Continuous learning and improvement are the most critical strategy Abim Kolawole relies upon in his role as the chief audit executive at Northwestern Mutual. “The inherent desire to continue developing, learning and delivering value are the prime motivational factors,” he said. “Such enthusiasm can be unlocked in others by helping them understand their potential impact on the company and its clients, their inherent capabilities and empowering them to make an impact.”
Northwestern Mutual is a financial services company committed to enabling every American to be financially secure through its holistic approach to planning for financial security. Alongside the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, the firm has invested in its
communities, contributing more than $50 million nationally through the
childhood cancer program since 2012 and more than $60 million over the last
25 years to advance access to quality education for Milwaukee-area students.
In his role at a Fortune 100 company, Kolawole has embarked on a bold multi-year strategy to uplift talent, culture, operational excellence, and agility while elevating the audit experience and increasing fraud prevention and detection. He credits his greatest accomplishment in the last year since he was named a two-year Titan 100, has been driving a holistic transformation of the audit function and spearheading a comprehensive revamp of the company’s audit processes, methodologies and talent development initiatives.
Another noteworthy achievement was the implementation of advanced data analytics capabilities within the audit processes while initiating targeted training programs, mentoring initiatives, and knowledge-sharing platforms to enhance the team’s capabilities and foster a collaborative and inclusive environment. “This not only improved employee engagement and morale but also elevated our collective expertise, enabling us to provide valuable insights and recommendations that address the organization’s challenges and opportunities,” said Kolawole.
When the company launched a new Sustained Action for Racial Equity (SARE) initiative, an effort spearheaded by chief executive officer John Schlifske, Kolawole was appointed as its executive sponsor. Under his leadership, the SARE team produced a series of programs to tackle elements of the racial wealth gap, including the challenges facing many Black/African American entrepreneurs in accessing capital; that demographic collectively receives less than 2% of venture capital investments.
In the last year, Kolawole said his greatest leadership lesson has been the power of grit and resilience.
“Leaders are very driven to succeed and make an impact; we are trained to drive hard and achieve as quickly as possible. However, not every effort goes as smoothly as leaders may desire,” he said. “The ability to succeed is greatly dependent on the mindset that requires the constant forging ahead while displaying grit and resilience which are key leadership traits that must be displayed in spades to assure a steady leadership hand and a great chance of success.”