 Happy Father's Day to all the incredible fathers, caregivers, and father figures!!!! Thank you for all you do.
In my early years, I was raised by my mother and the women in our extended family. Everything I learned about Fatherhood was from observing some awesome men. The most profound lessons in Fatherhood have come from watching my husband raise our son for almost three years. In this blog post, I will share the five ways my husband has been a great father. Being a present Dad Every day, I appreciate that my husband is a very present parent to our son. In the environment that I grew up in, many fathers were not present in their children's lives. Developing our son's creative skills Our son really enjoys music, instruments, and dancing. His father found out the type of music he liked, got him musical instruments, and encouraged him to enjoy music. Prioritizing meeting our son's needs Recently, I realized that my husband and I take care of different needs. Our son is very well-rounded because his father and I meet his needs. Teaching our son new skills Every time my husband teaches our son to say to do something new, he gets very excited. Our son is a sponge and soaks in all the knowledge at this age. Building and maintaining our community My husband ensures that we spend time with people around us. Social connections are crucial for our and our family's well-being. Final Thoughts Over the years that I have been fortunate to be a parent with my husband, I have learned that we both have a role to play. Both of our roles are equally important and enrich our son's life. Happy Father's Day to my husband!!!
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 And just like that, the first half of 2023 is ending. To raise your chances of accomplishing your big goals, you need to know where you are today and plan for action over the next months
In this blog post, we will review and celebrate the progress we have made in the first half of 2023 with the help of some reflection questions. Check out some of my "Her Plan" posts to help you have a great year. How are you doing? A great place to start is to check in on ourselves. Think about how you are doing physically, mentally, and emotionally. To be healthy all around, you must be intentional and willing to take action when you notice that you are not doing well in any area. MC's Story This year has been intense on many levels. I am in a great place mentally and emotionally. However, I am physically exhausted and need to take care of my body more. What have you accomplished in the past six months? Measuring your progress towards your goals provides you with a line of sight into how far you have come. You get to celebrate what you have accomplished and identify the areas where you still have work to do. MC's Story Looking back on my goals, I have made a lot of significant progress toward some of my personal, financial, and professional goals What lessons did you learn from the setback? In our lives, there will always be things that don't happen as we planned. It is very easy to get discouraged by the setbacks or missed goals. The truth is that there is a lot that is not in our control, and we need to make the best out of those experiences. MC's Story One of the biggest lessons I learned this year was how to adjust to times when unexpected things happen. It took me a while to learn to accept and learn from them. What are you planning to do differently? As you check in on where you are with regard to your goals for the year, it is a great time to think about what you want to change to accomplish your large goals in 2023. You have the opportunity to make changes now that will set you up for success for the rest of the year MC's Story The biggest change I want to make for the rest of the year is to build more time to have time. What are you looking forward to? It is an exciting time to dream about the next months. You can plan and envision what it would take to accomplish your goals for the year. Prepare for action towards your goals and equip yourself with resources to meet them. MC's Story Over the next six months, I am looking forward to slowing down a little more Final Thoughts If thinking about your goals make you feel stressed, you are not alone. Take it one step at a time.  Over the years, I have become more aware of how my journey as an immigrant is a privilege. We often hear about the difficult aspects of being an immigrant. With all the challenges, many great things have made my journey a lot of fun and changed the course of my life.
In this blog post, I will share the things that have made my journey as an immigrant the best. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. #1: Getting to see multiple countries and cities Through the last 22 years, I have lived in many different cities in Germany and the US. I have enjoyed the beauty of old cities like Cologne and Trier and appreciate the plentiful sunshine in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to enjoying the places I lived in, I have visited some amazing countries. #2: Speaking multiple languages It is a gift to be able to speak multiple languages. I am really grateful that I have had the opportunity to learn languages. There is something really special about communicating and building relationships with many people in languages they understand. #3: Building my community Moving to Germany at age fifteen without my family meant I had to find my support community quickly. I am grateful for all the friends I have met over the years who are now like family. My journey would have had a very different outcome without these incredible people. #4: Enriching my cultural identity My life and cultural identity have been influenced by the countries that I have lived in. There is so much beauty in the richness of culture from different countries. As we raise our son, we share parts of our Nigerian, German, and American culture with him. #5: Meeting People from all corners of the earth Over time, I have been fortunate to meet many people and other immigrants in the countries where I lived. I would not have met so people if I did not get to live in multiple countries myself. When I meet people from new countries, it is exciting to hear their stories and experiences. #6: Thriving professionally Moving to different countries has had a very positive effect on my career. I have leveraged my skills and applied my unique perspectives to my work. Studying and starting my career in Germany provided me with a great foundation. #7: Learning to adapt to major life changes When faced with significant transitions in my life, I remind myself that I have successfully navigated many changes in my life as an immigrant. Some of the changes included moving to different cities, starting a new job, building new relationships, and recreating my life. I learned to embrace change and thrive. Final Thoughts I often wonder how my life would have turned out if I had stayed in Nigeria and did not move to Germany in 2001 or the US years later. This post is a reminder of how awesome everything turned out and a confirmation that I am where I need to be in this phase of my life.  Especially after everything we have all been through over the last three years, planning for the long term is a little scary. We have all had to focus on adapting to the new norm of living in the post-pandemic world. As time goes by, I am at a crucial point where I need to make moves that will set me up for success over the next five years.
