Jibola Abitoye

I had passion. I had purpose. What I didn’t have was a playbook.

When I was first elected to public office in 2017, I thought I was ready.

I had spent months knocking on doors, listening to residents, understanding their concerns and sharing my vision for our community.

And then I won.

What I quickly discovered was that winning an election and knowing how to govern are two very different things.

Nobody really prepares you for the weight of the decisions, the complexity of relationships, the delicate balance between politics and administration, or the responsibility of earning and maintaining public trust.

There were lessons I learned through experience, mistakes I could have avoided, and moments when I wished someone had simply told me what to expect.

I often wondered: Why do we spend so much time preparing people to win elections, but so little time preparing them to lead once they get there?

That question stayed with me.

And eventually, it became something much bigger.

Over the past several months, my friend and co-author, Ayo Owodunni @theimmigrantview and I have been working on a book:

“The Public Sector Leaders Playbook: Decision-Making, Diplomacy amp; Citizen Trust.”

We have poured our experiences, lessons, research and reflections into a practical guide for those who serve in public leadership and those aspiring to do so.

On October 30, 2026, we will be launching this book.

Over the coming weeks, Ill share more about the journey, what inspired the chapters, and some of the lessons we believe every public leader should know.

Because winning the seat is only the beginning. Now comes the hard part.