BEYOND SETBACKS
From A Failed Dream to Unforeseen Career Success
About The Book
When life doesn’t go as planned, do you stop or do you keep going?
After years of pursuing a dream that never came to fruition, Abidemi Talabi found himself at a painful crossroads. What looked like failure became the foundation for something far greater.
In Beyond Setbacks
He shares his personal journey from disappointment to discovery. He recounts how faith, perseverance, and self-belief transformed an unexpected turn into a rewarding career in plant science, a field he once dismissed and never imagined would define his success.
Through honest reflections and practical lessons drawn from real experiences, this book reveals that setbacks are not the end of the road but a redirection toward something greater.
If you’ve ever doubted your path, faced rejection, or felt lost after a failed dream, Beyond Setbacks will encourage you to look deeper, find meaning in your detours, and embrace the process that leads to true and lasting success.
HAVE A LOOK INSIDE!
Insights from Beyond Setbacks
Life’s detours are often the true path to success.
About The Author
Dr. Abidemi Talabi, PhD
Distinguished Plant Scientist and Seasoned Business Leader
Academic Foundation
Dr. Talabi holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Plant Science from Obafemi Awawolo University, Ile-Ife, where he built a solid academic foundation in his field. To further broaden his knowledge, he also earned a postgraduate degree in Data Science and Business Analytics from the University of Texas at Austin, sharpening his analytical and problem-solving skills.
Career & Research Experience
Over the years, Dr. Talabi has served in several key positions at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria, including Research Fellow, Research Supervisor, and International Trials Manager. He also worked as a Plant Breeder and Head of the Seed Division at WACOT Ltd, a multinational subsidiary of TGI Group.
Current Focus
Currently, Dr. Talabi serves as a Senior Scientist at Silal Food & Tech. LLC in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he focuses on innovations that connect food, water, and energy systems. Over the past twelve years, his work has spanned various research areas, including the development of climate-resilient crops, enhanced crop productivity, food and nutrition security, resource-use efficiency, carbon footprint reduction through clean energy, food supply chain resilience, and sustainable agricultural practices. His academic contributions include more than forty publications across journals, book chapters, posters, and conference proceedings.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
In addition to his research career, Dr. Talabi is the visionary founder of:
- Leverage Seeds Limited (www.leverageseeds.com), a Nigerian seed company dedicated to providing farmers with high-quality seeds, affordable fertilizers, eco-friendly agrochemicals, and hands-on training.
- Leverage Fresh Limited (www.leveragefresh.com), an agricultural enterprise focused on bridging the gap between sustainable farming and consumer needs by providing fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Through these ventures, Dr. Talabi promotes food security, poverty reduction, responsible production, and climate action, goals that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 2, 12, and 13).
His book, Beyond Setbacks: From a Failed Dream to Unforeseen Career Success, aims to inspire young people to discover their purpose and pursue it with determination.
Dr. Talabi is happily married to his wife, Adeyemi, and they are blessed with three wonderful children.