Employee Spotlight: Aderoju Reflects on Her 4years Journey in Africhange
In 2020, Aderoju joined Africhange as a customer support representative. 4 years later, not only has she transitioned to become a Compliance Officer extraordinaire, she is now a mentor, guiding new compliance talents on navigating their careers within and outside Africhange- a symbol of her meteoric career trajectory.
Being an employee in Africhange is not just about delivering OKRs or ticking off KPIs, it is about doing impactful work while having a fulfilling career and Aderoju is a solid proof of how true this is.
Get the latest happenings. about our people in our Tribe Spotlight series, where they share their experience working at Africhange, past achievements, career aspirations and challenges.
In this maiden edition of our Tribe Spotlight Series, Aderoju shares more about her 4years journey in Africhange, exploring the challenges she faced, the lessons she learned, and the successes she achieved along the way.
Hi, Aderoju. How long have you been with Africhange?
It’s been four years and a couple of months. Initially, I joined as a CS representative and was handling customers' complaints, resolving their issues, and cross-checking transactions. Then, after a year, I was transferred to the Compliance team, and it’s been an amazing ride.
What was your first week like?
As a new hire, I had questions like; “What are my responsibilities? “How can I help customers have a better experience?” Fortunately, my manager at that time, Possible, was very helpful in explaining the job description, walking me through the processes, and teaching me how to use the tools I needed to function. We had a lot of new customers and had to carry out several KYC verifications and onboarding processes to enable the users to transact seamlessly on Africhange. I found it very engaging.
How would you describe working at Africhange?
My experience working at Africhange has been a story of learning, career growth, and work satisfaction with the most amazing people. I have grown from being timid and unable to take proactive decisions to someone who is able to make informed decisions and even guide others within the team.
Also, my Africhange story is not complete without referencing - David, our CEO. He’s always concerned about employees' personal growth, even beyond our work contributions. He is warm, welcoming, and very open to feedback and suggestions.
I love how Africhange also adds value to you. That is why I never feel like I am doing too much in terms of time and effort because I know that the company is a rewarding organization. No effort is wasted; the company always gives back. A lot of people occasionally ask if David and I are related. He also goes to any length to make sure employees have the best experience possible.
How has your experience at Africhange enhanced your professional and career growth?
Although I am currently a Compliance Officer, I joined as a Customer Service Representative– attending to customer complaints and resolving them. Guess what, after about a year, I got recommended to join the Compliance team as a Compliance Officer, which I did not even see coming. To increase my knowledge base, I was placed on several regulatory compliance-related courses and training sessions with the team in Canada. With the mentorship of my manager, Adekemi, who is a seasoned compliance expert, I started learning on the job. She was of tremendous help in training me on compliance processes and day-to-day expectations of the role.
Before joining the team, I would rate my Excel skills as zero. But given that I have to use Excel to analyze customers' transaction history and all of those things, I had to develop an interest in learning Excel and taking related training. From knowing little about crypto compliance, I took a course in Chain analysis.
Adekemi has played a remarkable role in monitoring my progress and offering mentorship and advice on how to do better on the job. I now onboard new hires, guide them on their day-to-day deliverables, and when they are stuck and reach out, I am eager to help even if I am not on duty.
So can you mention a colleague who inspires you a lot?
That will be Adekemi. She's a colleague and a boss. She is an epitome of knowledge. I know that sometimes we might not agree on all things, but I highly respect her years of experience in compliance. You know the saying, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Adekemi is that giant for me. As a seasoned Compliance Manager, she has always used her vast knowledge in helping me become a better compliance talent. Whenever I am stuck and unsure of the next course of action on a customer or suspicious activity, she has been an extraordinary guide in helping me see different data and angles to make informed decisions.
Another colleague that inspires me is Lydia. We have worked together for about two years, and I love working with her. She is in Europe, while I am in Nigeria; hence, we can share unique knowledge and perspectives, given the different rules and regulatory bodies that apply in these different regions. She has been a great teammate who is always ready to collaborate and get things done.
Also, Kingsley. Kingsley is another person that I really look up to because you can always be sure to get clarity from Kingsley on everything, whether work-related or not. He is always amazing.
Highlight an exciting moment that stood out for you at Africhange.
There are a lot of exciting moments that I can talk about since joining Africhange. But I am excited to say that the best thing about Africhange is that I get to work with David. He always comes through. He is our “Odogwu,” and he cares about the staff.
Where do you think Africhange will be in the next four years?
At the rate at which we’re growing, I see us expanding to other regions like Australia, Asia, South America, etc. Africhange is shaping up to be a major player in the cross-border remittance space in Africa, Europe, and North America. I see us gaining more territories and spreading our tentacles.
Tbh, my favorite part is despite growing very fast , we are still constantly innovating and setting up regulatory compliance frameworks to thrive in new markets.
What do you do for fun?
Well, I'm not really the outgoing type. I am indoors most of the time. I’m always working 😭. But when I am not working, I like to hang out with friends, watch movies, go on lunch and dinner dates, and travel. Yes, I love to travel. Earlier this year, I had a vacation in the UK, which also coincided with the launch of Africhange’s UK corridor.
Give someone just joining Africhange any advice.
My advice has always been that if you know that you can do more, just do it. Because the system is highly rewarding. Doing more and going the extra mile never goes unrecognized and is duly rewarded with performance bonuses and promotion.
The more you put in with respect to effort and productivity, the more you are incentivized. You are not only paid to do what is expected of you; the company also notices when you do more and has set up incentive structures to reward you.