Tobi Olusoga, chief operating officer of the fintech platform i-invest, has identified the commingling of personal and business finances as a primary obstacle preventing founders from building enduring enterprises.

She delivered this insight at the Building Beyond You Conference, convened by Tara Fela-Durotoye, Founder of House of Tara, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, in Lagos.

During a panel discussion titled “What’s Next After You?”, Olusoga emphasised the foundational importance of financial discipline. “The first step in building a sustainable enterprise is to create a clear separation between your identity and the business. Too often, a founder’s financial security is completely enmeshed with the company’s. It is crucial to pay yourself a consistent salary, no matter how modest. This discipline allows you to allocate a portion of your earnings toward a personal financial plan, securing your future and establishing a healthy boundary with the business.”

Olusoga shared the stage with entrepreneurs Salem King and Stephanie Obi in a session moderated by Ekene Onu. She also addressed the psychological barriers that prevent long-term planning, such as fear of failure.

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“Fear can be a significant impediment, but preparation is its antidote. Visualize the challenges ahead and map out your response. By simulating these scenarios, you can develop a clear strategy to overcome them. This applies directly to investing; building a financial safety net today is a direct response to the uncertainties of tomorrow. This proactive planning is about mitigating risk and building resilience,” she advised.

Reflecting on the core theme of the conference, Olusoga defined legacy as the ultimate peace of mind.

“Legacy is the assurance that the work you’ve invested your life in will continue to thrive, independent of your daily presence. It is the confidence that your family will be secure and the community you’ve built – your team, your partners, your customers – will continue to draw value from the foundation you’ve laid. That is the true measure of success.”

The Building Beyond You Conference is a premier event for African founders and entrepreneurs focused on transitioning from business operators to architects of sustainable organizations. This year’s conference featured keynotes from respected business leaders, including Atedo Peterside, Founder of Stanbic IBTC; Ibukun Awosika, Entrepreneur and Global Culture Shaper; Yewande Zaccheaus, Founder and Chairman of Eventful Limited; and Fela Durotoye, Founder of GEMSTONE Group.

Hope Moses-Ashike is an Associate Editor, Banking and Finance, with more than a decade of experience reporting on Nigeria’s financial system and broader economy. She closely tracks market movements, monetary policy decisions, company disclosures, regulatory actions, economic indicators, and global developments, and interprets what they mean for businesses, investors, policymakers, and households. Her reporting helps readers understand complex issues such as inflation trends, foreign exchange market dynamics, interest rate decisions, bank performance, and investment risks. She also covers major international events and periodically travels to Washington, D.C., to report on the World Bank/IMF Spring and Annual Meetings. Her dedication to financial journalism has earned her multiple recognitions and invitations to high-level professional development programmes. She is an alumna of the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the United States and holds an Advanced Financial Journalism Certificate from the Press Association Training in London, UK. Her other notable achievements include completing the Lagos Business School CMC Programme, the Bloomberg Media Africa Initiative Programme, and a Master Class in Journalism at Rhodes University in South Africa.

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