The Non-Immigrant Student
The Non-Immigrant Student podcast is an audio journal of my grad-school (and now corporate) journey in the United States of America.
It is an inspirational podcast that seeks to encourage and provide guidance to other non-immigrant students across the globe on how to live their best lives while fulfilling their Study/Work Abroad dreams or living far away home!
My stories reveal all the lessons I'm learning on this journey, and I honestly believe that ''If I can do it, you can do it too!''
So excited to have you with me on this journey, Welcome!
The Non-Immigrant Student
S4 E5 - Things to Know Before Moving to the UK ft. Maureen Usiagwu, Workforce Consultant at Capgemini
Hellloo my favorite people! (shhhh, don't let the Youtube people hear),
I have missed you! I have also missed recording audio content for my podcast! I feel like since I got comfortable with Youtube, I found it hard to come back to creating for my podcast again. I'd like to make the promise that I will be back with a new episode/season soon but these days, I've found myself making too many promises on delivering content (especially for my blog on Medium), so I best be careful. Anyhoo, I've missed you so much, and for now, I'm back with the last and final podcast episode for Season 4 (and nostalgically, the last one I recorded while I lived in New York City).
In this episode, Maureen and I discuss her transition from Nigeria to the UK, where she is building a flourishing career in People and Change Consulting, while also mentoring and offering guidance to others in their career paths through her career coaching outfit, Intentional Strides.
We fondly reminisce on our school days, the mischief and camaraderie that formed the bedrock of our friendship, and share how our friendship has thrived miles apart for the past 16 years! We also reminisce about our high school activism ventures, and the rebellious spirit that sometimes landed us in "trouble" but taught us invaluable lessons. You can listen to/watch more about our activism days here.
Since I'll be moving to the UK in January 2025, I thought to sit with Maureen and learn everything I needed to know before my big move to London!
Whether you're planning a move abroad, seeking career advice, or simply looking to hear heartwarming tales of friendship, this episode is for you! ENJOY!
Walker's Shortbread & English Breakfast Tea,
Teoluks & Morinzy
Please rate the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen; it helps me reach other people like you. Also, follow here for more :) Thank you!
okay, hi guys, welcome back to the non-american student. So today with me I have maureen osiago, who is who has been my best friend of 16 years, and you get to know more about her. But before we begin, um, and before she introduces herself, maureen, please help me tell the people to review my podcast.
Speaker 2:To leave ratings please guys, please, please, do leave ratings reviews. Just make sure you tell everyone the great experience you have with this podcast so that they get to listen to it too exactly.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, guys. And you can send me now the my podcast on spotify. You can leave reviews, you can leave me a fan note, so, and that goes, that comes to me directly as a text message. So, and you can subscribe also for more exclusive episodes.
Speaker 1:My last episode was about I don't remember now I think it had to do with losing my work authorization. Yes, and that's a paid episode. So if you're also interested in learning more about that, please listen. Okay, now let's jump right into it. Bye, guys. Oh, no, see, you soon ask about me on the streets of ipica. They will tell you I'm popular everywhere. I mean, I'm that girl who just came here and has friends in all sex and factions of this university mba, graduate students, undergraduate students, phd students. Like girl, I'm popular. Mba graduate student, undergraduate student, phd student. Like girl, I'm popular. But yeah, welcome to the Non-Immigrant Student Podcast. This is the podcast where, if I can do it, you can do it too. Okay, hi guys, welcome back to episode 5 of the Non-Immigrant Student Podcast, episode 5, season 4. Today, the title of the podcast is getting ready to move to the uk things to know. So, basically, things to know before you move to the uk future, my, my best friend, my sister, my brethren in christ.
Speaker 2:I've been in name.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, zikora, please, okay, okay, but you have a Z name, okay, anyways, thank you. Round of applause. Okay, okay, maria, please tell us about yourself, your name and what the Lord has done for you.
Speaker 2:The Lord has done a lot. So, hi guys, lovely, lovely, lovely to meet you all it's yeah, really excited to be here.
Speaker 1:You guys just look like you can see anybody um.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my name is maureen. Um, what I am? What? Tulu's friend, we've been friends since high school. And yeah, what else? That's all, maureen. I'm Nigerian. I live in the UK. So, yeah, and I'm visiting New York actually to see her and I've had such an amazing time. But yeah, I think we'll talk about that later.
Speaker 1:Maureen, I'm so ashamed. Okay, continue, continue. I thought that was it because I want to drive you that a whole coach.
Speaker 2:So wait, I'm coming, I'm getting there, okay, okay um sorry, sorry, I'm sorry um I I work in people and change consulting. That's what I do for work um, and I also run a side business um around career coaching, and I think a lot of this is based off my experience moving to the uk and navigating the job market there.
Speaker 1:So that is me yeah, and she didn't say the name. Maureen, I'm going to embarrass you nice. Yeah, we do have an instagram page yes, please follow her on Intention all stripes sharing ideas, sharing content, tips, tricks, all those type of things and yeah, you can also book a session to speak with me.
Speaker 1:Yes, please, I'm sorry for putting you on this spot, but Maureen is someone who helps me get my job. Like. We did a lot of interviews together, mock interviews, we scheduled a lot of calls, so like and also I famously call her employee of the month because she she won that award twice at her last company she worked at in nigeria. So, yeah, I'm proud of her what can I say?
Speaker 1:yeah, so that's maureen, and always on my podcast when I invite guests, I always ask everyone to share how we met. So, like people know that, you know you didn't just fall from thin air. Okay, you say your story and then I'll try and see if I can corroborate it.
Speaker 2:I feel like when I was, I feel like when we're talking about this, you probably didn't remember the first, you didn't remember the first beats, but essentially we met in secondary school, I think from when we came for what? So, because you have to write in the common entrance and you make it through then you get to do an interview.
Speaker 1:I went to Graceland yeah, graceland International School for my south south girlies and boys always um, so we.
Speaker 2:The story is very, is very long, but the long and short of it was that we had an encounter at that interview which I didn't remember and then, when we eventually resumed in september, tolu came and she was like narrating the whole story to me and telling me she remembered me. So that was how I guess we met, but I don't think we quite became friends at that time I was a famsa me.
Speaker 1:I talked to anybody I want so I was doing one shalaya story that my mother saw her mother something, something, but marie couldn't remember.
Speaker 2:I couldn't remember but I was like, okay, that's fine, um, and then we're in different hostels. But I think I liked her. I liked how she used to organize, like stuff in. You had one red bag and I'm trying to remember the cartoon character that was on that bag, I think it's like mickey mouse with your jungle boy and pencil case oh yeah, I remember my jungle boy pencil case.
Speaker 2:So like I really liked how she used to organize things. She always had tissue and like paloma, like eraser pens, like if you ever needed like any any writing material that she always had it so that was what I liked about her in the same prep class, so I was trying to become friends with her, but she liked senior students too much why you, why you must not? Add that part. I know what she likes saying.
Speaker 1:Like you guys, my boss mate was a senior, my side mate was a senior. He shot all around my bunk before. If my bunk is in the middle, the four bunks, the four beds. So so if I, it's not a problem, but that's what he was. But he said it was in your heart, your eyes can you see my heart? So every time I went to a hostel to see her.