In this blog post, I will share the five questions to help guide you as you develop your five-year plan. Check out some of my "Her Plan" posts to help you accomplish your goals. #1: What has happened in your life over the past five years? Reflecting on where you have been is an excellent start to your planning process. It helps you celebrate your accomplishments and the lessons you learned along the way. With everything we have all experienced over the last three years, it is very easy to forget how far we have come. Questions to reflect on
#2: What would make you proud in five years? Recently in a class I took, they made us write a letter to our future selves listing all the things we are proud of ourselves for doing. It was a very intense and emotional exercise to write this letter and revisit it in the future, confirm things that happened, and see areas where things changed. Questions to reflect on
#3: What goals do you want to accomplish? Now that you have had the time to dream and write them down, it is a good time to create your plan. With the knowledge that things will change in our lives, It is crucial to be prepared to adapt your plan over time. In my planning process, I use the following categories: Personal, Family, Work/Career, Finances, Business, Learning/Training, Giving back, and Bold Goals. For a balanced life, you must set goals in all the areas you want to grow in. Questions to reflect on
#4: What are you afraid of? Acknowledging the fears we have is an essential step while we plan. Our fears give us very valuable information. Some of your fears help highlight areas where you might lack skills or resources. You can focus on developing the gaps you identify over the next years. For the areas where you don't know what to do with your fears, accept that and commit to taking action towards your goals. Questions to reflect on
#5: What do you need to be successful over the next five years? Creating a plan is a great start to having the life you desire. To solidify your plan, think about what you need to be successful. Think about the resources you need, such as finances, time, access to training, or a support network. You have time to gather the resources that you need. Questions to reflect on
Final Thoughts: MC's Story About 15 years ago, I started creating my "Orientation Plan," which covered the vision and goal I wanted to accomplish over five years. It has evolved over the years as I have learned to build a more agile plan given everything that happened in my life and environment. I am at a point in my life where I have accomplished many of the big things I had on my plan and need to develop an updated version. Thinking about my future is very exciting.  A few months ago, I wrote a post celebrating the people that have supported my career so far. It was an excellent opportunity to appreciate a few people who have impacted my professional life positively. While I wrote the post, I remembered a few people who unfortunately had a negative impact on me as I navigated my career. As someone who likes to focus on the good that happens in my life, I thought a lot about writing this post. I decided to write it to encourage people who might be currently working with people like that and need some encouragement.
In this blog post, I will share the five groups of people that could have been more helpful and the lessons I learned about my career. Check out the other "Her Career" posts for tips and resources to help you thrive professionally. #1: People that underestimated my professional abilities and skills It really stings when you work with people you have to prove yourself to; still, they do not believe in your expertise. At pivotal times in my career, I have had to work with people who thought about my skills, experiences, and strengths. As a result, I questioned my abilities, doubted myself, and was convinced that I always needed to work three times harder than everyone around me. It took a lot of work on my part to regain my confidence again. What lessons did I learn?
#2: People who provided feedback that was not clear or helpful Receiving feedback is crucial for our career development and growth. However, folks who want to give you feedback and share what you could be doing better without having the right intent are not helpful. In my career, I have worked with people who did not have my best interest at heart when they shared their feedback. Sometimes people went far and even weaponized feedback as a way to break my confidence. What lesson did I learn?
#3: People who did not assign me to projects that had growth opportunities When I think about my team, I cannot imagine standing in the way of their career growth. I have had people in my career who have decided not to assign work to me that would help me grow. In my work today, we discuss the importance of equitable work allocation. It was very sad to see the same people get access to projects and have to fight for great projects to work on. What lesson did I learn?
#4: People who created hostile work environments We spend a lot of time at work and deserve to work in environments we enjoy. Unfortunately, we all have experiences when our work environment has not been conducive. I still remember some parts of my journey where I felt sick thinking about work because of the hostile environment that was there. As someone who likes harmony, I noticed that my experience at work affects my whole being. I now choose to work on teams where I belong. What lesson did I learn?
#5: Managers and Leaders who did not invest in my growth After having great managers in the last few years, I've been thinking about the bad managers that I have had. Some never checked in on me, inquired about my professional goals, or supported my aspirations. Managers' responsibility for the progression of the people on their team should be a priority for them. As a manager, I am very intentional about not repeating the bad traits I saw in bad managers. What lesson did I learn?
Time for Reflections Who are the people who could have been more helpful on your Career Journey? What lessons did you learn from the negative experiences? How are you supporting people in their careers?  Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing women nurturing and caring for children !!!
On this Mother's Day, I am heading on a work trip, and I fortunately get to go on with my family. Being able to spend time with my son and husband is a highlight. My biggest lesson this year is that the lessons I learn from being a mother are precious in other areas of my life. In this blog post, I will share the ten happy moments I have had as a mother over the past two and a half years. Check out my other "Her Story" posts to learn more about my journey as a Mother. #1: Finding out I was having a baby It was March 2020, and the world was shutting down; I had been exhausted and decided to take a pregnancy test. I still remember the shock and excitement I felt. My heart was filled with love for the little human I hoped would be born healthy. #2: Welcoming our Son Words can't describe the way I felt when I held my son for the first time. Since then, I have caught myself looking at him and being very grateful that he is in my life. Having a baby during the pandemic was a blessing because I had something that brought joy to me. #3: Being promoted One of my biggest worries about becoming a mother was that my career would be impacted negatively. I was very happy when I heard I was promoted on maternity leave. It showed me how much my leadership believed in me. It really helped me when I returned to work a few months later. #4: Introducing our son to family I cried happy tears every time that a member of our family held our son. Before having a child, I could never have imagined that our families would take so long to meet our son. The pandemic changed our plans and made us enjoy the special moments even more. #5: Taking our son to Daycare Having a place where our son is well taken off during the day has been a highlight. I have learned to trust that he will be fine. Every time I get to pick him up, I love to watch him be a big boy and excited to see me. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be able to work, and I know he is having the time of his life. #6: Seeing our son interact with other children Having a child so far away from family and friends means he has not had as much contact with other children. Our son has learned to play independently and enjoys his own company. However, he really lights up when he sees other kids. My heart smiles when I see him interacting with other kids. #7: Hearing our Son speak German We really want our son to grow up multi-lingual. English and German are the first languages that he is learning. We are very fortunate that his Daycare is bi-lingual. I was so happy the first time I heard him say a Germán word. And now, I really enjoy singing German songs. I should speak more German with him at home. #8: Seeing our son learn new skills The speed at which little kids learn new skills is awe-inspiring. My mind has been blown as I watch our son navigate life and work with technology. He has learned so much, especially in the last few months. I am always excited to capture his milestones and celebrate his growth. #9: Being able to share my motherhood journey with my sister My twin sister became a mother nine years before I did. Now we get to connect and grow together as mothers. My favorite thing to do is chat with her about things we do in common or where we are very different mothers. Being able to share my experience and bond with her is a gift. #10: Seeing our son's smile Every moment when our son smiles, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have him in my life. I am more intentional about enjoying the moments with him and building more memories as a family. One thing is sure; I'll do everything in my power to ensure my son has a happy life. Final Thoughts Being a mother has been a great experience. I am grateful for the way that our lives have evolved. Happy Mother's Day to me!  Setting goals has been a regular practice that I have done for many years. Especially in the last five years, I have taken a more disciplined approach to planning for my year and tracking progress on an ongoing basis. As I start envisioning my next five years and planning, I want to document the valuable lessons that have helped me accomplish great things.
