Oluwafunmilayo lade

I'll say my mom. Growing up, I saw her do the extraordinary, things that women may not do. I saw her fit into those shoes, and it's just one reason I want to be like her. She passed about 20 years ago, but her legacy still remains. I tend to do things that people go, what's happening? How do you know how to do that? So I learned from the best and I keep that legacy on.

I've had managers at work who push you when you strive hard to just get that recommendation. It might be a bit tight, but I've noticed that those are the places where growth actually comes from, from your discomfort. Then you begin to grow, and when they see you during your next appraisal, they're like, what? What happened? How did you get this? Those have been my mentors, the ones who pushed me out of my comfort zone, because that's where real growth happens.

I just tell her not to be afraid. There are going to be a lot of obstacles, but she should not be afraid to grow, to be flexible, because I've transitioned from positions where it was hard for women to fit in. Not only did I get into those fields, I did well, and I'm extending into other fields. At a point in your career, you may have so much knowledge and you don't know how to tie it together. I would say, just calm down. Put your skills together, the things you've achieved, and see what direction it's going, and this will help you navigate the next step in life. Don't give up, because there's a lot of walls built against women. There are people who have the ideas that we should be in the kitchen, not in the forefront of technology and innovations. But never give up. I just keep striving, because I know that one day you get to somebody who would appreciate the things that you've done.

With AI coming up, a lot of people just don't know what to do and they're in the dark. We do have a lot of fear about it. But I feel things will be okay. It's about positioning yourself, not just saying it will be okay, but getting knowledge that you might use to make an exchange. I see myself like a trailblazer, trying to light the lamp so that people can see and understand how to navigate this new landscape.

Growth is one of my most important values. I take on roles and I want to make things better. It's not just that I'm doing the work, but when people begin to see the impact, that gives me so much joy. I also value teaching and helping others. I love teaching, and I want to encourage more women and help people who are in the dark about technology and AI. I see myself as a trailblazer, trying to light the lamp so that people can see. Having a community of women is so important to me, because that's how we tend to raise ourselves and give ourselves shoulders to lie on. I also value the legacy my mom left me, doing extraordinary things and fitting into shoes that women may not typically fill.