Speaker 2:She was always chatting with seniors. I just felt like I couldn't be friends with her. But yeah, but we still, we still had like prep class relationship and and then I think when we got to js2, we're now in the same hostel, yeah, and the school had just done something where, like just one, just two, we're on one floor, two mgs3, ss1 one floor, so we're like the seniors in our, in our hostel, essentially, yeah and yeah, that was, that's what it was and that was how I think that was how we became friends with our friend as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, shout out to you Mibaka, our friend in Australia. So we became a trio, a bit of a trio basically, but then I think it wasn't just so.
Speaker 2:Just you were in goodness class I was in holiness, I was in kindness, yeah, so I and Mibaka were in goodness and you were in kindness.
Speaker 1:I was in that class but we stayed friends, friends. So that's since 2008, just so now it's been 16 years, we're still friends. She's here today in new york city. She came visiting before I have to move and for context, for that you'd have to listen to the last episode, losing my work authorization and, as many of you might or might not know, actually in that podcast I have to correct something I mentioned I was going to move to london, washington, poland, actually I was going to move to, as, at the time, that podcast was recorded.
Speaker 1:I was going to move into poland, yeah, but then, even after I stopped praying about, it is another episode for another day how god rescued me. I mean rescued not because there's anything wrong with the country I mean I already comes terms with it but because I have family in the uk and I have friends ego maureen, who lives in manchester, and like some other friends who are in the UK. So I had always wanted to move to London and God granted my heart desires. I just recently sent my offer letter to start in the UK in January. Praise God, I hope I get my decide time blah blah blah, amen.
Speaker 1:So most of you would have had to listen to the previous episode about what are things to know before I move. Like, aside the fact, maureen has been here now a week. She's seeing. She's seeing how I'm packing, how I'm selling my stuff to strangers and offer up you know, and all of that. But, like, what are the things to know? But we'll jump right that into that in a second. And yes, for our childhood, I know that we've our parents to have even become like some sort of friends or like acquaintances. Maureen was at my graduation covenant university in 2018. Um, yeah, if someone was to ask how we have stayed friends for this long, what would be your answer to that question?
Speaker 2:so I think, I think it's communication. I mean it's very, it's probably an obvious one, but yeah, that's what it has been, because I think we've always been like long distance friends for the most time, like right after we left Queensland Because you went to University of Binney.
Speaker 1:I went to University of Binney and you went to Covenant.
Speaker 2:So it was like we were always yes, exactly, we first started with emails because you guys couldn't make calls and so I remember we would like send updates like life updates via emails and then god was also kind to me. Your mom now moved to binging.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes and I. Until I used to come, I would see each other when you were in binging and then I came to visit you in school like a hundred level, right and then what else?
Speaker 2:um, that's, that's what has been and then, when I moved to abuja, you were in lagos and then you came.
Speaker 1:Once I came to abuja, yes, and we met up too.
Speaker 2:And then I came for your grad. So I think just just the touch points in between and just really communicating like we always have.
Speaker 1:We always have calls like there's always, we're very intentional. We beg these all those like gifts, everything, so I think that's what has really kept us.
Speaker 2:Yeah I also think there's something about um, I mean, I guess that that's like the intentionality, but I know how. There are people around me that I'm really close to and I could easily share some news with, but for some reason I just try to preserve it so I can say I told my best friend first.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there was also those those kind of things. There was a loyalty we also had to each other I must say yes, yes, even in cu.
Speaker 2:Yes, there was just that loyalty, although I do, you're right, we didn't really talk in cu because we if we, if we ever knew, then maybe you would email me that you were going to call me on payphone or if I saw like a strange number, there was a particular way the number used to come and I would just know that it was you that was calling.
Speaker 1:Oh, I used to call you on payphone.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you used to call me on payphone, oh my God, back in.
Speaker 1:Oh that's so ratchet, oh my God. Call an university, oh my God, but yes. And then also I know that in CU now I saw all this a lot of opportunities. I used to like tmi but like maureen, so now is in a group chat with my closest friends from c.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, that's something as well, because, because, um, I think you had made. You had made.
Speaker 1:Yes, I had I always used to forward emails to a particular set of people one of my girlfriends in cu. If I saw any opportunity, I always used to share. So when faith shout out to you, faith wanted to create a group chat. She asked me for your number, that she wanted to address?
Speaker 2:yeah, it was faith. Are you sure? Yeah, it was Faith. Are you serious? Because I thought it was you who did it, because you said you wanted to have all your future bridesmaids in one group.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's true, I have that thing to where I like all my friends knowing each other, and so far I've been successful at it. So, even if I'm just another friend in that country if I mention more they so everybody knows each other kind of.
Speaker 1:And then, yeah, so because of the emails, and now we had granted from CU, so, Faith, we now had our phone. She was like she wants to put us on WhatsApp and I was like, are you sure, Faith? You don't have to add Faith, no pressure, you don't have to add Maureen, you know she's not, she wasn't in CU. And I also wasn't sure if I was comfortable with you and faith now asked me for your number, and then she added you.
Speaker 2:And now that's how dolu I can see the way you want to steal maria.
Speaker 1:Maria wants to steal you. Let me just clear you now and I hate this thing when, like all the all the friends you introduce, they will not be for me. They are close to each other. I'm like if I slap all of you, well anyway. So now we're also now a group of six, like like I like to call them girl pussy or like whatever they say. So now, and so that's how the friendship has Stayed intact and hopefully we're ready past Like I told you On your birthday this year. I said we're ready past the seven year mark. They say that if you're friends For like seven years, it's a lifelong friendship.
Speaker 1:It will be a lifelong friendship. Okay, and yeah, now we're on 16 years, in fact, double of so, even after death, that's two lives. Mine's in two lives and after plus Ijara, after death and in heaven. So looking forward to your mansion beside mine in heaven. Okay, actually no, our husbands. I think I prefer to stay with my husband. No, she thinks so, my future husband. Okay, shout out to our future husband, shout out, shout out.
Speaker 2:Anyway.
Speaker 1:If you know, if you know you know, okay, okay, next, okay. So, um, I want to discuss on this segment of the podcast. I want to discuss about your journey to the uk. So after we met in gresland, we went to uni band.
Speaker 1:We have kind of like roughly touched about that, okay wait, there's no, I wanted to share a funny story from our time in high school, because that was the time we spent most together six years. So when I and marion were just in um two nights, catching up, like two nights ago, we remembered how I can share with you. Yeah, okay, we remembered our prefect ship how in graceland in when we're in ss2 ss3, ss2, ss3, yeah they were collecting names from junior students on who they would like to become prefect.
Speaker 1:So people were voting and voting, so some names came up. So one random day, during inter-house sports I mean, I did not like inter-house sports and I was not in yellow house, a losing house I went to the sick bay and I told my mother to sit down like I was dizzy or something. She now said this is how you will be behaving when you become head girl. And I said what do you mean, ma? She said oh, you have no head. They are taking votes. All these are my boy people. So I took the G shot to mourn. I think they are looking for head girls or whatever. So fast forward down the line and this particular story I plan to put it out youtube. So long story short. I followed my classmates to go and do activism. I went to go, I was fighting, so I was trying to report on of our hostel mistresses that she didn't like to give us hot water and also it's because we used to bath late.
Speaker 2:She did something really bad that did too yeah, I think she beat us or something.
Speaker 1:I just crawl.
Speaker 2:People crawl from upstairs.
