9ja no dey carry last, and Dr Ejindu Iwelu is the definition of that.

From a family in Port Harcourt, through UNIPORT, to investment banking in Nigeria, India, the Netherlands and the UK, to a PhD from Anglia Ruskin University (Cambridge), research presented at Harvard, and now Senior Lecturer at Westminster Business School. This is what Naija excellence looks like.

In Episode 10 of the Rash4Christ Podcast, I sat down with Dr Ejindu Iwelu for one of the most raw, educational, and spiritually grounding conversations we’ve had on this show.

TOPICS WE COVERED:

•How a Port Harcourt boy ended up working in banks across 4 continents

•What banking in India taught him is that Nigeria’s financial sector hasn’t learnt yet

•The real reason he left a comfortable banking salary to start a PhD, and what his family thought

•How to survive and thrive as a Black Nigerian in predominantly white UK institutions

•Why African brands haven’t produced a Nike or Apple yet and what needs to change

•Branding advice for Nigerian athletes before their careers end•How to build your professional brand with zero budget (for Naija entrepreneurs)

•What God’s direction actually feels like when you’re at a career crossroads

•His salvation message for anyone chasing success but still feeling empty inside Timecodes

01:16 – Welcome and Introduction

02:05 – Meet Dr Ejindu Iwelu

03:27 – Dr Ejindu’s journey from the beginning

04:07 – Starting life

05:26 – Dream of becoming

06:03 – Academia

06:26 – University of Port Harcourt

06:41 – After Youth Service

07:01 – Cultural background and global journey

08:51 – Fitting in any environment

12:46 – Study motivation

13:56 – Marketing in Uniport

14:51 – International marketing

16:36 – Culture in Marketing

17:27 – Comparison between banking in India and Africa

18:30 – Corporate Valuation

19:00 – Financial modelling

19:40 – Experience in different business models

21:55 – What is marketing

26:16 – Transitioning into Academia

30:05 – Risk31:45 – Money and finance

33:30 – Pray

34:00 – Certification in Banking

38:10 – Challenges in Banking

42:30 – Challenges faced by Africans and how to handle them

46:07 – Winning a prize at Cambridge

49:27 – Mindset

50:47 – Managing burnout with multiple roles

55:35 – Describing my faith journey

58:30 – Relationship with God

01:02:44 – Balancing ambition and faith

01:04:02 – Success

01:13:41 – Love

01:19:02 – Common mistakes businesses make

01:25:58 – Rule No.1 in business

01:26:27 – Other rule of business

01:29:39 – Things to consider before investing in any business

01:38:27 – Financial habits

01:38:49 – Investment

01:44:00 – Covid in the UK

01:48:36 – Capital is not enough, you need knowledge

01:51:12 – Business school and business world

01:56:18 – What is branding?

01:05:52 – Hurdles stopping local brands from becoming global

02:08:58 – Advice to aspiring young individuals

02:12:56 – Importance of mentorship

02:15:05 – Dr Ejindu’s approach to networking

02:22:30 – Career transitioning

02:26:04 – Building a brand as an athlete

02:33:18 – What’s next after so many achievements

02:35:29 – Salvation message to unbelievers

02:38:09 – Closing Remark

Follow Dr. Ejindu Iwelu on Instagram: dr_ejindu_iweluShop

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