In this blog post, I will share my learning about goals in the last five years. Check out some of my "Her Plan" posts to help you accomplish your goals. #1: Set Bold and Aspirational goals While reviewing my goals, I realized they were safer as I tried to avoid disappointment. I set goals I believed I could accomplish and celebrated when I did. Then about three years ago, I started setting goals. They helped me push myself to dream bigger than I was before. I started being more comfortable with feeling unsure about how I would accomplish my bold goals. Lessons learned
#2: Create agile and flexible Plans Having a plan is excellent. How you adjust your plan over time is actually what makes you successful. For many years, I struggled with making changes to my plan. I felt that changes to my plan meant I was doing something wrong. In 2020, I was reminded that a lot is out of my control, and accepting that my goals would need to change was the only way forward. Lessons learned
#3: Celebrate your Accomplishments (even the little ones) For the longest time, every time someone asked me what I was doing to celebrate a key milestone, I hardly had a response. I was not used to celebrating myself. One of the practices I started over the last three years was to plan for celebrations. When I accomplish a goal, I know that celebrating is a part of my process. Lessons learned
#4: Surround yourself with people who are working towards large goals As you work towards your goals, it is essential to surround yourself with people who are also working towards big things. Your shared sense of community, encouragement, and knowledge will improve your journey. I talk about my goals with my friends and family regularly. Their support keeps me going, especially when I doubt myself. Lessons learned
#5: Believe in yourself Over the last five years, I have done many things that I never thought I would be able to. There were moments when opportunities came up, and I seized them with some reservation in my mind. Looking back, I am very proud of myself and grateful that everything turned out the way it did. The bold goals I set that seemed too big a few years ago are now things I accomplished. It gives me hope for the big things that are ahead of me. Lessons learned
Time for Reflection What lessons have you learned about goals in the last five years? What do you want to accomplish over the next five years? What new routines do you want to start as you achieve your goals?  As a mother who is an immigrant, I have many thoughts about life. I feel blessed to be able to raise my two-and-a-half-year-old son. Living in Germany, the US, and Nigeria has had a significant impact on my life, and I often wonder how my son's experiences will differ from mine. Like any parent, I have concerns, but I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that he has a wonderful life.
In this blog post, I will share the five questions that keep me up at night as I raise my son. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. What will his cultural identity be? The question of who you are as an immigrant is always top of mind. Most of us have lived in multiple countries and had experiences that have influenced who we are today. Being born in Germany, moving to Nigeria, then going back to Germany, to now living in the US, my cultural identity has evolved over time. Our son was born in the US to a German-Nigerian mother and Nigerian-American Father. I really wonder what aspects of our culture he would take as his own. How will he navigate being black in the US? Due to my job as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager, I am fully aware that raising a black son in the US comes with some challenges. I was pregnant in 2020 when the US went through the most recent racial awakening. It felt heavy to bring a son into a world where he would have to learn to navigate situations based on the color of his skin or heritage. Recently, I concluded that I can't change the world. However, I can raise my son to be fully confident in his skin and equip him with the tools he can use when faced with any challenging situations. Will our son have equitable access to opportunities? Living in Germany and the US, I have always fought to get access to opportunities like jobs, financial independence, housing, and much more. There is always a question in my mind about how we can set our son up to succeed and ensure he has access to everything he needs. I am focusing on ensuring our son knows he deserves the same opportunities as everyone else. How will he build lasting bonds with family and develop his community? My husband and I were fortunate to spend our childhoods in Nigeria surrounded by extended families. We are raising our son in a city where none of our family members live. Due to the pandemic, he has met some of our family members once and has yet to have the opportunity to meet his grandparents. We never imagined raising our son so far away from family. It is our responsibility to pass on the values of our community and create one that gives him as much as we had growing up. Beyond that, it is up to him to craft his community. How will our son continue to be his awesome self? At only two and a half years old, our son has a great heart and personality. I look forward to him living his life to the fullest and giving his gifts to the world. The best times I have had as an immigrant have been those times when I was able to be my authentic self. Bringing my whole self to the space that I occupy has been a highlight of my journey. I am excited to continue to watch him grow into an incredible man. Final thoughts One thing became clear as I wrote this blog post. I am very hopeful and excited to see how our son's life will be. Seeing him be his awesome self, chase his goals, discover his identity, and build his community will fill my heart with so much joy. I am confident that he will overcome the challenges and live a great life, just like I have done in 22 years of being an immigrant.  In the last month, I achieved a significant career milestone that I have been working towards for over four years. It got me thinking about how many awesome things have happened in my career. I decided to write this post to encourage anyone feeling stuck in their careers and remind myself of what has helped me so far.
