By Gossy Ukanwoke
In today’s corporate world, leadership is often equated with profit margins, growth charts, and shareholder value. But I’ve come to understand, in my own little space, that true leadership is not just about the numbers, it’s about people, purpose, and the impact we leave behind.
At KingMakers and BetKing, where I serve as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer respectively, my mission has always been clear: to build a business that succeeds not just commercially, but socially. I believe that empathy, empowerment, and innovation are not opposites of profitability; they may, in fact, be its strongest foundations.
For me, children represent the truest investment in the future. This conviction drives many of the initiatives I and my team have championed over the years, projects designed to give young people not just inspiration, but real opportunities to thrive. From Kidsport Academy to the Ojah Scholarship Foundation, from The Bridge Initiative to our E-sports collaboration with Reach and Carven Gaming, every effort is guided by one principle: that sustainable change begins with empowering the next generation.
Through these programmes, more than 1,500 young Nigerians have directly benefited from digital literacy and empowerment opportunities. These are not acts of charity; they are long-term investments in potential, designed to nurture talent, build confidence, and open doors. We see corporate social responsibility not as a checkbox, but as a calling, a responsibility to give back to the society that sustains us. Doing good is good for business.
One project particularly close to my heart is the annual Spelling Bee competition, an initiative I personally support. It may seem modest in scale, but for me, it represents something profound. Each year, we see children light up with confidence, curiosity, and creativity. For many of them, it’s their first time being celebrated for their intellect. That joy reminds me why I do what I do. Education and exposure remain the greatest equalisers, and they are gifts that keep on giving.
My approach to leadership is both youthful and timeless. Youthful in the sense of being bold enough to innovate, to ask questions, and to challenge convention; timeless in its grounding in empathy, integrity, and purpose. I’ve always believed that leadership must look beyond the boardroom, it must connect with the community and respond to the real issues people face.
The betting and gaming industry is often misunderstood, but I see it as a platform with immense potential for positive impact. Through thoughtful initiatives and responsible leadership, we continue to demonstrate that this sector can be a force for good, driving digital inclusion, supporting sports development, and enabling economic opportunities across communities.
At the end of the day, what defines leadership is not the title or position, but the number of lives one can uplift. For me, leadership is not just about being at the top; it’s about helping others rise. It’s about giving children a voice, a vision, and a chance to dream beyond the limitations of their environment. Yes, leadership is about empathy for people.
As KingMakers and BetKing continue to grow, my focus remains on one constant truth: that our legacy will not be written in quarterly reports, but in the stories of the young Nigerians whose lives we’ve helped shape.
Above all else, I believe leadership is not about power; it’s about purpose. And that purpose begins and ends with people, especially the children who will one day lead us all. True, the real new foundation of corporate leadership is empathy.
Mr Ukanwoke is Managing Director at KingMakers and Chief Executive Officer, BetKing.
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