Ohio University Leader Lounge

Mahmud Shares His Story of Risk-Taking and Pursuing Dreams in Sports

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This episode features Mahmud Oluwalose, a graduate student from Nigeria pursuing a career in sports administration. Mahmud shares his inspiring story of taking risks to advance his education and career, from studying microbiology in undergrad in Nigeria to moving to the US for a master's degree. He discusses his passion for using sports to help communities and individuals in Africa. Mahmud also provides insights into his experiences launching a program to share untold sports stories from Africa and his leadership journey.


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OnBrand Podcast Studios produced this episode. Special thanks to Audio Engineer Alex Winnenberg, Producer Nick Winnenberg, and Marketing Specialist Cori Stokes.

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SPEAKER_03:

We're here at the Leader Lounge podcast at Ohio University's College of Business. I'm here with Nick Winnenberg, and I'm Amy Taylor Bianco, and we are sitting with Mahmoud Alawalash. I'm not going to do it right. Mahmood. Mahmood. Let me try it again. Alululushi.

SPEAKER_00:

All right, Mahmood. What's your last name? I'll need you to pronounce

SPEAKER_03:

it. Alululushi. Alululushi. Yes.

SPEAKER_04:

We're keeping the entire part of this podcast. Start again? No, no. I think we're keeping the entire thing. It was fantastic.

UNKNOWN:

Okay.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05:

All right.

SPEAKER_04:

And we've been preparing this one for a long time. And you've been helping us with Lear Lounge for six months to a year almost now, right?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, since August. So like

SPEAKER_04:

nine months. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

So we talked, we talked about the Leader Lounge and about the podcast idea while you were back home in Nigeria.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes.

SPEAKER_03:

And that was just fun and just this dream and exciting. And then I think you came to the first recording was maybe the day after you got here

SPEAKER_00:

or something like that? Yeah, that was on my birthday. That was

SPEAKER_03:

on your birthday? Yeah,

SPEAKER_00:

that was on my birthday the 18th.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00:

But it was like nice just getting to see you because we talked a while on email.

SPEAKER_02:

Right.

SPEAKER_00:

Because when I got the email or like a podcast. I've not worked on a podcast before, but it feels like an exciting thing for like the next year, so I'm down.

SPEAKER_03:

How

SPEAKER_04:

are we going to be? I'm in. Let's go. You

SPEAKER_03:

had really interesting background and experience that I thought was really helpful for the podcast. I thought you stood out. Can you tell us a little bit, so I don't know a lot about you. I think I know what teams you like. I know a few things. But I don't know a lot about you, about your life before before your life became in Athens, Ohio. So just tell us a little bit about

SPEAKER_00:

yourself. So I'm from Lagos, Nigeria, the first of three siblings. I've lived in Lagos like all my life. So this is like the first time coming out to the U.S. Yeah, quite an experience. So for undergrad, I studied microbiology way far away from sports.

SPEAKER_02:

Really? Oh, cool.

SPEAKER_00:

but like i noticed like it wasn't bad like i was good at it but i noticed like my final year it wasn't something like that made me want to wake up every day and get ready and go to work I felt monotonous in a way. So in between, I was already working with sport teams, volunteering. So I found out this was what I actually enjoyed. Even with my class, I would organize games, try and get everyone to the games. Like, let's go. We have a soccer game or a football game. We call it in Nigeria. So I found out this is something I'm passionate about. So let me take a look at it. I knew because I didn't study it in undergrad, it was going to be tough for a while. So I had to like... putting the effort, getting to the bottom of the food chain when it comes to sports. So it wasn't bad. I was able to meet people that were going to give me opportunities, which I appreciate that. So I worked for a soccer academy for like, a year volunteering while I was also like interning like in a digital marketing role for like a printing company.

SPEAKER_04:

Wow.

