Based out of Hamilton, Ontario in Canada, Godwin Chukwuka Usifo is a noted business analyst presently employed by ServiceNow, a company that has developed a cloud-based workflow automation platform designed to enable organizations to improve operational efficiencies through automating and streamlining run-of-the-mill, low-creativity work tasks.
Professionally, Godwin is a project manager by training, and he has worked in this field throughout most of his career in Canada. He has also worked as a community instructor in the past. In this role, Godwin taught people how to properly use accounting software. Before that, he was a senior accountant in the town of North York, Ontario. In addition to his position as a business analyst, Godwin Chukwuka Usifo is also a recruiter for Mohawk College, one of Hamilton’s major post-secondary institutions. In this capacity and acting through his own consulting firm, Gochus Educational Consultancy (www.gochus.com), he assists international students in realizing their dream of earning a college degree in Canada.
Regarding his personal life, Godwin Chukwuka Usifo considers himself to be a very spiritual man. He is an active member of the Canadian branch of God’s Kingdom Society (GKS), Church of the Living God, and is currently the Chairman of the Hamilton chapter’s Administrative Committee.
Over the course of his career, Godwin has received a great deal of recognition for his leadership skills, and he has recently been named the recipient of the GKS Laity Award.
When not working or volunteering with his church, Godwin enjoys playing soccer and following professional matches on television.
What do you currently do at your company?
I’m a business analyst. That being said, I also engage in a good deal of project management. My role involves a lot of deep study, number crunching, and research, as well as directing staff and resources to areas where they are most needed.
What was the inspiration behind your business?
I created Gochus Educational Consultancy as a way of giving a boost to underserved children located around the world. There are kids with vast potential left untapped simply because the educational institutions in their homelands are underfunded and inadequate. These kids dream of going to college in Canada. Working in conjunction with Hamilton, Ontario’s Mohawk College, my consulting firm does everything we can to help these children realize their dreams.
What defines your way of doing business?
In a few words, integrity and efficiency. I do my best to deal with each situation I encounter in my career with the utmost professionalism, open-mindedness, and honesty. I also endeavor to solve problems as quickly and effectively as I possibly can.
What keys to being productive can you share?
I think truly listening to people when they communicate with you is an incredibly important skill, and one that many people lack, unfortunately. I always try to genuinely listen to anyone who engages with me—and not only just to their words, but to the subtext of their speech. By doing this, I believe I register a deeper connection with them as people and I pick up a lot more information than I would otherwise, which contributes greatly to my productivity.
What would you tell your younger self?
If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be to pay better attention in grade school. That’s not to say that I was a bad student. In fact, I was a pretty good student. But I could’ve been better. There were times when I allowed my mind to wander away from the lessons being taught, as is often the case with young people. Sometimes I wonder what kind of valuable information I missed because I was caught up in a daydream for a few moments in elementary school. Beyond that, I would tell my younger self to stay strong, set goals, and be a force for good in the world.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through the course of your career?
Never make assumptions. This is a difficult policy to put into practice, but I find the fewer assumptions I make—about anything and everything—the better I am at keeping an open mind, which in turn aids greatly in resolving all manner of issues.
What are some of your favorite things to do outside of work?
I spend a good deal of my free time volunteering with my church, the Church of the Living God, which is the Canadian branch of the God’s Kingdom Society. My faith is very important to me, and I feel compelled not only to nurture it within myself, but to share my experiences and insights with others who practice it, too. I also donate my time to the church as the Chairman of the Administrative Committee. Outside of that, I love playing soccer and watching professional matches on television.
How would your colleagues describe you?
I think my friends, family, and co-workers would describe me as an approachable, affable, professional, and spiritual man.
How do you maintain a solid work life balance?
My faith provides me with all the balance I require. That being said, I also try to eat healthy foods and get at least eight hours of sleep each night.
What are some of the keys to your success?
Moving from my home country to Canada was one of the major keys to my success. I suppose that’s why I dedicate so much of my time to helping others make the same sort of journey.
What is one piece of advice that you have never forgotten?
When I and several others from my church were volunteering to help some very unfortunate people, something was said to me that really resonated. One of my fellow parishioners pointed to an individual who appeared to be particularly down on his luck and remarked, “There but for the Grace of God go I.” That simple thought gave me pause. I think about it often.
