Learning With No Playbook: Nike Anani's transition from building a family office in Nigeria to advising next gens on their own stories.

Nike, an esteemed advisor at Northern Trust and a leader within her own Nigerian family enterprise, shares profound insights into the intricate world of family businesses. Her journey began by managing her family office without a "playbook," a decade she describes as both the most meaningful and challenging of her life. Faced with "drowning in complexity," Nike spearheaded the creation of a family office, establishing a "control tower" designed around family values and vision to manage diverse businesses and investments. She emphasizes the critical need for rising generation leaders to earn trust through persuasion, consistency, and hard work, especially within elder-dominant cultures. Nike's narrative powerfully illustrates that structured governance, open communication, and the development of a strong personal identity are not just beneficial, but essential for the enduring performance and successful intergenerational transition of family enterprises. Her advisory work is driven by a purpose to enhance succession and longevity for family businesses globally, acknowledging the universal nature of these challenges across cultures.

Key Themes:

Strategic Evolution of Family Enterprises

Next Generation Leadership Development

Importance of Governance and Communication

Personal Identity and Purpose:

Cross-Cultural Relevance of Family Business Challenges:

Professionalization of Family Wealth Management

Timestamps:

00:35 – Nike's career journey and role at Northern Trust

01:49 – Family background and her father's entrepreneurial story

03:29 – Transition from medicine to entrepreneurship

04:37 – Childhood memories and realizing her father's success

06:16 – Family enterprises within the Nigerian economy

08:04 – Moving to the UK at age nine and cultural adjustment

11:05 – Early career at Deloitte and lessons from tax accounting

12:27 – Returning to Nigeria and founding the family office

18:14 – Challenges convincing her father and evolving governance

21:19 – Establishing family governance: council, committees, communication

25:22 – Working across family businesses and earning trust as next gen

34:26 – Leaving the family business and relocating to the U.S.

38:07 – Building her next-gen advisory career and global perspective

42:00 – Advice for rising generations: self-awareness, coaching, and legacy

Additional Resources:

Nike Anani, Director Next Gen Advisory Services, SVP at Northern Trust

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