Despite having worked in the capital markets space in Nigeria for more than a decade, Jemi Onyejiaka, EMBA ’23 Candidate, knew that building a sustainable career in Canada would require a broader network – and that an Executive MBA could help her achieve that.

It was a goal that mattered not only for her career, but also one she hoped would help encourage other women to do the same.

“I wanted to grow into leadership, and exemplify representation for people coming after me,” says Onyejiaka, Vice President, Capital Markets, Strategy at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto.

“You don't find a lot of Black senior executives. As a Black female, I want my daughter to be able to see Black women succeeding in spaces that we’re not traditionally expected to occupy.”

Through the Women in Capital Market’s Return to Bay Street Program she took a position at BMO Capital Markets, working in the regulatory transformation group and cross business structuring before joining the strategy group. Onyejiaka had previously held a variety of trading roles in leading Nigerian banks before joining the regulator where she worked in the Regulatory Compliance Group and went on to lead the Market Services Group.

The Executive MBA has given her additional tools to develop her management and leadership skills and allowed her to approach her job differently.

“The unique learning model where you have practical learnings and real-life applications that you can apply immediately means I can take that right into my job,” she says, adding that the program has helped her better understand the ways in which capital markets function in North America.

The classroom discussions and group projects with diverse and highly experienced classmates also helped solidify for Onyejiaka that she could compete in her new environment just as well as she did in Nigeria.

“I would say your classmates are one of your greatest assets in this program because they push you to be better and they bring experiences that you never would've had access to otherwise. The diverse nature and the extensive experience you have in class changes the discussion irrespective of the case,” she says.

“I'm already different from when I started the program in terms of how I approach business problems, even in terms of how I present myself. I don't know if I would've had the boldness and confidence I have now without the EMBA.”

And while taking on an MBA while working a demanding job and having a family with young children could seem like a lot, to Onyejiaka, there’s never a perfect time – sometimes you just have to jump in and manage your time as best you can.

“I know firsthand how difficult it can be, being an immigrant and coming into a new environment and culture,” she says.

“The EMBA changes the experience, changes you and it causes you to grow. It equips you for the future.”