In this episode of the Meet Your Inspiration podcast, Rich and Meri sit down with Blessing Enakimio, an organisational development consultant, entrepreneur, and cultural architect who shares her remarkable journey from London to Nigeria and back again. Her story weaves through unexpected career changes, from almost studying biomedical engineering at Imperial College to building a successful cake business, all while becoming a global leading expert in organisational culture and change management.The conversation explores Blessing's unique "Five Ws" framework for transforming workplace culture, her powerful analogy of culture as the grout between organisational tiles, and why 70% of mergers fail due to poor cultural integration. Drawing from her experience leading the complex merger of four ambulance trusts and running events at the Nigerian Presidential State House, Blessing reveals how authentic leadership and intentional culture-building create lasting organisational success.• Growing up bicultural between the UK and Nigeria shaped Blessing's adaptability and global perspective• Early exposure to her mother's multiple businesses instilled an entrepreneurial mindset• Pivoting from an incomplete psychology degree led to discovering her true calling in organisational development• The "Five W’s" framework (Work, Workflow, Workload, Workplace, Workforce) diagnoses and transforms organisational culture• Culture is the invisible grout that holds organisational tiles together - ignore it at your peril• People remain the ultimate asset, regardless of technology or automation• Successful mergers require deliberate cultural integration, not just structural changes• Her Empower Gala creates authentic cross-sector connections beyond traditional business awards• Building a cake business from necessity taught valuable lessons about market adaptation• Continuous mentorship and coaching are essential even for established leaders• Empowering children means helping them become "more of who they already are"• Local impact and family balance are reshaping her consulting focus00:00 - Introduction: Culture as the Grout01:18 - The Story Behind the Name 'Blessing'02:55 - From Aspiring Doctor to Dropping Out of University04:53 - Finding a Career in Learning and Development07:37 - Entrepreneurial Roots: Inspired by Mom10:00 - The Dream Job: Building a New Organisation13:17 - The 'Five Ws' Framework for Business Culture15:48 - Managing Global and Hybrid Teams18:40 - People: A Company's Biggest Asset20:04 - Scaling Culture: The Role of Managers23:15 - Organisational Development vs. HR26:30 - Why 70% of Mergers Fail31:24 - Bringing Structure to Ambition35:08 - Becoming an International Speaker39:21 - The Power of Clear Intention43:12 - Defining an Event Strategy43:45 - The Empower Gala: Connecting Sectors46:33 - The Motivation Behind the Recognition Awards50:06 - The Problem with Commercialised Awards51:17 - The Accidental Start of the Cake Business54:51 - Balancing Artistic Cakes with Commercial Demand58:43 - The Future of the Cake Business: A Social Enterprise01:00:24 - The Importance of Mentors and Accountability01:04:12 - The Three C's: Competence, Confidence, and Courage01:05:12 - A Parenting Philosophy of Self-Discovery01:10:09 - Future Plans: Focusing on Family and Culture ClinicsOur sponsors:https://www.hempsteadhouse.co.uk/https://whatsoninkent.com/https://theitrustapp.com Special thanks to our film editor Charlie Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-42b74a121/ Special thanks to our new assistant Kristina Daduryan - https://www.instagram.com/kristina_daduryan?igsh=bXRkZTk4NXZ6aXdx

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