Fix the Leaks. Build the Legacy. Yemi Oluseun's Guide to Sustainable Scaling
In the relentless pursuit of growth, many founders fall into the trap of chasing new leads while their existing foundation crumbles. Yemi Oluseun, Founder of The Change Hive and a U.S. Department of State YTILI Innovation Fellow, offers a powerful alternative: retention-led growth. As a strategist who has guided firms like JP Morgan and Barclays through major transformations, Yemi teaches leaders to “fix the leaks before chasing new leads,” building businesses that scale sustainably and create lasting impact. Here, she shares her insights on turning being underestimated into leverage, the power of systems, and why true success means building a business that can thrive without you.
What personal "why" sparked the idea for The Change Hive?
The Change Hive was born from a frustration I saw repeatedly: brilliant businesses bleeding customers because they chased more leads instead of fixing leaks. I’d spent over a decade transforming banks and SaaS firms and realised retention—not acquisition—is the real growth engine. My mission became to help founders build businesses that scale sustainably, so growth feels peaceful, not panicked.
If you could go back and mentor your younger self, what advice would you give her?
I’d tell her that being underestimated is not a verdict—it’s leverage. The quieter you are, the more strategic you can be. Use people’s assumptions as a smokescreen to build, refine, and emerge undeniable. And most importantly, rest is not rebellion. You are allowed to build big things slowly, beautifully, and on your own terms.
Many female founders say being underestimated can be a superpower. Can you share a time it was yours?
Early in my career, I often found myself the youngest and the only woman of colour in the boardroom. Instead of trying to prove I belonged, I learned to observe the unspoken dynamics in the room. That emotional intelligence—reading tone, timing, and power flow—became my strategic edge. It taught me that influence is rarely loud; it’s precise.
What's your personal "mentorship playbook" for developing future leaders?
I mentor through frameworks, not platitudes. My mentees learn to design systems that outlive them—clarity dashboards, retention maps, decision trees. But mentorship isn’t just technical; it’s spiritual. I teach women to anchor confidence in competence, not comparison. My goal is to make them unshakeable, not just successful.
Beyond your company, what larger impact do you hope your work creates in the world?
My vision is to see more founders—especially women—own businesses that run without them, freeing time for creativity, family, and faith. Retention-led growth creates stable jobs, wealth circulation, and community continuity. It’s not just a business strategy; it’s an economic justice playbook. Sustainable companies sustain people.
