Everything Digital Tech and More

My headline is not a click bait. I truly didn’t.

A few months ago I finished my last paper for my MBA program.  O boy! adult education is truly not for small children. Its not really about the school work, its about juggling life’s commitments while studying. All ye my friends who have gone through this and didn’t give me the fine details, I am watching you in massive 3D. #youknowthyselves

A bit of background story. I got an opportunity to go back to school because 30percentclub gave me the chance to take this time out, sponsoring my Tuition 100% for school inclusive of my 2 months all expense exchange studying from the Dubai campus during the year long program. 30percentclub sponsors ladies across the globe into various business schools. As far as I know, somehow I happened to be the first African they have sponsored.  See the list of schools they work with here.

Dubai Night out.

But I would do it again if given the chance! (without the school work of course, lol)

They discuss the group task, I take the “Usfie”. Great Teamwork! 

Sometimes in class, we stop listening and take selfies  #noteverytimeserious

In the midst of the stress, was one of the best experiences, daily interaction with individuals who represent at least one nation in the various continents of the world. I had the privilege to be invited to some of their homes and  interact with their families.

Amber and I decided to discuss how to take over the world under a table and yes at a halloween party……lol.

 

The first child I have met who does not question you when you say NO! Well done mama…

Charlie’s Angels. Beautiful In and Out.

I am walking away from this experience with  many lessons but I would share my top 5:

1. You would think given my exposure I should not be carried away with the definition of people based on what the news dictates.  I am ashamed to say my knowledge of the men from the middle east has been what the media taught me over the years. But in the last one year three men from the middle east (and north Africa) from three different nations turned everything I knew upside down. These men were respectful, accommodating of others view and culture while maintaining/expressing their opinion, no airs just plain humility in most cases.  Is there some truth in what the media presents? Yes but  a few individuals can not in anyway explain the rest of the country!

My lesson: Interact with people first hand before you decide what they are.

Half of my United Nations Class. A very diverse mix.

2. Define people as individuals not by the country they are from aka Stereotyping: The country you come from is only a form of identification, explains your culture and sometimes your perspective  to life. It does not define you. If you happen to meet a nasty individual it has nothing to do with their country of origin, that Individual is Nasty not everyone from that country. Se fini.

My number 1 lesson buttresses this. I know better now to meet people and get to KNOW them.

The Formular 1 Team. Thats my story and I am sticking to it!

3. Have individuals within your network that would call out your nonsense: Towards the end of the course I did something quite unlike me. I was in the mood of “I don’t have time for nonsense today”.  Looking back now, what I had done didn’t show any maturity really. But while everyone hailed me on and called me bold, one person waited two weeks after to call me out during a private conversation and give me a very Polite tongue lashing. (I think this stuck because it was polite yet firm)

Off shoot of the above: Before you respond to a certain situation, spare a few seconds to think about the message you are sending to the witnesses.  My polite tongue lasher said to me “while I understand the reason for your action, the message you sent  to all of us was your unwillingness to work with a diverse, different characters  & Multicultural team”. Like my Nigerian peeps would say “the thing pain me”.

Somehow I think this was my greatest lesson.

I was a clothing  model for a charity event. lawd! Somebody help me be size 12!

4. Every interaction with others is an  opportunity to build long term relationship. I knew this from years ago but somehow my experience in the last one year buttressed this lesson. 80% of the time, to make that major stride in business, career etc we need the network of people we know or persons that know us. Make every interaction with others count, make it an opportunity to leave a positive impact.

Another offshoot – Respect everyone! Not just the people in authority, I am talking about everyone including the bus driver, the cleaners, the handyman etc. I look back now and I realise some of the greatest help I got was from individuals who held no “important” position.

Girls day out!

Nigeria and Taiwan

5. Don’t spend too much time focusing on the things that didn’t go right. My experience was not rosy, people let me down, a number of  unfulfilled promise etc but guess what? I choose to leave the Adult Education experience remembering only good stuff and good people.

Final note – Adult education is really not about being the best student in class (if you choose to be there in person), it’s a time to build a network across nations within and outside your class. If you decide to go on an adult education journey, 50% of your time should be for school the remaining 50 for exploring, creating new experiences and meeting new people. Not sure I did so well with the 50% outside of class.

I am grateful for the experience. I am grateful for the interaction and more importantly I am grateful for the new set of individuals I can call friends.

 

What next? Yep you guessed right, I would be focusing on building Our Nuptial Chest and the next level of my career in the digital space. #Wekeepmoving!

 

 

You are here so let me tell you about the Cash Gift Registry for newlyweds.

Our Nuptial  chest  is helping every couple receive cash gifts from their friends/family. If you are getting married or know someone who is, then send  them over to OurNuptialChest!