Our Man Crush Monday, Sir Lawrence (Lorenz) Mba is a seasoned C-level business leader, one who is well-traveled with relationship management experience in Canada, Nigeria, and emerging markets. Also known as the ‘bridge builder’, Lawrence’s knack for negotiation as well as his international network have driven him to contribute to the Nigerian renaissance immensely.
A native of Onitsha North LG in Anambra State, Lawrence was born in Plateau State and had his primary education in Aba, Abia State. He then moved to FGC Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State for his secondary education. He graduated from the University of Calabar in Cross River State and spent the mandatory one year of his NYSC in Kaduna State as a teacher at Kaduna Polytechnic. Shortly after, he began his working career with the then Lever Brothers Nigeria Limited (now Unilever PLC) in Apapa, Lagos State.
He got married in Plateau State while working with NASCO Group. Thereafter, he returned to Lagos to work with Brian Munro Limited. He proceeded to Colgate Palmolive Nigeria as Head of Marketing and Business Development before relocating to Canada with his family. While in Canada, he was, among other roles, a board member of the Electoral District Association in Halton Region, Canada, and was recognised for his contributions. His service to Canada earned him a Certificate of Recognition from the Prime Minister of Canada in 2015.
Lawrence comes top when it comes to a blend of Nigerian tradition with modernity. He is guided by the philosophy of thinking globally while acting locally and appropriately. Despite two decades of a successful stay overseas, his passion for service towards Nigeria brought him back home. In 2007, Lawrence was hired by Intercontinental Bank Plc to set up and run the Wealth Management and Private Banking Division as Assistant General Manager. In 2011, Insight Communications Limited engaged him as Account Management Director.
Now with over 30 years’ post-graduation work experience, Lawrence has contributed to growth in stakeholder value in his private-sector career spanning the FMCG, banking, insurance, integrated marketing communications, consulting and e-commerce sectors. He has also sought to improve his knowledge and apply new methods and ideas to his work. He holds a General Management MBA from IESE Business School and has participated in both the Advanced Management Programme at the Lagos Business school and the Senior Executive Programme at HEC School of Management.
His firm belief in giving back to humanity and his community is visible in his volunteering and mentoring activities. In his spare time, he supports not-for-profit and welfarist programmes such as the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Lagos Business School Alumni Association Governing Council, Benola Cerebral Palsy Advisory Board, Global Citizen Initiative, Association of Black Law Enforcers (ABLE) among others. He is equally the founder of Waka Community International, a wellness initiative committed to building a community of fitter, leaner, healthier and ultimately happier people through walking and eating right. The community wants to change the world, one waka at a time.
He is a doting father of three, a grandfather and a mentor to many. Lawrence Mba belongs to the noble order of the Knights of St. John International and is a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing in Nigeria. We at Pride Magazine Nigeria applaud the many achievements and contributions of Lawrence Mba – that’s why he is our Man Crush.
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Kudos to all of them.
These are Nigerians doing great things to lift our country into reckoning Al over the world.
God bless them.
They are silent achievers.