological innovation in their sphere of influence – fossil fuel exploitation and alternative energy sources. Under his leadership, he also sees the company developing robust processes and procedures. Olusegun points out that this is necessary to remain relevant and focused on sustainable development and project delivery.
Advice for Aspiring Leaders
Olusegun advises aspiring leaders in the energy sector to prioritize building strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders. He encourages them to develop their leadership skills and stay informed about industry trends.
“You should also be proactive in advocating for change, embracing diversity and inclusion, and prioritizing sustainability and ethical practices,” he adds. As his final piece of advice to aspiring leaders, Olusegun quotes his father’s words, “What you can do today don’t do tomorrow”
