The Excellent Life Podcast

Hosted by Abolanle Matel-Okoh

Business Entrepreneurship Religion Spirituality Education

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Latest episode

May 2025

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EN-US

About the show

The Excellent Life podcast is for anyone looking to live life to the fullest and be the very best version of themselves. The show will inspire, motivate as well as challenge listeners to avoid mediocrity and be determined to live their very best life.

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37 recent

May 27, 2025Episode 3633 min

Excellent Reflections

Excellent Reflections 🎯 Not everyone has a great relationship with their parent as they get older, and I feel like, as I have gotten older, that is something I have seen how blessed and lucky I am to have that relationship with my parent - 05:18 🎯It is a privilege to have someone so close to you that you can look up to and be motivated – 06:00🎯Life is hard, you get to learn different things, and having someone who is in your corner who will always fight for you is such an underrated privilege that you really cannot take for granted - 06:28🎯Cleanliness is next to Godliness – 09:44🎯Being the standard of excellence- 11:37🎯 As I get older, I have taken that level of excellence in every area of my life, whether in business, professional, personal relationships, and my relationship with God - 11:45🎯 We all go through the stage where we think we are adults and matured - 14:17🎯 I thought I was disciplined and strong in a lot of different ways, but in the last three years, I felt God has tested my results to make a better version of myself so I can be a teacher and blessing to other people - 14:49🎯God doesn’t put you in what you cannot handle-16;13🎯Comparison is essential and great for gratitude - 16:30 🎯My relationship with God was something I struggled with when I was much younger. - 17:04🎯The goal of life in general, in my opinion, is to live a fulfilled life that has purpose – 19:33🎯In the simplest way, what builds that up is being aligned in your mind, body, and spirit.- 19:46🎯 I thought I could create my happiness and my joy on my own, irrespective of my relationship with God – 21:39🎯 There is a certain joy and peace when you are aligned with God's plans for your life. – 21:59 🎯 What I have learnt from this journey so far is that anyone can be a mentor and a guide, no matter where they are, whether they are younger or older than you, everyone has something they want to share. – 23:23 🎯 I want to be a voice to others to help guide them along on whatever journey they are and share my journey as well - 23:39🎯 Self-Mastery is very important to me - 23:59🎯 The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are – 24:13🎯 Surrendering to the plan God has for you is the key to removing the stress and anxiety you put on yourself. – 31:22Daniel Matel-Okoh is a Nigerian-born digital marketer, entrepreneur, endurance runner, and the founder of Dominion, a movement built on one unshakeable truth: the path to freedom starts within.After years of battling burnout, losing sight of his purpose, and experiencing relentless pressure to perform, Daniel finally hit rock bottom. But instead of staying there, he built a personal operating system rooted in mind, body, and spirit that helped him reclaim his purpose, rebuild discipline, and reconnect with God.Now, he runs 150+ miles a month, lifts 3x a week, and lives with more peace, clarity, and focus than ever before. He’s managed over $50M in ad spend as a digital marketer, but his true gift is helping others master the invisible game of realigning with their purpose, confronting their pain, and building a life that actually feels like theirs.Daniel’s approach to life is simple but powerful: self-mastery is a sacred responsibility. Through his newsletter and coaching services, he invites high-performing, spiritually curious Millennials to reject mediocrity, rewrite their internal scripts, and become who God created them to be.