In this blog post, I will share the five things I did in my career that helped me grow. Check out my other "Her Career" blogs for tips and tricks for a successful career. #1: Investing in learning new skills About 12 years ago, I decided to go back and get my Masters degree while working full-time. This decision set me on a more elevated path than I imagined. I enjoy learning and am very fortunate to be in a place where I can acquire knowledge and skills. I have completed many certifications, learned skills on the job, and shared them with others. Reflection questions
#2: Owning my career development At the start of my career, I learned a lesson that I had held close to my heart. It is my responsibility to plan and drive my career. Giving up control of your Career development automatically puts you in the passenger seat and observer mode. As part of my annual planning, I set career goals that guide my actions. I am very committed to making progress professionally. Reflection questions
#3: Taking on stretch opportunities In 2017, when I was asked to lead a Global Program Management Office, I said no because I thought the task was too big for me. The fear of failure made me almost miss out on a great opportunity. After months of contemplating, I realized that I was the best-suited person for the role, and it was a significant growth opportunity for me. Over the last four years, I created my role and worked through the trying times of doing things that have never been done before. Reflection questions
#4: Having my support network and village The people who have been my companions on my career journey have been one of the most significant contributors to my success. I am grateful for the Mentors, Sponsors, and Teammates who have taught me a lot and supported my ambitions. Having people, I can talk to about the challenges I am facing and celebrate successes with made my journey amazing. Reflection questions
#5: Doing work that I enjoy There have been seasons in my professional life where I have enjoyed work and other seasons when I did less fun things. I have learned to lean into my strengths and know what brings me joy at work. Doing work that aligns with my personal mission of helping others thrive professionally gives me a lot of fulfillment. There are still elements of my job that I do not enjoy. However, I enjoy a large part of it, and I look forward to whatever my next career move will be. Reflection questions
Final Thoughts I feel very fortunate to have had great professional experiences. My experiences have been influenced by the intentional planning of my career, having my support community, and focusing on doing work I enjoy. We spend a lot of time at work, and I really hope that we all start enjoying work a little more.  As our lives get busier, getting caught up with the mundane things and our routines is so easy. We sometimes lose excitement and inspiration. Being inspired fuels our lives and impacts us positively.
In this blog post, we will explore ways to get inspired again and thrive. Starting point - Why is being inspired important? Inspiration plays an essential role in our lives. Some of the benefits include:
#1: Reflect on the last time your felt inspired In the past years, we have had to focus on things that are pivotal to our survival. As a result, a lot of us have lost the spark. Thinking back on the last time you were inspired will give you some information about what inspires you. Strategies to consider
#2: Do something you have not done in a long time One way to seek inspiration is to do things that have given you the feeling in the past. We all have fantastic things we have done as much over the last three years. Now is an excellent time to return to them and get inspired again. Strategies to consider
#3: Find people who inspire you The ability to inspire is a desirable trait in people. I like hearing from others who they find inspiring. Typically when people have asked me, I could answer the question about people who inspire me. Lately, I have not had anyone on my list. That is something that I need to change. Strategies to consider
#4: Listen to what inspires others and talk about what inspires you There is something powerful about sharing the good in our lives. When we are vocal about our experiences, it brings back feelings that we had. I really like hearing what inspires people around me. It teaches me a lot about them and lets me see their greatness. Strategies to consider
#5: Be an inspiration to someone Giving back is an excellent way for us to make the world a better place. Being a positive influence on people is a great thing to strive for. I have found that doing things for others helps adjust my perspective. We all have something great to contribute. Strategies to consider
Time for Reflection
 Our world has changed a lot over the past three years. We have all been impacted in many ways. I recently read this great article, "The Three-Year Life Audit" in Psychology Today Magazine. It got me thinking about how much our lives have changed since the start of the pandemic three years ago. The fact that it has been three years already still blows my mind. These have been the fastest and yet slowest three years of my life.
In this blog post, I will share my personal audit of the last three years and invite you to make time for your own audit. There are a lot of great lessons that we learn from reflecting. Valuing our Social Connections Reflection Questions: How have your social ties evolved? Which connections do you miss—and what can you do about it? MC's Story Over the past three years, some of my social connections have become stronger, and others have unfortunately dissolved. At the start of the pandemic, we were all doing so much to keep in touch with everyone virtually since we could not meet in person. It became more rewarding to invest in deeper relationships, which led to me neglecting some others. What am I committing to doing over the next months?
Celebrating our greatness Reflection Questions: What unsung heroic feats have you endured? The things that brought you to your knees—perhaps without anyone else knowing? MC's Story Becoming a mother at the height of the pandemic was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I did. In March 2020, when the world was shutting down, I found out I was expecting our son. During my pregnancy, I lacked the support community I would typically have had because we were all confined to our homes. What am I committing to doing over the next months?
Embracing the new Reflection Questions: What new elements have you welcomed into your life? Projects, geographies, habits, creative outlets MC's Story Our son has driven us to explore our area more. Since moving to California, I have visited many more beautiful places in the last three years than in the previous five years. Also, seeing our son enjoy the little things around us has helped me appreciate what we have even more. What am I committing to doing next?
