Catering Is Not My Work, It’s My Passion – Ololade

Ololade Ogunnubi is an accountant, a serial entrepreneur, and a social worker. She studied Accounting from Lagos State University.

Lola is passionate about the humanitarian space, she is a gender-based violence advocate and currently the secretary for Women and Girls Right Defender, Abuja.

Ololade is the CEO of Lola Grand Cakes & Events. She is also the Founder of Lola Cater for the Needy Foundation (LC4NF).

Currently, she is also working on a live show for entrepreneurs and teenpreneurs #LolaVersation

Below is an exclusive interview conducted with her via the Rindx Business Interview platform:

Question: What is Lola Grand Cakes & Events about?

Ololade: Lola Grand Cakes & Events is a catering outfit where we feed people with creative delicacies and create memorable events for our clients. We deal in cakes for all occasions, food catering and office launch, Grills, snacks, small chops, shawarma, pizza, hamburger, event decoration, party packs, etc.

We organize training for clients and surprise parties for our client’s loved ones.

Question: What is your background? Education, Work Experience?

Ololade: On Education, I have B.sc Accounting from Lagos state university, Post Graduate Diploma College Supply Chain Management, Post Graduate Diploma Chartered Institute of Warehousing and Material Management, Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria (ISMN), Enterprise Operation and Customer Operation, Certified Entrepreneurship Development Professional, Project Management Professional (PMP), Nigeria Institute of Managers (NIM), Member ACA and ACCA.

On work experience: Worked at Constrix Real Estate Development as the chief financial officer.

I am also the CEO of Lola Cater for the Needy Foundation, an initiative whose thematic areas are Education, Entrepreneurship Training, and Social well-being.              

I have also volunteered for UNICEF, UNESCO Peer Education TRAINER, DEAN INITIATIVE, OSSAP SDG, WORLD LARGEST LESSON, WORLD LITERACY FOUNDATION, YOUTH HUB AFRICA, SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE, NIGERIAN YOUTH SDG, SDG STORIES, AFRICAN LEADERS CONNECT, WOMEN AND GIRLS RIGHT DEFENDER ADVOCATE, AMBASSADORS OF AFRICA PROJECT AGAINST SUICIDE (APAS) IN NIGERIA, GLOBAL YOUTH ASSEMBLY, VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEA, WORLD YOUTH ORGANIZATION, SOZO NETWORK, etc. Just got selected at ABOCODER, ABUJA.                                                                

Question: What inspired you to get into this line of business?

Ololade: My mum’s passion for putting smiles on peoples (clients) face, especially when it has to do with surprise packages or parties through her catering outfit.

Question: How long have you been in business? In this business? In other businesses?

Ololade: As a side hustle, I have been in business for 5 years, and have done my business full-time for 9 months now.

Question: How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?

Ololade: I do more of online marketing, word of mouth has been effective too.

Question: How do you generate new ideas?

Ololade: From research, the quest to stand out and by following those who are successful in my line of business on social media.

Question: What excites you about entrepreneurship?

Ololade: The ability to solve a problem or need and turning it into capital or source of income. The freedom and the ability to express oneself and be distinct at it.

Question: What has been the most challenging part of your responsibility as a Small Business Owner?

Ololade: Finances, getting machines for faster results, ability to convince new clients you are offering the same services as the big names in my line of business.

Question: What has been the most pleasant activity in your business?

Ololade: Catering for me is not just my work, it’s my passion. I get excited when called upon to organize a surprise party for my client’s loved ones. I love catering and organizing surprise parties.

Question: How do you define success?

Ololade: The ability to excel at what you do. The accomplishment of the desired end result of your hard work so to say.

Question: What are your hobbies?

Ololade: Cooking, Baking, singing, and volunteering.

Question: What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in?

Ololade: Research, find a mentor, exercise, eat healthy diet, find an assistant if need be, invest in professionals and be one too.

Question: What main skills do you possess that have helped you and your business?

Ololade: Financial management, marketing skills, customer service, and good communication skills are the main skills that have helped my business.

Question: Who has been your greatest inspiration?

Ololade: GOD and My MUM

My Mum has been a source of inspiration especially when it comes to survival and being independent.

In the cake world, I draw inspiration from My Mum, Cake Buddy, Creative Cakes by Gbolahan, Passionate Bakers Abuja and others.

In the humanitarian space, I look up to Semiye Micheal (DEAN Initiative), Dr. Richard Munang from Kenya, and great support from Bamidele Oyewunmi (Hacey Health Initiative), Wilson Atumeyi (WaterWide), Muhktar Halilu Modibbo (CODE), Rose Keffas (OSSAP-SDG), Abraham Solomon (Nigeria Youth SDG).

Victor & Tolu Aghedo, and Humprey Ine have also been wonderful people.

Question: What piece of advice would you give to fresh graduates or other people who want to become entrepreneurs?

Ololade: As a start-up, be true to yourself and be steadfast, avoid procrastination and distractions by all means. There will be challenges and at times you will feel like giving up, at the point, look back at what inspired you and your passion to go into the business, let that be your fuel to keep pushing, evaluate your business activities, know your Strength, work on your Weakness, recognize Opportunity and identify Threat, and strategize and act again and then success is inevitable.

Also, be punctual.

Question: What keeps you going in business tough times?

Ololade: I am driven by my passion for what am doing. Tough times can’t make me stop.  When I set goals, I just find a way to achieve them even when challenges try to stop me.

Question: Question: If you were to write a book about yourself or business, what would you name it?

Ololade: Box of Surprises

Question: Any feedback for RINDX.COM? (Advice, Ideas, Suggestion or Questions)

Ololade: What you are doing is great, thanks for being a voice for young entrepreneurs. Keep up with the great work.