If someone asked me to describe myself in three words, I'd say gritty, smart, and hardworking, as these are the cornerstones of my journey. The story I’m about to share isn’t one of instant success or overnight breakthroughs. It’s a story of patience, learning, and the courage to keep showing up, even when nothing seems to be working.

I didn’t follow a straight line into data. In fact, it took me nearly four years after graduation to land my first official tech role. But every twist, delay, and detour shaped the analyst I am today. 

So if you’re reading this hoping for a story that feels real and a little messy, welcome! You’re in good company.

Starting at Moniepoint 

After years of searching, applying, and learning, my first break came in March 2023, when I joined Moniepoint as a Business Analyst. That moment was a game-changer not just because it was my first official tech job, but because it placed me at the intersection of business, technology, and people.

In that role, I was tasked with gathering customer feedback, working with spreadsheets, and helping teams understand what users needed from our products. It was a lot of listening and learning, and I loved it.

Then, came a twist I didn’t expect.

From business analyst to data analyst 

My then-manager, Tobi Amira, casually introduced me to SQL, and everything changed. Shout-out to Tobi, who was concerned about everyone’s growth and showcased the growth and membership culture at Moniepoint. 

At the time, I had programming experience, but SQL was new territory for me. Still, something about it clicked. It combined logic, structure, and insight, all of which I deeply enjoy.

So I did what I’ve always done best: I got curious. I dove into online courses, watched hours of tutorials, examined internal queries, and started asking questions — a lot of them. I probably exhausted one particular teammate with all my “Why does this work?” and “What if we tried this?” questions, but I couldn’t help myself.

By January 2024, less than a year after joining, I officially switched to become a Data Analyst. This is a moment that still stands out as one of the highlights of my career. That promotion wasn’t just a title change. It was the world saying, “You belong here.”

What I actually do as a data analyst 

There’s a major misconception about what I do. People hear “data analyst” and instantly think, “Oh, you must create beautiful dashboards all day.” And yes, dashboards are part of the work. But the real magic happens long before anything visual is produced.

Being a data analyst means being a problem solver. You’re not just visualising data, you’re interrogating it. You’re asking hard questions, validating insights, confirming anomalies, and always thinking critically. You need more than one perspective; you need more than one lens. You need what I like to call “four eyes”, which is the ability to cross-check your work again and again before making decisions based on it.

Every dataset is a puzzle, and it’s my job to figure out what the numbers are trying to tell us. It means constantly asking: “Is this correct?”, “Why is this happening?” and “How does this align with the business goals?”

No two days are the same, and that’s what I love

One of the most exciting parts about my role? No day is ever the same.

Every time I sit down to work, there’s a new puzzle waiting for me. One day, it’s diving into loan repayment behaviour. Next, it’s solving a reconciliation mystery for a small business. The problems vary, and so do the approaches. It keeps me thinking, growing, and, honestly, excited.

I thrive on the fact that I’m constantly building something new, not in the physical sense, but in how we make sense of data. That’s what makes data analysis such an incredible field. It’s like classical music: intricate, layered, and logical. 

I often say that if my job had a theme song, it would be an instrumental score from a movie. It could be the song If You Believe - Patch Crowe & Strive to be. It’s the kind of music that helps you think deeply and stay in the zone.

How data drives financial inclusion (yes, even for the smallest businesses)

Working at Moniepoint means being part of something bigger - financial inclusion. Our mission is to make financial services accessible to everyone, especially small businesses that have been overlooked for too long. And I’m proud to say that my work plays a part in that mission.

Through data analysis, we can uncover key insights that inform business decisions. For example:

• We can identify which areas are underserved and need more investment.

• We can flag reconciliation issues, such as when a supermarket’s books indicate one thing, but our system shows a different result.

• We can track loan repayment behaviour and create safer, more inclusive lending strategies.

One surprising insight I’ve discovered? Many small businesses are afraid of loans, even though they can actually unlock huge opportunities for growth. There’s still a trust gap, and it’s something I hope we continue bridging through education, communication, and, of course, the right data.

If you’re just starting out, here’s what I want you to know

Don’t get discouraged by the noise and the stories of people who got their dream roles in three months or built their careers overnight. If you’re taking longer, that’s okay. I’m living proof that good things take time.

If you do your part, show up, stay consistent, and remain curious, you will get there. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one step at a time, you’ll build a story you’re proud of.

For now, you could check out our careers page. Your big break might just be waiting!