Barking accountant trades numbers for words

Lanre Sulola now favours words over maths (Image: Archant)

Barking resident Lanre Sulola, 32, followed in his dad’s footsteps as he worked with a well-known auditing firm.

But after his selection on a year-long training programme, Reach Society in 2009, Lanre shifted his focus.

“I started speaking at schools, raising aspirations,” he explained.

“I had a real passion for helping people and working with people and so I moved into training, coaching and helping people maximise their potential.”

Once the programme had concluded, Lanre continued to work in accountancy. But in 2013, the entrepreneur set up Inner Ambitions, a business through which he trains and inspires others to fulfil their potential. A year later he said goodbye to accountancy for good.

“I’m using poetry as a tool to reach people in a different way,” explained Lanre.

“But all kinds of things – about my own personal experiences, things I’ve been through, people around me –that might be family or loved ones.”

Lanre, who lives in Hulse Avenue with wife Yvonne, 31, said his first poem was inspired by the birth of his son, Jofiah, now one.

The dad-of-one writes when he feels like it alongside his training work, but has also been commissioned for weddings, funerals and birthdays.

“When I was an accountant I felt quite restricted but now I have a lot more creative freedom, I’m more myself now,” said Lanre, who is increasingly using music as a backdrop to his works.

Does the new poet regret saying goodbye to accountancy?

“I don’t miss it at all,” said Lanre, adding that he still practises by looking after his own accounts.

“It’s a great training and background but I’m delighted I made the change.”

Lanre will be reading from his debut book On The Way To Somewhere at Barking Library on Thursday next week, from 7-9pm.

Go to innerambitions.co.uk to find out more about Lanre’s company. To buy the book, click here.