April 24, 2025Episode 3517 min

Reflecting Excellently

Bola Matel-Okoh, is an award-winning attorney and executive leader with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. Recognized as the “Super Achiever” Peak Performing Woman of the Year 2023, she is honored to be listed among Leading Ladies Africa’s 100 Most Inspiring Women 2024 and ABCD Africa’s 100 Most Impactful Voices 2024.In 2015, she was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Wema Bank PLC, where she continues to exhibit skills in corporate governance, risk management, and advanced strategic planning. Her directorial role has been enriched by training from globally renowned institutions such as IMD in Switzerland, INSEAD in France, and Harvard Business School in the USA.In 2022, she founded BMO Advisory Services, a coaching and leadership development firm with a focus on women empowerment. Her certification from the GEMSTONE Leadership Institute as an Executive Coach enables her to guide women towards personal and professional excellence. This mission is embodied in the Women’s Lifestyle Hub, a vibrant community of executive women committed to living their best lives.Her extensive experience stems from legal research, case investigation, client adjudication, and business transactions in Nigeria and USA. Admitted to both the Nigerian Bar and the New York State Bar, she has built a formidable career in law, specializing in Admiralty Law, Immigration Law, and insurance class action litigation. She began her legal journey as a Legal Assistant at United Commercial Bank in Lagos, Nigeria, and transitioned to practicing law in both Nigeria and the USA. Her roles have been marked by a strong client focus and a dedication to achieving established objectives.As the CEO of Havilah Ventures, she oversees ventures in real estate, corporate branding, and the health and wellness sector. Her commitment to excellence is further exemplified as the owner and Managing Director of N-Lounge and Spa, where customer service and satisfaction are paramount.She is also the host of The Excellent Life Podcast, a platform designed to inspire, motivate, and challenge individuals to live a life of excellence.Driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, she continues to dedicate her life to empowering others, fostering leadership, and making a meaningful impact globally.

March 30, 2025Episode 3427 min

Accelerating Action Excellently

Episode 34 Accelerating Action ExcellentlyOluwatoyin Bakare is a seasoned entrepreneur, A Certified Fellow Chartered Accountant, and an alumnus of several renowned business schools. She is the COO and executive director of SAS Textiles Ltd, a second-generation family business that is Nigeria's home of exquisite world-class fabrics and textiles.As Executive Director (Finance) of SAS Textiles, she oversaw the business's growth from a one-room shop to one of Nigeria's leading textile retail store chains. As Chief Operating Officer of SAS Textiles, she oversees the day-to-day running of a successful indigenous trading concern raised on integrity and excellent customer service.A graduate of accounting, and a Fellow of (ICAN), she is an alumnus of Fate Foundation's Emerging Entrepreneur’s Programme (EEP), where she also serves as the President of the alumni community. She was also a part of LEAP Africa's Business Leadership Program, and Lagos Business School's OMP, and also graduated from CEIBS and recently did a Business Leadership Program at Harvard.She chairs the board of Genesis House - an arm of Freedom Foundation that shelters and rehabilitates disadvantaged women and is an associate member of the Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ).She is also a wife, mother, public speaker, resilience coach, and Pastor who uses her story to empower others.

January 8, 2025Episode 3318 min

Kicking off Your Year Excellenty

Episode 33Kicking Off your Year Excellently🎯Reflecting on the past year is a crucial step in setting the tone for this year. It helps you identify what worked well, what didn't, and what you want to carry forward. - 01:53🎯Celebrating wins is key to building momentum. 02:09🎯Challenges and setbacks are inevitable but often provide the most valuable lessons. 02:58🎯Reflecting with a growth mindset, helps you identify changes in approach that could have made a difference. 03:32🎯Sometimes we outgrow our goals or realize that they are no longer aligned with what we truly want and that's perfectly fine. 04:15🎯Your daily habits are the foundation of your success. 04:20🎯Physical and mental health are foundational to achieving anything in life. 05:49🎯 Self-care is not selfish. 06:17 🎯Gratitude is a powerful tool for shifting perspective and cultivating positivity. 06:30🎯Set smart, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. Think about how you want to feel and the type of person you want to become. 08:17 🎯Big goals can be overwhelming so break them into manageable pieces. 08:37🎯Focus on the actions that will move the needle the most. Commit to creating daily habits or rituals that support your goals. 09:13🎯Build momentum with small wins. 09:20 🎯The start of the year is the perfect time to establish good habits and routines. 09:28🎯Track your progress by regularly checking in on your goals and note your progress to stay motivated. 10:12🎯Learn from setbacks and don't see failures as roadblocks but as opportunities to adjust and learn. 10:40🎯 Having a community to share your journey with can help you stay committed. 12:50🎯Life can throw unexpected challenges your way. So stay open to adjustments. 13:13🎯Give yourself grace if things don't go as planned. 13:42🎯Take time to celebrate, and reflect on your progress regularly even the small steps 14:07🎯A positive mindset is essential for overcoming challenges and staying motivated throughout the year. 14:38🎯Use affirmations to reinforce your beliefs in your abilities and take a moment to reset your mind during stressful times. 15:00🎯Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. So give yourself grace and enjoy the journey. 15:57