SPEAKER_00:

So I would leave, I would close at the printing company and then go down to like the soccer field and volunteer. So I did that for a year and then an opportunity showed up like you can be like a full-time coach with a team. So I took it like okay yeah this is what I want to do so let me go into it like full-time now. It was fun you know like working with kids is something like you get to see the impacts that I how you are helping them out. You get to bond with them. You get to see them grow too. And it also helps you with little things like your leadership, mentorship, support. You get to see changes in yourself because people think it's easy, but it's difficult. No, it's not easy. It is difficult working with kids. So along the line, I noticed that I did that for a couple of years. And then I noticed I tried applying for more advanced roles in sports. But I noticed I was finding a block road because I would get to the end of the interview process and then not get the role. So I noticed I think I need to get an advanced degree in sports. I think that will help me in the career. So I started looking at schools in the US. Funnily enough, I wasn't even planning on leaving the country. And then I had a friend. His name is Jake. He would always text me. He's in the UK getting his master's. He would always text me, very smart guy, try and look for schools that can maybe give you some funding or just try and do something else that takes you away from this cocoon that you are in. So I appreciate that. Then I sat down, made a list of different schools. And then I noticed, like, the first time I sent an email to the sports administration program, yeah, Natalie Withman, like, replied me, like, instantly. I was like, wow, I like that, because those are the little things I actually look at. It's not about, like, I've never been to the U.S., so location wasn't actually a criteria for me, because I don't know anywhere here. Right, everything's

SPEAKER_04:

a blank slate. Like, United States, all right, Ohio, Kansas, Connecticut.

SPEAKER_00:

But the relationship was what I really enjoyed, like, The questions, no matter how ridiculous it was, she would always reply me. And then Matthew, too, was always an helping hand. And then I was able to talk to some students, too. Though they're not in the program now, but they were really helpful. So I was like, I think it's going to be Ohio. So that was how I got here. Little by little, went through the admission stage, did an interview with Matthew and Natalie Whitman, too. and then applied for a visa and started preparing. And then I got your mail too while I was in Lagos. I was like, okay, I think the foundation is here. It's going to help me grow. It's part of taking risks. I've not been here before. I don't have any family members here, but it's an opportunity to grow.

SPEAKER_03:

Wow.

SPEAKER_04:

That's an amazing story.

SPEAKER_03:

That is incredible. So had you taken risks earlier in life? Like, had you ever seen any other risks work out? Because that's a big, I mean, that's a big risk to take. That's

SPEAKER_00:

a big job. I always say this, being like the eldest child, I think I'm like the risk test. Yeah. Send him first. So like, from like... from like my little age, my parents didn't go to college. I think it's about high school. So I was like taking the decision to go to college. So it was like a risk. I had like no one to look at like, okay, this is someone I can learn from. Even like the decision of not studying like what I did in undergrad, going to a new different field or like taking a risk. Cause like in Africa, you're meant to, like, when you get to a certain age, you have to take care of your parents, you have to take care of your siblings, and things like that, too. So I was taking the risk of, ah, like, would I be able to, like, get to a stable, comfortable stage early to be able to take care of my parents, too? And even coming here, too, I know I had a discussion with my dad. It was like, are you sure about this? I told him, yes, I think I'm sure about it. I think I want to see the difference in my life in the next five years.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah. So your parents were supportive when you told them?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. Like I mentioned, them not going to college has its pros and cons. But the disadvantage is you don't have experience when it comes to educational stuff. I don't think they have much to give you. They've been supportive financially, supporting me all the way. But I think tips and advice, They can't really help much. But the advantage is you have a plain canvas. You can dream big. No one is going to tell you, I want you to become a doctor or no. It's always like an open canvas. You can be whatever you want to be. They're going to support you. So I appreciate them for that.

SPEAKER_04:

You literally just got goosebumps. I don't think goosebumps often. That's pretty powerful. So what are your siblings doing?

SPEAKER_00:

My junior brother just finished college. So he's seven at the moment. Nigeria, after college, you get to serve the country for like a year. It's like a youth service program, yeah? Yeah. And then my sister is in high school.

