Adedimeji ‘Tade Idris

Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business

“Free-spirited Lagos boy a beautiful mind, having a blast while conquering the world.”

 Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Fun Fact About Yourself: In 2014, I decided to travel to at least one new country every year for the rest of my life. (I’ll probably run out of years before I run out of countries).

Undergraduate School and Major: Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria (B.Eng Mining Engineering)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Access Bank PLC, Nigeria (Fixed Income Trader)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was interim head of the fixed-income trading desk at my last job and had to manage a government securities portfolio of 1.1 billion USD. In that period, I earned unprecedented income for the bank and surpassed all earning forecasts for the quarter.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Supportive. One of the biggest apprehensions I had about the MBA program was the fact that I had to move to a new a country with new cultures (and new food), but my classmates made the transition a smooth one. Even though the MBA environment can be challenging and competitive, there is always that warm feeling around most of my classmates that makes me feel like I made the right choice.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I got admitted into various programs at the same time, so I had to consider a couple of factors when making my final decision. The relatively small MBA class size at Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business was a big factor in tipping the scales thanks to the culture it creates where everyone has a voice. I was also interested in a program where I would receive an inclusive learning experience and one-on-one career management. When I combined these factors with ROI, the decision was a relatively easy one.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Global Applied Projects (GAP) program. In Fisher’s exclusive GAP program, I get to be a consultant in a foreign country. The GAP program presents a chance to diversify my MBA experience, solve real-life organizational challenges, and practical applications of a business solution.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have an undergraduate degree in Mining Engineering and six years of work experience in banking. I was approaching middle-level management in my organization and felt there was a need to get some theoretical knowledge of finance and accounting to support my work experience. An MBA was the solution.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? A straight line is the shortest distance between two points – the shortest way to get from where I was on the trading desk of a bank’s dealing room in Lagos, Nigeria to the boardroom of a Fortune 500 company was to get an MBA. Just a few months into the program and I can already tell that I made the right decision.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Arizona State University – Carey, Michigan State University – Broad, University of Maryland – Smith, University of Illinois, Urbana Champagne, Washington University – Olin.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? A lot of effort went to the determination of fit for various schools. I spent a lot of time researching online and checking various forums and MBA blogs to sample the opinion of current and past students on the common mistakes to avoid when selecting a business school. The ranking, location, class size, etc. were all put into consideration. After the initial screening process, I narrowed down the list to about six schools and proceeded to contact international students from those schools to research the culture and fit. When I was on vacation in America in November 2017, I scheduled appointments to visit some of the schools and sit in on some classes. 

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? The defining moment for me was enrollment in a boarding school at the tender age of 7, away from the comfort of my home and away from the watchful eyes of my parents, I learned to be independent and developed a knack to succeed in the face of overwhelming odds, that attitude remains with me till this day.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Find a role that lets me do what I love, in a way I love doing it. There is an obvious attraction to some roles or organizations due to the financial remuneration, but I prioritize learning, an open, welcoming work culture and a chance to grow above all else, so after graduation, I plan to keep practicing finance in an organization like that.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Employee management in a good organization, gaining as much experience as I can, imparting my knowledge, values and wealth of experience on my team and driving my organization towards its goals. I also hope to be traveling the world and living my best life.