April 23, 2024Episode 3219 min

Excelling in Marriage

Episode 32Excelling in Marriage🎯 Love is not just a feeling, it is a commitment - 4:05🎯 It is more important to be happy than being right - 5:23🎯 There is no perfect marriage - 6:53🎯 Marriage is sustained by friendship - 8:12🎯 Love and Romance sometimes require effort, but true friendship is effortless - 9:07🎯 Forgiveness is a vital ingredient for a healthy marriage - 9:19🎯 Your mindset is key to excelling in marriage - 10:57🎯 A united front is key in marriage - 12:40🎯 One area I have found to be vital to maintaining a united front is Parental Decision Making - 13:33🎯 The grass is not always greener on the other side - 14:17🎯 Never second-guess who you chose - 15:58🎯 Marriage is about adjustment - 16: 32🎯 It takes the grace of God to excel in marriage - 17:16

February 8, 2024Episode 3138 min

Grieving Excellently

Pastor Toluwani Odukoya is a multifaceted individual, serving as a pastor, mother, worship leader, recording artist, and marketing professional. Pastor Toluwani received her ordination in June 2016 at The Fountain of Life Church, mentored by her late parents, Pastors Taiwo and Bimbo Odukoya. In 2018, she was appointed as the Music Director at The Fountain of Life Church. Her passionate worship, spirit-filled teachings, and dedication to the Gospel have garnered a widespread following extending beyond Nigeria’s borders. Renowned for crafting authentic songs and messages rooted in her genuine relationship with Jesus Christ and her love for the Holy Spirit, she is committed to helping fellow children of God find their place as sons and daughters of God in various aspects of life, including their homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, businesses, churches, and communities. Her ultimate dream is to witness the full transformation of individuals into Christ’s image, igniting their passion for Jesus and, consequently, leading more souls into the Kingdom. My special guest has a special affinity for women and established a women's online prayer platform in 2016, where thousands of women from around the world gather weekly for prayer. After seven years of leading this initiative, she stepped back in 2022 to prioritize her family responsibilities. She recognizes the pivotal role women play, especially within their homes and in shaping the lives of their children, who, in turn, influence the world. Her career spans various industries, including technology, finance, FMCG, food and beverage, and electronics. She has held significant positions and achieved prominence in her career while continuing to shine as a light in the marketplace. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Advertising from Buckinghamshire New University in Buckinghamshire, UK, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government Pre-Law, with a minor in Public Relations and Advertising, from Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma, United States of America. Additionally, she serves as a board member for the Bimbo Odukoya Foundation.

November 8, 2023Episode 3041 min

Cultivating Excellent Values

Izehi Anuge is an exceptional values educator and transformative leader dedicated to instilling and reintegrating values into young minds and society as a whole. Her decade-long journey has been focused on developing values-based resources and frameworks that empower current and future leaders and learners to align their character development goals with global participation, 21st Century Skills, and SDG Goals.As the visionary founder and managing director of Shape A Child, Izehi plays an integral role in ensuring revolutionized character and behavioral transformation in children from early years to young adulthood. Through Shape A Child, individuals, parents, and educational institutions achieve exceptional results by integrating values and 21st-century skills into their daily lives.Izehi has authored the captivating children's book series "Captain Excellence," a catalyst for cultivating a Values-Based consciousness in young readers. She has also developed innovative resources, including the first values-based children's jigsaw puzzle and discussion cards, accompanied by an engaging animated series. For teenagers, she has crafted the Gen Z Personal & Creative Excellence workbook. Izehi has also donated her books to over 13,000 underprivileged children and conducted community-based sensitization programs for leaders.Izehi has earned numerous accolades and recognition from local and global entities. She has been honored with a Recognition Award from Lagos State, an Outstanding Philanthropic Award from SHE Global 2022, and inclusion in the prestigious list of the 100 Most Impactful African Changemakers by the 2022 Humanitarian Awards Global. She proudly serves as a school ambassador for World Values Day and represents education delegates as part of the Values 20 Group at the G20 leaders' summit. Through her ambassadorship, Izehi is actively raising awareness for an education system that transcends traditional academic subjects, placing emphasis on values, equity, community culture, holistic well-being, and the development of 21st-century skills.Izehi Anuge stands at the forefront of a transformative movement, leveraging values-based education to empower minds, transform communities, and shape the future.