SPEAKER_04:

And you were the first to go to college then in your family. Yes. So how does it feel to inspire the next generation then to follow in your footsteps? I mean, that's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, it is actually cool. Sometimes they're stressed out. They don't listen to my tips. I'm like, it's always going to be okay. They're going to go through the stress, but it's always going to be okay at the end of the day. I'm always here to support you, give you the advice, but you're not going to fail or drop out. No, it's always going to be okay.

SPEAKER_04:

I mean, you're one hell of a leader at a pretty young age. And again, the fear of you saying, hey, I'm going to go study. So for the interview, that was virtual. You never came to Ohio before you moved your stuff in here. No, I didn't. So what did you think? I mean, when you got off the plane the first time.

SPEAKER_00:

I dropped out of Detroit. That was my first start. You went to Detroit first? Man, come on. I didn't leave the airport, so I don't think that counts. But I actually went there last week, so it wasn't bad. Okay, that's good. When I got to Ohio, I noticed how nice everyone was. Yeah, it's Midwest. And I actually appreciated, like, everyone is welcoming, from my classmates to my roommates. Always supportive. I don't have a car here. I don't feel the difference because I can always text someone and then they'll get me to wherever I want to. There's always someone to talk to if you have any issues or anything. It's like a tight-knit family structure, which is something I actually like. Coming from a city that never sleeps, Lagos is always busy. I think this is like vacation. It's calm. I can take walks in the afternoon. The winter was not that good. Now the weather is getting better. But when I got here, it was like, It was totally amazing.

SPEAKER_04:

I still remember my favorite story of you. I think it was a dip below like 55 degrees or something, and you had a hat on, a big coat, and I was like, listen, bud, it's about to get

SPEAKER_03:

rough. It's going to get much worse.

SPEAKER_04:

No, that's amazing. So what was the biggest piece of culture shock for you? Because usually it's the small things, right? The small things build up for culture shock. So what's been the biggest small thing?

SPEAKER_00:

The food. Really? Yeah, for me, the food. First couple of months, I kept eating, like, junk food, like... Donuts, fries. But now I'm adjusting a little bit. I know like, because I like spicy stuff. So I know where to get like spicy fresh food from like Walmart or Kroger's.

SPEAKER_03:

So you can get what you like now?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I'm also reaching out to classmates to send me recipes that I can cook. Oh, that's awesome. And things like that, yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay.

SPEAKER_04:

So the food is a major change then. So does anyone else from your family want to come visit you or anything? Or when's your next time you're planning on visiting there?

SPEAKER_00:

I'm planning on going back home in December.

SPEAKER_04:

Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

So that's an opportunity. Temporarily? Yeah, temporarily for the Christmas break, yeah. Cool. That's awesome. You excited? I am excited. It's an opportunity to see my sister again and my brothers and everyone and my friends too.

SPEAKER_03:

I

SPEAKER_00:

share some interesting stories about Ohio. No, seriously, I can't

SPEAKER_03:

wait. I can only imagine. I can only imagine. What were some of the weirdest things that you saw or that you couldn't explain when you got here? You know, you just kind of...

SPEAKER_00:

So I noticed everyone keeps to themselves here, unless you have a relationship or you have friends or you know each other. Back home, you can see a total random stranger on the bus and you guys talk. You just start talking, okay. Or on the road, like, hi, good morning. Or yeah, if they don't know you, everyone just goes on their way.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

So that took time to adjust. That took time to adjust, but I think now I'm cool with it. But it's not 100%, though. There are some people that you would meet, and they're always ready to talk to you. I would take Uber and strike up a conversation with the driver, which is always fun, before getting to the destination.

SPEAKER_03:

But for the most part, people just weren't talking. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

That's true. I mean, it's definitely an individualistic culture, right? Versus collectivist culture. So it all comes down to how you were raised, of how it goes into it. You proud of me? I just used like... Yeah, very proud. Very proud. Okay, cool. So my next question for you, too, is looking at... I know that sports has always been a major part of your life. We've talked about it before. And you started doing this different program more recently. Can you tell me about this program that you launched?