Speaker 1:That was what escalated it so I I don't even know who told me let's write into the suggestion box, but I didn't know that, the paper and pen was in my hand and I started the letter. To whom it may concern this? Miss Oto. I'm saying her name. Why, miss Oto? Miss Oto Bong, that was her name. She said you guys, aisha reported that this is what she did to us and that we like Action to be taken. Blah, blah, blah. And then someone Asked me from somewhere To also add that they should Change our Wednesday dinner. So our Wednesday dinner Used to be pancake, I think they now made it Beans and fish and plantain.
Speaker 2:I mean beans wasn't nice like cheese days exactly so and I added it.
Speaker 1:But I'm pleased, I would like to. I'm pleased, we would also like to change our dinner back to pancake and tea, even though and let me even fun fact those two foods, I know you sweet it now. Smelling pancakes, fat pancake, I need to eat it with one nasty beauty. And then the beans I'm planting I don't know. Back back then I didn't like beans. I'm like I. I didn't even used to eat it, me, and Maureen won't joke that we used to exchange we used to do, so I'll take spaghetti on Tuesday no, thursday, thursday rather, and then.
Speaker 2:I'll give you Sunday jollof.
Speaker 1:Yes, exactly until today, jollof is still my best friend, so she's giving me Sunday, jollof, and I don't like spaghetti, yes, and I don't like spaghetti. So I promise you, those pancakes and those stupid beans Were not even in my. I didn't even eat it. I should have added it. That's how the next day this was Thursday morning, friday morning they called the emergency assembly JS1 to SS3 or maybe SS2. I don't think they disturbed SS3, maybe because they were having.
Speaker 1:They were having exams Exams JS1 to SS2, they said all of us should come out and we had one very tyrant I'll just leave it there officially in the school that everybody was scared of. So long story short. They called us out. Then she threatened that the person who wrote this should come out, and the person was very rude. Who are we to write to? Who do we make concern that if the person doesn't come out to go into the school buildings and check everybody's notes for handwriting? Yeah, and then. Okay, marita, then why I had to end up coming. At first we were like, should we go out? Should we go out? So the SS2 girls knew that it was we knew.
Speaker 2:So I think the friends of us, who were like your friends, like we knew, because we I wasn't there when your for breakfast, so I came back but I knew that a letter had been written.
Speaker 2:So we're now contemplating should we go? But you know when they are emotionally blackmailing you, they were forming. We're going to search. It's better you come now and get pardon, or, if we find you, expulsion, blah, blah, blah. I was like, hey god, they can't expel my friend. So like I think we all started thinking about it. And then, so tolu is a writer like she. Everybody, or at least most teachers, know her handwriting and she she had like the best notes. So if you wanted to copy anything, like you, go to.
Speaker 2:So for someone's writing that was so popular it was very obvious that they decided to actually check this thing.
Speaker 1:They will catch me yeah, so that what they used to tell me.
Speaker 2:So that's what we're just like okay, maybe you should just go out, like if you go out, did you pardon you and then you know you're known as a nice girl. Yeah, like in front of teachers. So, knowing that it's you, they will know they will temper justice with mercy so that was what we thought about. So we now convinced her, and then she now went out.
Speaker 2:Yes, I went out and I think the woman was shocked exactly, she was shocked she didn't believe it was you, and I think she said something about your mom, like something about where your mom worked that she didn't believe it was you.
Speaker 1:So at a point, metron, I remember they now closed the assembly. I told everybody to go back to their class so they took me to office, told me to kneel down. I even thought they were going to call Mr Kayode to come and flog me.
Speaker 1:Hey, they're not flogging you she asked me am I really the one? I think she thought I was trying to take one for the team. I'm not saying all of us were complaining. She said even if you shouldn't have written me like that, that would make you want to call my mom. She said that they would have expelled me, even though that they know that this and this and this and this. She had long story. She after that she had my name removed from the prefect here. So that was my punishment. Yeah, they said I was going to be a prefect anymore. And then maureen, who was slated for vice assistant head girl.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, now they now made me head girl and it was. It was a very weird thing because they had told her she wasn't going to be perfect anymore, but like we're not exactly sure what the outcome was going to be like. So when I remember, I was in class that day and then Ms Anyang, who was our VP, came to class and called me they don't need to call me out like that.
Speaker 1:So I was even worried, Like what does this woman?
Speaker 2:want from me. I followed her. I went the office, I went to dg's um of no, that was not when I went to this second event. I went to this office, um, so I went, and then I think it was herself and mississiang, and then they told me that, um, I'm going to be the new head girl, that I can see that tolu loquai is not going again it was.
Speaker 1:I see I want to take that punishment over like exposure.
Speaker 2:Yes, exactly, it was mixed feelings, so I came back and I actually were also not in team class in senior, so I was in kindness now and I was in holiness see you guys. For context, our classes are called holiness, goodness and kindness fruits of the spirit.
Speaker 2:So I was in kindness and she was in holiness. So during break I was like, how am I? Already my classmates were asking me and like I didn't want to tell people in class, then they will not go and spread the news, I will not be the one to share it. So I think during break I now came to you and your backer and then I now shared it. I'm like I can't. To be honest, I can't remember what your reaction was, yeah, but I just know that I said it and like it was, I was avoiding you and I was like there was an awkwardness around it as well but it was just.
Speaker 2:It was just what it was. Yeah, so why we're speaking about this? Because I think I was thinking of it on my own and I said when I come here that I'll ask you why and how that did not affect our friendship. Yeah, and then strangely, temi had also asked you about it.
Speaker 1:And then I was like you know what I think it was. It's because I knew I was wrong, like I actually it's not like you went to go and whisper to somebody that you don't think I'll make a good head girl. So it was because of my actions, backed up by other people.
Speaker 1:So after that I remember when I was going to convene and my father sat me down and told me that don't go and be doing activism. That was his calling when you get to convene, and I'm someone who likes to fight for justice, you know low-key. So I respected myself, like it would say. Now sometimes there are a lot of times I want to comment on a lot of things on on social media, but I just used to respect myself, because if I really say what I'm thinking, some people will not be able to not be my friends again. But anyway, that's the that. Those are some of our secondary school chronicles. And then we also reminisced about how, like you were, the early one there was time we were bunkmates, so I know where roommates, where you need to go early to go late.
Speaker 2:Normally you go with your group of friends, like that's usually like.
Speaker 1:Naturally that's how it happens, but like I just realized, I could never wait for my friends until today I'm still a late bed. I'm more into an early bed. Why are you coughing? Why are you coughing? If you have something to say, say to me. It's okay, let's not go there, but anyway yeah, but it was good, okay, yeah good times, good times, anyway.
Speaker 1:Okay, now let's go into the journey of how you got to the uk. So just briefly share, like, what you studied in school, what made you decide to go to the uk, what schools did you apply to, and then from there we'll talk about things to do to get ready okay, uh, so I think, um, all the while, like I always knew that I wanted to do like a master's degree, um in the uk.
Speaker 2:So, and I don't know why, but I think coming here in 2012 kind of solidified that thought in my head when I came. I had to come back here for school. So even going through like uni band and then education at uni band, let's not go there. But I was very, very quickly caught that.
Speaker 1:How many times did you have strike when you were in school?
