Idara Ogunsaju

Introduction and Cultural Heritage

Taryell Simmons: Welcome back listeners, ladies and gentlemen, to another episode of Rise Urban Nation. I am your host, Terrell Simmons, and this is the podcast where we amplify Black and African excellence all over the globe in the efforts to unite, uplift, and ignite. Today we have a very special guest whose journey embodies the essence of transformation and empowerment, Idara Ogunsaju. Tell me, what does your name mean, and where does it come from? In our Nigerian culture, names always carry deep meaning.

Idara Ogunsaju: That is one of the things I love about Nigerian and African names in general. Idara means joy in my language, Anang, spoken in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Ogunsaju is a Yoruba name meaning Ogun has shown the way or cleared the path, with Ogun representing iron and the god of iron. Figuratively and literally, it represents clearing the way.

Taryell Simmons: We first met when we were introduced by Kiarra at the San Diego Business Journal and Black Chamber of Commerce recognition of Black Leaders of Influence. You are doing visionary work in change management and coaching, serving as a beacon of leadership for women reclaiming their confidence in the professional world.

Idara Ogunsaju: There is definitely a cultural component of respect across African cultures. Many people associate Nigerians with confidence and boisterousness, but personality varies from person to person. True confidence comes down to knowing yourself, feeling sure of who you are, and presenting as yourself.

Identity and Diaspora Connections

Taryell Simmons: Growing up in Nigerian and African American culture in the United States, I saw parallels regarding identity and knowing who you are. In Southern Black culture, people ask whose child you are, reflecting deep roots and community accountability.

Idara Ogunsaju: That tradition traveled across the diaspora. While you are an individual, you are always representing your family. There are so many cultural parallels between Nigerian culture, African culture, and African American culture, especially around respect and community.

Taryell Simmons: By sharing our stories, we can unite pan-Africans across the diaspora. In the past, media and stereotypes created disconnects between Africans and Black Americans.

Idara Ogunsaju: Media representations often promoted negative stereotypes or narrow single stories. Social media has opened up many more perspectives. When we meet people, we need to hear their stories and recognize that we have more in common than not. That is how we unite and build on our collective strength.

From Healthcare Administration to Empowering Leaders

Taryell Simmons: Can you walk us through your journey and what inspired your focus on promoting women in leadership and rebuilding workplace confidence?

Idara Ogunsaju: Coming to the United States in 1995, I was initially pre-med because in Nigerian culture, medicine, law, engineering, and accounting were the primary paths. My mother was a midwife, which sparked my interest in health. However, while preparing for medical school, I pursued a master's in healthcare administration. I saw an opportunity to influence care delivery at an organizational and systemic level.

Idara Ogunsaju: I spent over twenty years in healthcare administration, consulting on electronic health records implementation and managing clinical operations. Over time, I experienced a period where self-doubt began creeping in. I realized that if this could happen to me with all my experience, it was happening to others. I developed intentional strategies to rebuild my confidence, which led me to launch The Antorch Group, named in honor of my parents, Antonia and George.

Entrepreneurship and Tackling Isolation

Taryell Simmons: What was a pivotal challenge you faced when transitioning from healthcare administration to running your consulting practice?

Idara Ogunsaju: The most unexpected challenge was the isolation of working independently. Remote work offers convenience, but it carries a risk of isolation that can erode confidence. To overcome this, I partnered with a close friend in financial advising for regular co-working sessions and established study halls and community meetups to maintain meaningful human connection.

Team Dynamics and Tuckman Stages

Idara Ogunsaju: Teams naturally evolve through Tuckman stages of development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. In physical spaces, teams move through storming and norming faster. In virtual or remote environments, leaders must be intentional about onboarding and relationship-building so teams can reach the high-performing stage.

The Confidence Talk and the SOAR Framework

Taryell Simmons: Let us dive into your book, The Confidence Talk: I Said SOAR. What inspired you to write it, and what are the key strategies?

Idara Ogunsaju: The book was born from personal experience when self-doubt began impeding my action. The acronym SOAR stands for Suit up, Always ready, Impart without spreading panic, Self-regard, Offer value, Advance, and Refresh and Refuel. Small wins create an upward cycle that continuously builds confidence.

Taryell Simmons: The Refresh and Refuel strategy resonates deeply because leaders cannot pour from an empty cup.

Idara Ogunsaju: Burnout can look like exhaustion, boredom, or a lack of interest. Knowing what healthy and confident feels like allows you to recognize when you need rest. You must refuel so you can fulfill your responsibilities and serve effectively.

Empowering Leaders and Maternal Health Advocacy

Taryell Simmons: How does your Confident Leaders Series help professionals translate these concepts into practice?

Idara Ogunsaju: We host intimate cohorts of six leaders or day-long retreats to translate theory into actionable strategies tailored to executive, mid-level, or emerging leadership challenges. While founded with a focus on women in leadership, these principles apply universally. Men in leadership must actively partner to ensure women's voices are heard, validated, and credited in decision-making rooms.

Idara Ogunsaju: I am also deeply engaged in addressing maternal and infant health disparities. As a member of the policy committee for the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls in San Diego County, I advocate for systemic, data-driven solutions and legislative policies to eliminate racial inequities in healthcare.

Amplifying Global Black Excellence

Idara Ogunsaju: Terrell, what was the driving force behind creating the Rise Urban Nation podcast?

Taryell Simmons: In my workforce development career at the San Diego Workforce Partnership, I led youth programs and realized that young people cannot be what they cannot see. When COVID hit, I launched this podcast to document and amplify Black excellence across the global diaspora. We are literally recording Black history in real time, connecting audiences from the US and Africa to Japan and Germany.

Taryell Simmons: Where can our listeners follow your work and connect with you?

Idara Ogunsaju: You can visit https://antorchgroup.com and https://theconfidencetalk.com. Follow on Instagram at @antorchgroup and watch my podcast, Confidence Conversations with Idara, on YouTube.