Releasing things that no longer serve me Reflection Questions: What have you let go of? That thing you thought you'd never escape but suddenly found a way to discard? MC's Story When I think about the biggest change in my mindset, I no longer believe I can control the outcomes of my life through great planning. The past years have shown me that I have no control over many things. The skill that I have learned is to set goals, have plans, and be prepared to adapt to the new things that arise as life happens. What am I committing to doing next?
Investing in the future Reflection Questions: What new seeds have you planted? Those once-impossible imaginings that are now starting to take root? MC's Story In the last three years, I have experienced much professional growth. My career has grown in ways that I never imagined. I have taken on new responsibilities, gotten promotions, developed great programs, and led a team. Although my bold moves have paid off, I am still holding back on ideas I m scared of implementing. What am I committing to doing next?
Final Thoughts The past three years have been my life's most unexpected and positively surprising times. If you had asked me in early 2020 where I think I would be in three years, I would never have imagined the life that I have now. I am very proud of myself for staying focused on my goals and grateful for the community that stood beside me throughout. My life has changed for the best!  My seventh year of living in Germany and now in the US were similar yet very different. Being able to reflect on my journey is a gift. I have seen the growth and how much my life has changed in the 22 years since I moved from Nigeria back to Germany and then to the US.
In this blog post, I will share the factors that made my experiences different and the lessons I learned. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts about my experiences living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US. Starting a new life In 2007, I moved to Trier from Saarbrucken, where I lived in Germany for most of my first six years. The move was necessary because I was starting a new course at university. Unfortunately, this meant that I left my sister and social network behind. Looking back, I am very happy that I made the bold move to restart my life in a new city. It was very scary, but I saw the positive results at school. Also, I could visit with my sister and friends on a short train ride. What did I learn?
Losing a loved one Sadly, a few weeks after I moved to Trier, I lost my grandmother. She had been a part of my life growing up in Nigeria. Being so far away in Germany and not being there with my mum and our extended family was tough. Even after over 16 years, I remember the call and where I was in my cold apartment. I am very grateful for my friend who came to my place and ensured I was ok before I went to stay with my sister in Saarbrucken. This was one of the times when Germany felt very far away from Nigeria because I could not be physically present. One thing that comforted me was that we had just seen our grandmother when we returned to Nigeria in the summer of 2006. What did I learn?
Deciding to leave Germany After a few months of living in Trier, I hit a wall and decided that I was done with Germany. Everything in me told me I had tried so much, which would not work. I thought it was time to pick up where I left off in Nigeria before leaving. Shortly before I bought my ticket, I talked with one of our family friends. She took her time to understand why I wanted to go, and I told her I was tired of facing financial challenges. In addition to being a listening ear, she offered to send me 200 Euros for three months to augment the money I made working at Subway. I decided to stay and give it another try. Staying in Germany was the right move for me, and I'm thankful for where I am today. What did I learn?
Working towards my career goals After I became a mother, I knew that I still wanted to have a successful career. This impacted my decisions about when to return to work and how much time I wanted to invest in work. 2021 was one of the most successful years in my career. I am very proud of everything I accomplished because I did it while caring for a baby. Due to the pandemic, we did not have childcare for our child's first 14 months. What did I learn?
Reuniting with family Due to the pandemic, our family did not meet our son in his first year. The first members of our family that he met were my brother-in-law and his family. I still remember how special the moment was when he got to see his uncle and cousins for the first time. Our son is shy when he meets people for the first time. However, he let his uncle carry him. I am getting emotional as I think about how much our lives changed during the pandemic and also having to navigate the times with a baby. What did I learn?
MC's Moment of Reflection One thing that 2007 and 2021 had was that I was starting new journeys. In 2007, I had just moved to a new city and was attempting to begin studying a new course, while in 2021, I was navigating life being a mom and a professional. Reflecting on my journey reminded me of how far I have come.  With the first quarter ending, it's time for our quarterly review. Regardless of how your year has been so far, it is important to check in to see where you are, measure your progress, and strategize your next moves.
In this blog post, we will complete our quarterly check-in for 2023. I will also take stock of my goals and the reality of what happened. Check out some of my "Her Plan" posts to help you have a great year. How has your year been so far? Here are some questions you can go through when reflecting on our year so far.
MC's Story: How has 2023 been so far for me? This quarter has been one of the wildest I have had in a long time. Two weeks into the year, I had to check in with myself because the year had already started looking different than I had hoped for. And then, three weeks into the year, a significant event at work shook me. In the last two months since then, I have spent time adjusting to the new normal. With all the unexpected things that have been going on, there have been a lot of great things that have been happening as well. Let's check in on my 2023 Goals:
Final Thoughts As I reflected on this year and the changes I have been through, I am very proud of everything I have accomplished so far. I have learned to celebrate my ability to adapt to unexpected situations as I progress toward my goals. We often see changes in our plans as a setback; imagine how different our lives would be if we see them differently as progress. Call to Action
 Continuous learning is a concept that is centered around prioritizing ongoing development and improvement. Learning that is self-motivated is the most fun and valuable. If one thing has propelled my personal and professional growth, it has been learning something new continuously.
