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A Career Conversion with Amaka Eziuku on Identity, Ambition, and Balance

In our latest Women's History Month episode, host Lola Adeyemo sits down with Amaka Eziuku, Managing Partner at Synesis Group. With over 14 years of experience transforming talent and operational complexity into strategic advantages, Amaka shares insights from her journey as a Nigerian immigrant in the consulting world.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

  • How intersectional identity can become a professional strength in consulting
  • Navigating educational and career choices as an immigrant professional
  • Understanding the dynamic landscape of consulting and who thrives in this environment
  • Balancing career ambition with personal development and avoiding "arrested development"
  • Building effective support systems when your field is specialized
  • Practical advice for professionals considering large versus boutique consulting firms

A Career Conversation with Amaka Eziuku on Identity, Ambition, and Balance: The Power of Intersectionality

This conversation opens with Amaka beautifully articulating how intersectionality shapes who we are professionally. Moving from Nigeria to America at age 7, she embodies a blend of cultural influences contributing to her tenacity and resilience in the workplace. An impactful point in her reflection on family influence is how she inherited her entrepreneurial thinking from her father, a businessman, while her "heart" - emotional intelligence - comes from her mother. This combination of traits has served as a foundation for her success in her professional journey.

An Unconventional Educational Path

Amaka's educational journey defies the typical narrative of singular focus. At Lamar University, rather than narrowing her studies, she embraced breadth and graduated with three degrees: Finance, Management Information Systems, and Economics. Later, she added a Master's in Computer Information Engineering from Northwestern University.

This multidisciplinary approach wasn't initially strategic—it evolved from recognizing opportunities when her original finance path didn't align with her university's strengths. Amaka emphasizes the importance of seeing available opportunities before you can connect them. This adaptability would become a recurring theme in her career.

Navigating the Consulting Landscape

For listeners considering consulting careers, Amaka provides valuable context about this dynamic field. She likens the consulting sector to the oil and gas industry—with businesses operating within businesses—highlighting its complexity and breadth.

Her expertise in talent and operations consulting involves everything from change management to lean transformations, with projects spanning different industries and problem sets. This variety is both the challenge and appeal of consulting work.

The most compelling insight for aspiring consultants: consulting requires a personality that thrives in dynamic environments. Amaka notes that if juggling multiple responsibilities brings satisfaction rather than stress, consulting might be the right career path.

The Hidden Cost of Career Success

Perhaps the most vulnerable part of the conversation was Amaka's candid reflection on being a "serial careerist." While her focused approach led to professional achievements, she acknowledges experiencing "arrested development" in personal areas.

She cautions that placing the majority of weight on career can lead to losing sight of oneself as a person. This insight resonates deeply—career success without personal development can lead to viewing relationships transactionally and struggling to find identity beyond work.

For professionals at all stages, this serves as a powerful reminder to evaluate whether career pursuits are crowding out other crucial aspects of human development.

Building Support Systems

One challenge Amaka faced as a young consultant was finding mentors who understood her professional world. With family and friends often asking "so what do you do again?", she found her community within her workplace.

"In work, I had a support system within work," she explains. Female and male leaders who recognized her potential became crucial allies. This highlights an important strategy for professionals in specialized fields: sometimes your most valuable mentors come from your professional circle rather than personal connections.

Advice for Today's Professionals

Amaka's guidance for navigating today's evolving workplace centers on two seemingly contradictory principles: have a plan but remain open to change.

She encourages professionals to understand their values before choosing between large organizations and boutique firms. While big consulting firms offer valuable brand recognition and development opportunities, they aren't the right fit for everyone's personality or work style.

Her parting wisdom resonates regardless of industry: "Don't forget who you are. Prioritize you as you continue to grow and evolve. Don't lose track of that because you're chasing something, whether that's a title or position."

The conversation concluded with a lighthearted discussion about Nigerian cuisine—Amaka (Igbo) expressing appreciation for jollof rice typically associated with Lola's Yoruba heritage. This moment of cultural connection reminds listeners that shared experiences often transcend regional differences, much like how intersectional identities can become strengths in the workplace when fully embraced.

Thriving in Intersectionality amplifies voices of leaders with diverse backgrounds navigating corporate spaces. Join us weekly for insights to help you overcome barriers and advance in your professional career.

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Let's Connect:

Connect with Amaka Eziuku: LinkedIn Profile

Connect with Lola Adeyemo: LinkedIn Profile

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