International Courant
When Bibian Chinenye Pius-Urum When she walked by the gates of the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Regulation College in November 2016, she had no concept that she can be pursuing a budding profession in know-how sooner or later in her life. Bibian, then 22 years outdated, had solely graduated in regulation from Ebonyi State College (EBSU) Abakaliki just a few months earlier. She had not traveled a lot and her short-term ambition was to turn out to be the primary lawyer in a household of eight sisters.
Nevertheless, Bibian’s skilled journey has unfolded in a whirlwind method. After graduating with honors from the Nigerian Regulation College in 2017, she joined Aina Blankson LP, one of many main regulation corporations in Nigeria, and inside just a few months moved from the Abuja workplace to the agency’s headquarters in Lagos. However she made a stunning determination when, within the warmth of the worldwide pandemic in early 2020, she handed in her letter of resignation, whereas the remainder of the world was panicking about having to go inside, and left to start out her follow, which she Bibian talked about. Urum Act (BUL).
In late 2021, simply over 18 months into her nascent solo run, Bibian determined to redefine her future when she efficiently utilized to review Utilized AI and Knowledge Analytics on the College of Bradford, England. Within the last months of her grasp’s diploma, she enrolled within the Cisco incubator program as one in all 40 contributors from 17 nations, and early this yr, after greater than 230 unsuccessful job functions at varied firms, she went by an extended recruitment course of to get into the to come back to blows. within the Genative Synthetic Intelligence crew at one of many world’s largest monetary establishments. She is now dedicated to mentoring younger Nigerian girls who need to make the transition to know-how.
On this interview with Ventures Africa, Bibian begins her journey as a younger feminine lawyer in Nigeria, transitions to a brand new profession and builds her portfolio as a lady of colour within the UK.
What prompted the daring determination to depart the thriving regulation agency the place you labored?
I believe I needed one thing completely different for myself. Working in a metropolis like Lagos did not give me a lot time to do different issues. Since I labored very intently with the agency’s managing companion, this meant I needed to work across the clock. I barely had time for the rest and since I labored from residence it was assumed I had nothing else to do.
I additionally needed to attempt to broaden, and I noticed a chance when it introduced itself. I all the time thought regulation corporations needed to be bodily; you arrange an workplace, there have to be senior attorneys who’re not less than 10 years outdated, after which you could have workers. However the pandemic confirmed me that you can do something from residence, and I assumed that since I already had a giant social media following, I might simply make the most of that and begin my very own factor. At first I solely had a service handle. I began with simply my laptop computer and two folks.
Then issues bought higher and I confirmed myself that you may follow your occupation anyplace, even in a society like Nigeria that’s not used to unconventional kinds of authorized follow. It was additionally a chance for me to mentor small companies. I’ve created a platform the place small companies can entry authorized providers with out really having to spend some huge cash consulting massive regulation corporations.
Bibian Chinenye Pius-Urum
The transition from laws to utilized AI is a crucial pivotal level. What was that turning level that influenced your determination? Have been there information lights? What motivated you to make the leap?
I am a little bit of a stressed individual, and I battle once I get too snug. Issues had been going properly at my regulation agency, and it began to get to a degree the place I began to get bored as a result of all the things I needed to do already had a precedent and I wasn’t studying a lot. So I considered doing one thing in an space that might be more difficult.
There may be additionally the problem that the regulation could be very restrictive in follow as a result of it’s jurisdictional. As a lawyer in Nigeria, I can’t merely open a regulation agency within the UK with out passing the qualifying exams right here. However as a knowledge analyst you’ll be able to apply these onerous expertise anyplace on the earth. If I resolve to maneuver to Australia or Canada, I do not need to undergo the qualification course of to follow regulation there. Folks discuss know-how making some huge cash, however for me it was by no means about cash. I simply needed one thing that might be extra enjoyable, and up to now I’ve gotten that.
You entered the Cisco Incubator amid stiff competitors. What was your largest lesson, and the way intense was this system?
It was fairly intense. It was a four-month program the place they taught you all the things about pc networking, amongst different issues, and on the finish of this system you needed to apply to get a job. Getting in was fairly tough. I had three phases of interviews inside six months and the ultimate interview was a three-phase course of the place I created a presentation, a motivational and strength-based interview, and a task play.
This system concerned lots of technical studying, and I mixed it with learning. However I loved the method and my largest lesson is the significance of studying what you might be fitted to and what simply does not give you the results you want. Throughout this system I delved into AI, Knowledge Analytics, Laptop Networking and Cloud options, so I used to be in all places directly and spreading myself approach too skinny.
You then bought a job at one of many largest banks on the earth a number of rejections. What makes recruitment in Britain completely different from the method at residence?
I submitted over 230 functions and acquired over 120 direct rejections. My pal taught me it was a numbers sport; I needed to take a number of pictures if I needed to get my dream job. Recruitment within the UK is completely different as a result of I did not face the unfairness I might have confronted had I been in Nigeria. I’m 29 and have over six years of expertise as a lawyer, so there’s a likelihood that the majority firms in Nigeria wouldn’t have employed me as a result of I’m over 26, which I imagine is the higher restrict for graduate positions.
I additionally utilized for extremely technical positions with none technical background. Although I’ve a grasp’s diploma, I’ve no technical expertise, so firms had been prepared to hearken to me, see what I needed to provide, and learn the way I would slot in there. The corporate I at present work with values it
distinctive and I’m completely different in so some ways: I’m a black girl, I’ve a regulation diploma and I’ve had expertise engaged on one other continent, so I introduced a brand new perspective to the crew. In order that was what I used to be attempting to promote to the businesses I used to be interviewing with.
I’ll all the time choose the UK recruitment course of as right here it looks like they’re attempting that will help you get the job. They’re going to ship you particulars of what your subsequent job interview will appear to be and supply hyperlinks that will help you put together for it. They’re going to even inform you who you will be interviewing so you’ll be able to go verify them out.
What has it been like, from a authorized background, as a ‘Tech Sis’ and girl of colour in Britain?
I work with an important crew and my line supervisor is all the time there to assist. I believe the one factor I’ve observed is that my crew is kind of white, and typically once I’m engaged on the ground, folks see me and switch away. I do not see many black folks round, and I do know illustration is essential. Nevertheless, I do know that I’m not only a variety rent, I’m right here as a result of I’ve one thing to supply. Regardless, I all the time attempt to put my finest foot ahead in order that when one other black girl reveals up, they too are thought-about, particularly if the group sees that I’ve carried out properly sufficient to get them extra seats create on the desk. .
You have tried to pay it ahead by providing mentorship to Nigerian girls seeking to get into tech. What do you suppose might be improved in regards to the alternatives and pathways for Nigerian expertise?
I’ve created a WhatsApp group the place younger Nigerian girls who need to go into tech talk about their challenges, after which give tips about the appropriate steps they’ll take. I do that as a result of throughout my job interview I needed I had somebody to show me the ropes. When it comes to alternatives for rising expertise, I believe we have to have extra communities of Nigerians who’re prepared to assist folks be the perfect they are often. While you join somebody, that is one individual’s life you made higher. There are folks right here who do not even imagine white collar jobs are for us, after which I inform them I bought three job provides earlier than graduating from Bradford. There must be somewhat change in mindset amongst Nigerians, particularly those that migrate to first world nations; folks want to grasp that this stuff are attainable. Should you put within the effort, optimistically you’ll get no matter you need. Simply know that there are greater than sufficient choices for everybody
How Bibian Chinenye Pius-Urum left the authorized occupation for a extra versatile profession in AI and information analytics
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