Testimonial

When I began my career journey, I had a strong passion for environmental sustainability and a dream of working in an interdisciplinary field combining data science with environmental impact. But making such a significant career shift wasn’t easy. My background was in chemical engineering, and I didn’t know where to start. That’s when Ms. Sefunmi, my mentor at the time, stepped in. Her guidance helped transform my ambition into a structured, achievable goal. Her approach was both practical and inspiring. The first piece of advice she gave me was simple but critical: have a clear, actionable plan. Together, we built a roadmap with specific, measurable goals and outlined the steps I needed to take to achieve them. But she didn’t stop at planning—she also helped me stay accountable. I created a progress report that I would regularly update and review with her. Writing down my career vision and financial goals gave me clarity and motivation. Seeing my journey unfold step by step gave me confidence that I was on the right path. As someone naturally introverted, networking and speaking up were daunting for me. But my mentor reframed it: sharing my expertise wasn’t about self-promotion but about offering value to others. This perspective helped me stay focused and prevented me from feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the change I was working toward. Another invaluable piece of advice she gave me was to follow industry leaders and get a feel for the field. She even went a step further, arranging a meeting for me with experts in the environmental sustainability field. Their insights were transformative. They recommended communities I could volunteer with and resources that would sharpen my skills. With about a year of consistent effort, I began to see real progress. I landed a job as a data analyst, earned a Microsoft certification, and even scored an interview for a scholarship to study an interdisciplinary course in data science and sustainability. Although I didn’t get the scholarship, the experience was a major win in itself, showing me how far I had come. These experiences not only strengthened my skills but also gave me confidence in my career path. For anyone considering a career change or looking to grow professionally, here’s my advice: 1. Set a Clear Plan with SMART Goals – Break your vision into manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. 2. Connect with Industry Leaders – Follow their work, study their skills, and connect where possible. Their journeys can offer valuable inspiration and direction. 3. Find a Mentor or Career Coach – Having someone to guide and hold you accountable is a game-changer. 4. Network and Share Your Knowledge – Think of networking as a way to offer value, not just to promote yourself. 5. Be Persistent and Open to Setbacks – Progress isn’t always linear, but every step forward matters. And most importantly, trust that with focus and guidance, your career vision is within reach.