By AZEEZAT ADESHOLA
Book Title: Imperatives of Sustainable Leadership Reputation (10R Codes to Sustain All You Attain)
Author: Bosede Olusola-Obasa
Publisher: Mind Your Character with Bosede Olusola Obasa Book Series
Number of Pages: 136
Reviewer: Azeezat Adeshola
When I first picked up the book, Imperatives of Sustainable Leadership Reputation, I expected to skim through another self-help book full of recycled leadership tips. But from the first chapter, I realized that wasn’t going to be that kind of read.
The author, Bosede Olusola-Obasa, a media professional and social capital development and management expert, takes leadership off the pedestal of motivational quotes and grounds it in personal responsibility, faith, and hard-earned integrity. She does not write as someone theorizing from afar. Her words come from the trenches of real-life leadership: navigating betrayal, delayed gratification, silence, and personal sacrifice.
The book, divided into thirteen compact chapters, outlines ten key principles the author calls the “10R Codes” for leadership reputation. These include Responsibility, Resilience, Respect, Reliability, and other virtues that go beyond competence to touch the soul of influence. Each code is supported by scriptural references, life stories, reflections, and clear moral lessons. Without any iota of doubt, the book is not just a leadership guide, it is a manual for soul-searching.
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At the heart of this book is a powerful message and explicitly spelt out. It is about leadership: “It is important to note that leadership is your personal acceptance to be in the courts of the public. The earlier you realize how much you owe the people and begin to operate like you are accountable to them, the safer for your leadership reputation. If you love to be entirely private, do not show up on the stage; it literally means Limelight.”
Imperatives of Sustainable Leadership Reputation is more than a leadership guide—it reflects the author’s scars, sacrifices, and sincerity. In an age where shortcuts to fame are glorified, this book reminds us that true leadership is built on time, testing, and truth.
Chapter after chapter, I found myself underlining lines, pausing to reflect, and asking unnerving but necessary questions. For instance: Am I leading with character? Do I have the kind of reputation that can withstand pressure? These aren’t questions you ask lightly.
One moment of patience and determination that particularly resonated with me was when the author reflected on the COVID-19 era; how after planning so many events and seminars, everything had to be put on hold due to lockdown protocols. Despite the struggle her team faced, the events were eventually successful post-pandemic. As she rightly noted, no one can claim to be resilient until he or she is faced with a situation that challenges his or her tenacity. In that silence, she found strength. Her ability to turn disappointment into purpose is one of the most inspiring themes of the book. I learned that to lead well, you must first lead yourself—and often, the battle is within.
The book also shines in its storytelling. Olusola-Obasa’s language is vivid, at times poetic, and filled with literary flair. Pithy. Thought-provoking. Sharp. These words best describe some of the styles she deployed.
Imperatives of Sustainable Leadership Reputation is more than a leadership guide—it reflects the author’s scars, sacrifices, and sincerity. In an age where shortcuts to fame are glorified, this book reminds us that true leadership is built on time, testing, and truth.
It deserves a place on the shelves of leaders, aspiring leaders, and anyone who believes that character still matters. Highly recommended for personal growth, leadership development, and even inclusion in school curricula—especially for aspiring individuals with little or no leadership experience.
