Mayowa Ijisesan began her extraordinary journey in the heart of Silicon Valley, where technology giants shape the future. As a young Nigerian woman with a degree in engineering and a passion for innovation, she joined Altera as an Advanced Software Engineer. Little did she know, her career would soon take over continents and industries, impacting many lives through technology and community empowerment.
Ijisesan made waves during her time at Altera, where she played a pivotal role in software and hardware development, testing, and process automation. Her tech knowledge not only left a mark within Silicon Valley but also left a lasting impact on the company. Fueled by her own dreams, she went on to create Dyvintel, a Business Intelligence consulting firm. Under her leadership, she was responsible for a range of data-driven projects across the US and Canada, empowering clients with more refined decision-making skills while also establishing herself as a trailblazer in business intelligence.
Her journey is a truly inspiring one, not just because of her technical accomplishments, but because of her unwavering dedication to continuous learning and growth. She didn’t just stop at being a certified Scrum Master and Product Owner; she took it a step further by immersing herself into courses like “Artificial Intelligence for Leaders” and “Generative AI for Business Applications” to stay at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies. With various certifications, Ijisesan continuously pushed the boundaries of her knowledge and expertise. Today, she wears many hats – advisory board member at Insights Factory, a startup in AI & Data Analytics, and the Resident Pastor at KingsWord International Church in Chicago. She also serves as the Executive Vice President of Strategy for KingsWord Ministries, leaving her mark across North America, Europe, and Africa.
Her deep commitment to community empowerment as well as championing important causes like Career Journeys, a program where Mayowa Ijisesan empowers young professionals in tech, sharing her journey and propelling them on theirs. More so, she hosts the Thrive Women’s Conferences and the nonprofit Dear Pastor’s Wife, to provide support and empowerment to women and pastors’ wives globally. Ijisesan’s work transcends borders, bridging technology and community empowerment to inspire those around her. By leveraging her technical expertise and compassionate leadership, she opens doors for others to succeed in a rapidly changing digital world. From Silicon Valley to Nigeria and beyond, Mayowa Ijisesan embodies how combining professional skills with a passion for empowering others can create the most profound impact. As she continues on this path, her technical expertise and heartfelt service to others promises to make a lasting impact on the world. Ijisesan isn’t just a participant in the tech and intelligence realm; she’s a pioneer, a mentor, and a visionary leader with a story that is far from over.
Mayowa, your story immediately jumped out as one that is truly inspiring. Who is May Ijisesan and where did the journey begin?
Mayowa Ijisesan, known to some as simply May and to others as Pastor May is a woman who is always hungry for more. She’s never satisfied with past accomplishments, she wants to make as much impact as possible through all avenues available to her. My journey began with two great parents who believed in me, encouraged, and many times pushed me to try harder. My love for technology and engineering was inspired by my father, Dr Gabriel Adefolaju, who was a civil engineer. My love for learning was inspired by my mother, Pamela Adefolaju, who was a horticultural researcher and librarian. They both created a conducive environment for learning when I was growing up. I loved to make them proud. They were also godly parents who helped me to stay focused and avoid distractions by instilling a discipline of church attendance and spiritual service.
What first sparked your interest in the tech industry and led you to Silicon Valley?
My father inspired my love for engineering from a young age and never made me feel like I couldn’t succeed in a male-dominated field. While I didn’t follow his path into civil engineering, I chose electrical engineering, later switching to computer engineering before graduating from the University of Oklahoma, Norman. I then pursued a master’s degree at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. During my time at Cornell, I gained exposure to software engineering at the chip level, which led to my recruitment by Altera (later acquired by Intel). Altera, based in Silicon Valley, was the perfect place to launch my professional career.
You have announced that you have a book coming. What aspect of your life does your book “Silicon Valley Girl” highlight?
Silicon Valley Girl explores all aspects of my professional life from my college days until the present day. I was at the Obafemi Awolowo University, in Nigeria for two years before I transferred to the University of Oklahoma. I have chapter titles like – Intentional Beginnings, Coming to America, Silicon Valley, The Only (Black) Woman in the Room, Mum at Work and so many more exciting topics. My writing coach, Laju Iren, made sure I was very exhaustive in covering every aspect of my career journey. I even talked about meeting my husband and how that affected my career journey. I talk about how parenting influenced me early in life. It’s a book that I really enjoyed writing and I can’t wait to get it into the hands of readers who I know will enjoy it as well.
What strategies or initiatives empowered and supported you as a woman pursuing a career in this field? Firstly, a solid engineering education has had an immense effect on the way I think and approach challenges in my field. Secondly, curating a network of high-value people who share similar values with me has been invaluable. Paying attention to marriage because your partner can either help make you or break you has been important. Also pouring into others has helped me tremendously. I find that when I pour into others and I am intentional about helping their growth journey, I make room for further growth in my own life too. It’s been possible for me to do this more easily as a pastor. I care about my parishioners holistically and pay particular attention to their career growth. That’s why I started an initiative called Career Resources. I also strive to have both female and male mentors. Female mentors help me thrive as a woman, while male mentors provide perspectives traditionally associated with men, but which are valuable for anyone to explore.
Your time at Altera marked a significant chapter in your career. What did working in such a high-stakes environment teach you?