In this blog post, I will share how to approach learning as part of your everyday life and plans. Know why you want to learn As with all of our plans, it is very important to know why you want to learn something new. Your learning goals motivate you to learn and apply the skills you acquired. At the end of every quarter, I reflect on what I learned and plan for the new things I want to learn. As part of this exercise, I think about where I want to go next and what skills will help me succeed. Questions to consider
Do your research It is impressive to see how accessible learning is to us in this day and time. There are so many fantastic courses that are available online for free or at a very low cost. And for those of us who are privileged to invest more in our learning, there are many amazing options to choose from. When I talk to people about their careers, I also ask them what they have learned recently. It gives me a sense of skills that others have that might be interesting to me. Questions to consider
Create your plan Integrating learning into your plan is crucial. I firmly believe that we will only do things that we make a plan for. I always make sure to schedule the time and plan for the money I want to invest in learning. If you already have your resources reserved, you are reducing the barrier that you might face when the time for learning comes. It also helps to have a longer-term plan for what you want to learn. This will help you ensure your learning is aligned with the goals you want to accomplish this year and beyond. Questions to consider
Find a Learning buddy A lot of research shows that we are more likely to work towards a complex goal if we have accountability partners. I love to learn and enjoy being an accountability partner to people around me. We learn together, share knowledge about the learning process, encourage ourselves when discouraged, and celebrate our learning accomplishments. Questions to consider
Take Action Now that you have a learning plan and an accountability partner, it is time to go out there and get started. It is essential to keep your commitment to developing yourself personally and professionally. Take the time to learn something new, apply your skills, and amplify your learnings by sharing them with people around you. Questions to consider
Final Thoughts: MC's Journey Over the past 13 years, I have consistently made learning a part of my personal and professional life. No year goes by without me learning a new skill. My sister often jokes about me working on more titles and certifications. It has become a part of my life. 2023 started very differently than I imagined. However, I am still very committed to my learning goals. In April, I will be attending a Leadership course that I am very excited about. Great Resources Check out my other blog posts about learning  One thing that has become very evident to me recently is that I am who I am today due to the experiences that have come from living and being an immigrant in multiple countries. This year makes 22 years since I moved away from Nigeria to Germany and eight years since my life in the US began.
In this blog post, I will share five ways that living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US has changed my life. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts about my experiences and learning. My love for people The value of having a community was influenced by growing up in Nigeria. I was fortunate to grow up around my mother's family and a close-knit community. It definitely took a proverbial village to raise me. And today, the people in my family are the most important people in my life. Additionally, over the years of living in multiple countries, I have made friends who are now like my family. My sense of responsibility Keeping my commitment is something that is very important to me. I was very heavily influenced by living in Germany and seeing how much worth people placed on knowing you will keep your word. Especially in my professional life, this trait has helped me a lot. As a program manager, I'm responsible for the commitments we make as a team, and I take that very seriously. Dreaming big and making a move Observing people in the US share their dreams and do things they have never done before was shocking at first. I moved here from Germany, where society expected you to have qualifications before you did a job and where people made very safe career choices. Living in the US over the past eight years, I have made very bold moves and reached heights in my career that I could never have imagined. My love for great food When I think about the food I enjoy, it has been influenced by all the countries that I have lived in. The food that I enjoy cooking at home is Nigerian. I feel connected to my culture and comforted when I eat food that I ate in my childhood. German sausage, bread, and desserts will always have a special place in my heart. And finally, living in California has given me access to fruits that taste great and foods from other countries. Living my best life Investing in myself and being ok with spending money was something that I learned after I moved to the US. Germany surely taught me to be financially responsible, which helped me build a solid financial foundation. I can now afford to live my best life, and I am very fortunate to live in a place where I can enjoy good things. Final Thoughts As I continue to live in different countries, I look forward to learning new things that will improve my life. I am grateful to have lived and experienced many great things over the last 22 years. Time to Reflect What life experiences have influenced you?  Happy International Women's Day to all the awesome Women !!!!!
Growing up around strong women is one of the greatest gifts that I have been given. I was raised by a single mother around her very strong sisters and my grandma, who was the family's matriarch. Throughout my life, I have met many incredible women. As we celebrate women around the world, I would like to share what I learned from the strong women around me. In this blog post, I will celebrate the five groups of Women who have impacted my life positively. Women who love and care for their children My motherhood journey started almost three years ago, and I am grateful for the great role models I had growing up. Being surrounded by strong mothers made me know that when my time came, I would be able to do it. The love of my mother and the care while we were growing up set me up for success in my life. Lessons I learned
Women who work hard towards their Career goals One thing that inspires me is seeing women who have beat all odds and are successful in their careers. I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of great women. Following the example of the women who have supported me on my career journey, I am committed to helping other women as well. Lessons I learned
Immigrant Women I met on my journey As I moved and lived in different countries, I met many awesome women. Some of them had been on their own journey for many more years than I was. It gave me the opportunity to learn from their experiences and wisdom. I also had companions on my journey who I got to spend time with as we all navigated our lives as immigrants. Lessons I learned
Women who have been real friends My friends have played a very important role in different phases of my life. I have a small circle of awesome women who are my "tribe." They are the first people I call when I accomplish big things, and things are not going well. Though we all live far apart, we work hard to stay in touch and are there for one another. Lessons I learned
Women who supported my passion projects Working on my passion projects is very important to me. I enjoy working on them because they help me feel fulfilled and reach amazing people. Starting my blog five years ago was one of the scariest things I did. I really appreciate all the women who read my posts, share their stories, and encourage me. Lessons I learned
Final Thoughts I am grateful for all the amazing women in my personal and professional life. Having role models, companions on my journey, and people I can give back to makes me proud to be a woman. Time for Reflection
 As I reflect on my career, I am grateful for the great people who have positively influenced my career. These incredible people saw my potential, invested in my development, provided new opportunities, mentored and sponsored me. We do not take the time to celebrate the people who have supported us in our professional lives.