SPEAKER_00:

I was in my friend's apartment. And then I thought about it like... This is something I actually enjoyed. Like way back, I'm always reading sports stories, sports articles. I think I'm the most, I think I'm the biggest 30 for 30 documentary junkie. Because I love like sports documentary. There's always something about the story. It's not about the scoreline or whoever won. There's something special about the story. NC State just got all the way to the Final Four. I think I knew about them even before coming to the U.S. Because I watched Survive and Advance about Jimmy Valvano. That was like an interesting story.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

So I look at it like Africa has about like 50 countries so many cultures like more than 2,000 languages like when it comes to sports where we are like so many stories that people don't know about I feel like this is something we should like put out there it's not just about like the scholar or like the star players because for me the main reason why I'm actually working in sports is not because of like the professional or college no I believe like Not everyone is going to be a professional athlete or become LeBron James or snowball. Sports can help so many people in different ways. So putting out these stories is one of the ways I feel like I can contribute to that. So I decided, okay, I have this experience in graphics designing, social media management, and things like that. So I can actually use this to start something. So I just opened up the page and then started looking up stories. Started with that, stories from other people, put it on the page, reach out to friends so you can go there and read this story or learn something new. And then I got remarks and feedbacks like, I didn't know about this story, thanks for putting this out. So I took it to a next step. Now I need to start creating our own content, original content. So not being in Nigeria has made it a bit difficult, but I found a way. So there are young content creators that are looking for opportunities to do extra work and make money on the side. So I've been working with them. It could be something as little as getting them a signed shirt or like, getting them tickets to games and then they would make the content for me. So working with them has been like really eye opening. I'm also learning from there too. Like I'm currently taking my MBA, like applying those ideologies to the business has been helpful. Like things like brand positioning, how to target a wider audience. I've been using like those tips for the business too. And then like I told Dr. B last month, I heard about like this entrepreneurship seed fund. been working on this business for a while and i never actually like put it out there like

SPEAKER_01:

this is the thing

SPEAKER_00:

yeah so when i heard about that i was like i think this is the right time like enough of like doing it like just on your own it's time to put it out there so the first time i designed a deck for it worked on like my presentation and like pitched it to um paul benedict and like a couple of judges too which was like a good feeling. I bet he loved you. Yeah, I was taking this class in the summer, but personally for me, I think it was like a new chapter. I'm actually putting this out there. It's real now. There's going to be a lot of mistakes and errors in between, but I don't care. I feel like the journey is still down the road. So I worked on that, and then I head back from there. I got an amount of money from the grant. Now I'm going to use that money for social media ads, make more new content and then try and like apply for more grants too and see how we can like make this bigger.

SPEAKER_04:

I love Regina Cashflow and it's all about bringing exposure to sports athletes in Africa. I love that. Yes. And I think it's interesting too because again, I'm not a sports person. I pretend sometimes but it's pretty real. But I did follow, I think Chelsea, and I remember this because I used to play FIFA, that Didier Drogba, right? So he was, that was Chelsea, right? Yes, he played for Chelsea. Chelsea legend, yes. Yeah, where was he from?

SPEAKER_00:

Ivory Coast.

SPEAKER_04:

Ivory Coast. Okay, gotcha, gotcha. Because the story's like his story, too. We hear that side, but we don't hear actually what's happening in Africa, right? So having that background and you showcasing the story of this is a talent, that's such a unique and needed venture. So it's almost like a social entrepreneur plus just a passion project plus actual business now. That's

SPEAKER_00:

so cool. I'm also trying to link things that I enjoy doing, too. So it's not just about the athletes. I'm trying to link using sports to help community efforts. There's something I'm working on on the ground now. I'm trying to work with a grassroots foundation in Kenya. I'm trying to see how we can help young school girls with probably reusable sanitary pads. Because they don't have so much money, but it's something that's important so they are held. It's there for young girls. So I'm trying to look for a way to make it very easy for them not to spend the money that they don't have on that. Make it very affordable and reusable too. So in the next few months, that is like our next project.

