Ready. Set. Succeed!

I’m taking a step back.

From my vantage position, it is a breath-taking view!

Yesterday, I finished a six-month journey in the BMGA Fellows Program, and the feeling is surreal. In fact, it inspired me to write my very first Medium post.

In March 2020, I was at the end of a year-long internship within Nigeria. My mind was whirring with several questions about what steps I would take in the career journey that lay ahead of me. I had many interests, and as such it seemed difficult to find a headway.

One day, an image popped up on a WhatsApp group that regularly provided valuable information and career tips. I remember staring at the flyer with curiosity.

I needed guidance from an expert and the flyer spoke about a transformational learning experience with emphasis on soft skills. It reminded me of the numerous invites that I had received over the years and the words ‘soft skill’ felt over-used.

I decided though, that I would take the plunge and scream for help if the water was too deep. Today, I’m grateful for that decision.

The BMGA Fellows Program has been an unforgettable experience. The intensity of the Program was fascinating, despite its blended learning approach. Assignments had strict deadlines. TED talks and Case studies had alluring stories. I wrote reflection papers, made numerous presentations, and studied hard for finals. It was school with a luxury finish!

I remember sitting back once in awe, thinking about how I had always longed for a learning experience that embodied practicality and research. This Program exceeded those desires.

My most memorable moment on the Program was finding out that I would be taught by a Professor from Yale University for six weeks. He walked us through a rigorous learning process on Emotional Intelligence and I was always looking up psychological/physiological terminologies from the text books on the learning platform.

On African History, I learned about colorism and the roles that women played in Independence across Africa. Heroines such as Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti, Yaa Asantewaa, Sawaba Gambo, and Josina Machel became symbols of revolution, education, and patriotism rather than mere fancy names.

In partnership with the Thunderbird School of Global Management, I became exposed to an understanding of how cultures influence trust, negotiation, and business management. By working with a partner from Philippines, I delved into the underlying sources of certain cultural practices in different countries. After some extensive study on Global Mindset, I came to the same conclusion as Professor Mansour Javidan, “There is no wrong or right culture, there are only different cultures.”

My favorite skill from the Program was Problem Solving. For four weeks, I brainstormed with a team of brilliant minds on solving a gap within the tertiary education sector. We worked tirelessly under pressure to proffer solutions as an imagined consulting firm.

For the Career Development module, I developed a more refined Curriculum Vitae, Cover letter, and 10-year Career plan using tips from Harvard Business Review articles, TED talks, and live coaching from Ms. Gbemi Abudu, Founder & Managing Partner, BMGA Enterprise Limited. I also analyzed my talents and strengths using an abridged version of the Gallup Strengths analysis.

From candid discussions on sexual harassment, to exciting interviews with global leaders, I was immersed in a world that pushed me beyond the borders of laxity to confidence based on knowledge, skill development, and honest conversations.

Through the entire process, I developed a vision board for the global impact I have always been divinely drawn to. By sitting periodically with an In-Program peer mentor from the University of Cambridge, I found gem stones in previous volunteer and leadership roles that I had taken for granted.

As I step into a different phase, I’m excited. I have a BMGA kind of certainty.

The melody is in my heart; a reminder that the world is my oyster.