Page 22 - Future Leaders 2018-2019

Profiles

ESTHER OYEWOLE, 20 OGONNAYA UDUMA, 22

School: London School School: Lancaster University
of Economics Course: Accounting &
Course: Economic History Financial Management (MSc)
(BSc) Grade average: 2:1
Year: First First Degree: Accounting
Grade average: First class (BSc), Covenant University,
Business & Finance
Nigeria, First class
Esther is the president of the Nigerian Society, where her
role is to find sponsorship and organise events, including the Ogonnaya is someone who is passionate about helping
London School of Economics State of Nigeria Conference. others - throughout her studies she has sought ways in
This symposium invites hundreds of people to discuss and which she can do this. During her undergraduate degree
debate the Nigerian economic, political and legal systems in Nigeria, Ogonnaya noticed that some of her peers were
with talks from specialists. sturggling so she took the intiative to organise extra classes
Outside of university, Esther is the founder of fashion to help her classmates to improve their grades.
brand Fopé Oye. She is currently working on designing ‘One student got a first class degree and she was very
garments for Miss Junior South Africa, along with several happy about it,’ she says. ‘There is just such a satisfying
wedding dresses. feeling about being there for people when they need you.’
She is the course representative for the Internationalisation The sessions she managed were so successful that
of Economic Growth, sitting on a board which acts as a the university decided to start a mentoring programme,
liaison between LSE staff and over 200 students. which she was also instrumental in.
Finally, as ambassador for the Step into STEM Outside of unversity, Ogonnaya has also worked with and
programme, Esther works with Ericsson, BT, O2 and taught young children between the ages of three and five.
Vodafone on an initiative run by Girls Talk London to “This was also when I was doing my undergraduate
help encourage young women to explore a career in degree in Nigeria. This initiative, which was something
the STEM industries. like a daycare centre, ran programmes for kids to
Of her own outlook, Esther says she likes to do the right become more aware of themselves and to gain a certain
thing, giving back and doing the best in every situation. level of independence.’
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In a job I enjoy in trade finance, also a pioneer in some I hope to have helped my country, Nigeria, to move from
form of social mobility or mentorship scheme. where it is now to closer to where it needs to be.

OLABISI WILLIAMS, 23 DANIEL WEBSTER, 19

School: Lancaster University School: University of
Course: Management (MSc) Nottingham
Grade average: 2:1 Course: Finance Accounting &
First Degree: Biochemistry Management (BSc)
(BSc) at Covenant University, Year: First
Nigeria, 2:1 Grade average: First class

A challenging role as female chaplain of 7,500 fellow Despite some challenging family circumstances growing
students during her undergraduate degree in Nigeria taught up, Daniel has always been determined to achieve the best
Olabisi vital leadership skills – not least how to ensure the he possibly can. “It was a hard time for me, but I dedicated
emotional wellbeing of those in her care. myself to getting the best grades possible,” he says. “I
She racked up an incredible 400 hours counselling fellow wanted to put myself in a good position for the future.”
students over just two years, often staying up through To help support his studies, he works during holiday periods
the night to help those in need before heading off to as a Children’s Activity Instructor for kids aged five to 12 in
biochemistry lectures the following day. a local leisure centre. Having worked there since the age
Her leadership skills were also put to effective use while of 16, Daniel organises everything from football matches
working for a creative agency in Nigeria, before taking her to parachute games.
Master’s. Just two weeks into her job she approached her At university he has been selected to lead two academic
boss with proposals to overhaul the business. Impressed group tasks, including one devising a strategy to tackle
by her initiative, he offered her the role of Operations the issue of addiction and homelessness in Nottingham.
Manager, and by the end of her seven-month tenure she had His team’s idea, giving people job opportunities to allow
transformed the morale of staff and secured a deal that led them to branch out and gain more permanent
to a 30 per cent increase in revenue. employment, was presented to council chiefs and earned
For the future, she aspires to work for a company with big him first class grades.
ambitions, but whose corporate values are ethical. A keen sportsman, he captained the football first XI at
“There’s a lot of talk about modern slavery and I would like school. He is currently teaching himself how to trade in
the company I work for to take such things seriously.” stocks to try to earn his own income.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I would love to be a top executive in one of the major Retired, hopefully. I’d like to earn enough money so I can
fast-moving consumer goods firms. support my Mum, my Dad and my sister.

20 FUTURE LEADERS 10 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
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