In this blog post, I will share the five people that changed my career trajectory. Check out the other "Her Career" posts for tips and resources to help you thrive professionally. The person who gave me my first internship Throughout my years studying at the university, I worked on campus, babysat kids, and worked in restaurants to pay my way through school. When the time came to find internships, I had no idea where to start. I did not have a network in Germany that I could call on at this time of need. In a casual conversation with one of the mum's of the kids I was caring for, I shared that I was looking for an internship. A few weeks later, she told me about one of her husband's friends that would be interested in talking to me about internship opportunities. I prepared myself and went for coffee with the New connection. He offered me an internship in an IT department of a bank in neighboring Luxembourg. I still remember my first time on the shuttle from Trier to Luxemburg. I could not believe that I was on my way to my first job in a bank. The internship gave me my first taste of Program Management, and my journey started. Internships were unpaid back then, so I continued babysitting. When the six months were over, I returned to continue my last year at university. After one semester, the time came for my final internship, and the person who gave me my first internship made an introduction to someone who worked in an IT department at an airline, and I got my second internship. This connection would not have happened if he did not spend some of his social capital on my behalf. The person who gave me my first job After writing over 50 job applications, I started worrying that I might not get a job after graduating from University in Germany. Although I had worked hard to earn my degree in business information systems and lived in Germany for almost ten years then, I still had no solid professional network to rely on and was mainly applying for jobs that I found in newspapers. Then one day, I was invited to interview at a management consulting firm in Offenbach outside Frankfurt. Unfortunately, I didn't get that job. While I was on my way back to Trier, I got a call inviting me to an interview in Cologne. I remember preparing very hard because I really needed this job. Early one morning, I got on a train to Cologne to hopefully get this job. The interview went well, and I wanted to work for this mobile agency. This was my first full-time job that helped me continue building my portfolio as a tech program manager. My new employer took a bet on me and believed in my abilities. My first project was managing the development of a mobile app for a well-known German automobile brand. I still remember making 18,000 Euros in that job, and it felt like a lot of money to me. The people who approved my relocation to the US from Germany Although my move to the US was for a personal reason to be with my now husband, it has been one of the greatest things to happen to my career. Moving here has taken my career to heights I could never have imagined. I worked for an American company that had an office close to where my husband lived. After a series of events in my personal life, I knew that I was ready to move from Germany to the US. Relocating with my company was the easiest way to make it happen. Years before, I had spoken to our HR lead and other leaders in the company about my desire to relocate to the US. In late 2014, the time was right, and I had great advocates for my move from Cologne to our San Francisco office. Although because there was no business reason for my relocation, I had to cover most of my costs. However, my company did a lot of my immigration paperwork which was the hardest part. Moving to the Bay Area to be with my now husband was great for my personal life and career. The person who gave me my first role leading a program management office Working in a Management consulting company was one of my career highlights. It offered me the opportunity to work on projects for clients in many different industries. In eight years, I worked on aviation, automobile, fashion, and travel programs as a software program manager. I also got to work with global teams and learned a lot about different cultures. Fast forward to when I moved to the US, my skills as a global program manager were in high demand. After working on several projects for two years, I was offered the opportunity to work on a global program and said yes. My initial role for this client was to lead the development of a new platform. Over time, the scope of our work grew, and I built strong relationships with our clients. With the increase in scope and the size of our global team, the need for a central Program Management Office (PMO) came up. One of my team leads asked if I wanted to like to manage the PMO, and I initially said no. The role had a lot of responsibilities and required me to travel. I could not imagine having to be away from home for so much. He kept the role open and gave me time to get used to the idea of this big role. A few months passed, and I started believing that I could succeed. Having a team lead that encouraged me to take a bigger role is something I will always appreciate. Leading the PMO has been one of the highlights of my career. A manager and skip-level manager that gave me the space to do great work In previous blog posts, I have shared how successful the last two years have been for me professionally. Two of the people who have played a significant role in making this possible are my manager and skip level manager at the time. I am sure when they both first met me, they must have wondered why I was so bold in professing what I wanted from my career. I started building a relationship with my skip-level manager in 2019 when I joined a partner organization. Due to my previous experience, I knew that I needed great Sponsors to get to when I wanted to be in my career. Without knowing all the details, I am very grateful she has advocated for me in rooms where my career progression was discussed. In 2021, a few months after I returned from Maternity leave, I got to meet my new manager. Over the last two years, I have really appreciated how much faith and trust my Manager has put in my abilities. Final Thoughts Reflecting on my career journey reminded me of the past year's highs and lows. My professional journey started in Germany and has continued in the US over the past eight years. My experiences have varied vastly, and my growth has been phenomenal. As I think about what is next for me in my current career phase, I am reminded of how instrumental others have been in my career. I want to be someone that is a positive part of someone's career journey and experience. Time for Reflection
 One of the best pieces of professional advice I have received is building my network before I need it. I learned that growing my network needed to be a part of my career development planning. When I planned to write about the topic of networking in December, I had no idea what January 2023 would bring and how important our professional networks would be in these times. A lot of us have been neglecting our networks due to the pandemic.
