Blessing Onochie

I attribute my success to more than 10 years of experience in auditing and my willingness to continually grow and adapt throughout my career. I began as an analyst before transitioning into internal auditing and later expanding my expertise into external auditing with BSI. My work has given me the opportunity to conduct security, quality, privacy, and other specialized audits, both remotely and onsite with clients. I credit my success to my strong analytical skills, attention to detail, adaptability, and commitment to delivering thorough, high-quality work while building trusted relationships with clients and colleagues.

The best career advice I have received has come from my clients: keep your head up and always keep a smile on your face. I approach every engagement by reminding clients that I am human and that I am not there for fault-finding, but for fact-finding. I believe in creating a positive, collaborative experience by providing guidance and constructive feedback rather than simply identifying problems. The most rewarding part is returning to clients and hearing them say, “Thank you for the advice and guidance you provided.” Their feedback reinforces the importance of leading with positivity, professionalism, and a genuine desire to help others succeed.

The advice I would give to young women entering my industry is to be firm, fair, and confident in your approach. Remember that you are working with people, so treat everyone with professionalism and respect while remaining objective and honest. Do not allow difficult situations or opinions to shake your confidence. You are not there out of malice; you are there to help identify issues, improve processes, and make things work better. When you see something that needs to be addressed, communicate the facts as they are—without adding or taking away from them. Stand by your expertise, remain fair in your judgment, and always lead with integrity.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is conducting audits when individuals are uncooperative or approach auditors defensively. Auditors can sometimes be viewed like police officers, as though our purpose is to uncover wrongdoing rather than objectively assess processes and identify opportunities for improvement. As an external professional entering an organization, building trust and gaining cooperation can be challenging, particularly when people are hesitant to share information. I have learned that maintaining professionalism, asking thoughtful questions, and digging deeper when something does not align are essential to uncovering the facts. While there are natural limitations to what an outsider can see, approaching each audit with objectivity, persistence, and respect creates opportunities to identify meaningful issues and help organizations strengthen their processes.

The values that are most important to me in both my professional and personal life are accuracy, respect, and patience. I believe accuracy is essential to making sound decisions and maintaining credibility, while respect allows me to build positive and productive relationships with others. Patience helps me remain composed, thoughtful, and understanding, especially when navigating challenges or working with different perspectives. Together, these values guide how I approach my work, interact with others, and strive to make a positive impact.