Eunice Abaga Business Leader Interview

My career path has enabled me to work with all ages from Kindergarten to University level. This experience grounds me in understanding inter-generational issues. Also, as a policy analyst, I work in a political environment with changing regimes every four years. This role has also afforded me the flexibility of embracing change. I no longer fear or shy off from change. I welcome change in ways that open possibilities for greater results. Both teaching and public sector work experience continue to deepen my appreciation of addressing problems and decisions by taking into account both the context and content while being flexible with factors that I have no control over. I also use a community engagement approach to problem solving and decision-making at all levels of life and business. The income property business has armed me with skills of effective screening and understanding how to manage emotions when tenants become angry and irate to a point on insulting and assaulting. Noticing and identifying emotional triggers is an important skill in business and it is important for me as I have interacted with people in different contexts.

As a strategic teacher, healer, coach, and mentor I have no doubt in mind that understanding oneself is the key to creating harmonious relationships that result in greater productivity and performance, and in turn, joy, happiness, and fulfillment with self and others. I am different from my competition because I am both the product and the brand. I address common life issues with uncommon approaches, for example, I view emotions and logic as inseparable. As I learned from my business partner Steve Siebold, world-class success requires us to understand the dual role of emotions and logic. Steve Siebold posit that the magic is in the mix of emotion and logic. According to Siebold, the real distinction between amateur leaders and pros is that amateurs motivate through logic and the great ones motivate through emotion. I employ mentor toughness secrets in my work which differentiates me with my competition. And most importantly I work from multiple literacy perspectives that acknowledge that societal problems can not be fully addressed from one perspective of literacy. Other literacies such as emotional, health, financial, technological and policy literacies are essential to achieving effective and efficient outcomes that are sustainable.

BI: Please tell me about any recent business accomplishments that you are most proud of and why?

EA: In my day job, I was able to advocate for the development and launching of an employee network for public service employees with disabilities and their allies. The goal of advocating for this network is to create a shift in how employers, co-workers, and society in general view disabilities. With the numbers of persons with disabilities growing at an increasing rate, it is crucial to ensure that barriers to full participation in social and economic activities for those with disabilities are reduced or removed all together. The other reason, I was strongly motivated to contribute to the development of a disability network is give voice to those affected by any form of disability. As financial challenges face many organizations, some employers are hesitant to respond to workplace accommodation requests. It is my belief that when employers and organizational leaders learn from the perspectives from those with lived experiences of disabilities, they are more likely to do what is right at the right time. I am so excited that we now have a network of employees advocating for their needs and the needs of those they serve.  I am looking forward to advancing this work through speaking engagements with a focus on demonstrating to employers that workplace accommodation is a low cost with greater impact to employees and society in general.

My other recent business accomplishment was being able to stop foreclosures. Due to prolonged vacancies, I ended up having mortgage arrears, municipal taxes arrears and utilities arrears. As a result, the creditors threatened to proceed with tax sales and the back started foreclosures process. I was so frightened because this meant losing my residential home as well. I didn’t know where to turn to. After much reflection, I decided to consider various options, including a short sale and borrowing personal loans and second mortgage. After severals discussions with different business leaders in financial industry and family friends,  I was able to get through the tough tunnel. I consider this a business accomplishment as I have learned a lot of lessons from the experience.

BI: What Leadership qualities in Leaders do you most admire and why?

EA: The top leadership skill that I admire most is integrity, this is because it is the greatest asset for business success. It means that a leader does what is right in all situations. This assures those who are led and will also give clients the confidence is doing business with the leader and the organization.

NATIONAL NEWS DESK

Business Innovators Magazine - National News Syndication