OW Spotlight Esther Ujah

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?  

Even though I graduated from Wellington College a mere five years ago, it already feels like a lifetime has passed. The nostalgia of common room chats and late-night walks up and down the kilometre all came flooding back as I put pen to paper. When I left Wellington (College Prefect, 2019), I accepted an offer to study Theology and Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. After an incredible three years, I moved back to London but the natural transition from theology graduate to either clergywomen or resident fellow wasn’t what I had in mind. Instead, I accepted an offer to work in BlackRock’s Fundamental Equity Business as a Sustainability Analyst. My mandate ultimately boils down to catalysing capital towards the transition to a more sustainable economy, which is something I am wholeheartedly committed to. I think part of the appeal of working in the financial sector at BlackRock was the hope that I could one day use my position in such an influential company to drive real meaningful change. That might just be the dream of a young idealist, but it’s one I still hold onto all the same.  

 

How did you come to work in your current role?  

During my first year at university, Dr Gardner (my history teacher at Wellington) came to visit me to see how I was doing. Halfway through lunch she casually asked me ‘So, what internships are you thinking about doing next summer?’ Internships? I thought. I’d never actually heard of the word internship before that conversation, nor did I know how important they could be for securing a job in the future. My lack of awareness wasn’t my fault; I just didn’t know what I didn’t know, and such is the societal gap between those who do and don’t have access, opportunity and knowledge in their arsenal. That conversation subsequently triggered the beginning of my internship application process: a gruelling and sometimes demoralising process indeed. However, amongst the many rejections, I got an email from BlackRock saying they’d like to invite me for an interview which eventually led to an offer to their eight-week internship programme.  The internship was a steep learning curve to say the least, given I had zero background in finance, but I must have done something right as they ended up offering me a graduate job. 

 

Where do you see yourself in your career in 10 years?  

Tough question. I’ve never really thought that far ahead to be honest.  

This may be a touch too ambitious, but I’d like to become BlackRock’s Public Equity ‘Head of Sustainable Research’. It’s a pipe dream at the moment, but it would be great to look back in 10 years’ time and see how close I’ve come to reaching it. That being said, this time last year I didn’t even know such a role could exist. There is a high likelihood , therefore, that I discover something else that ‘I didn’t even know existed’ which (once again) completely changes how I define what success could look like. So perhaps more than anything, in 10 years’ time I hope I’ve expanded my horizons, taken on a few risks and discovered more treasures ‘I didn’t even know existed’. If I can do that, I’ll count it as 10 years well spent. 

 

What would you say are ‘must have’ life skills for young people today?  

This is my second attempt at answering this question. The first was not wrong, but the second (below) is informed by my experience of managing an intern over the past few weeks, which has, for the first time, made clear what attributes I would actually look for in a potential hire.  

To that end, here are the four ‘must have’ skills I think every young person should strive to cultivate. The first is confidence. Individuals who exude confidence have mastered the art of balancing arrogance and humility. It’s knowing the right moments to unapologetically play to your strengths and the times to embrace the limitations of your weaknesses: a tight rope only few learn to walk. The second is communication. No matter where you end up in life you need to be able to communicate effectively. You could be the most technical genius in the room but if you can’t communicate your message in a way that resonates and is clear, then what was all that hard work for? The third is curiosity. There is nothing better than working with someone who is genuinely interested, curious and enthusiastic about the job (note: mark those moments when your curiosity comes naturally as that normally indicates that you’re in the right place for you). The fourth, final, and most important is common sense. You’d be surprised how quickly you can separate yourself from the masses just by showing a bit of initiative and proactivity.  

 

How do you maintain your own personal wellbeing?  

I am yet to discover the secret formula to striking the perfect work-life balance but the standard exercise, water, eight hours of sleep, etc are all obviously non-negotiable elements for good long-term personal wellbeing. The reality is, however, that if I’ve found the time to do all of the above in the space of any given week then my personal wellbeing is probably already in a good place. It’s actually moments like this morning, where I’m running late, have multiple ‘urgent’ deadlines, haven’t had my quiet time with God and need to be out the door ASAP, that my resolve is tested the most. In these moments, I think the best thing a person can do to maintain their personal wellbeing is to be kind to themselves (another cliché I know!). But truly, in those moments where things feel like they’re ‘falling apart’, my advice would be to let them. Let go, take a deep breath and ride the wave of the momentary chaos. Because when the dust settles, the chaos subsides, and you come up for air again you’ll realise things are never as bad as they first seem. This too shall pass, as it always does, so why not show yourself a little kindness in the process?  

 

Do you have a fond memory from your time at Wellington that you would like to share or perhaps a particular teacher that really stood out?   

I have so many fond memories from Wellington. Learning how to own my space in an environment that was completely alien to me was not without its challenges, but on the whole, I can confidently say that my time at Wellington is something I will cherish for years to come.  

It’s hard for me to look back on Wellington in isolation, without simultaneously thinking about the chapter that came next. To that end, I think one of my fondest memories at Wellington was the moment I got the email to confirm I’d been invited for an interview at Cambridge. It was an emotional moment as you can imagine but what made it all the more special was being able to share it with people who had already come to mean so much to me. Those people include: the girls who came bursting down the Hardinge corridors to congratulate me, the teachers who continuously supported me, my mother whose shouts of joy could probably be heard across the whole of north London, and of course God, to whom all glory and gratitude is ultimately due.

With thanks to Esther Ujah for this OW Spotlight.