A journey of pivots — my non-traditional career route
Every so often, you hear a story of a child who knew from a very young age what he or she was destined to become; of someone who saw a glimpse into the future and set their mind to actualizing that dream of becoming a physician, a writer, or an astronaut. But for many others, career decisions don’t come that easy. It can be difficult to match your skills to what the world needs, especially when you don’t have someone who has taken similar steps to look up to. It is also possible to know exactly what you want to do but realize that your environment does not value it. I was born and raised in Nigeria and because our culture holds certain occupations in higher regard than others, it is easier to gravitate towards what people consider to be a respectable career. This caused me to have major concerns when I graduated with my first degree in Industrial and Production Engineering.
Growing up, there were certain things about myself I was sure of — I had a passion for people and I loved STEM. This is why my industrial engineering degree was great — it helped me to think independently, critically and systematically but also allowed me to interact with people on a regular basis. I was drawn to courses like industrial sociology and ergonomics which put the need for user-centered solutions front and centre. However, after I graduated, I wasn’t sure how best to turn my skills in engineering into an impactful career. Human-centered design thinking hasn’t really taken off in Nigeria, so at the time, I was really confused about how to combine my passion for people with my love for engineering user-centered solutions.
After weighing my options across the Nigerian job landscape, I decided the best decision was to pivot to the financial services industry. My logic was simple — in a fast-paced financial consulting role, I could develop key skills and competencies. I would be able to sharpen my ability to work in a competitive environment, to communicate and collaborate effectively, manage multiple stakeholder relationships and I would also be able to refine my leadership skills. I viewed these as skills that I could use in any industry, and that would make me effective in leading engineers. Additionally, working in finance consulting would increase my exposure to some of the leading companies around the world and help deepen my understanding of the financial ecosystems responsible for financing the production of many engineering solutions we see.
Armed with a steely determination to succeed and with zero accounting knowledge, I applied to a Big 4 accounting firm in Nigeria and was offered the role of an associate. Although I had a degree in Engineering, the firm was looking for people with critical thinking skills and a strong affinity for learning — that was me. This decision did not seem to add up to the people around me. One question I got asked repeatedly was “What is an engineer looking for in an accounting firm?” I often tried to explain my reasoning, but hardly was it ever well-received. To be honest, I sometimes struggled to articulate my reasoning well. But more often than not, I just happened to be talking with “traditional” thinkers who couldn’t fathom an engineer needing anything other than engineering skills.
From the start of my time in finance accounting, I made particular strides towards acquiring and testing these new skills. By the time my second year in accounting drew to a close, I had built a strong foundation of knowledge in finance and financial systems, but more importantly, I had actually become quite passionate about finance. This newfound interest, birthed from a desire to learn something new, inspired me to find avenues that could blend both of my skill sets in engineering and financial backgrounds. This is why I applied to the Master’s of Engineering Management (MEM) program at the prestigious Ivy League, Dartmouth College and was excited to begin this new chapter when I was accepted.
The MEM is a professional graduate degree program that combines graduate-level engineering and business courses, with real-world project experience that positions its candidates to work in roles at the intersection of business and technology. At the beginning of the program, I didn’t have a clear picture as to where this road would lead, but with time, the path became much clearer and much more vibrant. It became increasingly apparent to me that my optimal path would be one in product management, where I could blend my technical expertise with my business acumen. I have since pivoted into a Product Management (PM) role in the tech industry.
This pivot has been my hardest pivot yet. A few months ago, I applied for internship positions at a number of firms, but so many firms require product management experience which I did not have! I had assumed internships would be more accommodating because through my educational background and previous work experience, I had acquired skills I knew would enable me to thrive in the role. However, the barrier to entry was supremely high. (I wrote a post on what I wish I knew before searching for an internship here.) So many times, I was told that other candidates had more product experience, but I was undeterred. At the same time, I wondered how I would get the much-needed experience if no one offered me an internship. It took a while, a lot of reading, research and tons of networking, but I was finally able to land a PM role in education technology, and what a time to do so too!
I am super excited about this new journey, and who knows if the future will require another pivot? I draw a lot of strength and focus for the future from my pivots in the past, and the many experiences I have amassed moving through engineering and finance into engineering management, and now, education technology. Things are adding up now, but along the way, that was not always the case. The journey will not always make sense to others, especially if you can’t pinpoint someone who has navigated their career path the same way you think you should yours. Yes, some people will have a more straightforward path and that’s amazing. Mine hasn’t been as linear, but that’s also uniquely amazing! I have learned so many skills along the way and I find that these skills can be used in various ways. The process/journey is as important as “where you see yourself in 10 years”, so embrace your journey. It will pay off in the end.