Speaker 2:So, I was very lucky, so the strike only affected me right before I entered. So I had like a six month lag period. Then when we got in I went through school in three and a half years as opposed to four years Because they were very quick years as opposed to four years because they were very quick. Um, so yeah, I wasn't affected. Then when I finished, I think strike started again.
Speaker 2:So god really saved me on that one. But yeah, um, so I I knew I wanted to come to the uk. So when after or during nysc I started nysc, I worked in human resources and that was my first job ever. So, um, I started thinking about my master's, but I also felt like I still did not have like the relevant experience, experience to go and about my master's, but I also felt like I still did not have the relevant experience to go and do a master's. My dad wanted me to get out and just go and do a master's very quickly.
Speaker 1:Wait, we have skipped. Have you mentioned where you worked, in Nabya?
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, I did my NYC there as something that sounds.
Speaker 1:There's something we used to joke in.
Speaker 2:No, let's not joke about it.
Speaker 1:No, let's just Okay, let's not joke about it on the interwebs. I'm sorry okay, but that was.
Speaker 2:You should have shown them. That's the problem when you want to play out the gods twice. Yeah, that's what it was. It was like an IT Firm in Abuja and Mori was involved in hiring and firing.
Speaker 2:I must add what is that I used to see HR Paul as movers and shakers and so knowing that you had like involved in hiring and like, because I was like the key hr person I used to report to like the um director of corporate service. So it was. It was a very interesting first job to have, but that's what we're talking about. So, um, the the journey, essentially so when, while I was there, I now started considering applications and um, I wanted to go to I think the school in my head I always wanted to go to was london school of economics and I wanted to do operational research and finance.
Speaker 2:Because of all the courses that I had done in my undergrad, I think that was the one that I thought I was most interested in. Yeah, um, so I I applied the first time I applied rather on seriously, guys, let me just put that out there because I was in a place where I didn't want to go for the master's at that time. I still wanted to work an extra year and my dad wasn't having it. So to please him and to make him happy, I decided to still put in an application. Please, my daddy ever finds this story out, there will be trouble. Well, yeah, um, I I made the application I very minimal effort, so I knew that there was no way that why?
Speaker 1:why did you think you could get it?
Speaker 2:because I wasn't ready and I knew what I wrote in my, in my like I didn't do research, you know, like you just, I just did it to tick the box like it wasn't.
Speaker 1:It wasn't anything.
Speaker 2:So I did that and obviously, yes, I got a rejection as a speaker, and that was the only school I applied to they asked me to apply to university of edinburgh. I don't know what happened, but I eventually did not and when I was ready they said application at close. So that was my excuse. So it was just one school. So I I really wasn't I think I wasn't in headspace for like school yet I still wanted to walk, I still felt like I wanted to get experience like I didn't want to be in a classroom.
Speaker 2:I'm full, we're talking about work and I won't know, like, what to say, what to do. So, um, the second year, so, after I finished my NYC and then I got retained at my place and then I kept working. So while I was there, I started applying to school, so I still applied to LSE, and then I started to apply to some other schools. I applied to University of Southampton, and then I also did Cardiff, and I actually still had Edinburgh on my list as well, which ones did you get into?
Speaker 2:so I got. I got an offer from southampton and got an offer from cardiff right before I was ready to start edinburgh application. So I was like, okay, I don't need you guys anymore so why did you choose university of southampton over?
Speaker 2:cardiff over cardiff, um, I think I looked at the course, the courses that were there. I wanted something that was going to give me like practical experience, and southampton is very good with that. So for operational research, there's a body called, called commsys, and we do our project, like the way we do projects. They they have like um, what's it called relationships with like different organizations, and so they bring like problems for us to do. So that's what made um also made me choose southampton. And then it was closer to london, um, I don't know what else it was. It was just generally more management focused and the offer from from cardiff was very statistics heavy.
Speaker 1:So okay, so you chose.
Speaker 2:So I chose, yes, I chose.
Speaker 1:I would just say I know that I remember I was just sort of your roommates in school and all of that. So what was? What was the experience for any student?
Speaker 2:this week. So, and first of all, I had, I had a very interesting experience. I went to school in the pandemic, so I went right when everything was, you moved to the uk in october 2020 so it's going to be four years.
Speaker 1:You went in november first first of november. No, but I left nigeria october 31st. But, yes, I landed november 1st. That's true, we're both 4 years and that's why this podcast is in season 4.
Speaker 2:This is interesting, so I got there when everything was on lockdown and I had to do.
Speaker 1:Quarantine.
Speaker 2:And then I had like 4, 4 flatmates. So the way it was, you had your bathroom and your room and then you shared the kitchen. So I had 4 flatmates and they were all Asians. Like you had your bathroom and your room and then you share the kitchen. So I had four flatmates and they were all asians. So I had three chinese and one thai and like they were the most amazing people that I could like. Potentially they made they made going to school in lockdown less painful, so that was great. Um, and then what else?
Speaker 1:you enjoyed, so you enjoyed the time as a student. I did. I enjoyed my time as a student. What was your biggest cultural shock when you moved to the UK?
Speaker 2:oh my god, I feel like I need to think about that. You should remember the story you shared with me about looking for events on Eventbrite that was when I moved to Manchester. I think something that shocked me, or that made me realize that, because when I came to the UK I still thought I would want to go back home like oh yes, I still thought I was going to go back home.
Speaker 2:well, what happened was our fridge got bad. Our fridge I don't know if I've shared this story with you, but the our fridge handle got broken like maybe around 12 midnight, because we used to we we were like night people, so we used to wake up like around 11 12. That used to be like our morning and then we'll be sleeping during the day. That's how we lived. So when we were up at like 12, you know, and then our fridge door fell apart, so we went and we said, okay, we need to send an email to school to let them know. We sent an email around 12. And then, of course, like we went to sleep and we're waking up at like 11 am by the time we woke up there we should move our things and they were coming to pick the old one. Like when we sent it, we expected that they were going to come and repay it. So, like the efficiency of that, process shocked me.
Speaker 2:Because they didn't even have up to 24 hours. We sent this email at midnight Like how did they get a new fridge? It was going to be a bigger and better fridge.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and those are things that because in Nigeria for them to do it just because they care about the experience. That's something that makes me sometimes like I feel like that's the only thing. We don't have that same efficiency in Nigeria Like response to customers. There's no customer respect, customer prioritization there's none of that.
Speaker 2:So I think after that I remember calling my family members. I was like I don't think I'm coming back just yet.
Speaker 1:Okay. And then now you've got your job, of course you also want to share your job journey and this is also related to how Intentional Strides was born. And let me reiterate, you guys follow Intentional Strides, especially if you're new in the UK. Maureen has helped a lot of us secure jobs. I must say, like at least even for me, the interviews we did, I remember we sat down, we went through each question, I prepared questions that I needed to work with and Maureen went through each one with me, gave me feedback for each one.
Speaker 1:So, like she has now, she has, after much telling, she has decided to begin to do it as a paid service and she does have like successful clients, like who have gotten jobs, because she has helped them prep for it. So, yeah, check it out, book because she has helped them prep for it. So, yeah, check it out, book a session with her and then and she's gonna help you, like she also helps look for roles for you, like for me now it's like a youtuber and an editor, like she's also going to help with that. So, check out her services and use her. Okay, I've finished selling you now but anyway they're very shameless for okay, but like how?
