HR Experts Urged to Rethink Work Culture Through Mindset Transformation

Mindset is fast becoming a key factor in how professionals adapt, grow, and lead in the workplace. As the demand for transformation increases, more attention is being paid to how people think, not just what they do.

The HR GEMs Coaches Network has hosted an event centred on the theme ‘Mindset Transformation: Becoming a Transformed Professional’. The event brought together HR professionals, coaches, and thought leaders to explore the link between internal mindset shifts and professional growth.

Lara Yeku, Founder of the HR GEMs Coaches Network, said the decision to expand the initiative was driven by the need for greater visibility and collaboration.

“Our vision is clear, our message is clear, but we needed to scale up,” Yeku said.

“In today’s world of work, mindset is a critical factor. This year, we went bigger so that we can reach more people.”

She further explained the rationale behind the theme: “The mindset is very powerful. Unfortunately, a lot of people undermine the power of the mind. Our culture has conditioned many to think in a certain way, and that becomes a barrier. May is a month where we celebrate workers, and it’s important that workers begin to transform how they think so they can become better.”

The event focused on the importance of personal transformation as a pathway to creating thriving workplaces. “When workers transform how they think, they bring the best version of themselves to work and their communities. That is the essence of this conversation around mindset,” Yeku added.

Keynote speaker Ugochukwu Omeogu, a business strategist and mentor, challenged participants to see knowledge as a more powerful tool than effort alone.

“Life does not reward you according to your effort. Life rewards you according to your knowledge,” he said.

He emphasised that true transformation requires not just hearing information but applying it. “Until what you know becomes what you do, you have not learnt anything.”

Omeogu outlined three levels of knowledge essential for transformation: revelational knowledge from personal insight or spirituality, theoretical knowledge from study and strategy, and experiential knowledge gained through mentorship and practice.

“Mentorship accelerates results and reduces mistakes. It is a critical part of becoming transformed,” he said.

He also used storytelling and role-play to illustrate how the environment and belief systems shape outcomes more than background or birth.

“You are not born rich or poor; you are born either male or female. It is what happens in your mind that determines who you become,” Omeogu said.

Participants were actively engaged throughout the session. One attendee remarked, “I’ve learnt that I may be my only danger. If someone who had polio can work with global firms, then I have no excuse.” Another participant said, “I now understand that rich people don’t look for cash—they look for knowledge.”

Representative of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Bolanle Onime gave a goodwill message on behalf of the President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir.

She praised the HR GEMs Coaches Network for aligning with CIPM’s goals of promoting a world-class HR profession in Nigeria.

“Your commitment to empowering professionals through coaching is commendable,” she said.

She added, “A transformed mindset challenges the status quo and nurtures a culture of excellence. As HR professionals and transformation coaches, you play a key role in leading that shift—from within yourselves and into the teams and organisations you serve.”