Issue 002 - Meet Joseph Ojo
Domain knowledge is often overlooked but is absolutely essential.
Meet Joseph Ojo, a driven and insightful Data Engineer at Nomba, who has carved out an impressive career through a combination of mentorship, self-advocacy, and an unwavering passion for technology.
From his early inspiration from a mentor to his dedication to both software and cloud engineering, Joseph has developed a unique approach to data that seamlessly blends technical prowess with real-world application. His journey is marked by resilience, adaptability, and a focus on continuous growth—whether it’s fostering data-driven decision-making in his team or advocating for himself during critical career moments.
Dive into this interview to discover how Joseph’s mentorship-fueled learning and hands-on approach have shaped his career, while also offering valuable insights for aspiring data professionals.
Q1: What inspired you to pursue a career in data, and how has your motivation evolved over time?
A: A mentor (Richie) inspired me to pursue a career in data. Initially, I was drawn to the field because of his influence and the opportunities in it.
Over the years, my motivation has evolved as I've found that data engineering strikes the perfect balance between software engineering and cloud engineering—two areas I'm passionate about.
Q2: How do you foster a culture of data-driven decision-making within your team or organization?
A: By focusing on three core pillars:
Building reliable data infrastructure with clear documentation and the right governance policies.
Providing role-specific training to build confidence in data usage
Measuring adoption through usage metrics.
I feel the key is balancing technical enablement with cultural change while ensuring data quality and accessibility
Q3: What role does mentorship play in your career, and how have mentors influenced your journey?
A: Mentorship has been crucial to my career development in two key ways:
First, through direct and indirect guidance, an example was when a mentor helped me realised my strengths aligned perfectly with data engineering. They saw the potential I hadn't recognized in myself and guided me toward this specialization.
Second, through hands-on learning, I've been fortunate to work under technical managers who actively shared their knowledge. They challenged me with increasingly complex projects and provided guidance when I struggled.
Now, I try to pay it forward by mentoring junior data professionals, which has become equally rewarding and continues my own learning journey
Q4: Can you reflect on a setback in your data career and what you learned from it?
A: My biggest lesson is the importance of self-advocacy and recognizing your value. Early in my career, I undervalued my skills until a situation where I had to negotiate for a role I wanted.
By networking with peers in similar roles and understanding industry standards, I gained the confidence to present my achievements and secure better opportunities after that. This taught me that advocating for yourself is crucial for career growth
Q5: What are some key skills that are often overlooked in your field of data?
A: Domain Knowledge. This cannot be stressed enough. Domain knowledge is often overlooked but is absolutely essential.
Q6: What are some common misconceptions about your role or field?
A: In my experience, I haven’t encountered any misconceptions as most people are just learning about data roles. The closest thing to misconception is people confusing it with Data Analysis when they're actually quite different roles with distinct responsibilities.
Q7: What resources (books, courses, tools) do you recommend for people to level up their skills?
A: My recommendations typically depend on someone's current skill level. For beginners, I recommend starting with structured learning through platforms like DataCamp or DataQuest or BootCamps like CoreDataEngineering or DataTalks. For others, I recommend focusing on projects, attending specialized workshops, and contributing to open-source projects, as these are the most rewarding.
Personally, I level up by reading many medium articles, following conversations in data-focused communities, and watching videos of meetups and conferences.
Key Takeaways:
Mentorship's Impact: Mentorship played a crucial role in Joseph’s career development, helping him accelerate his skills and knowledge in the data engineering field through hands-on tasks and challenges.
Self-Advocacy is Key: Joseph’s experience with negotiating for better remuneration highlights the importance of recognizing your worth and standing firm in advocating for what you deserve.
Domain Knowledge: Joseph emphasizes that domain knowledge is an essential, often overlooked skill in data engineering, crucial for adding context and value to technical work.
Continuous Learning: Joseph levels up his skills by consuming content through Medium articles, participating in data-focused communities, and watching videos of meetups and conferences, proving that continuous learning is vital for staying ahead in the fast-paced world of data.
To connect with Joseph and learn more about his experiences, feel free to reach out to him on LinkedIn at Joseph Ojo.
Best,
Ayoade Adegbite
Creator of Behind the Data
Thanks for sharing, I learned so much from your profile and advice. Well done. Keep up the good work.
Nice and inspiring, nice to meet you Joseph 😊