b"How did you get involved in the nanny How did you get to where you are What do you like least?industry? today? My children say I am constantly working! IAs a new mom back in 2004, I felt strongly I got here by sheer curiosity, a passion for do play and build in time for self-care andabouttheissueofwork-lifebalance.As continuous learning, dynamism, and team a flexible schedule, but I am almost alwayssuch, I began sharing my thoughts on the spirit! I simply wouldnt relax until I found on call! Yet the truth is that I thoroughlytopicwithprintmagazinesand outhowIcoulddobetter.Thathasnt enjoy what I do.newspapers. By 2008, I was publishing my changed.Iamconstantlytesting,ownwork-lifemagazine.Bythen,Ihad changing,innovating,andadaptingour How can nannies be the best they canemployed my children's nanny, who is still processes to arrive at better outcomes. I be?with us today. From feature interviews with have a wonderful team that I carry along Nannies can be the best they can be byfamiliesandnanniesinmymagazine, and delegate to as much as possible. embracing lifelong learning and adoptingcoupled with my experiences as a nanny anopenmindonthejob.Learningandemployer, I was able to see the yearning Where do you see yourself in five years? beingknowledgeablebuildsconfidenceneedandhugegapfortrainedcareer In five years, we will have truly become a and earns you peoples trust. I would saynannies.ThisledtothefoundingofThe global brand. I expect that we will have this is a critical competency for nannies. ToNanny Academy, which exists to empower successfullycreatedaccessto any aspiringnanny, I would say: take somenanniesandotherdomesticworkerswith international nanny markets for the African coursesrelatedtoyourprofession.Doingthe knowledge to succeed on the job and nanny. Nigeria is the giant of Africa. The so will set you apart.to succeed in advocating for fair, decent worldshouldexperienceourverywages and working conditions.hospitable and warm nannies. What is your educational background?IstudiedmediaandcommunicationsWhatisthenannyindustrylikein Whatisyourbestadvicefornannies (MSc.) at the Pan-African University. I holdNigeria? across the globe? a Master of Arts in English Language fromThe nanny industry in Nigeria is springing up Payattentiontothedetails!Thelittle theUniversityofLagosandadegreeinand gradually taking shape. I would say this details make a huge difference. EnglishEducationfromImoStateis from the independent efforts of some key University.players. Today, the convergence of social What do you like best about your job?mediahasbecomeanenablerandhas Ilovethepeople!Ilovemeetingand Howdoyougivebacktothenannycreated a virtual meeting point for nannies, helpingpeopleworkoutsolutions.Ilove community?families, and agencies in a game-changing the great conversations we share. I have I set up annual scholarships for our nannyway.Nowthattheconversationsare met great minds, built strong friendships, programs.Somanygreatandsuccessfulhappening in the open, each party in the and learned so much from my community nannies have emerged from either the fullindustrycanholdtheotherincreasingly as a result of my work. or partial scholarships that we provide.accountableand that is a good thing forgrowth. Biggest nanny industry myth?I think the biggest myth in the industry isthat people are nannies because they can'tdoanythingelse,whichleadspeopletobelievethatnanniesshouldnotbepaidwell for just sitting around. Nannying is both a career and a livelihood.For most of the committed career nannies,theycantimaginedoinganythingelse.Icanusemychildren'snannyofsixteenyearsasanexample.Shehaspurecommitment to her job and our family. Shehasherownlifeandfamilyandsheiscapableoftrading,butherpassionforcaring for children has kept her on. Nanniesmight come from diverse backgrounds aseducators, psychologists, nurses, chemists,moms,andmore,butonethingthatprofessionalcareernannieshaveincommon is that they do the work becausetheyloveit,notbecausetheycantfindwork doing something else.NannyMag.com13"