October 5, 2023Episode 2921 min

An Excellent Legacy

Topic: Legacy of Excellence🎯 Legacy is the mark you leave on the wall when you die - 2:54🎯 The concept of legacy is much larger than the value of the estate you leave behind, it is about the richness of the life you lived, what you accomplished and the impact you had on people and places - 3:06 🎯The story of your life reflects your individual legacy - 3:22🎯 Your legacy of accomplishment is not just about winning awards and coming out ahead, it includes things like successfully overcoming adversity, excelling as a leader, creating innovation, and much more - 3:28🎯 What you do and achieve throughout your lifetime forms a powerful legacy that others will remember you by - 3:46🎯 Everything you do in life works together to create the overall mark you leave on the world - 4:17🎯 When making choices between right and wrongdoing, what is right is forming a positive legacy, while doing something wrong is laying the groundwork for a negative legacy - 4:27🎯 Be mindful of leaving a positive legacy marked by excellence - 5:27🎯 Building a legacy is the only way to build a lasting footprint - 6:06🎯 Failing to target a specific group can result in your message being diluted to having little or no impact - 8:19🎯 When defining your legacy, you have to look at the bigger picture and ponder how your legacy will impact people - 9:19🎯 Without purpose life is like a sheep with no sales moving aimlessly without any specific intention to guide the decision - 10:06🎯 Your internal purpose is what guides you, meaning what fulfills you. Your external purpose is how you deliver it to the world - 11:24🎯 Your legacy is largely determined by the values that guide you - 12:14🎯 If you don't like where you are, it is never too late to put yourself on your desired part - 12:39🎯 There is no merit in good intentions unless they are accepted upon - 13:42🎯 A legacy-driven mindset also helps you to be more strategic in your legacy journey - 15:01🎯 A legacy-driven mindset can also help you to be more resilient in your legacy journey -15:01 🎯 Seek opportunities to learn and acquire knowledge to expand your capabilities. -16:47 🎯 Integrity is the foundation of a lasting legacy. - 17:50 🎯 Align your actions with your values even in the face of adversities -18:38 🎯 Your legacy is your story waiting to be told - 18:58🎯It’s Never too late or too early to think about the legacy you want to leave behind - 19:20

August 31, 2023Episode 2836 min

Building an Excellent Personal Brand

Combine a Marketing, Branding, and Communications Expert, a Feminine Leadership Coach, and an Author, and you have the Extraordinary Visionary that is Lady Bodam Taiwo. During her impressive career spanning 15+ years, she has been instrumental in starting new businesses across Africa and building Luxury and Premium Brands across Western Africa. She has also managed the operations and performance of sales teams in the Fast- Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Industry. She currently serves as the Head of Portfolio, Bond & Connect, Western Africa at Pernod Ricard where she plays a major role in creating and driving the execution of the long-term strategy for sustainable and profitable top and bottom-line growth of the portfolio across 22 African markets with a focus on 5 Key Markets. Bodam is the Visionary behind The Refined Lady Movement which equips ladies with the tools to grow impact, influence, and authority and distinguish themselves as Leaders by discovering and leaning into their innate femininity. Through The Refined Lady School, she offers Signature Courses and Masterclasses covering various aspects of Executive Presence, Etiquette, Protocol, Grooming, Diplomacy, Communication, and Hospitality among others. She also trains organizations on Leadership, Corporate Ethics, and Business Etiquette. She is also the host of The Refined Lady’s Summit – an annual conference on feminine leadership, elegance, and culture. In 2022, Bodam was recognized as one of the Top 100 Career Women in Nigeria by 9-to-5 Chick. She was also awarded the Distinct Positive Values Award of the Year by The Iconic Brand Awards (TIBA) for her positive impact on society. In 2021, Bodam was named one of The Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in Africa by Leading Ladies Africa. She was also honored as one of twelve extraordinary Visionary Women of African Descent in the 2021 Future-Forward Female Folio. Bodam holds a B.Eng in Electronics Engineering from the University of Reading and an M.Sc in Mobile and Satellite Communications from the University of Surrey. She currently serves as a Volunteer Mentor in both institutions. In 2022, she also served as a mentor in Women In Business, Management and Politics (WIMBIZ) and the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). She has a certification in Luxury Spirits Marketing from a collaboration program run by INSEAD Business School for Diageo Brands Ltd. She is also an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, United Kingdom.

