“You have to put in your creative best—100% or nothing.” — Rachel
A Nigerian Immigrant’s Journey: Resilience, Reinvention, and Data
When Rachel moved from Nigeria to the UK in 2018, she arrived with two things: the sting of a failed bakery business and an unshakable determination to rebuild. Today, she’s a Senior Business Analyst at a top UK firm, a certified scuba diver, and a weekend baker—proof that immigrant stories aren’t just about survival but thriving against the odds.
In this candid conversation on The Immigrant Story, Rachel shares how she turned rejection into redirection, from selling sweets during the pandemic to mastering Python and landing a Tier 2 visa.
The Backstory: Why the UK?
The Failed Bakery That Changed Everything
- At 21, Rachel launched a bakery in Aba, Nigeria—her first entrepreneurial venture.
- When it collapsed a year later, she saw it as “divine redirection” toward an MBA.
- Got accepted into Kingston University without a degree submission—just her business portfolio.
The Cultural Shock & Hustle Mentality
- Worked as a caregiver nightshifts while studying.
- A coworker, Margaret (a data analyst), spotted her potential: “You’d be great at data—learn SQL!”
- Pandemic hit. No jobs. Started selling sweets to survive while upskilling in Python.
The Breakthrough: How She Landed Her First Data Job
The “Fake It Till You Make It” Gamble
- Taught herself Power BI, built a healthcare dashboard, and lied about having a work visa.
- Got hired on the spot by a Samsung contractor. “They offered £25k—I was earning £18k as a career. I took it!”
The Hustle Doesn’t Stop
- Promoted within a year by “showing up 110%”—a habit ingrained by her Nigerian father’s mantra:
“There’s always someone better. Outwork them.” - Transitioned to People Analytics, now leading data-driven strategies for a UK firm.
Rachel’s Golden Rules for Immigrant Success
1. “Your Hustle Must Have Direction”
- “During lockdown, I coded 2 hours daily. No distractions. Sacrifice short-term comfort for long-term gain.”
2. “Portfolio Over Papers”
- Her secret to job offers: Custom dashboards for every interview.
- “For my current role, I walked in with a HR analytics demo. They hired me without questions.”
3. “Network Like Your Visa Depends on It”
- Margaret (her caregiver coworker) became her career lifeline.
- Joined LinkedIn’s Data Science Central, studied others’ projects, and replicated their success.
4. “Never Sell Yourself Short”
- “As a Black African woman, mediocrity isn’t an option. I negotiate salaries aggressively.”
Beyond Data: Faith, Fitness, and Cupcakes
- Scripture as her compass: “Galatians 6:4–5 (MSG) pushes me to give ‘creative best’ in everything.”
- Scuba diver, gym rat, baker: Balances analytics with adventure (@callmerichie_sc).
- Tier 2 Visa Win: Celebrated by her friend Sam—“He taught me to celebrate small wins!”
Her Advice to Immigrants
“Luck = Preparation + God’s Grace. Dream big but wake up and grind. And always, ALWAYS bring a dashboard to interviews!”
Connect with Rachel:
- Instagram: @callmerichie_sc
- LinkedIn: Rachel Olaoye
Watch Her Full Episode: The Immigrant Story YouTube
Read More Stories:
- From Gurgaon to London: Sidra’s Immigrant Story of Resilience and Reinvention
- From Delta State to Canada: Kelly’s Blueprint for Immigrant Success
- From Global Brands to New Beginnings: Edeje Onwude’s Bold Career Pivot
- From Nigeria to the UK: Soore Olaoye’s Blueprint for Visa Success
#TheImmigrantStory #NigeriansInTheUK #CareerPivot #DataAnalytics #Tier2Visa
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