People in Energy - Mavis Anagboso

MAVIS ANAGBOSO Director TOJU Consulting

Background

Following a twenty-year career in the UK public sector and energy sector, Mavis Anagboso set up a Diversity Consultancy in the Northeast of Scotland to help businesses in the energy sector build more inclusive work cultures.

How did you get into the Energy sector and how long have you been working in it?

I was born in a little Shell clinic in Warri, Nigeria, so you can say I’ve always been in the energy sector. My dad is a Drilling Engineer, and for years, oil & gas was all I knew as far as career prospects are concerned. Then, in my Uni days, I had my summer placement in Shell, which sparked a lifelong interest in the energy sector.

What does your job involve on an average day?

An average day usually involves coaching one or two clients and speaking to energy companies about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. On the other hand, my conversations could be with employees or business leaders keen to create a more inclusive work culture.

How have you coped personally and as a company with the pandemic?

My company is a product of the pandemic, and TOJU Consulting was forged in very dynamic circumstances. I set up my company after my role was made redundant at the height of the pandemic. Like most parents, I found juggling home schooling and working initially tricky. However, I quickly found a routine that worked for my family and used the opportunity to set up a company that can help individuals and businesses reach their potential.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I’ve had an incredibly diverse career, working in various functions from economics to Supply Chain Management and client engagement. The highlight of my career so far has been flying to Equinors’ Mariner platform with an all-female flight crew as part of the International Women’s Day 2019 celebrations. After a short time working for CHC Helicopters, I had grown accustomed to seeing incredible women working as pilots, engineers, operations control and ground operations staff. IWD’19 was an excellent opportunity to inspire young girls to consider a career in the energy sector.

What ambitions have you still got to fulfil professionally in your career?

I launched my business during the 2020 lockdown and since then, I’ve spoken at various online events to audiences numbering over two thousand in one case. After lockdown, I would like to go on the speaking circuit and speak at live events.

If you were inviting guests to a dinner party, which 3 people would you invite and why?

1. Christine Lagarde (President of the European Central Bank) – I love that she has successfully ran the European Central Bank since 2019 while looking incredibly stylish.

2. Lin-Manuel Miranda (creator of the Broadway hit musical, Hamilton) – I’m an amateur stage performer and would love to speak to the genius behind my favourite musical. Besides, it would be a cracking party as we would not be short of tunes and perfectly choreographed moves.

3. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Author of Half of a yellow sun) – I love books. I’ve written like 50 books (in my head), so I have great admiration for Ngozi because she writes beautifully and makes me proud of my Nigerian heritage.

Who has been the most influential person in your life professionally?

I’ve had several managers over the years, but one that stands out particularly is Howard Beames, former UK Base Manager of CHC Helicopters. He was my manager a few years back, and he had quite a refreshing management style which allowed me room to grow and thrive.

Over the next 10 years, what changes would you like to see in the energy sector with respect to D&I?

I would like to see business leaders truly embrace equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. There are currently a lot of D&I initiatives across the industry. These look good on paper but are predominantly only as valuable as the paper it’s written on. Action speaks louder than words, so I would like to see more diverse corporate boards. I would like to see leaders creating safe spaces for their employees to speak more freely about what inclusion looks like. I would like to see a more equitable recruitment system based on merit and not who you know. Shockingly, there is still a significant gender and ethnicity pay gap, and I would like to see that eliminated. Lastly, I would like to see leaders get more comfortable with vulnerability.

Given the experience you have now, what advice would you have given yourself when you were just starting out in the Energy sector?

Find out who the influencers are in your sector and get into that circle. Also, do not be afraid to pivot into a new function, even if you know nothing about it!