Issue 012 - Meet Adedamola Onabanjo
I’ve been fortunate to have incredible managers who, without explicitly being mentors, have guided me with their experience and insights.
Meet Adedamola Onabanjo, a dynamic and resourceful BI Manager at Kuda. With an unconventional journey that began in international law, Adedamola found her calling in the world of data after an IT internship sparked her interest in streamlining processes.
Her persistence and determination helped her transition from a non-STEM background to becoming a highly skilled data professional who now drives impactful BI strategies at her organization.
Adedamola is a firm believer in mentorship. She values the guidance she’s received and is committed to mentoring the next generation of data professionals.
What role does mentorship play in your career, and how have mentors influenced your journey?
I’ve been fortunate to have incredible managers who, without explicitly being mentors, have guided me with their experience and insights. They’ve influenced my technical and soft skills, shaped my approach to work, and opened doors I hadn’t considered.
This year, I decided to actively seek mentorship to further my career and to give back by mentoring others in the data community.
Seeing the impact my guidance has had on my mentees has been incredibly rewarding and has inspired me to engage more with mentors myself.
How do you foster a culture of data-driven decision-making within your team or organization?
I follow a three-pronged approach:
Leadership Buy-In: I demonstrate the value of data through examples that align with strategic goals, securing resources and commitment from leadership.
Accessibility: I break down information silos, provide user-friendly tools, and offer training to empower teams to understand and use data effectively.
Collaboration and Communication: By fostering open discussions around data insights, I ensure that data is not just accessible but also actionable, driving better decisions across the organization.
If you have a recommendation for who we should be speaking to, or who you would like to see in this interview series, reply with their names, data specialty, and how we can reach them (LinkedIn, Email, Phone, X Handle)
Can you reflect on a setback in your data career and what you learned from it?
Early in my career, I often started projects without a clear strategy, mistaking enthusiasm for planning. One such project involved analyzing a massive dataset without defined objectives. I spent months on analyses that didn’t address core business questions.
This taught me the importance of setting measurable goals, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and regularly assessing progress. Now, every project begins with a roadmap that outlines milestones and success metrics, ensuring my efforts align with meaningful outcomes.
What do you love outside of data?
I enjoy watching movies, particularly thrillers.
What are some key skills that are often overlooked in your field of data?
While technical skills are essential, critical thinking and analytical abilities are often undervalued. It’s not enough to manipulate data; you need to understand the “why” behind it.
Asking insightful questions, challenging assumptions, and connecting the dots between different data points unlock meaningful insights and avoid misleading conclusions.
These skills elevate data professionals from simply reporting numbers to driving strategic decision-making.
What resources (books, courses, tools) do you recommend for people to level up their skills?
For women, joining groups like Data Angels can be incredibly beneficial, while everyone can gain value from communities like Young Data Professionals. Podcasts like Data Talks and their newsletter are great for staying updated.
For those interested in data storytelling, I highly recommend Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic. It’s an excellent resource for learning how to communicate insights effectively.
Can you discuss a project where data insights led to unexpected outcomes or revelations?
We launched a new commission scheme for B2B sellers on our e-commerce platform, anticipating a dip in engagement but preparing to counter it with an expanded product range. Surprisingly, we saw a surge in churn among loyal customers who were notified about the commission changes.
Upon deeper analysis, we found the issue wasn’t the commission but unmet shipping SLAs. Sellers were frustrated by delays affecting their businesses. We responded by optimizing logistics, improving transparency, and compensating for SLA breaches. This not only reduced churn but also attracted new sellers, showcasing the power of data in uncovering hidden pain points.
An SLA (Service Level Agreement) is a contract that defines the services a provider will deliver, including performance expectations and responsibilities.
Example: If you use an internet service, the SLA might state that the provider guarantees 99.9% uptime. This means your internet should be available almost all the time, and if not, you might get compensation.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your approach to data?
One pivotal moment was discovering dbt and its capabilities for simultaneous collaboration, version control, and batch processing. It showed me the fine line between data analytics and data engineering.
In my first month using dbt, I was brimming with ideas to enhance my team’s data warehouse while leveraging new skills I hadn’t fully mastered yet. Nearly three years later, I’ve gained engineering expertise I never thought I’d need during my transition into data.
I first met Adedamola at one of our dbt events in Lagos last year, where she delivered an incredible talk on Unlocking the Power of Incremental Models in dbt Cloud: A Cost-Effective Strategy. Her insights were truly inspiring, and that moment marked the beginning of her being a valuable influence in my career. Here’s a photo of us together!😊😊😊
What inspired you to pursue a career in data, and how has your motivation evolved over time?
I needed a career that was both challenging and fulfilling. Coming from an international law background, I initially planned to attend law school. However, six months after graduation, I landed a job as an IT Intern, which opened my eyes to the potential of using data to streamline processes. I started researching data analysis, but transitioning from a non-STEM background was daunting, especially since it seemed heavily math-oriented.
Despite the challenges, I pursued a six-month program and successfully transitioned into the data field. Over time, my love for uncovering insights from data has kept me motivated. Whether it’s fixing a broken data pipeline, identifying the cause of a trend, or empowering others with tools to make informed decisions, the sense of accomplishment drives me forward.
How do you balance the technical aspects of your role with the need for creative problem-solving?
I prioritize the stakeholders’ needs. In an organization, how, what, and when stakeholders want results influence my approach. If a project allows for creativity, I explore innovative solutions, but if not, I stick to standard practices.
Fortunately, my role involves shaping the BI strategy for the business. This allows me to integrate creative processes into my team’s standard operating procedures, striking a balance between structure and innovation.
Key Takeaways
Adaptability Fuels Success: Adedamola’s transition from law to data showcases the power of persistence and the willingness to embrace new challenges.
Stakeholder-Centric Approach: By prioritizing stakeholder needs, she ensures her work delivers measurable and actionable results.
Creativity and Strategy: Adedamola integrates creativity into her team’s processes while aligning efforts with the organization’s BI strategy.
Data-Driven Solutions: Her ability to uncover hidden insights, such as resolving logistics issues to reduce customer churn, highlights the transformative power of data.
Mentorship Matters: Committed to giving back, Adedamola actively mentors others while continuing to grow through the guidance of her own mentors.
ICYMI: Catch Up on Previous Issues
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📅 Mark Your Calendars:
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2️⃣ Jan 25th: How to Tell Stories with Data: Fundamentals of Data Visualization with Moyosore Omotosho 🕒 3 PM - 4 PM
3️⃣ Feb 8th: How to Transition Between Data Roles: From Analyst to Engineer and Beyond with Erfan Hesami 🕒 11 AM - 12 PM
4️⃣ Feb 23rd: How to Excel in Stakeholder Management: Building Trust and Delivering Value with Temitope Oresanya 🕒 3 PM - 4 PM
5️⃣ March 2nd: Breaking Into Data Science: Skills, Tools, and Mindset for Success - Data Focus with Isreal Odeajo 🕒 4 PM - 5 PM
6️⃣ March 30th: Breaking Into Data Science: Skills, Tools, and Mindset for Success - Academia Focus with Isreal Odeajo 🕒 4 PM - 5 PM
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Best,
Ayoade Adegbite
Founder, Behind the Data