Speaker 1:so what was your journey to getting a job at Capgemini? Now, by the way, maureen is a consultant. No, she isn't A real consultant. You can check her LinkedIn and all that, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I think the journey was not straightforward, because when I came to do a master's in operational research, I thought I wanted to switch roles. Remember, I said I worked in HR in Nigeria and I, for what I knew hr to be at the time, just like tolu said hiring and firing, that's what she called it. So, yeah, so tolu called it hiring and firing and I think that, well, that wasn't what I thought about it, but I thought it was very admin heavy because I was like most part of what I knew about it. So I I felt like that wasn't a career, like I wanted to continue it.
Speaker 2:So I came to operational research with intentions of moving to like data analytics, data science, type and jobs. So when I came, those were the type of roles I was applying to. So like operational research roles, data roles, um, and yeah, all of those, all of those type of things. And I think I went on at it for this is like a very abridged version, but I went on at it for about six months because I came in october, um, and I was on this up until like march of 2021, of 2021.
Speaker 1:So you were looking for jobs while in school? Yes, I was looking for jobs while in school.
Speaker 2:Like I resumed, yes, like I just started applying, I was getting interviews, um, but I think when I go for interviews and I'm interviewing, I always say this thing that even me, I would not hire me, because I never sounded like I was excited about it so it was.
Speaker 1:We had a few more sessions too for you.
Speaker 2:Yes, so it really wasn't working. And the more I got into like my coursework and like the practicalities of what I could be doing at work, it just felt like this wasn't what I wanted to wake up to, because the master's was hard. Yeah, it wasn't. I'm not the type of person that likes to walk behind a screen alone. I like to talk to people. I like to interact with people.
Speaker 1:Maureen is a very happy person. I felt like this trip. I'm rediscovering you. You have a lot of joy. Oh my God, I may not never.
Speaker 2:So yeah, so that's I like talking to people. So I just felt like, please, I don't think this is what I can do. And then I had to. I had to because for me, I thought it was a letdown, like moving from wanting to do a data science role to HR type role. I don't know why I had that like mentality at the time. Oh really, yes, so I didn't know how to come to terms with it. It felt like I was letting. Like everyone who trust, like my parents, like you know, how do I tell them that? You know they spent all this money? And then I want to come and do hr, because I really looked look down. Maybe in that sense it was it was.
Speaker 2:It was because I was, I was misinformed about like what I could do with it. That's what it was.
Speaker 2:So I now started to do my research and I started to find like other aspects of hr, like you know, hr business consulting transformation yes transformation, you know, workforce planning, all those type of things and it started to make more sense to me and I felt like, okay, actually this is a space that I could work in. And then it took telling my dad about it because I was like I don't know what. I just needed to free myself, you know, and be okay with what I was doing, because you know there's also that thing of like what, what people think, of course, that that does what it does in your head, like people who funded me, the classmates I have all of them.
Speaker 2:They'll be talking about how they're applying to this role. I'm just like this is not me. So, um, when I told my dad and he was like that, you know, your master's is just like a minstrel and are you going? To be happy doing that role? I said yes. Is it going to you know? Help you take care of yourself? I said yes, and so then there was the problem and now this is the human resource role. Yes, so I was gonna receive my freedom, and then?
Speaker 1:I started applying to hr.
Speaker 2:Shout out to you so I started applying to like hr and I was. I was very happy, very happy about it. I was interviewing um and then I got rejections too. But like the prospects were better and I remember doing an interview, one when there was an architectural firm I had done, done and got into like the final, stage.
Speaker 1:I think that's the cutest thing about hr, because you can walk across industries yes, exactly so.
Speaker 2:Um, I got to the final stage, spoke with the vp. This man came and told me that she really liked him with that. I'm very ambitious and she doesn't think that I can grow in that space. Like she was giving me honest feedback, which I appreciated but it was very annoying because she doesn't have.
Speaker 2:She doesn't have the capacity to let me grow the way I need to grow or I want to grow. So she told me that I should look out for bigger organizations where they have like specialized functions, and then um, and then um, I'll be able to do that. So, but yeah, that was just like one story. But I eventually applied, applied, and then I started working from my university. So that was the first job.
Speaker 1:So you actually did work for your school. And then you I know you also had a stint at UN. Right, you also worked for UN, so that was after.
Speaker 2:So, after I finished that and I got like a I didn't finish, that came um, so I took that and I knew it was a great opportunity, but like we were dragging them yesterday, yeah, like so, because for a human rights organization they shouldn't be employing people for free. Honestly, yeah, so, but I was even lucky, because I was going to get a stipend, but the stipend was still like a.
Speaker 2:It was a drop down from what I was earning at my uni yeah, so that that also made me think twice about that opportunity, because I was like I was preparing to pay for my post-grad visa, like I was just like is this what I really want to do?
Speaker 1:right now. What did you do while you were working at southampton?
Speaker 2:hr. I worked in human people operations, oh okay, and it was a paid job, right? Yeah, it was paid.
Speaker 1:I feel like I remember stories from that losing. I also know you had to plan a lot of events. Yeah, so I was.
Speaker 2:I was a huge part of the nigerian society, but it wasn't very active while I was in school. Yeah, so it was after I was done, like in 2021, I was still living in southampton because I was working with the uni, so I was still involved with the nigerian society, sort of yeah, so yeah it's like an adult, adult member yeah, whatever that is but yeah, so that's what, that's what I was doing, um and then um, un, un.
Speaker 2:So I, yes, I got that opportunity and then I did it for about six months. I started that in march 22. Part the way that happened to was the grace of god, and even when I got it I was like I couldn't believe it because I had always wanted to work in the un actually, so she was a volunteer person.
Speaker 1:I mean, like me, I'm a Marenjo. In secondary school you went to a homemaker's club?
Speaker 2:Yeah, homemaker's club. Why are we?
Speaker 1:laughing. Oh my God, we wanted to be homemaking women or whatever, I don't even know.
Speaker 2:I thought there was no other option. I didn't want to do JETS.
Speaker 1:Like I can't go to JETS club. I'm not a debater, I don't like arguments, so like, like so many things. In our senior secondary school I joined literary press and debating club and then you joined Sustainable development club. Yeah, so.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, and we.
Speaker 1:Oh, I forgot. We have so many secondary school G's. How you were good in geography. I used to be good in.
Speaker 2:French. Oh yes, geography was my best subject. French is cool. Yeah, geography was my best subject. The only reason I didn't do that not sure what I could become if I studied geography.
Speaker 1:Yeah, obviously I was never going to study french. In fact I'll just write it in white. But they told us that we're less than six students, because I thought I would get an a, so it was just me and jeffrey, and then I think just two. Yeah, we're supposed to be up to six. You know we couldn't write it in white, but yeah, anyway, okay, continue you, and okay so, um, I, what was I saying?
Speaker 2:yes, so I, I had always wanted to work there, like I, I'd always been curious about like UN, you know just being in that space and like wanting to do, like volunteering and like missions type thing, so it was a really great opportunity. I didn't think, like every time I imagined working in the UN, I never imagined the corporate functions of UN. It was always like Volunteering. Yes, it was surprising, but then I got it because it was like a people operations.
Speaker 1:It was a really great opportunity, and if someone wants to apply to the un, how can they find that opportunity? I think they have it's all on their website.
