Occupation: ETL Developer at Union Pacific Railroad
Who she is: "I am a hardworking and driven person with a passion for learning and being a source of motivation to people I meet."
Q: What is a regular work day like for you?
A: A regular workday includes me building and supporting ETL frameworks using informatica data integration tool, interacting with business intelligence teams, business owners and application teams to ensure the proposed design strategy and implementation meets customer expectations.
Q: What do you love most about your career/major?
A: I love that my career allows for flexibility in responsibilities, you get to build new frameworks, support by troubleshooting and debugging existing code and also allows you to interact with people from other areas thereby providing one with a well rounded view of the bigger picture.
Q: When did you become inspired to partake in tech? What was your inspiration?
A: I got interested in Technology at a young age when I developed an interest for building and understanding the processes behind mechanisms. I found it fascinating to be able to take an existing process, tool, technology and improve its efficiency and possibly create multiple uses for it.
Q: What prepared you the best for your job/major today?
A: My open-mindedness towards learning, volunteering to partake in things I had interest in and perserverance. As a student, there will be multiple opportunities as well as setbacks however the ability to persevere through those obstacles and learn from them makes one more refined and well prepared for the future.
Q: What is the biggest obstacle you've been faced with, and how are/did you overcoming/overcome it?
A: The biggest obstacle for me was being an international student. I moved to the United States for my undergraduate degree in 2009 from Nigeria and I found it challenging in my first few months to really adapt to and assimilate the difference in the educational system and culture. I overcame this challenge by partaking in organizations that broadened my knowledge, volunteering and doing other community service that further introduced me to the American culture.
Q: What non-tech skill do you find most helpful/important that's for your career?
A: Communication and listening skills. I believe that the ability to communicate ideas or thoughts effectively and be an attentive listener goes a long way in building professional relationships and networking.
Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
A: I hope to have established a technology company in Nigeria geared towards automation and process improvements. I also hope to have established a charity organization to help the less privileged in my home country (Nigeria).
Q: What's your favorite coding language?
A: C++ and SQL
Q: What are some of your interests outside tech?
A: I enjoy travelling, cooking new dishes and I recently picked up sewing.
Q: What advice would you give a young person interested in tech now?
A: Be curious and open minded, understand the why. Simply knowing how to do something is not enough but understanding the reason why things are done a certain way an help one find alternative and more efficient ways of doing things.
