MOXIE, featuring Eric Idehen - Why diversity matters

In 11 years, Eric Idehen climbed from being a dish washer to a Vice President at one of the largest banks in the United States of America, Wells Fargo.  He was born in Nigeria, lived in the Ukraine and Spain and is now a naturalized citizen of the United States. He has been a community development and diversity consultant, as well as a banker and construction economist. His wide-ranging career trajectory has given him a tremendous wealth of experience to assist clients in the areas of diversity training and education, community development and leadership.  Mr. Idehen is currently the President/Chairman of OPX International LLC, registered in the United States and Nigeria, where he is responsible for leading the company's strategic plans.

Mr. Idehen has 16 years of experience in construction and real estate, working for companies such as VITA Construction Ltd (Nigeria), Gilda Nigeria Ltd and New Century Holding Advisors (Ukraine). He worked for Wells Fargo Bank for 10 years in several roles including teller, customer service representative, personal banker, community development and diversity consultant. In 2010, he was promoted to Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion.

In 2009, Mr. Idehen was one of 12 Arab American Business Fellows and Senior Advisory Council members sent to the Middle East (Dubai and Egypt). This opportunity came through the Business for Diplomatic Action program in association with the US Center for Citizen Diplomacy.  He served as a business ambassador, engaging with local government leaders, business groups, NGO's, nonprofits, and media companies to identify emerging business opportunities in the region and how American businesses can best approach and work with Middle Eastern companies.

Numerous honors have been bestowed upon Mr. Idehen including recognition in 2010 from the Federal Bureau of Investigation which presented him with the Director?s Community Leadership Award.  A year prior, he also received the Dr. David J. Wang Humanitarian Award from the Chinese Association of Iowa.  In 2006, the Des Moines Register listed him as one of the top 30 Influential Business and Civic Leaders in Des Moines.  During his years at Wells Fargo, he also received numerous awards for his volunteering and diversity efforts.  Mr. Idehen has served on many boards including the American Red Cross and the Political and Economic Research Council (PERC) as well as serving as a member of the Des Moines Chapter of the Rotary International where he was a member of the International Service Committee.

Mr. Idehen is fluent in English, Spanish, Russian and five Nigerian dialects.  He holds a degree in Quantity Surveying from Auchi Polytechnic ? Nigeria and graduated from the Wells Fargo & Company African American Leaders Program at the John E.  Anderson Graduate School of Management at the University of California ? Los Angeles.  Mr. Idehen also has the unique experience of having achieved one of his lifelong dreams, founding and leading an orphanage in his native country of Nigeria called the Cornerstone of Hope Orphanage.