Speaker 2:Yes, and you work for undp, un, fpa, the population funds what they do population so they look after like maternal, maternal health, like um they. They're also responsible when there's like um census, um population census and you know. But their primary thing is really around like gender, gender against gender violence maternal health so yeah, they want to go into like communities and yeah, talk to.
Speaker 2:So that's that's what they do essentially. So we I worked in the um, performance, what management, um area and they were doing like a whole people's strategy. So essentially that opportunity gave me like options because I worked across lnd, I worked across performance management, I worked across and then system implementation as well, and then people's strategy. So it was like so many things at once and it was very exciting because, like no deal, I also did like global communication so it was very used to organize hand all time, all hands or something, okay, all hands.
Speaker 2:No, so I didn't really organize a call, but I was always communicating to like country directors because they had done like a survey and I was trying to get them to understand how they could make that survey work for their different country offices. So, um see, big walk for free. So it was very interesting. My boss didn't have time and she was like you know what, she's just going to hand over this piece to me and it was. It felt like a lot, it was very heavy, but then I was also grateful for it and I did it and also, yes, that boss was the person I had lunch with on friday.
Speaker 1:Oh, I see, okay, that makes sense.
Speaker 2:So, um, now Capgemini story. So yeah, and then while I was there, I think I was applying to, because I had seen that I loved it and that the best place I could get something similar was in consulting. Yeah, so I focused on Deloitte.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Someone had reached out to me. From that's true you were. Did you get an offer? No, I didn't, okay, but I know that you, yeah.
Speaker 2:So yeah, it was, it was a. It was a long process and I I feel like, because we're we're trying to get through this, I don't think I'll be able to go into the details of that story, but essentially a cap person reached out to me, a recruiter, and then I had a conversation and like within three weeks I was through all the three stages of interviews and I got an offer like right before my actual graduation.
Speaker 2:This was july 2022 okay, yeah, so I got an offer with them and I was due to start in september and that was exactly when my internship was so long as you.
Speaker 1:Your work anniversary is two years this year. Yes, I did two years. Two years, yeah. Mine is may years. May, mine september, yeah, so it was.
Speaker 2:It was, it was good and I think so far I've loved where I work at the moment.
Speaker 1:Maybe we'll get mine in the same year. We love the same year this way, this way. Why are you scared? Oh my god, why are you scared?
Speaker 2:I'm not scared, I'm afraid.
Speaker 1:Do you remember that, robbie?
Speaker 2:yes, oh, I'm afraid Do you remember that Robbie J?
Speaker 1:Yes, he said he didn't. Oh my God. So you guys, the owners of our school, are quite bomb.
Speaker 2:We have lots of Aquarium staff.
Speaker 1:We have Aquarium staff and then we went to a different life. Second man, those girls honestly, yeah, it's a mistake.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I've had a good experience at Caps Over. So, what I do is people and change consulting, so like supporting organizations going through like a digital transformation type thing and also helping with like the people, people's side of development so when an organization is considering like a talent talent restructure or talent upskilling or and this talent is human based.
Speaker 1:Yes, people, yeah, but that's it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because they are talents like people are talents, yeah so and then just helping like improving employee experience generally. So that's, that's what I want to do yes yeah I'm wearing it.
Speaker 1:See, if anything, I aspire to be you, what you are to your company as an employee. I really do inspire them. I can't really ask myself too much don't suck me the half of me. That's the committee. But yes, yeah, marty is my employee of the month, any day, any time, okay, well, thank you for that expose into your journey. Now for me, who is moving to the uk? What should I?
Speaker 2:know about corporate uk like we say corporate america, what do you?
Speaker 1:guys call it. Is it corporate uk?
Speaker 2:corporate uk, I think yeah, what you guys?
Speaker 1:so any advice for me coming into corporate uk? I don't know, I think. What is it like working?
Speaker 2:with the british. It's interesting, I think. Generally, what I found is you probably will not get like you won't always get. I know someone who's really honest. Um, I know, like my manager is british and really honest. Well, I don't think you would always get that from people, especially if they're like not especially, but for instance, if you have like a direct manager, there's a tendency for them. They are very, they like to be nice, they don't like disagreement.
Speaker 1:They don't like to. They don't like to cause conflict.
Speaker 2:So everything is mostly going to be oh, that's fine, that's okay, even when it's not okay, and then they will take whatever action they need to take. You know, at your back or you know behind the scenes. So it's knowing how to read, you know those body languages and really understanding what they mean when they are saying Even in your promo feedback, even in feedback, they are not so direct.
Speaker 2:In feedback. People and that's that's something that stresses me Like people just always say the nice things, like oh, you've done this well, you've done this well, and like I mean I really, I really like, when people tell me honestly. That's why I love my manager. She's she's's.
Speaker 2:It was hard at first because also I'd not gotten that level of honesty before and it was hard to deal with it so, but I know that if I'm messing up she will not hide and actually I must say to maria, I feel like also, you were always, you have always been a voice of reason in my life.
Speaker 1:Now that I think about it, even when it comes to work, like you always know, we always talk about how. Oh, they say we're going off a problem, oh, we didn't get it. You know you'll be able to tell me, okay, what can you do? But you'll tell me I'm losing, although these days I'm not having good advice for you, because it's two of us I'm losing focus at work.
Speaker 2:I have so many things I said me and you both I didn't know how to help you here, but I remember we used to bounce off everyone went to school, we used to help each other, like mentally or emotionally I remember that and even yes, and there's something you always used to say.
Speaker 1:Maybe if I ask you, oh, which dress should I buy? And you always pick the dress I wanted or maybe, if I ask you for something, you'll not be like. This is why we're friends.
Speaker 2:I love that because it's like we know each other so well, even though, even though on the surface I feel like we might be unusual friends like you will not very different and I think I think one thing I was not even that happened to our friendship if we were in the same place, but I also think that we're so different and. I think I probably also am realizing that, like being here in the past one week what are the differences there are?
Speaker 1:different things that could have potentially caused because we really have not had like conflict per se and that's because we are like, but there are things sometimes you do.
Speaker 1:I will tell you oh, this made me unhappy. Yes, yes, yes. I will say over the phone, yes, and I will tell you yes, please, oh no, there is that, but you know how like people fight and clash. I'm curious to hear the differences now, because what me? The only difference that they have said is like I think you are much more happier and jovial than I am, and then, two, you're.
Speaker 1:You're still an early person. That's like compared to me, I think, when I told you okay, we're gonna start this podcast at 12. You you you, you went to go and bap. I said maria, 12 means like 12, 30, no, that's what it means, like oh my god your mic should be set up, and then it's also like that planning thing, so in my head.
Speaker 2:You said 12, so I imagine that we'll do the podcast for like one hour and then we'll be done yeah, but then you now keep moving the time.
Speaker 1:It's affecting the other things that I want to do at other times, I'm sorry, oh my god. Oh yeah, I've said my own difference. What are your differences?
Speaker 2:so that's, I think those were the ones, and then, oh yeah clearly you're not a morning person and we are not what else, what else is also like how I don't say that, I don't say I that's not, that's, I don't say that in your body, but like how you just moved in, like you just want to do what you want to do.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, when you feel like it and I'm like please.
Speaker 2:Yesterday another example we went to go out for ice cream you were the one that suggested it and I can't.
