Chemistry Student Turns Lab Chat Into Global Career

Aisha Owolabi was mixing chemicals in a University of Lagos lab when her coursemate mentioned feeling stressed about her social media clients. That 2017 conversation changed everything.

Owolabi had no idea people could build careers managing social media. That night, she dove into online research and enrolled in a digital marketing course through Google Garage. Theory wasn't enough, so she practiced on her sister's event planning business for free.

Her first paid internship at a digital marketing agency earned her 20,000 naira monthly, about $14. Transportation cost nearly all of it, leaving her with 14 cents in profit. But Owolabi wanted experience more than money, splitting her weeks between chemistry classes and client work.

After graduation, she joined She Leads Africa in 2019, where she evolved from social media manager to content strategist. Then came Carbon, a pioneering digital bank in Nigeria, which she joined just seven days before its rebrand.

Owolabi revolutionized how Nigerian banks communicate. Where traditional banks sent robotic "Dear Customer" emails, she created "Aisha from Carbon," making fintech feel human and friendly. The personal touch worked, connecting thousands of Nigerians to digital banking in a completely new way.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Carbon struggled as customers couldn't repay loans. Senior staff took pay cuts, including Owolabi. But she noticed her flatmate earning dollars remotely and realized borders didn't have to limit her career.

After eight months of applications and rejections, Wizeline hired her for a contract role. Her earnings jumped tenfold as she led content and marketing for partners including Google and Netflix. Three months later, Wizeline offered her something unexpected: relocation to their Guadalajara office.

By mid-2021, Owolabi landed in Mexico as Wizeline's first Nigerian employee among 2,000 staff members. She traded her USD contract salary for lower Mexican pesos to gain full-time status with health benefits and residency. The financial sacrifice bought her international experience and a new home base.

The Ripple Effect

Owolabi's journey demonstrates how digital skills create borderless opportunities. Her willingness to start at 14 cents monthly profit and learn continuously opened doors across Nigeria, Mexico, and beyond. She proved that career pivots don't require perfect timing, just consistent action and openness to unexpected conversations.

Today, she works remotely while living between continents, showing other African professionals that global careers are within reach. Her story inspires young people, especially women, to explore digital fields regardless of their university major.

One lab conversation became a bridge to three continents and countless opportunities.