Rx to Fx

The journey of a restless generalist

Childhood/Pre-University

The first thing I wanted to become when I was young was to be a dancer. Not ballet or hip-hop kinda dancer, fuji dancer. You know Pasuma and Obesere type (covers face). Now I loved watching tv as a kid and I spent most of my Sunday evenings watching these girls dancing while these guys sang on. Even though I never really understood what they were singing, the ladies looked happy dancing and it seemed like they were having fun.

But if you come from a very conservative family like mine, you would agree with me that dreams like this hardly thrived. My Grandpa sold the dream of becoming a doctor and treating him when he was sick and I loved it because I loved him. It made sense. I wanted to save my Grandpa so I changed my dream from being a dancer to being a medical Doctor. Eventually, I ended up studying Pharmacy at the university.

Between my childhood dream of being a doctor who saves Grandpa and eventually graduating as a pharmacist, I changed my career at least five times; I considered law, economics, architecture, etc. And each time I was so convinced that I was passionate about these careers. Worst still, I did well academically across all subjects (sciences, arts or commercial) so it was a bit hard to make up my mind.

Best in everything

Choosing pharmacy was more like an afterthought, inspired by the late Dora Akunyili. There’s a story in here too but let’s skip. By my second year in pharmacy school, I thought I had chosen the wrong career. My interests had waned: I think my expectations did not match the reality of the course I had chosen (blame it on the education system, maybe). Then I started to think actively of my escape out of Pharmacy.

I considered going back to medical school but by 400 level, I quickly dismissed the idea after realizing how long it would take me to reach the apogee of my new interest (which at the time was being a neurosurgeon).

Pharmacist for a bit

Graduation: The beginning of the end

Upon graduation from Pharmacy school, I felt empty. I managed to pass all my courses but I did not feel “educated” (whatever that meant). So I clicked refresh in my head and started a wild quest for knowledge.

See, I have not always been driven by money (I am now o). I just wanted to matter in this world and to do things that mattered. I wanted to write my name on the rocks of time. I knew I couldn’t change the world but I wanted to influence the world in my little way. I wanted to be among decision-makers, policymakers and world changers. So I wanted a career that would drive me towards this dream most quickly and effectively possible. And yeah, I thought pharmacy was not it.

I stumbled into the tech world in 2017, months after I left grad school but I did not want to code. The thought of sitting at a computer for hours was discouraging, I was not that patient. In retrospect, maybe I should have still tried because the money they pay software guys, especially tech females, is something (you know how it is).

Almost Tech sis

Then I stumbled into data science through an equally ambitious friend, Olaolu Mamora. I felt it was my exit out of pharmacy. I started learning Python for machine learning, not even ordinary analysis and it was harrrdddddd. I had very frustrating days because I was trying to wrap my head around the world of data by starting from the hardest part and I kinda had to still code. After crazy months, I eventually went to start with Power Bi and SQL where I should have initially.

Then I started trying to get internships at firms that use data for decision making or analysis. That was the ghetto for me. I think I have hacked it though and I am sure you have seen it around: write a lot about projects you are working on if you are seeking to change careers.

Anyway, I also learnt many skills asides from data analysis. I learnt content creation/social media management, took project management classes (almost got PMP), business analysis and administration (paid for Tekedia mini-MBA). And then I was reading a lot on economics and politics. I read widddeeeeeee and wrote about stuff too. I ate up all the knowledge I could find while I also volunteered on projects. See, I am naturally restless in my mind.

Ms Generalist.

I had the big picture in my mind but navigating my path towards the big picture was the challenge. Also, I knew I did not want to work as a pharmacist.

I wrote a book summary about Dangote which was written by Prof Ndubuisi while I was attending my mini-MBA classes and it kinda went viral when Prof himself reposted it on his LinkedIn. I got a message for an interview as a data analyst from a Dear Doctor/entrepreneur who eventually became my boss. Then my role was changed to business analyst after I showed that I was more of a business analyst than a data analyst.

I also got to the final stage of a product management interview. I did not get the job which was quite painful because I put a lot to get past the four stages. It was at the final stage the VP knew that I did not have a strong software background and I was not fit for the role or something (That one pain me sha). I still hold grievances against the company but the game is the game, the company has moved on so should I.

At this point, I could fit into any role, well except technical roles like coding et al. I could write, do research, brainstorm on strategy, and handle projects. I knew something about almost everything. In between, I also wrote entry exams to the big four ( I was just trying everything, I know very unfocused). I did not pass these exams, anyway.

CardinalStone.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking — Steve Jobs

I do not remember exactly when I applied to CardinalStone. I just remembered getting a call to write the assessment exams which I went to write reluctantly after Jeremiah Babasanmi encouraged me to show up. I had left my job as a business analyst and was really tired of finding a job I enjoyed. I just wanted to rest.

Surprisingly (or not, because the entrance exam was simple to me), I got called for the second stage, which had case studies similar to my day-to-day business analyst job. Let’s say it was a walkover again. Finally, I got to meet the partners. I had invited one of the partners a year earlier to my book club, so I may have found favour in their sight even though the interview was thorough. I eventually got the job.

First day at CardinalStone

Curiosity is one of the reasons I took the offer at CardinalStone (Don’t tell HR). Also, I wanted to do private equity at CardinalStone because I thought that was what I could relate with the most (as a business analyst) and I had dreams of eventually starting a VC company (I had also applied previously to VC firms). But after training school and subsequent matching, I got thrown into Portfolio Management. I remember having anxiety attacks the day I dreamt I got Portfolio Management (I kinda dream about stuff, call me Josephine) because I thought it was core finance and I did not think I could cope.

Anyway, I am right in the middle of macroeconomics, investing, politics, capital markets, economic policies etc. I mean the Russia-Ukraine crisis means a lot more to me because of its impact on the markets. I have had to learn how to read financial statements, analyze companies, use the Bloomberg terminal. Fixed income, money markets, ETFs, Fed rates and inflation are what I think about daily.

It has been five years since I left the university and it has been one hell of a ride. I can’t begin to imagine what the next five year holds. I still know how to write SQL statements and do a bit of python. Do not be surprised if you see me working as a lawyer and bowing in front of a judge (just kidding).

I also still have a passion for healthcare but from a macro/system/policy standpoint. I am interested in driving innovative healthcare solutions.

Lessons Learnt?

I wrote this article to jumpstart my writing and just for vibes. If you made it this far, you probably like “amebo” or you want some aspire to perspire lessons. I will drop one or two to help you hold your body.

1. One of my favourite career lessons from Lean in by Sheryl Sandberg is that the 21st-century career path is a jungle gym, not a ladder. There is only one way to the top of the ladder but there are many ways to get to the top of the jungle gym.
2. Sheryl also advises that you pick a career in a fast-growth environment when starting your career which I prioritize too.
3. You would make one or two mistakes. You would have opportunities you could have maximized and things you could have done better. Forgive yourself and move on.
4. It’s an agile world out there. Agile world == Agile learning. The internet presents endless possibilities where you can be anything at any time. Maximize it.