Speaker 1:And then I know, suddenly you didn't want to go out for ice cream.
Speaker 2:You were the one that suggested it, and then suddenly you didn't want to go, and then you now came, and then you're now saying, oh, should we go?
Speaker 1:again, I'm like why like okay, we've already agreed that we're not going like we didn't agree, I said we agree, we're fighting, we're fighting, we're fighting, okay, okay, anyways, I know it's a bad habit of mine, like I don't have any excuse. I actually have nothing to say about that I'm sorry, I guess.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I think that's that's the thing I feel like, and because that's something that happens like in daily life, like it's normal, like so it's bound to cause some yeah, if we're living together or if we had class together, yeah, and I know that's an actual issue because I have friends who have told me that I cancel a lot.
Speaker 1:I'm like I don't know, am I not allowed to say I don't feel like doing something again?
Speaker 2:You are allowed, but like when it happens, like all the time. Anyway, it's okay, let's continue our podcast. What else?
Speaker 1:What else should I know when moving to the UK? About?
Speaker 2:making friends or food, like they say, the food there is better. I don't know, but I didn't really experience food there. You always have food in there, so and not really like well I think, food. So I don't. I don't know what to say about this, but like we have, so I found like an african store and so, like I was just always shocked there are things you can also buy in, like the regular tesco, lido and all that so those are the stores you guys are walmart.
Speaker 1:No, there's. No, I don't know that there's walmart. Okay, yeah, you guys have all these.
Speaker 2:We have all the years I don't know where it runs there's no targets, obviously no, there's no, but there's starbucks and there's tk max, which is our tk maxx. I'm looking forward to shopping at Primark. Next, george Maxx and Spencers again, yeah, I love George. Yeah, next new look.
Speaker 1:Yeah, new look. Oh my God, New look. Yes, I remember having clothes from there as a child. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay, but yeah, I think that's it With corporate life. The British people have a very strong drinking culture, so there's always like after-work drinks and I promise you you won't always enjoy it, but it's essential to like engage every once in a while because that's where you have like informal conversation, that's where you get to know people. So it's it's recommended, if you can me, I I go, but I'm usually the first to check out. So and I think my colleagues now know me. So it's like once, by the time we get to a certain time, like I'm not vibing with you people again. I think I'd rather be by myself.
Speaker 2:I see not it yeah but there are people who enjoy it and like they can drink forever and yeah, so that's, that's a thing, so you always get, so let's, let's go out for drinks after work, so that's very normal.
Speaker 1:What a building community, because I know you have like something out of oh yeah.
Speaker 2:So I think that really helped me so when I came to the uk um timmy had actually told me.
Speaker 1:Yes, that I should shout out to you, temtem to join Outlier Circle.
Speaker 2:I looked at them, I looked at their Instagram page. It was nice, but like I wasn't interested, let me tell you one with me, and this is Ibukun Ogudinpe if she ever listens to this, I think she was the one who and then I told her that time I was still in the middle of a job interview. And then she really took time to prepare, help me prepare for that interview, and I was like the least I can do for this lady is to show up at this happening.
Speaker 2:And it was a free event. Free, yes, it was. Like you know, you guys just come together and then they put it.
Speaker 1:So I went and then it was on that group chat I met Shuri. Yes, exactly.
Speaker 2:I've met so many other people Ebby, who I met as well.
Speaker 1:That's where I met her, so it's like so many people I've met from Outliers. So it's a really great community. Thank you, yes. When you come you even have to food.
Speaker 2:You don't need Outliers.
Speaker 1:But yeah, we're still there for you, thank you.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But that was it.
Speaker 2:That was it with community and when I moved to manchester it was still an outliers event that I went to and then I kind of met friends that helped me like build more community. A lot of the dating life in the uk that has been interesting.
Speaker 1:Um, I think I've so shockingly um my, my sister can't talk Like in the past, like when you passed four years.
Speaker 2:No, it has been interesting I have in Southampton. I don't think I quite met people oh. I see, and it was a very quiet, I don't know, not that many blacks, so it wasn't very easy, like meeting people, and then in Manchester, I guess it's more open.
Speaker 1:I met a couple of you, I think, even if people like me. It's around the middle of dating up. So okay, yeah, okay, so yeah, I think you have been successful with dating up so far, thankfully. When is you there? I don't know what's funny, oh my god. Anyway, just okay. This is just a word of advice to people try it, yeah, try it.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I used to be. I used to be the person who didn't like it because it felt weird, like, and it was funny because I feel like I'm not, as if. I feel like I'm dead. Now people will think it's me.
Speaker 1:I only tried it once.
Speaker 2:I've met good people, people who have even become friends really not friends, but Instagram friends male people.
Speaker 1:Oh, interesting, I didn't know that even when we went out I purposely said I wanted to go for a movie.
Speaker 2:Male, male people. Oh, interesting, okay, I didn't know that we have done the first one.
Speaker 1:I was just like, ah, I don't know, even when we went out, I purposely said I wanted to go for a movie because I didn't want to talk.
Speaker 2:I didn't even know what I was doing there. I don't think a movie is a good idea for a first date. I think you know what people say.
Speaker 1:Who makes the rules going on? And then for racism, how would you say you experience?
Speaker 2:that. So I think that when I, when I went, I have blocked my head, like mentally, to not overthink things. So if something bad happened to me, I try not think about the fact that it happened to me because I'm black. Define bad when I mean no, maybe bad is not the word, like like something you know how weird. Yes, like something maybe someone didn't respond to you the way they responded to another person. I try not think about it. That is because I'm black.
Speaker 1:I don't know what it is, but sometimes that's what it is for I just like put myself because it's very, it's too heavy to think about.
Speaker 2:Like every time.
Speaker 1:You know I'll get stressed, I'll become an angry person here to always say it's because I'm black, so exactly so I didn't want to be that angry person I'm always thinking so I think that's something that has helped me.
Speaker 2:But then I think it happens like you see it, like systemically, and that's the thing with the uk, that the system is just, it's just set up in that way. So, for instance, like you, you work in an organization and I think when I worked in my uni, I was literally the only black person in the in, so I walked to the student. You know, I was the only black person there, which was very weird and all these type of things.
Speaker 2:Okay but, yeah, and then you also see where, even where you, where they claim to have no way, even black history month now you see a lot of serenity, so you would have lots of black people, um, and then, as you look off the ladder, you start to see the numbers reducing. And then you just wonder is that these people don't grow above a certain?
Speaker 1:level. Tell me you, from the hr perspective, do you think it's because black people are not qualified to be in those roles, or you just think they're actually not putting?
Speaker 2:taking the time to find black talent when I think about it. There, there are ways to look at it. So when you think about and I was I was having a conversation with somebody about the proportion of black people to white people oh sorry, I'm always hitting something the proportion of black people to like white people. I think you need to take that into consideration when you like, in the grand scheme of things, how many black people do we have and how many white people, and that would determine the pool.
Speaker 2:I don't even know what these numbers are. If I'm being honest, that would determine like the pool you can get out of it as well. So but then I think there's also like a, there's like a subconscious. Maybe they might say they have like a diversity thing and I'm also not for hiring people simply because of their skin color, but sometimes you need to do that as well to create that balance but it's not like you're hiring someone who's not competent.
