Her Story
About Adesola
I've been a business analyst for about 4 years now, currently working as a PEGA business analyst specializing in automation. We streamline manual processes to automated processes using PEGA solutions. In my role, I work with stakeholders as well as the technical team to ensure this is done effectively. I take high-level requirements from the stakeholders, understand the as-is process and the to-be process, and the solution they want to have. I give this information to the technical team, we draft a solution or design together, and we achieve that and automate the process. My journey into IT was unconventional. Since I was a child, I've always wanted to be in HR because I loved having the experience with people and creating direct solutions to people. I did global affairs in undergrad, then HR management in my master's. While working at La Quinta, they upgraded one of our systems, the Cinexis system to Cinexis Hub. I was one of the stakeholders who had to give information to the technical team that did the upgrade. That experience of talking to a BA and the technical team broadened my understanding for software development, and I felt it was a challenge to me. I challenged myself that I could do it, and because I gave myself that challenge, I couldn't get over it. So I went to school for it, then got an internship with a company, and after my internship, I stayed working with TISTA. I currently work for TISTATech, and my future goal is to move into consultation, specifically HR automation. I want to streamline the manual processes for HR teams, helping companies follow policies and manage things like payroll and benefits. My goal is to consult for multiple companies in an AI firm to streamline human resource workload into one system where every company can use it.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Adesola
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute my success to my upbringing and the challenges I faced. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to a middle-class family, so I did not experience hardship as an average Nigerian in Nigeria, but my hardship started when I actually came to America for my undergraduate degree. Unfortunately, my father was diagnosed with lymphoma, and by God's grace, he survived. But the period of which he was diagnosed was the hardest because all of the financial safety that I had was taken away from me without warning. I had to go from someone that had everything that she wanted to someone that didn't have anything, not even being able to pay her school fees. I had to pick up the stuff and learn immediately. In college, I had at least 5 jobs at the same time. Having to learn that quickly challenged me that I could actually do more than I thought I could. I paid my way through school myself after my first year, and I also had to figure out my housing and board. Being put in those situations broadened my resiliency and made me realize that I could do more than I think I could. When you don't have the experience to challenge yourself, and you finally do, and you feel like you can actually break through all of these things, you start seeing yourself with more esteem. The low self-esteem part of you goes away, and the opportunity to push yourself more comes in. Having experienced all of that pushed me and made me realize that I could do more, I could be more. I could persevere, I can diversify, I can be in any situation and come out of it stronger, and that's my superpower.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say, this is unconventional, but I would say love. I think one person can have all the knowledge in the world, but if the passion or the love for it is not there, it will feel routine-ish. I believe that if you love something, you want to be the best at it, regardless of the thing. And being the best at it means you want to make sure you get all the certification, you want to make sure that every policy that comes, every automation, or every change in the system, you want to be on top of it. For me, love is not a feeling. Love is you've done the work, you've looked at it, you've put yourself in that situation, and you realize that this is something that you enjoy doing. So you've done the work, you've done the homework, and you've understood that this is something that you can do and do for a really long time. That's something I'll tell someone going into the field - just have the love for it and get as much certification as you can. Be willing to give your time and experiences without, even if money wasn't a factor, would you be willing to give your time and experiences for what you're doing? I think that's what I would tell a young woman going into HR or IT.
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