In a publishing landscape saturated with leadership advice, a new book offers a counterintuitive message: the most critical preparation for influence happens when no one is watching. Tosin Ogunsanwo, a pastor, cybersecurity executive, board director, and speaker, has released 'What Is Your Folding Chair?' through Lucid Books, an independent hybrid publisher based in the Houston area.
The book draws its central metaphor from Shirley Chisholm's famous statement about bringing a folding chair when a seat at the table is not offered. Ogunsanwo first encountered the phrase in 2022, and it resonated so deeply that he delivered a sermon titled 'What Is Your Folding Chair?' at his church. The framework lingered until 2025, when he felt a renewed conviction to expand it into a full manuscript.
For Ogunsanwo, the folding chair 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 opportunity. 'This book helps readers identify their folding chair,' Ogunsanwo explains, describing it as 'the preparation, resilience, skills, sacrifices, or acts of courage that signal readiness and open doors that once seemed off-limits.'
The timing of the release speaks to a broader cultural conversation about access and recognition. Many professionals, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, grapple with being overlooked or excluded from traditional power structures. Ogunsanwo's message challenges the notion that leadership is defined by position or recognition. Instead, he argues that seasons of obscurity are not periods of inactivity but formative spaces where character, capability, and conviction are developed.
'God uses adversity, obscurity, and obedience to shape leaders before He positions them for influence,' Ogunsanwo says. That spiritual framing is central to the book's approach, which blends personal stories, biblical narratives, leadership insights, and interviews.
The book occupies what Ogunsanwo describes as an intentional space between traditional leadership literature and Christian personal growth. While leadership books often focus on external strategies and faith-based books may emphasize spiritual encouragement, 'What Is Your Folding Chair?' integrates both. Readers are offered practical principles they can apply immediately, grounded in Ogunsanwo's dual experience in ministry and corporate leadership.
That dual perspective is rare. For more than 15 years, Ogunsanwo 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 credential. His work in high-stakes technical environments informs his approach to leadership as both a practical discipline and a spiritual responsibility.
The book's publication through Lucid Books highlights the growing role of hybrid publishers in bringing niche titles to market. Lucid Books offers the connections and expertise of a traditional publisher with the author involvement of a self-publisher. The publisher exists to help authors inspire, inform, and enrich readers' lives.
For readers who feel stuck in waiting, Ogunsanwo's message is clear: the absence of recognition does not mean the absence of purpose. The question is not merely whether a seat will eventually become available. The deeper question is what one is building, developing, and carrying when it does. Ogunsanwo describes his own writing journey in three words: 'Divine, Timely and Transformative.'
As workplaces and communities continue to evolve, 'What Is Your Folding Chair?' offers a timely reminder that preparation is not a passive state but an active pursuit. The book's release signals a growing demand for leadership resources that address both professional competence and spiritual depth, positioning Ogunsanwo as a distinctive voice at that intersection.
