Kudirat Olateju

INSEAD

“Aspiring master-of-many-trades and champion for equal opportunity.”

Hometown: London, UK

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve snorkeled the longest underwater cave in the world.

Undergraduate School and Major: Imperial College London, M. Eng. Chemical Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: T. Rowe Price, Emerging Markets Investment Research

INSEAD is one of the most culturally and professionally diverse MBA programs in the world. How do you see these global perspectives enhancing the value of your business education over the next year? This diversity is a key strength of the program. It exposes us to a variety of perspectives and experiences that will enable us to become more effective leaders and decision-makers. Research by McKinsey (and many others) has shown companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are (35%, McKinsey) more likely to have financial returns and general performance above their respective national industry medians. It is indisputable that this diversity is value additive; however, for me, what I am most looking forward to experiencing as a result is the breadth of access to world-renowned experts from a variety of disciplines. In the faculty, amongst alumni and my cohort, there are voices of influence and thought leadership in private equity, to public policy. The intersectionality of this community will help in developing a well-rounded understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing business today, in a rapidly-changing global landscape, that will require a different level of creativity and innovation as we enter this new era of globalisation.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of INSEAD’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? INSEAD’s belief in “Business as a force for good.” I consider it (one of) my life’s missions to make a positive impact on the world, and for me INSEAD was the best place to learn how to do this effectively. INSEADs global approach is additionally complementary for me given my personal background and experience in emerging markets and developing economies – just from the financing (rather than operational) side. I am incredibly excited to join the INSEAD community and create a more sustainable and equitable future.

What has been your first impression of the INSEAD MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best INSEAD story so far.  Authenticity matters. The interview process is conducted with alumni, so it’s very hard to fake compatibility with the school’s values and beliefs. Yet despite this commonality, everyone is still so different and has their own stories to share, so it was truly inspiring and eye-opening in a way I’ve never experienced. We’ve also had the benefit of a social platform called MEET to interact and meet our entire cohort virtually – and everyone has been amazing. I met my housemate via this platform after a series of totally random conversations that revealed we’re basically the same person – but with totally different backgrounds and experiences, that have somehow shaped us so similarly regardless. Since I’ve left pretty late to join my cohort in Singapore, I don’t have many stories yet except this one.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at INSEAD? The Student Impact Fund. ISIF is a student-run venture capital fund that invests in early-stage social enterprises with the potential to make a positive impact on the world.

ISIF excites me because it combines my passion for social impact with my interests in investing and entrepreneurship. I believe that businesses have a responsibility to use their resources to make the world a better place. I am keen to continue developing my skill set practically as we invest in and grow businesses that are doing just that with a team of similarly motivated peers.

Peers and other partners included, ISIF provides an opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in the social impact. ISIF’s portfolio companies are led by passionate and experienced entrepreneurs who are working to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. I cannot wait to learn from them and to contribute to their success.

The nature of investments made by ISIF also offers the opportunity for outsized returns given its high growth focus. This means that ISIF investors have the potential to make a significant financial impact on the world, while also making a positive social impact. This two-pronged approach is of great personal importance to me. The opportunity to practically and directly start working in this pursuit from day 1 is something I’m very grateful for.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been founding MWHQ, a financial empowerment community for women of color. MWHQ is a bootstrapped startup. We recently completed our app, which we are excited to launch to help more women of color achieve financial confidence and security. There have been several milestones we’ve celebrated since its inception and hopefully there’ll be many more.

Social impact, being so dear to me, means it has been a theme across my career to date. I was honored to be nominated for an ESG award by BWAM (Black Women in Asset Management). The nomination is a testament to the work not only of MWHQ, which is to promote financial empowerment and inclusion, but what I was able to be a part of at T. Rowe Price as an investor too. I am grateful for the recognition, and I am committed to continuing to work to make a difference in the lives of as many as possible.

Founding MWHQ has been a challenge, but it has also been incredibly rewarding. I have learnt a great deal about entrepreneurship, leadership, determination, and grit.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? After graduation, I hope to join a mission-oriented family office or sovereign wealth fund as MWHQ continues to grow. I am passionate about investing and impact, and my ideal exit marries these passions. I am ready to work with a team of people who are committed to making a positive impact.

The challenges of investing and growing early-stage businesses are incredibly appealing and I am confident that I have the skills and experience necessary to succeed. My background in financial analysis and investment decision-making means I feel I can add the most value in a multi-asset space or emerging market space.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Only INSEAD.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into INSEAD’s MBA program?

My advice is to be authentic and true to your whole self. Tell a compelling story about your personal and professional journey, and highlight your unique experiences and perspectives – not what you think they want to hear.

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