In this blog post, we will explore five important questions to help us take stock and plan for our professional networks. Check out the other "Her Career" posts for tips and resources to help you thrive professionally. Do you understand the benefits of having a professional network? Like with many things in our lives, for you to have a solid network, you need to see and believe that it is beneficial. It takes work, and we know that It is easier to invest in doing something when we see that it is valuable. Professional networks serve multiple purposes, such as connecting you with people who have skills you can learn from, providing access to jobs or new projects, expanding your perspective, or providing opportunities to leverage your expertise in the service of others. Strategies to consider
What does your professional network look like? Networking experts group professional networks into these three types: operational, personal, and strategic. The operational network serves the purpose of helping you get work done effectively within your organization, while personal networks help your professional development, and strategic networks are most useful to gain clarity on future prospects or plans. All three types of networks are crucial for a successful career. The exercise of mapping your network and writing down the names of people you actively connect with in your network is helpful. Strategies to consider
What area do you have gaps in your network? Mapping out your network allows you to see where you can create better networks. A crucial part of maintaining a solid network is knowing what areas we can build out more. After mapping my network, I found that I needed to develop my strategic network. I also learned that I was no longer actively engaging with people outside my company. I like to remind myself that I have built networks in the past and can create new ones as needed. Strategies to consider
What is holding you back from building your networking? There are people who really enjoy networking. Some of them are natural, and others have mastered the skill of networking. Although I am an extrovert, building my professional networks did not come naturally to me. After doing some self-reflection, I found that my fear of rejection held me back from networking. I really struggled with reaching out to people. One thing that helped me was having a template that I leveraged to reach out to people. It helped me clarify why I was reaching out to them and how I could also bring value to them. It is less daunting to reach out to people now, and I remind myself that their willingness to connect is out of my control. Strategies to consider
How can you maintain your professional network? It is essential to continue maintaining our networks. Our professional networks need to change over time. As we grow and develop in our Careers, we need different types of networks. This is a reminder that professional networking is something that is ongoing. It takes continuous work and learning to build networks to grow with us. Our connections are a critical part of having a successful career. I have had to plan and be intentional about building my network. Strategies to consider
Final Thoughts We are responsible for our networks. As in our personal lives, the people we surround ourselves with in our professional lives matter a lot. You will reap the rewards of setting time and energy aside to grow and maintain your network. Call to Action
Great Resources What is networking and why is it so important? To Take Charge of Your Career, Start by Building Your Tribe Learn to Love Networking 4 Solid Strategies for Expanding Your Professional Network How Leaders Create and Use Networks  While visiting Nigeria in January 2018, I posted my first blog post. At that time, I was very focused on starting to do things that I was afraid of. Looking back on the past five years, I am more than amazed about my journey. I am proud of the over 250 blog posts I have written, the people I have met, the countless stories I have heard, and the path I have built. Over the next years, I look forward to telling stories I have been holding back, providing a platform for others to share their stories, and exploring speaking opportunities.
In this blog post, I will share the five lessons that I have learned through my blog. #1: Following your dreams is essential Starting my blog was part of my dream to create a community of women who support one another on their journey. My blog created a platform for me to share my story, start a conversation and hear people's experiences. The experiences that have come through my blog have surprised me. If I did not take the bold step and followed my dream, I would not have had experience. #2: Doing something bold helps you grow My blogging journey has taken a lot of bold steps. I sat on my dream to start a blog for over seven years. Once I started, I found this new determination to not stand in the way of my success. For some reason, I talked myself into thinking that I did not have anything special to add. #3: Taking time to reflect is a gift Someone at dinner asked me what my favorite part of my blog has been. My response was that it has helped me discover myself. There are so many blog posts that I have written about my personal struggles at that time. Planning and writing my blog posts helped me become more aware of my thoughts and stage in life. #4: Overcoming self-doubt is a process When I finally launched my blog, I thought I had gotten past the major self-doubt I had experienced. Little did I know that I would experience phases where I doubted myself and didn't feel like blogging. I had to keep reminding myself of the results I have seen over the years and believe that I have something special to contribute. #5: Having a solid support community is key Especially when we work towards our bold goals, we need people who believe in us and support our success. Every time I receive a comment about a post I wrote, I am very encouraged to continue. I have been blessed with amazing people who have been by my side over the past five years. Final Thoughts: Appreciation One thing that is sure is that I could not have done this without my people. Let me take the time to say a huge thank you.
 In February 2015, I packed up all of my life in Germany and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in the US. I can not believe I have been living here for eight years since I moved here. It has been an exciting ride. I still miss Germany and some of the things I got used to after living there for 14 years. The theme for this year was "chase your professional dreams."
In this blog post, I will reflect on my eight years in the US. This is part of my "Her Relocation" series, where I talk about my experience living in multiple countries over the past 20 years. Check out my previous posts about My Life in the US - Year 1, Year 2&3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, and Year 7. Growing my career In my 8th year in the US, I experienced tremendous professional success. In the past years, I focused on finding a job that I really enjoy and settling into it. Last year, I did great work, got promoted, and worked with an awesome team. Moving to the US took my career to another level. I had no idea how fast I would grow professionally, and I am very grateful for this journey. Spending time with our family Traveling to the UK to see our family seemed like a homecoming for me. Although we didn't get to go back to Germany, being in Europe certainly made me feel at home. We got to introduce our son to our family, build new memories and enjoy the things I missed. Traveling out of the US gave me time to reflect on my journey and more perspective on how things have been going. I am very grateful to be living here with my family at this phase of my life. Enjoying my life In the last few years, I have prioritized doing things that I enjoy. We are blessed to live in a beautiful part of the world. Exploring different parts of California has been a highlight. We have been enjoying short day trips and longer vacations in the sun. Looking at pictures makes me very happy that our son gets to experience these beautiful moments. Not understanding some things about the US Even after living here for eight years, I still do not understand many things. Living in Germany made me expect basic social services that, unfortunately, are unavailable in the US. The most significant difference that has affected our lives is the insufficient availability of child care. It is difficult to reconcile that getting a quality education for our child will be very expensive as long as we live in the US. I have accepted that healthcare is a privilege that not everyone has. Getting a taste of Germany right in our backyard One important thing to us is to pass on our Nigerian and German culture to our son. When we started looking for a daycare for him, we were thrilled to find a bilingual German and English daycare that was only about 20 minutes from our house. That was the start of our connection with some other German families. We have enjoyed some German traditions like going to a Christmas Market and Lantern festival. I have really enjoyed being able to show our son a part of our culture. Final Thoughts - 10 Lessons I learned In the eight years of my life in the US, I learned a lot of great lessons, including the following:
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