From Human Anatomy to Corporate Tech: Johnson Akintoye’s Inspiring Immigrant Journey in the UK

Welcome back to The Immigrant Stories, where we decode the real, unfiltered journeys of individuals who have crossed borders to build a better life. In this episode, host Samuel Ukeke sits down with Johnson Akintoye, a Data Analyst at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and the founder of Growth Tribe, a supportive community empowering immigrants through mutual assistance and guidance.

Johnson’s story is a masterclass in adaptability. It proves that your undergraduate degree does not dictate your future, and that with strategic planning, relentless hustle, and the right community, you can successfully pivot into a highly lucrative field like tech.

The Pivot: From Human Anatomy to Applied AI

Like many Nigerian students, Johnson’s initial path was dictated by parental expectations: he wanted to study Medicine. When he didn’t meet the cut-off mark, he was offered a degree in Human Anatomy instead.

He pushed forward, graduating with an Upper Credit degree. However, upon entering the Nigerian job market, he quickly realized that the prospects for Anatomy graduates were limited. Driven by a desire for a more lucrative and dynamic career, he began exploring the tech industry. A friend introduced him to digital analytics, website design, and Google Search Analytics, sparking a newfound interest in data.

The breakthrough came when Johnson stumbled upon a revelation online: UK universities offer “conversion courses” specifically designed for students with non-tech bachelor’s degrees to transition into technology.

Skeptical at first, he emailed the dean at Teesside University to verify. The response was encouraging: as long as he had a bachelor’s degree and the determination to learn, he was eligible to apply.

The Golden Ticket: The “Office for Students” Scholarship

Funding a master’s degree in the UK is a major hurdle, but Johnson’s strategic research paid off. He secured the Office for Students (OfS) scholarship, an initiative championed by the late Queen Elizabeth II to support international students.

Key Details of the Scholarship:

• Target Audience: Specifically designed for students with non-tech backgrounds (e.g., history, economics, sociology, or in Johnson’s case, anatomy) who want to convert to tech courses. (Computer science graduates are not eligible).
• Coverage: Initially covering 80% of tuition, it has since been expanded to cover full tuition fees for eligible conversion courses (though students still cover their own accommodation and living expenses).

This scholarship allowed Johnson to enroll in the MSc in Applied Artificial Intelligence at Teesside University, despite having never written a single line of code in his life.

The Hustle: Balancing Studies, Odd Jobs, and Unpaid Experience

Johnson is the first to admit that his journey was not all “rosy.” Arriving in the UK in 2020, right in the wake of the pandemic, he faced a harsh economic reality. To cover his living expenses, he took on multiple “odd jobs” that many might overlook:

• Domiciliary Care Worker: Waking up early, even in the snow, to support patients in their homes with medication.
• Council Cleaner: Registering with the Middlesbrough Council to work as a professional cleaner.
• Agency Shifts: Picking up warehouse and support shifts through local agencies.

“Experience doesn’t pay the bills, but those odd jobs taught me how to work in the UK. I learned how to be professional, how to work with people of different races and descents, and how to navigate corporate dynamics. Those transferable skills are what I carry into the corporate world today.” — Johnson Akintoye

Prioritizing Experience Over Immediate Pay

Johnson understood that UK employers value local experience. He strategically took on two crucial unpaid/low-paid roles to build his portfolio:

1. Graduate Student Assistantship: He proactively emailed a lecturer at Teesside University, offering to support research and teaching without requiring a salary. This gave him his first official UK title as a “Data Analyst.”
2. Commonwealth Games Volunteer: He volunteered for the Commonwealth Games (a major multi-sport event held every four years). While his profile initially matched him for airport visitor welcoming, he proactively offered to filter and clean operational data to improve the welcoming process, seamlessly blending his volunteer spirit with his data skills.

Breaking into Corporate Tech: The 10,000 Black Interns Program

After mastering Power BI and Machine Learning (teaching himself Python and Java from scratch to earn a Distinction in his master’s), Johnson needed a foothold in the corporate world.

He discovered the 10,000 Black Interns program, a diversity initiative dedicated to placing Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) talent into top UK corporations.

Through this program, Johnson was matched with Marks & Spencer, where he secured an internship as a Product Analyst in the technology team.

The Corporate Culture Shock:
Transitioning from odd jobs and academia to a major corporate retailer was jarring. Johnson faced intense competition from younger interns, high expectations due to his master’s degree, and a steep learning curve in corporate communication (e.g., professional email etiquette). He openly shared his struggles with his housemate (and podcast host, Samuel), realizing that adapting to the UK corporate culture was a massive hurdle in itself.

The Present: Data Analyst at Coca-Cola & Founding “Growth Tribe”

Today, Johnson’s persistence has paid off. He works as a Data Analyst at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, where he uses data to inform critical business decisions and optimize sales operations—a far cry from the anatomy labs of his past.

But Johnson’s vision extends beyond his own career. Recognizing a critical problem in the immigrant community—people growing separately and struggling in silos—he founded Growth Tribe.

What is Growth Tribe?
It is an informal, highly supportive community (accessible via group chat and networking events) where immigrants can:

• Chitchat and share real-time experiences.
• Bring problems to the table for joint, collaborative solutions.
• Network without discrimination.
• Foster a “growth mindset” to help each other reach greater heights.

Navigating Culture Shock: A Nigerian’s Perspective

Johnson candidly shared the cultural adjustments he faced moving from Lagos to the UK:

1. The Quietness: As an introvert, he paradoxically found the quietness of the UK isolating compared to the vibrant, built-in social environment of Nigeria.
2. Communication and Respect: In Nigerian culture, absolute respect (using “Sir,” “Brother,” etc.) is paramount. In the UK, he learned that respect is earned rather than automatically given through titles, and that communication is much more direct.
3. Academic Systems: The UK’s independent, self-driven educational style required a major mental shift from the structured system he was used to.

Johnson’s Golden Advice for the Immigrant Community

When asked for his ultimate piece of advice for fellow immigrants, Johnson’s answer was immediate and powerful:

“Find your people.”
“I don’t mean you should stay away from people of other backgrounds. I mean find like-minded people. Every success I’ve shared today is a result of people I’ve met, talked with, and learned from. In a society that is different from what you know, you need your people to support and drive you toward your goals.”

What Drives Him?
Johnson is currently pursuing his MBA, continuing his upward trajectory. His driving force? A deep-seated passion to never be ordinary. Supported by his parents, his benchmark is to always do more than the generation before him, ensuring that his children will pick up the baton from an even higher starting line.