SPEAKER_04:

You're way too good of a person for us, my baby. Truly, truly. That's incredible. What an amazing story. And using that kind of to leverage goodness in the community, too.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm willing to get you a soccer team, too.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh, there we go. I was thinking Arsenal because I like red. No.

SPEAKER_00:

No, no, I don't like Arsenal. No, that is my team's rival. Who am I

SPEAKER_04:

allowed to like? Just give me a... I

SPEAKER_00:

think you mentioned you watch Swansea. That is not a bad team.

SPEAKER_04:

Swansea. Yeah, but they're not in the Premier League anymore. We'll pray for them to come after that. Okay, gotcha. And then he'll like, I'm from Cincinnati, so FC Cincinnati, I have to like FC Cincinnati. Yeah, it's fine, it's fine. And you went to the crew game this last year. I'm

SPEAKER_00:

a huge crew fan. I think I have a small crew shrine in my room. The program has an opportunity for students to do activations with the crew. And then I got the opportunity to like, Once you're done with the activation, you can watch a game. That was how I fell in love. I'm like, this team plays the best soccer football in the U.S. Really?

SPEAKER_04:

So even from, because I mean, you came from Nigeria, which is one of the soccer hubs of the world, right? And you're seeing Clubhouse Crew and you're impressed.

SPEAKER_00:

I am impressed. And they actually won the championship my first couple of months here. So I'm like, I'm hooked. This is who you are now that you're a Crew fan.

SPEAKER_04:

That's amazing. That's going to make someone at the Crew very, very happy to hear

SPEAKER_00:

that. My mentor, too, has been very helpful Haley Heights works for the crew too, so the relationship is just there.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, I love that. So long-term, what do you think? Do you think you're going to stay and continue to support the Columbus crew the rest of your life? Are you going back to Nigeria? Where's your head at right

SPEAKER_00:

now? For me, the plan is after school, stay for a while and work. Because if you look at soccer, the World Cup is coming to the U.S. and some other competitions, so I feel like this is the place to be, not just career-wise, also career-wise Boosting your network. Because I feel like the network I build here would be very helpful for whatever I want to build back in Africa. I

SPEAKER_04:

love it. Cincinnati is a great city. I'm just

SPEAKER_00:

saying. We're right there.

SPEAKER_04:

We've

SPEAKER_00:

got FC

SPEAKER_04:

Cincinnati.

SPEAKER_00:

I know Flambous says

SPEAKER_04:

the crew. I

SPEAKER_00:

have a friend that's been trying to get me to Cincinnati for like months. I think I'll probably listen to her now and

SPEAKER_04:

take a visit. Okay, please do. And when you do, let me know. We'll be at Skyline together. Have you had Skyline yet? No. I

SPEAKER_00:

haven't done like so many things. I think I'm still a baby in

SPEAKER_04:

the U.S. Next step. Next step. Sorry, I derailed your entire conversation.

SPEAKER_03:

No, that's fine. That's good. That's really good. So what do you want other people to know? What do you want either people back home or other people who may like sport a little bit or, I don't know, what do you want them to know about your leadership journey, your leadership experience?

SPEAKER_00:

So I always use this quote from, I think it's a statement from Nike, like, just do it. Like, whatever it is you're walking towards or your dream or goal or aspiration, like, just do it. I wouldn't, like, I still, sometimes I still wake up and, like, I'm in grad school in the U.S. I didn't actually believe it was possible. And even like this, I'm rooted in the game that I'm working on. So seeing the growth just within this space of a couple of months, now me, futuristically thinking about it in the next couple of years, what will it be like if I put in this effort or even maybe more? So that is the advice I would have for people. Just keep doing what you're doing. Put in effort and embrace failure. People try and shy away from it. I don't. I feel like it's normal. Because if you look at it, you are definitely still going to fail. But it's always ready if you have this open mindset about it. Now you can learn from whatever mistakes you make, not to make it again.

