THE WEEK YOU DECIDE TO CLOSE
Dear Under 40 CEOs,
Close distractions.
Close loose conversations.
Close gaps in strategy.
Close on clarity, execution, and leadership direction.
Monday sets the tone. How you show up at the start of the week often determines what gets closed, who moves, and what decisions finally get made. This is the week to lead with clarification. Your mindset as a CEO into a new week is to come with intention, not hope.
PITCH NIGHT IS HERE
On 27th February, Under 40 CEOs is hosting a closed Pitch Night in Lagos, bringing selected founders face-to-face with Venture Capital firms, Angel Investors, and strategic partners.
Only 10 investment-ready businesses from within our community will be selected. Once these slots are filled, the application process will close.
This is a serious room for serious conversations, feedback, and exposure at a funding level.
If your startup is ready for visibility, capital, and strategic connections, send your pitch deck to
deals@under40ceos.com
Deadline: 16th February
Date: 27th February
Time: 4pm
Venue: Lagos
Very limited slots.
WHEN IT’S MONDAY AND YOU’RE A CEO
Monday is not about looking busy, it is about momentum, aligning priorities, driving conversations, and turning pipeline into decisions. When leadership is intentional, the week answers back.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Your pursuit for excellence, value creation, and solving humanity’s problems should be what ultimately makes people remember your family name.”
— Bada Akintunde-Johnson, Country Manager, Paramount Africa
Leadership is legacy. Our Platinum Member, Bada Akintunde-Johnson, reminds us that careers are not built on titles but on impact, purpose, and the people you lift along the way. His journey across African media reflects what it means to lead with vision and responsibility.
STRATEGY INSIGHT: GREAT IDEAS NEED POSITIONING
Van Gogh’s work became timeless because it was intentionally positioned. Distribution, narrative, and timing shaped perception. In business, brilliance alone is not enough. Execution and positioning decide who wins.
DISCIPLINE OVER COMPLACENCY
Our Platinum Member, Ighiwiyisi Jacobs of Hermosa Boda, reminds us that growth is sustained by discipline. Focus, reinvestment, and refusing to relax too early are what keep businesses profitable and relevant.
LEARNING RESOURCE OF THE WEEK: HOW WE MADE IT IN AFRICA – VOLUME 2
Growth comes from learning directly from those who have built in the African context. How We Made It in Africa – Volume 2 captures the thinking, decisions, and lessons of leaders who have walked the path.
To get a copy, click here: https://under40ceos.com/learninghub/books/how-we-made-it-in-africa-v2
WHAT THIS WEEK IS REALLY ABOUT
Close the gaps.
Close the excuses.
Close the distance between strategy and action.
This is the week you decide to close.
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Until next week,
Under 40 CEOs
www.under40ceos.com