Black History Month: Kike Oniwinde
- Ife Adedoyin
- Oct 29, 2018
- 3 min read
Starting off our final Black History Month week is Kike Oniwinde! She founded and is CEO of BYP Network, the first network dedicated to young black professionals worldwide. They've just held their Diversity Recruitment Fair with 900 attendees, sold out the Summer Networking Event and are now working on a university ambassador/mentoring scheme. Kike is also a Great Britain international javelin thrower and she works in the fintech space!
Did you always know this was the career you wanted?
No, I didn’t have a clue that this would be the career I’d end up in! I originally started off as an athlete and had dreams of being world-class. However, I studied Economics at university and really enjoyed that. I got into investment banking, but I didn’t feel like it was the industry I wanted to work in, and they didn’t offer much flexibility for my javelin. I studied a management masters to see what else was out there. When I came back from the US after studying, I got into FinTech. Everyone was talking about it and I thought I might as well work in the industry of the future. Whilst I was there, that’s when I came up with the idea of the BYP Network – it was a mixture of all my past experiences.
What would you say is the most difficult thing about running a business?
The most difficult thing is knowing it never ends. You’re always running the business so you’re always busy. If I do rest, I have to catch up again. There’re always a million things to do but never enough time. For people who can work hard and who like to always be busy (I tend to be like this), it’s OK!
If you could go back in time, is there anything you would change about your career journey?
No, nothing I would change. Everything I’ve done has led me to where I am. My career journey has been short (2 years post-graduation) and been internships and graduate positions.
What's something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I can be quite dopey and clumsy at times! I’m super confident, super serious and super focused but I’m clumsy to the point where I laugh at myself! I think people would be surprised by that!
What is the most fulfilling part of your work?
Seeing the difference it makes to the community, and to many individuals who have benefited from being part of the network. Whether it’s meeting new people, finding mentors, or securing jobs, it makes me happy and makes me realise I’m doing the right thing. I want to keep driving it harder and bigger to change more lives.
What are you currently working on?
We are redeveloping our app and website. We’re working on partnerships with organisations and networks, and we’re focussed on a very special upcoming Christmas event!
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to look at current and future trends and work on those. It’s about looking at the clues to what is going to boom in 10 years’ time. Even at a young age, knowing that puts you in a great position. For example, now, everyone’s talking about AI, that’s the future, so it’s about getting into the technology and getting ahead of the game.
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