Her Story
About Mavis
My journey has been defined by perseverance and an unwavering commitment to personal growth. I started my undergraduate studies in Ghana in 2014 and completed my degree in 2017, but the path wasn't easy. I had to write exams five times before I could even enter university, and there was nobody to motivate me - it was all self-drive. After my undergraduate degree, I pursued my first master's in international banking and finance at Lingan University in Hong Kong from 2020 to 2021. I then came to the United States and obtained two master's degrees simultaneously from 2022 to 2024. Now I'm working on my fourth master's degree at Illinois State University, and I'm hoping to start a PhD soon, either in public policy with a focus on economic development or in economics. My core goal is not to stay in education permanently, but to go help develop developing countries through a governmental position where I can be a policymaker. Personal growth and integrity are the values most important to me. I've moved and developed myself through multiple degrees just to get where I'm going, and I think I'm not done. I don't want fame, but I want to make change in society and be an influence, be someone people can look up to, especially for young girls and women.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mavis
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to self-drive and never giving up, even when there's nobody to help you. Growing up, I had to write exams five times before I could enter university, and there was nobody to motivate me - it was all self-drive. I couldn't have gotten to this place if I just relented and said, 'Oh, there's nobody to help, and I don't have any drive, and there are no people to push me.' What kept me going was understanding that you have the world, and nobody can stop you. Success is not a straight route or a straight path. Sometimes it can be crooked, and sometimes you might not get people who would help you on the way, but what you can do is push yourself. You should have a self-drive, you should motivate yourself, and you can do whatever you want to get in this world.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to do what you want to do - whatever will get you to where you want to get to. Another piece of advice that really motivates me is: you have the world, nobody can stop you. So do whatever you do and get to the height you want to get to. This advice has been fundamental in keeping me going through all my challenges.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young ladies and young girls coming up is: don't give up. Success is not a straight route or a straight path. Sometimes it can be crooked, and sometimes you might not get people who would help you on the way, but what you can do is to push yourself. You should have a self-drive, you should motivate yourself. You can do whatever you want to get in this world. If you don't have anybody to help you, push yourself, and you will get to wherever you want to get to. I've been through a lot - I had to write exams five times before I could enter university, and there was nobody to motivate me. It was all self-drive. But I didn't give up, and that's what got me to where I am today.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are personal growth and integrity. Personal growth is very key to me because I've moved and developed myself in terms of goals - I've obtained a lot of degrees just to get where I'm going, and I think I'm not done. I just want to see myself get to the position that I want to get to. I want to be somebody who can influence a lot of people, a lot of girls. I don't want fame, but I just want to make change in the society and be an influence, be someone people can look up to. So personal growth is very important to me, along with integrity in everything I do.
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