In a culture that often equates leadership with position and recognition, a new book offers a counterintuitive message: the most important work happens before anyone is watching. Tosin Ogunsanwo, a pastor, cybersecurity executive, board director, and speaker, has released What Is Your Folding Chair?, a book that blends Christian spiritual formation with practical leadership principles to help readers prepare for the rooms they are called to enter—even when no seat has been offered.
At the heart of the book is the metaphor of the folding chair, inspired by Shirley Chisholm’s famous statement about bringing one’s own chair to the table. Ogunsanwo first encountered that idea in 2022, and it resonated deeply. He delivered a sermon titled “What Is Your Folding Chair?” and later felt called to expand the framework into a book. The project remained dormant until 2025, when a renewed conviction prompted him to write it. That period of waiting, Ogunsanwo says, mirrors one of the book’s central themes: obscurity is not inactivity.
“God uses adversity, obscurity, and obedience to shape leaders before He positions them for influence,” Ogunsanwo explains. The folding chair, he writes, represents the gifts a person develops, the values they refuse to compromise, the relationships they cultivate, the resilience they acquire, and the expertise they build while waiting for a larger sphere of influence. “This book helps readers identify their ‘folding chair,'” Ogunsanwo says, describing it as “the preparation, resilience, skills, sacrifices, or acts of courage that signal readiness and open doors that once seemed off-limits.”
The book arrives at a time when many people feel overlooked, underestimated, rejected, or excluded by traditional systems. Rather than defining leadership by title or recognition, What Is Your Folding Chair? asks readers to consider what they are building now that will prepare them to serve effectively when opportunity arrives. It also occupies an intentional space between traditional leadership literature and Christian personal growth. Ogunsanwo notes that leadership books often focus on external strategies, while faith-based books may emphasize spiritual encouragement. His book brings those worlds together through personal stories, biblical narratives, interviews, storytelling, and practical principles readers can apply immediately.
Ogunsanwo brings a distinctive professional perspective to that intersection. For more than 15 years, he has led cybersecurity initiatives protecting critical infrastructure while mentoring emerging leaders through ministry, education, and community engagement. He holds a master’s degree in Engineering Management and the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) credential. His experience in high-stakes technical environments complements his work as a pastor, board director, and speaker, allowing him to approach leadership as both a practical discipline and a spiritual responsibility.
Ultimately, What Is Your Folding Chair? is not simply about getting invited into more important rooms. It is about becoming the kind of person who is prepared to contribute meaningfully once there. Ogunsanwo describes his own writing journey in three words: “Divine, Timely and Transformative.” For readers still waiting for their opportunity, his message is clear: the absence of recognition does not mean the absence of purpose. The deeper question is not whether a seat will eventually become available, but what you are building, developing, and carrying with you when it does.