August 17, 2023Episode 2737 min

Making Excellent Career Choices

Making Excellent Career Choices🎯 It’s really important that what you do, you thoroughly enjoy it - 6:32🎯 If you don’t like what you do, you’ll do it in a less than excellent way - 6:39🎯 Where you are may not be where you want to be but once you are able to articulate where you want to be, it would give you the fuel, energy, and passion to run with that place you don’t really like in terms of “I know where I am going, this is just for a certain amount of time” - 9:02🎯 Whatever it is you find your hands doing, do it well, - 9:32🎯 In where you are, it could be that the people you are helping in that capacity are the people that would help you get to that vision that you see - 10:01🎯 Where you are now is actually practice for where you are going - 10:17🎯 When you practice doing your best in insignificant things or things you don’t even like doing, you are practicing to be excellent when you actually get to something exceptional which is really want to do - 10:26🎯 Purpose and passion go hand in hand - 10:49🎯 The things you are most passionate about are the things that are actually your purpose, what God created you to do - 10:59🎯 Find your purpose and you will find passion - 11:06🎯 It’s possible that even if you don’t find purpose, purpose can find you where you are - 11:56🎯 It’s absolutely fundamental that you love the work you are doing until you find the work that you love - 12:10🎯 It’s possible to be in the right team but the wrong organization - 13:10🎯 It’s possible to be in the right organization but in the wrong industry - 13:15🎯 It’s possible to be in the right industry but in the wrong location - 13:20🎯If you are stuck, you just need someone like a mentor, a coach, who can look on the outside to see where you are stuck and help you through the process of being unstuck - 14:59🎯 Sometimes, it’s not always the best-qualified person who gets the job - 17:51🎯 When you change, the situation changes - 19:11🎯 You need to understand that you can never finish a day’s work in a day - 21:11🎯 Sometimes, it is people’s urgency that they place on you - 21:25🎯 Don’t wait to be triggered, take those breaks as you go along - 25:27🎯 You can’t look at someone else and put the pressure on yourself that you have to function the way they do, everybody’s capacity is different - 25:49🎯 It doesn’t make you less the person that you are if you are not able to do something at a particular season - 26:36🎯 Leadership is about being exemplary in the place where God has placed you - 29:55🎯 You are either leading people in the right way or in the wrong way, consciously or unconsciously - 30:36Kemi Oye is an Executive and Career Coach, TEDx Speaker, Trainer, and Human Resource Expert. Known as The Career Doctor and founder of The Career Fitness™ Inc, a company that is committed to helping people attain career fitness by helping them get clarity on the right type of work that fits their innate abilities, strengths, talents, and passion so that they are fulfilled, thrive in the workplace, and transform organizations. She is an accredited practitioner of the Global Discovery Insights and DISC personality profiling tools, a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and a privileged alumnus of the Olusola Lanre Coaching Academy (OLCA) and an Emotional Freedom Technique and Matrix Reimprinting (EFT) Practitioner. She holds several other certifications in Leadership and Management. She is authoritatively positioned in her career with over two decades of experience in the Human Resource Management space. She currently consults with one of the top 5 largest employers of labor - NHS England.