Working at Altera taught me many things. The very first project I was put on taught me attention to detail. The slightest error on that project could cost the company tens of thousands of dollars, and it was a project that required so much precision. I learned how to deliver under pressure. Innovation was at breakneck speed and any company that wanted to thrive had to keep up with the pace. Competition was fierce, and you had to deliver new products or new features on an existing product at a cadence that was almost superhuman. This created an exciting, even though occasionally exhausting, work environment. You were always aware that you were working with some of the brightest technological minds which could sometimes be intimidating but it also made you bring your A-game every time. Working at Altera taught me resilience, innovation, team spirit, and an appetite for pushing against the boundaries of what was possible.
Ministry also plays a big role in your daily life. Can you tell us more about that? How do you manage to dedicate time and energy to both areas?
I am as committed to ministry as I am to my profession, maybe even more so. I am a resident pastor of the headquarters church of a global ministry – KingsWord Everywhere, I head the women’s ministry – providing mentorship and guidance to other female leaders, and also run an organization to provide hope, healing, and connection for pastors’ wives called Dear Pastor’s Wife. I organize annual women’s conferences and retreats. You can say I am a busy woman.
I try to pace myself. There are certain habits that I am particular about which help my productivity. Sleep is a big one. My sleep isn’t where it should be yet but I’m always working on improving it. Sleep clears my brain for optimal performance. I try to work out and keep fit to improve my stamina. I travel light but not worrying, holding grudges, or allowing envy or jealousy. These internal vices tend to weigh you down and affect your ability to switch contexts from one area to another. Finally, I don’t feel the need to be at the center of anything. So, I can delegate without feeling insecure about someone else taking the shine. I try to pay attention to these things and they at least help me to operate in both worlds.
Transitioning is a big theme in your career. Can you share the story behind why you started your consulting firm Dyvintel?
I was with my last employer then, a big steel manufacturing company in Illinois with headquarters in Alabama and 32 locations all over the US. I had worked for them for 2 years but the commute back and forth from work was getting too much for my young family. I was commuting 100 miles each day. I knew what I was doing for them in the area of Business Intelligence, Data Analytics, and Reporting was very sensitive to company operations both locally and within the 12 divisions of the company that I was working with. So, instead of quitting cold turkey, I submitted a letter of intent to quit. I committed to working for as long as it took for them to find a replacement for me. I even offered to train the person that would replace me. 3 days later, my boss called me into her office and asked if I had ever thought of starting a company. She said they had determined that they couldn’t replace me and if I started a company, they’d be my first clients. So, I didn’t plan to start a company. A company was handed over to me. I later went on to service that company and many of its divisions as well as other customers in the US and Canada. The name Dyvintel was a play on two words. It stands for Divine Intelligence. The Intelligence is from Business Intelligence, my area of expertise for several years. The Divine is a pointer to the fact that how the company started was a miracle.
How did your tech background prepare you for the challenges of entrepreneurship?
There were many challenges of entrepreneurship that my tech background did not prepare me for. My tech background prepared me for innovative solutions for complex problems which set my company apart and kept my customers both intrigued and happy. But what prepared me for some of the tougher challenges of entrepreneurship was my work in ministry. Pioneering work in ministry gave me the resilience, creative thinking, marketing, people, and soft skills I needed to thrive in entrepreneurship. Also, things like having the audacity to believe difficult things are possible comes from ministry. That’s a steady part of doing the work of ministry. Changing lives takes a lot of grit. What I didn’t realize was that that grit would serve me well in entrepreneurship.
What would you say are the most promising opportunities for Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and tech startups today, especially in areas like AI?
Nigeria’s tech ecosystem is ripe with opportunities, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, which can drive significant advancements across various sectors. AI can be leveraged to solve local problems in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, and financial services. With Nigeria’s youthful population and growing pool of tech talent, there’s immense potential to create AI-driven solutions that not only address local challenges but also position Nigeria as a leader in tech innovation on the global stage. Furthermore, the country’s increasing connectivity and digital adoption provide a fertile ground for tech startups to thrive, innovate, and scale rapidly.
As someone who has successfully navigated both the tech and nonprofit sectors, what is an experience that has stood out to you through your initiatives?
One experience that stands out is leading KingsWord Ministries through the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a period that required a delicate balance of leveraging technology to maintain connections and ensure the ministry’s continuity while also providing spiritual and emotional support to the community. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of adaptability and the importance of having a strong, mission-driven team. It also underscored the value of combining my tech background with my nonprofit leadership to navigate such unprecedented challenges effectively.
Can you tell us more about the Career Resource program?
The Career Resource program is an initiative I launched to help individuals in the nonprofit and church communities advance their careers through targeted training, workshops, and mentoring. The program is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in their careers while also fostering a sense of purpose and calling in their professional lives. By offering tailored resources and guidance, Career Resource aims to bridge the gap between faith-based service and professional excellence, empowering individuals to excel in both areas.
Lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals who draw inspiration from your story?
My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals is to embrace the journey of continuous learning and to be intentional about developing others along the way. Recognize that leadership is not just about achieving your own goals but about discovering and nurturing the potential in those around you. Stay true to your values, and don’t be afraid to pivot or adapt when necessary. Success is not just measured by personal achievements but by the impact you have on others and the legacy you leave behind. Always seek to align your work with a higher purpose, and you’ll find that fulfillment follows naturally.
