Dotun Oni

Imperial College Business School

Home City and Country: Lagos, Nigeria

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Living Lagos, Founder

How has studying business in the United Kingdom enriched your learning experience? Studying the Full-Time MBA in the UK has given me a global perspective on business. It has widened my horizon and expended my thinking capacity. My cohort is very diverse, with 26 nationalities represented. I’ve been able to learn about other people’s way of life and learning with such a diverse class has been very influential in how I assess situations now.

What has been the toughest transition to living in the United Kingdom so far? What have you done to overcome this difficulty? The ever-changing weather has been the toughest transition so far. Back home, coming from a tropical rainforest region, I am used to consistent summer weather. Meanwhile, here in the UK, the fluctuating weather changes can be tough to contend with. I had visited London from time-to-time, prior to studying here, so I had some idea of the seasons and knew to be prepared for it. I am persevering and finding better ways to live through the changing seasons each day!

What school service has been the most helpful in transitioning to living in the United Kingdom? How has it helped you adapt? Imperial’s information service has been very helpful in transitioning to live in the UK. This service has been useful at notifying us about what is happening in the city. This has come in handy, particularly when there have been train strikes.

What has been the most interesting cultural nuance of people living in the United Kingdom? Why has this struck you? What has struck me most about the culture in the UK is how everyone here is very willing to help you without even knowing who you are. This openness makes you feel welcome like you belong there very quickly.

Are you seeking a Visa to work in the United Kingdom after graduation? If so, what obstacles have you faced and how did you overcome them? As a founder, I am pursuing the Global Talent Visa so I can continue growing my venture in London and internationally. This requires building a strong case to demonstrate my qualifications as global talent, which I’ve been working towards with the launch of my company’s new web app. By developing and presenting a digital working product and highlighting the impact of my work, I aim to make a compelling case for my eligibility.

What have you done to make it easier to make friends with people from outside your home country at business school? I believe making friends with people from outside my home country comes naturally to me because I genuinely enjoy connecting with others and consider myself a friendly, approachable person. I’ve found that simply being authentic and open allows relationships to form easily, and this approach has made it easier for me to build meaningful friendships at the Business School.

What piece of advice would you give to an international student looking to study in a UK graduate business program? My advice to an international student considering a UK graduate business programme is to keep an open mind. There’s often a lot of noise and misconceptions, but your experience will ultimately be what you make of it. Stay focused on your goals, approach others with friendliness and openness, and you’ll find the journey to be smooth and rewarding.

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