Closet Conversations Series With Adaugo Okafor – The Data Girl Telling Stories

What does it mean to be a woman in tech? For some women like Adaugo, it means breaking barriers, crunching numbers, and telling stories that inspire.

For our first instalment in the #ClosetConversations series, where Her Green Room invites women to share their stories of success in career and business, we feature Adaugo Okafor, a woman in the tech field.

#WomanInTech is a powerful hashtag that represents women blazing trails in an industry often considered male-dominated, and Adaugo is one of those women. From earning a degree in Engineering to building a thriving career in Data, she has gained work experience across multiple countries, from Africa, Europe to the Middle East, and across various industries.

But there’s more to her story. Beyond being a Data Professional, Adaugo is also a storyteller—both as a blogger and a podcaster. In this conversation, we discuss her career journey, her passion for storytelling, and why creating relatable content is important to her.

I hope this conversation serves as a reminder especially as we celebrate International Women’s Month in March that there are no limits and no spaces where women shouldn’t feel welcome—gender should never be a barrier to their dreams.

Describe yourself in one sentence.

A girl who wants to live life fully and positively impact the lives of others.

When did you decide to switch from Engineering to the Data field? What were your initial challenges, and how did you overcome them?

It wasn’t a very conscious or planned change—I like to say that Data found me. I had always wanted a career in IT, but I wasn’t sure of the exact path. Fresh out of school, eager to learn, and with an open mind, I started taking courses on Python and Cybersecurity while searching for job opportunities.

Fortunately, I landed a job that allowed me to choose between Information Security and Data—you already know which one I chose. Before then, I had never heard of Data, so it was more a curiosity-driven decision than a well-thought-out switch.

My biggest initial struggle was self-development. A simple Google search can be overwhelming, leaving you spiralling or going around in circles. What helped me was focusing on resources from credible sources, I took courses from learning platforms like Coursera and edX. Also, following experienced professionals in my field of interest on LinkedIn was useful. Finally, being part of a community of people in the data space was crucial—it provided encouragement, especially on days when I felt exhausted or stuck.

As a self-proclaimed introvert, you constantly put yourself out there—from blogging to hosting a podcast. How do you ensure being in the spotlight doesn’t deter you from chasing your passions?

To be honest, I don’t consider myself to be in the spotlight. I simply enjoy writing and co-hosting the Gist and Puff-Puff podcast. When I’m not doing either of those, I’m keeping to myself as usual.

Plus, I’m not very active on social media—I just put out content and disappear! That’s something I’m working on improving because I plan to return to actively blogging and telling stories again.

 

 

What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in the Data space?

There are many opportunities in the data space. I’d advise doing thorough research to identify which area interests you the most, then creating a plan to achieve it. This plan should include; the skills you need to learn, courses to take, and projects to practice with.

Joining a community of people in the Data space or finding an accountability partner will also help keep you motivated. I can’t stress enough how valuable a strong community is—it provides access to resources and support that you might not find on your own.

And finally, keep an open mind. You never know where your curiosity will lead you!

If someone wanted to bribe you with food, what would be their best bet?

That’s a difficult question because I love food (laughs). Fun fact—I think I follow every recipe page on Instagram!

I enjoy both cooking and eating, but my absolute favourite dish is Oha soup with lots of obstacles in it—if you know, you know.

What do you love most about Data?

I love digging into data and discovering insights—the lightbulb moments and the excitement of solving problems. 

It’s fascinating that you could identify useful patterns about an entity or a population by looking at their data over time. It’s like being a detective, scrutinizing datasets to build a story.

Overall, I believe that good data when harnessed fully has the potential to create more self-aware and resilient organisations.

 

 

What’s the real gist behind your podcast the ”gist and puff puff” podcast? What informed your decision to start a podcast? 

There’s something liberating about the #metoo feeling. I didn’t have sisters growing up, so honest girl conversations were foreign to me. I used to crave/idolise girl friendships. Conversations with Jess and other friends made me feel normal because it made me realise that I’m not a weirdo after all, people face similar struggles; this discovery gave me so much relief. This podcast is a space where we share our stories with you in hopes that you find them relatable and can also exhale and grace yourself (and others too) even more. 

What other career paths interest you?

First, Cybersecurity was my first love before I found data, so if I wasnt in the data space, I would be a thriving Cybersecurity professional.

Second, I love singing and listening to Music, I’m that neighbor who you can always tell when she’s around because you would definitely hear her singing. Even my team members at work are tired of me. I don’t know that I would do music professionally but it is definitely a huge interest.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received in life?

“The people who matter won’t mind and the people who mind don’t exactly matter.” This is a charge to explore your interests and put yourself out there, this is especially helpful for me because I sometimes struggle with self-doubt and people validation.

 

 

You wrote a blog post about dealing with impostor syndrome. How do you overcome it?

I don’t think impostor syndrome ever fully disappears—it’s a cycle. Whenever we step into new, uncomfortable situations, those feelings creep in. But as we adapt, they fade—until the next challenge arises.

I’ve simply decided to show up regardless of how scared I feel. I remind myself that comfort and growth don’t coexist. I’d rather take a chance on myself than lose sleep years later wondering why I never gave it a shot.

What has been the most heartwarming feedback you’ve received from a blog post?

I received some #MeToo messages from some readers saying they could relate and found a post encouraging. That made me really happy.

When you’re not analysing Data or telling stories, you’re most likely…?

…Watching a movie, listening to music, catching up with my friends.

Your blog includes references to your Christian faith. How has it shaped your life?

My faith is a core part of my identity. It gives me a sense of purpose and hope. In difficult times, I’m reminded that I am never alone—I have a father who loves and sees me, and has the best plans for me. I strive to be authentic in my writing, so my faith naturally shines through.

 

Adaugo’s blogs were some of the earliest I read, and I admired how she balanced being a numbers girl at her day job with creative pursuits like blogging. As a multifaceted woman, I’m inspired by those who refuse to fit into boxes and thrive outside of designated spaces. When I conceived the idea for the Closet Conversation Series, I wanted to create a safe space for women to share their journeys in career and business so that other women could be inspired to believe that anything was possible. I hope her story reminds you that it’s okay to have passions outside of work, succeeding in foreign territories is possible, and that a woman can truly have it all.

You can check out Adaugo’s blog dugogloria.com or listen to her podcast here

You can also connect with her on social media

Linkedin: Adaugo Gloria Okafor

Instagram: @dugogloria_

Ps. Note that Adaugo’s blog is currently under maintenance and will return shortly