Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Oghenekome Igbogidi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Oghenekome, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

Thank you for this important question. From my perspective, the current education system places a significant emphasis on hard skills, such as programming languages, data sciences etc., while often overlooking the crucial soft skills like emotional intelligence and people management. These skills are essential for fostering leadership qualities and can profoundly influence students’ career trajectories and personal growth.

Growing up, STEM subjects were generally considered more suitable for boys, while girls were typically encouraged towards subjects like Literature or Accounting. This societal stereotype influenced my early educational choices, leading me to pursue a degree in Mass Communications. It wasn’t until I started working at an IT firm as an IT Career Counsellor that I recognized my passion for technology and the similar gender-based stereotypes existing within IT fields. For instance, Networking and Computer Hardware were seen as male-dominated, whereas Digital Marketing and Customer Relationship Management were viewed as more female-oriented.

This realization sparked a personal and professional transformation, leading me to launch a campaign called ‘STEM for Girls’ in 2017. Our goal was to dismantle these stereotypes by empowering young girls through ICT education. We partnered with my company to offer discounted training programs for girls, resulting in over 1,500 trained participants, with more than 92% passing international certification exams.

The success of this initiative highlighted the importance of creating an inclusive educational environment where every student, regardless of gender, can explore their interests freely and be supported without bias. Currently, I’m collaborating with community high schools in the DMV area to increase the percentage of girls in STEM fields further.

In the United States, women constitute about 28% of the STEM workforce, with similar disparities observed globally. This underrepresentation not only affects individual career paths but also hampers innovation by limiting diverse perspectives in tech development.

If we can integrate soft skills training into our education system and maintain a supportive, stereotype-free environment, we’ll not only prepare students for the workforce but also empower them to lead more fulfilling lives. This is crucial, especially as we continue to navigate the complexities of modern technologies and global challenges.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Oghenekome Kay Igbogidi. I am a Product Manager, Business Enthusiast, and an Educational Advocate deeply committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of eradicating hunger (SDG 2) and ensuring quality education for all (SDG 4). My career began with a foundation in Communications, followed by an MBA in Management and a Master’s in Information Technology. Currently, I lead a diverse team of Engineers, Designers, User Experience Researchers, Quality Engineers, Technical Writers, and Product Marketing specialists. Together, we develop cutting-edge technologies for enterprise-level companies.

Beyond my professional role, I am passionate about humanitarian efforts and advocacy. I spearhead a campaign through MyTribe Global, a Non-Profit organization that provides quality education and mentorship to young indigenous children in the United States and Jamaica.

I am also pioneering an AI platform designed to facilitate easier and faster access to African foods for the African diaspora in the United States. Despite the substantial population of African immigrants and international students in the US, many areas lack access to African markets. This platform revolutionizes how African expatriates shop for and receive their native foods, catering to a significant yet underserved demographic.

In addition to my tech endeavors, I have embarked on a journey in agriculture. Through the University of the District of Columbia’s Young Farmers Program, I am learning about farming practices in the US with a particular focus on cultivating African crops such as cassava and palm fruit. This initiative not only aims to reduce the costs associated with importing African foods but also seeks to create employment, support local production, and eventually enable the exportation of US-grown African foods.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the organic food sector is witnessing substantial growth, with increasing support for women in farming and agricultural technology. This aligns with my vision of integrating technology and agriculture to foster sustainability and efficiency.

As a woman in technology and agriculture, I aim to inspire young women to pursue their ambitions without constraints. I pride myself on being a tech expert in the Generative AI Product Management Ecosystem and an Agricultural Technologist, exemplifying the potential for interdisciplinary innovation and leadership.

Any advice for managing a team?

In my experience, managing a team effectively and maintaining high morale are intertwined with several key strategies. Firstly, I cannot stress enough the importance of clear and transparent communication. It’s crucial for keeping everyone aligned and making each team member feel included and valued.

Secondly, setting clear goals is fundamental. It gives your team a unified direction and purpose, which is essential for motivation and efficiency. Each member should understand how their individual role contributes to the larger objectives.

Recognition also plays a critical role. Celebrating achievements, both big and small, boosts morale and encourages a culture of appreciation and motivation. This can be through simple acts like acknowledging someone’s hard work in a team meeting, or more structured rewards.

Supporting professional growth is another key area. By investing in your team’s development, you’re not only enhancing their skills but also showing that you value their long-term career and personal growth. This builds loyalty and motivation.

Furthermore, it’s essential to foster a supportive culture that encourages collaboration rather than competition. A team that supports each other is stronger and more cohesive.

Work-life balance is another crucial aspect. Respecting personal time and boundaries prevents burnout and keeps morale high. As a leader, it’s important to lead by example in this regard.

I also believe in giving team members autonomy. This empowers them and encourages responsibility, which can lead to innovative thinking and increased job satisfaction.

Regular check-ins are vital for understanding individual experiences within the team, addressing any concerns, and reinforcing their contributions to the team’s success.

Finally, it’s important to address conflicts quickly and fairly. Effective conflict resolution maintains harmony and prevents negative sentiments from undermining team morale.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The journey to develop our AI platform for making African foods accessible in the United States has been a profound exercise in dedication and resilience. Although we are still in the pre-development phase, every step has been a testament to our commitment to see this vision come to life.

From the onset, I recognized the importance of understanding the agricultural side of our venture deeply. To do so, I enrolled in the University of the District of Columbia’s Young Farmers Program. This wasn’t just about gaining agricultural knowledge; it was about immersing myself in the very fabric of farming technology and sustainable practices that could be pivotal for our platform.

Additionally, entering the agricultural ecosystem opened doors to vital partnerships. We’ve been actively collaborating with farmers in Africa, learning from their experiences, and understanding the nuances of the supply chains that would be crucial for our platform. These partnerships are not just transactional; they are educational and transformational, allowing us to build a supply chain that is both efficient and culturally informed.

Building a team for this project has also been a critical focus. We are bringing together experts from diverse fields—technology, logistics, agriculture, and business development—to ensure that every aspect of the platform is geared towards excellence and sustainability.

This phase of our project might be rife with challenges—from technical development hurdles to navigating international agricultural regulations—but each challenge has only strengthened our resolve. It’s a learning process, and every lesson refines our strategy and brings us closer to our goal.

In essence, this journey hasn’t just been about building a platform; it’s been about building a bridge—connecting cultures, technologies, and people. The resilience required isn’t just mine but that of our entire team, fueled by a shared passion to make a meaningful impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mytribeglobal.org/
• Instagram: Kome Igbogidi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kome-igbogidi/