Temitope Busari, CFA

(You can call me Temi)

Ivey Business School at Western University

“I’m results-driven, with passion for excellence and a sense of purpose to make a difference.”

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an investment professional with several years of experience in the financial services sector in Nigeria. When I am not dealing financial markets, I am a TV girl. I am Co-anchor on a prime-time TV show that airs across Africa, where we advocate for social justice and discuss topical issues that affect the wider society. I was also the resident expert on financial literacy, Economy and capital market conversations.

Graduate School and Major: University of Lagos, Nigeria. BSc (Honors) Cell Biology and Genetics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Vice President & Treasurer at Chapel Hill Denham, Lagos, Nigeria. (Chapel Hill Denham is Africa’s leading independent Investment Bank for sustainable finance and alternative investment management).

How has the case method enriched your learning?  The case method learning was most compelling in choosing the best MBA program for me, and I have not been disappointed so far. With my professional experience in leading teams pre-Ivey, I am enhancing my business acumen and strategic thinking skills with the real-world business challenges and cases I am going through. The concepts I am learning are very timely and instructive, and the case approach makes us more engaged and involved in the class. The level of engagement is impressive because case learning makes for spirited classroom conversations in which everyone can learn from other people’s perspectives given our diverse backgrounds.

Aside from classmates and cases, what part of the school’s MBA programming led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Two other factors led me to choosing Ivey:

I engaged a few Ivey Grads during my application, as I did for the other schools where I applied. There was something distinctly different about Ivey Grads. They are very confident, speak well, and exude admirable executive presence. They are all very competent and excelling in their respective careers and they stood out from the rest. This is also evidenced by the unrivalled network of alumni who are very proud and involved at Ivey.

Additionally, I wanted a program with the right mix of tools and activities that would prepare me for executive management. We are doing team projects, simulations, presentations, and other activities that help build leaders who can think critically, develop and execute strategies and communicate exceptionally.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates and why? My classmates are true leaders in my opinion. In a very short time, we have built a strong cohort of supportive and caring people who waste no time in lending a helping hand. We have people from many countries with different cultures and religions, yet we have created a safe space where everyone is respected and cared for. We are still learning from home due to COVID restrictions, but we have found interesting ways to bond online and safely offline. We have had movie nights, game nights, walks in the park and musical concerts via Zoom, which help us bond and provide an all-round interesting experience to the program.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I have successfully managed a regional Treasury business with responsibility for 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with a combined balance sheet size of above $2billion. I supervised the team across Ghana, Cameroon, Chad, Senegal, Cote d’ivore, Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Mozambique and Zambia and we grew the total investment portfolio by about 50% in two years.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: We had an end of course presentation exercise to test public speaking, eloquence, and executive presence, and I came out tops in the program. This is a huge win for me, and it reinforces the fact that I am growing in confidence and communication, which is a valuable skill for leadership.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have an innate passion for excellence and am a true believer in lifelong learning. I wanted to pursue an MBA to enhance my leadership skills and obtain the knowledge to become an Executive with a global mindset to doing business. I wanted to come out of my comfort zone to learn new things and develop a stronger business acumen. I am mom of two beautiful daughters aged 7 and 3, and I have been raising them while progressing in my career. I am doing this now to show them that their dreams are valid and that it is okay to reach for the stars in pursuit of their dreams.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to HEC Paris, Wharton and Rotman Business Schools. I was accepted at Rotman and HEC Paris, and waitlisted at Wharton.

What did you do during the application process that enabled you to get accepted into Ivey? I was intentional in showing my leadership skills and career accomplishments so far, along with being my authentic self. I started off as an officer in a multinational commercial Bank and rose through the ranks to become Treasurer of an Investment Bank. I also passed three levels on the CFA professional exams on first attempt within 18 months, which demonstrates my commitment to successful outcomes. My role as a TV Co-anchor showed a different and interesting side to me and my volunteering activities, as society leader at CFA Society Nigeria and other social impact organizations demonstrated my sense of purpose. I told my story confidently and spoke passionately about what makes me tick. My goal is to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development of Africa, and I believe my passion was evident throughout my application process.

DON’T MISS: MEET IVEY’S MBA CLASS OF 2022