Employment decisions are not just about skills. They are about strategy, and even more about timing.
GTBank shows us this. At a stage when they needed growth, they didn’t hire based on CVs alone. They had a vision in mind to attract millennials and build for them, so they hired millennials. This changed their approach and model, and targeted the future workforce.
They sacrificed short-term profit for a long-term strategy.. That’s why their branches were inside universities while other banks were chasing only high-net-worth individuals.
The lesson here is that every company must match its hiring and market approach to its stage of growth. The right employees and the right customers, at the right time, can change an industry.
Dr. Smith Ezenagu is the Chairman of Esso Group, a diversified conglomerate shaping real estate, finance, education, and media. Dr. Smith Ezenagu is recognized as a real estate & investment mogul, life coach, and private equity expert. He leads Esso Group and its subsidiaries: Esso Properties (awarded Nigeria’s Most Innovative Real Estate Company in 2024 and recognized as the best real estate company in Nigeria), Esso School of Enterprise (the leading institution equipping entrepreneurs), and Esso Capital (delivering smart, trusted financial solutions across Nigeria).