SPEAKER_03:

So putting your ideas, putting everything out there earlier?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. It gives you that opportunity. It's better when you start. I wish I started this when I was in undergrad. Same. But it's not late. Same. But it's not late, so the best time is to start today.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, start now. Wow.

SPEAKER_04:

That's a good point. What's a misconception you think people have about Nigeria or Africa that you run into the United States soon and debunk?

UNKNOWN:

Um...

SPEAKER_00:

I've gotten more positives though. I feel like Nigerians are smart, hardworking. The accents though, I don't know if now it has gotten better, but when I first got here, I had to say the same thing three times, which was frustrating in a way. I'm speaking English, like, you should be able to hear me. But now, I mean, you're probably... But now, I think people are, like, getting used to me. Maybe because I...

SPEAKER_04:

Oh, no, you're fine.

SPEAKER_03:

It's really surprising, though, that you had to repeat yourself when you're speaking. Yeah, you're

SPEAKER_04:

totally fine. Like, there's... Ohioans speak less good English than you at this point. You're doing great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

So I've gotten, like, more of, like, positives. And then, like, when I went to Detroit, there was a lady that just walked up to myself and my friend. She was trying to guess where we were from. And then when she mentioned Nigeria, she was, like, so amazing. Like... Very nice. Your food is spicy, boy. Very good people, yes.

SPEAKER_04:

And you just got your first Disney movie too, right? For, oh, what is the TV show? That's, oh, I'm going to find it now. You keep going. I want to find the Disney TV show. Okay. Leon and I started watching it. It's fantastic. Oh,

SPEAKER_05:

really?

SPEAKER_04:

I think I saw and I thought about it. It's about, because what city was it? You said Lagos? Yes, Lagos. Yeah, it's about Lagos. So the entire thing is like a futuristic Lagos. Wow. Me and Leon, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00:

I'll tell my sister about that.

SPEAKER_03:

So any thoughts, anything you want to tell people about the Ohio University, um, the one-year MBA program or the MBA MSA?

SPEAKER_00:

I'll tell people the MBA program has been very phenomenal for me. The director Rob Fole mentioned something at the beginning of the year like be ready to embrace being uncomfortable. It may sound like so plain but I think like that is like the foundation of this program because coming from like a science background I've never taken marketing, accounting, finance. And it was like, yes, this is it. This is it. But I noticed it's an opportunity to actually learn. With accounting, I actually found I like it. I actually like it. Yeah. Yes. I'm

SPEAKER_02:

probably good at it.

SPEAKER_00:

Transitioning to the workforce... You have to know about this. You don't have to be an expert, but you have to know about it. Because it helps you so much. When you're in a room with executives, you can be able to contribute and actually know what they're saying. Also, we've had opportunities where we get to present. So that is something I actually want to be very good at. Storytelling, talking to people, presenting. And that has helped me. I think I've seen difference in how I was maybe last year or last two years. So those are the positives I've seen from it. And then the program has this group mentality, which I like. You don't get to work individually on projects. We have some where you get to work alone, but most of it you get to work in teams and groups. So you get to share different perspectives In my current group, we have like two internationals. I'm from Nigeria. Akhil is from Trinidad. Jacob is from North Carolina. I have Cole, that's from Ohio. And Jacob's from Ohio. And I have Kendall, that's also from, I think, Marshall. So we have different people from different places. We bring this different perspective when we get to work. So it has been amazing. That's

SPEAKER_04:

fantastic. That's everything I got. Do you have any other questions or anything else you wish people knew?

SPEAKER_00:

I just want to tell people, you guys should enjoy this season, too. We're going to have amazing episodes coming up. So, yeah, you guys should look forward to it.

SPEAKER_04:

Good plug. Well done, Mahmood. We'll pay you later. Anything else? Any other questions after me?

SPEAKER_03:

No. Thank you so much, Mahmood. And a lot of what you all see on the Leader Lounge podcast is thanks to Mahmood. So we want to say that right now. And keep an eye out for things on Rooted in the Game. Looking forward to that. So thank you for being with us today. And Nick and I will sign off and see you next time.