Speaker 2:So it's just different organizations and and you know the way they handle it and how they prioritize it as a thing and sometimes hr might have like a policy. But if you're hiring into a team and they say and you know the people there are not open to it and they rule out whatever black person, there's nothing you can do about it really.
Speaker 1:That's because I'm hr.
Speaker 2:I don't know what's like a technical team need.
Speaker 1:They need to interview whoever it is and I'll work based on the recommendation they give me, I can't impose someone on them oh yeah, I see so that's, but they never give you a listen, white only but I won't be surprised.
Speaker 2:That's what. That's what I would say. I won't be surprised if that's a thing it's never written in black and white.
Speaker 1:It's just something, and actually to be fair to this is just me trying to be fair, like if maybe they've had bad experiences with a certain race.
Speaker 2:Does that give anyone the reason to say people, people, people can do that if they've had like bad experience. But if you have a bad experience, you've had a bad experience as an individual.
Speaker 1:It's not about the race. True, exactly, oh, my god, that's the word. Exactly it's about the individual, like it's not about you. Exactly exactly, which is why you're writing. When I express things at work, I try to check first. Did I do something actually wrong? As, as human being, was I flawed in a way right, so, anyway, okay, so moving on. Um, we're wrapping up now. This is us going to the outro section of this podcast. How's your stay in nyc being so far? What would you rate it over?
Speaker 2:10 it has been. I think I'll call it a nine because I've had such a good time because of the people that I've met. I met my friends like I didn't think I would I would enjoy it so much, so it was because I just thought I was coming to see you. I mean, we'll go out a couple of times and and that would have been great too like seeing other people as well, I think, and seeing my, my boss, like it has just been.
Speaker 2:Every time I've seen my friends from uni again, I always feel like the old self, like you won't see the vibe like we're just dancing, having a good time so it was it was good like I've had a really good time, but you only gave grace a good day I know I was trying to be replying to many people, so it's fine.
Speaker 1:But yeah, it has been good um nyc itself yeah, my sister, your streets are dirty yeah, I know, that's very, very dirty and smelly we move okay, so okay, let's do. Let's do a little this or that, based on your trip new york or london london really isn't also dirty.
Speaker 2:It's dirty, but it's better no, it's a lie.
Speaker 1:You have to be objective better. In what way?
Speaker 2:better, because the underground is not as terrible as what I saw here.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was bad, I'm gonna tell more and take a mask yes, when you were saying it, I thought you were joking. No, I wasn't okay. Then, based on your experiences museum of illusion or 9-11 museum what would you choose? 9-11?
Speaker 2:really I love the illusion but, like the 9-11 was an experience, yeah, I see I could.
Speaker 1:I can relate to that, I mean, even if it's a heavy experience but it's like yeah, okay, times square or statue of liberty. I just know that if you choose time, if you choose statue of liberty, you're choosing jj. That is a trap, I said for you, so what?
Speaker 2:I loved. I loved both of them honestly, and I I like time square. Yeah, I loved.
Speaker 1:I know I like the second one, but it's okay anyway. Okay. Okay, since you couldn't choose, I was going to trap you and not ask google office or time square or like, or which one did you prefer?
Speaker 2:I think times square over google office.
Speaker 1:Oh okay, sorry, okay. What was your experience with google office that you didn't like or?
Speaker 2:liked. I don't know, I think, because I was. I don't know what happened, but I'd worked too much that morning and so I was just tired of moving about the. The office is too big.
Speaker 1:Oh, you don't understand.
Speaker 2:We were going to many places Because I wasn't taking a walk.
Speaker 1:That's the point right, that's what it is. Yeah, the walker is much. It's like walking from one street to the other, back and forth, back and forth. It was good, it was nice to see I like the food.
Speaker 2:I definitely love the food and it was nice to see I like the food. I definitely love the food Like and the fact that there were different sections of different food. You were just flexing.
Speaker 1:Someone told me that it's an adult daycare.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm telling you Without bed.
Speaker 1:Oh, the sleep, the sleep pods, okay, um, and then, how was your photo shoot experience?
Speaker 2:Maureen also came to New York City to come and do photo shoot. That was amazing, andrea. Pictures are amazing yeah, yeah I love it. I love it okay, and then?
Speaker 1:so what was your best and your worst experience?
Speaker 2:ah, I know, my worst experience, oh yeah, it was the, so I had seen like a video of the tram ride um tram ride and I thought I was going to see like the whole of new york, like I didn't know.
Speaker 1:it was a very short distance and then it was raining. I was like Maureen smile. Let me take your picture in your tram.
Speaker 2:It was very underwhelming. I was so disappointed.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know this is why, like I tell Maureen, like I mean, if you see any Instagram or TikTok, I say that needs to convince me that much is lying In my own opinion, but like it was too much, but anyway, and then my best experience was Sunday, generally, like, because it was like a combination of I really love the church. Yeah, I went to, it was so beautiful.
Speaker 2:And then I don't know, just experiencing mass differently, um, and then seeing my friends, like just just, to throw back everything it was nice. And then I think that was the night I came back and we had and I also loved our conversations, like here, like I loved the day we were catching up about.
Speaker 1:Graceland. That was really good. That was also one of my favorite moments, anyway. Okay, and then, last but not least, what's your advice for anyone moving to the UK?
Speaker 2:What's one advice you have for them? I think the uk is is nice compared to the us like, what would you say?
Speaker 1:personally, I love, I love the uk, so I think I feel like I'm always biased and towards the uk.
Speaker 2:Um it's. It's a chill city, like. I think it's not as bad as sometimes the pr make it look, because I think people just make it look like it's very rubbish experience. I mean, people have what they like and what they don't like, but for me it works. Things work. Do I have advice? I don't know, just come find people.
Speaker 1:Community actually that's the advice.
Speaker 2:Actually find people, because it can be very lonely and you probably don't even realize it until it's just find your people and you can find them. You know, church meet random people like people. People really meet people like in the randomest way. Olamide met my other friend I'll talk about tennie. She met her on the staircase. Olamide used to stop people and say hello to them like that's, that's what she does.
Speaker 2:I said I knew it so like, but it helps like. I don't know how to do that, but if you can like just really say hello to people you, you never know. I've become friends with people in like the most ridiculous ways. My daddy thinks I meet all my friends online, so at this point. So yeah, so yeah, but it's, I think, just find community and and information is key actually.
Speaker 1:Because what you don't know, you don't know.
Speaker 2:You'll be surprised how like as as in just the smallest thing that you need to know, you know, like very random things, like you know, having an amex card to help you travel for less like it's just information get information from the right people. I mean, there are people that have rubbish information too. So the spirit of god will lead you all.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen anyway, okay. So information is key and find community. I will remember that as I move to the uk.
Speaker 2:we did, we, we do. We are preparing for your arrival, thank you so much, Thank you.
Speaker 1:I can't wait to see you. My UK girlies and guys, Anyway, okay. So where can they find you?
Speaker 2:So you can find me on Intentional Strides I mean that's it, or I mean I don't think, I even know and on LinkedIn definitely okay, okay, maureen, thank you so much for coming on the podcast today. We did it, we did it. I know finally you know I was the first follower of the page are you serious, and now we're almost at 3000.
Speaker 1:Oh my god. Thank you, maureen. Anyway, signing out guys, and always remember that if we can do it, you can do it too. Yes, yeah, okay, bye.
