Oluwadamilola Tubi is a lawyer and an entrepreneur. I met Oluwadamilola Tubi two years ago through my friend Simbo while I was setting up ReDahlia Workspaces. Simbo was my schoolmate at Hult International Business School, Boston, USA. We sat through a two-hour meeting discussing all the values that she was going to bring to ReDahlia. My relationship with Oluwadamilola Tubi has since progressed from a business relationship to that of close buddies. Being a close buddy has earned her a place on the ‘list’. If you have read our other profiles, you will understand what we mean by the ‘list’.
So ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our SME Lawyer, Oluwadamilola Tubi.
Background of Oluwadamilola Tubi
Hello, my name is Oluwadamilola Tubi and I’m in my early thirties. I studied law in the University of Lagos, Akoka and I’m currently working on concluding my Masters on Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of London. I now practise as a legal practitioner and business adviser to startups and other corporate entities through my firm Creed and Stones LP via our online and offline platforms. I’m also an entrepreneur as I own and manage other businesses in the cosmetic and lifestyle sector.
Family influence on Oluwadamilola Tubi
…well the first time I saw a wig and gown was in my uncle’s room while he was still in law school. I must have been about 5-6 years old then. I knew right then I wanted to be a lawyer. So in that regard, I would say he influenced me in my choice of being a lawyer at that age. But as I grew older and became more informed about the legal profession and the role it plays in the lives of people and the society at large, I had no doubt that this was what I wanted to do. As an entrepreneur, my grandfather was a well of knowledge for me on doing business successfully. He was a very successful entrepreneur in his time and I still resort to some of his advice in my own businesses.
Why Oluwadamilola Tubi Choose her field
I’ve always wanted to help people. To speak for people and help people achieve their dreams . Right now as a business lawyer, I have translated that desire to help people grow their businesses to fit the picture they have for their venture’s future. I term myself the SME lawyer now (even though that’s not the only business category I cater to) because I have a deep passion for startups, young businesses and their owners and I want to help them grow their venture into a profitable and sustainable one. If I can’t own and operate a million businesses I might as well contribute to the success story of one million businesses.
Do you have any mentors?
Well yes and in different areas of life and for different reasons. One of them is the Honourable Hairat A. Balogun because of the pivotal role she has played in the Nigerian legal system. I also look up to a lot of successful business owners in Nigeria (albeit from afar) and follow their business lifestyle closely. One of such is Mrs. Ibukun Awosika – founder and CEO of the Sokoa Chair Centre, among others.
Tell us about Creed and Stones
Creed and Stones started about 2 years ago right after I decided it was time to pursue my passion to establish my SME friendly legal consultancy firm. We are a registered business in accordance with the laws of Nigeria. I had worked both in active practice in a commercial law firm in Lagos and as legal manager of an indigenous engineering company. At the time, I believed it was the right time to give back to a community of people I have admired and identify with – entrepreneurs and everyday people that just want to make their lives count by building a legacy. So yes, our operations so far is in line with our vision as we have quite a growing number of clientele which we are supporting to do business right.
Can you share your business secret?
Ah! A business secret is called just that because it’s meant to be a secret …lol. I would say however that our culture as a firm is centered on putting people first…people in terms of our clients and employees. We are building a firm that is known for its professionalism, integrity, and compassion for the needs of its people. We are of the school of thought that the best form of marketing is client satisfaction and recommendation, so we work to treat every single client and instruction with the utmost attention and skill so that we are generally known for excellence in service delivery.
Creed and Stones in 5 Years and the role you intend to play
In 5 years it is my dream that we would have a much wider reach geographically and impact wise. We want to be supporting businesses that are active players in the national and international economy. It seems like a big dream to aspire to, but we have confidence in our clients and in our ability to take them there. And yes, I’ll definitely still be running Creed and Stones for a very long time by God’s grace.
Tell us how you have leveraged technology in your business.
Technology plays a very crucial role in business and cannot be ignored in this age. At Creed and Stones LP, we use technology, most importantly, in facilitating a better communication channel with our existing and potential clients. In our day-to-day operations, being a firm follower of the lean start-up model, we use different software applications to automate most of our procedures, in order to manage costs. And of course, the social media has been a veritable tool for disseminating information to the public on doing business right; an example of which is our dedicated Instagram handle – @smelawyer.
Tell us challenges you have faced and how you have managed it.
Hmmmmm, the challenge that comes to mind really is getting more people to know about us and our services; but this has improved considerably as we have made good use of technology and the art of networking to bridge the gap between us and our potential clients. It used to be quite discouraging at first having all these beautiful business packages for our clients and just seeing trickles, but we stuck to it, didn’t stop believing in what we were doing, and gathered information on how to acquire more clients.
How have you been able to sustain your business in terms of financing?
We adopted a very strict accounting system very early in our venture. Everything is accounted for and we manage resources to the T. We also encourage our clients to pay (or part pay) for our services in advance so that a healthy cash flow is maintained and our efforts are focused on delivering optimum services rather than chasing clients for our fees. As mentioned earlier, we also save costs by finding more affordable but nevertheless effective alternatives to our needs and requirements as a business. We definitely do not compromise on quality.
Any mistakes that you have made that we can learn from?
I would have worried less in the early days of the business and focused more on building our model. As every entrepreneur will admit, sometimes we get too focused on the revenue coming in and wonder if we haven’t made a mistake by leaving paid employment, within just a few months from the start of our venture. Money might not come in immediately you start but keep faith and work on your business.
How do you give back to the society? Any CSR projects?
Yes, we do a few pro bono work (without professional charges) based on our assessment of the particular situation and the constraints faced by the client involved. And for our clients in general, our fee structure and payment model is very pro-startup/SME. We understand the peculiar situation of growing businesses in our clime so our fees are structured to be very friendly to our clients .
Other business interests of Oluwadamilola Tubi
I’m in the process of growing a natural cosmetic line…so watch out for that. I also do training and public speaking on entrepreneurship and other areas.
Advice for people starting out a business in your field?
Be persistent. Never stop learning…acquire knowledge and then some more. Listen to feedback from your clients and incorporate it into your business to enhance a better service delivery and customer experience. Don’t cut corners, prove to the public that the legal profession is indeed a noble profession that gives hope to the common man.
What is your greatest achievement so far? Any awards?
I don’t dwell so much on achievements and awards;I’m always looking out for the next thing. This helps me stay hungry for more and focused.
When all is said and done, what is the most memorable thing you have done that you want carved on your tombstone?
That I helped so many people achieve their dreams
Advice for budding and aspiring entrepreneurs
Hmmmm, where do I start? I have a lot to say to them but I’ll just say here that work on your dreams so much that you actually believe in them and stick to the process until you start seeing your desired outcome. Don’t be easily distracted or discouraged. There are so many people waiting on your dreams … It’s not just about you, there are many lives affected by the success of your venture. If not for anything, do it for them.
Tell us what your typical day looks like
I wake up in the morning, pray and read my Bible. Start getting my family ready for the day and head off to work while listening to pre-selected praise songs (and some Adekunle Gold as well…lol).
How do you unwind?
I basically unwind by listening to music. Working as an entrepreneur doesn’t give me much time to engage in other relaxing activities as I would love to, so I resolve to just taking intermittent breaks listening to music and dancing along. Other times when I have some free time I watch a movie at the Cinema just to take a break from the “busyness”.
Romantic relationship status
I am married to a wonderful guy!
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