New City Administrator Comes Highly Regarded

For the past 19 years, Bola Akande has worked diligently toward achieving her dream job.

In about three weeks, Akande will realize it when she becomes the new city administrator of Brentwood.

It’s not that Akande purposely set her sights solely on the St. Louis suburb. Akanda, 46, simply wanted to become a city manager.

“All previous career choices have been deliberate to becoming a full, functioning city manager,” Akande said.

Family members serve as role models

Born Abimbola Akande in Nigeria in 1964, Akande came to the United States when she was 5 years old.

She is the third of five children of Dr. Samuel and Comfort Akande.

“My dad was the general secretary, which is like a CEO, of the Nigerian Baptist Convention,” Bola Akande said. The religious organization has more than 9 million members and 10,000 churches.

“They were my role models my entire life,” Akande said of her parents. “We would have conversations around the dining room table, and they would ask ‘What do you want to attain in life?’ and tell us to ‘Set your goals early.’”

Those tableside chats shaped what she has become: a serious, results-oriented woman who wanted a career where she could make an impact.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public administration—and has recently sought employment elsewhere. In April, Akande was one of three finalists for city manager of Maricopa, AZ.

But staying in the St. Louis area has its perks: She is familiar with neighboring municipalities and has family here. Her brother, Dr. Benjamin Akande, is dean of the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology at Webster University.

“Bola is an eternal optimist who believes in the value of hard work and purpose in all that she does,” Benjamin Akande said. “It's an attribute that has served her well in her many years in city government."

“I got into public administration because of him,” said Bola Akande, but then expanded her statement to include other siblings and professors who were involved in crafting her career choice. She’s that cautious—or considerate.

She is also hesitant to talk of her personal life.

“Do you really think people want to know about that?” she asked.

Clearly Akande would prefer to talk about work and her new job in Brentwood where she hopes “to be supportive of the board of aldermen as they move forward” and to “enhance generative conversations with our constituents.”

And that's how she talks. Akande is all business.

But she strives for a work-life balance and patronizes , where she works out. She also plays the piano; some even say she is an accomplished pianist.

 While the music Akande plays may soothe her, it’s work that drives her.

Akande comes highly regarded

Akande's ascension to city administrator on Aug. 1 is a natural one, given that she has been assistant city manager at neighboring Richmond Heights since 2005. Before then, Akande had held administrative positions in Texas and Oklahoma.

Her former employers offered multiple compliments about Akande.

Susan Welbes, director of human resources at The Woodlands Township in Texas, is one Akande’s former employers. She's not surprised that Akande has moved up the management chain.

“I always knew she would be a city manager or administrator, and that whatever city got her would be lucky,” Welbes said. “Her customer service skills are outstanding. Every decision she made was with her residents in mind.”

“She is outstanding,” said Amy Hamilton, city manager at Richmond Heights and Akande’s current boss. “She embodies the ethics of the ICMA (the International City/County Management Association) and is a consummate professional who is highly respected. She will bring professionalism and a code of ethics.”

And while her previous work experience was important to the Brentwood Board of Aldermen, the board and mayor were also impressed with Akande's interview.

"During the interview process, she was articulate and professional. She really stood out," Mayor Pat Kelly said.

"She came in with questions for us and had a sheet with our photographs so she could address us by name," Ward 1 Alderwoman Barb Clements said. 

And Akande will bring new ideas to Brentwood in administration, technology, management and labor relations, Ward 4 Alderman Tom Kramer said.

Akande starts in August

Akande will begin as city administrator nearly five months after of former city administrator Chris Seemayer, who held the post for 22 years and recently plead guilty to .

Although Akande's immediate goal is to prepare the city's budget, Kelly has some other goals for the new city administrator.  

"I want her to get to know the city staff and department heads and where she thinks we can make improvements," he said. "There are some areas where we can improve our customer service."

Akande will start on Aug. 1. She is scheduled to earn $101,000 per year.