SkillHer Meets Plus Recap: Positioning for Global Opportunities

At our recent SkillHer Meets Plus session, we hosted a powerful live mentorship conversation on Positioning for Global Opportunities with Temilade Ojuade — whose journey spans Bank of America, Andela, and now Brookfield UK, alongside being a Harvard scholar.

More than her titles, Temilade showed up with honesty, depth, and practical insights — breaking down what it really takes to move from where you are to where you want to be.

Here are the key takeaways from the session:

 

1. Positioning Starts with Clarity

Before anything else, you need to know what you’re positioning for.

Temilade emphasized that positioning is not random — it’s intentional. Whether it’s a new role, a promotion, a global career, or building a business, clarity about your next step is the foundation.

Once you know your goal, the next step is to:

• Study people who have achieved it
• Learn their paths (LinkedIn, conversations, research)
• Adapt what works for your own journey

 

2. Qualification is Not Enough

A major distinction from the session was this:

Being qualified is not the same as being well-positioned.

You can tick all the boxes and still be overlooked.

Positioning requires going beyond the basics:

• Tailoring your applications
• Reaching out to people in target organizations
• Making your work and value visible

 

3. Feeling Stuck is Normal — But Don’t Stay There

One of the most reassuring moments from the session was this:

Everyone gets stuck at different points in life.

Instead of panicking:

• Accept it as part of growth
• Build a support system (peers + mentors)
• Stay proactive

Temilade also encouraged doing something outside your main focus — learning a new skill, starting a side project, or exploring creative outlets — to keep momentum and avoid stagnation.

 

4. You Can Start Where You Are

You don’t need international experience to begin positioning globally.

What matters is:

• Understanding your current path
• Identifying if it can scale globally
• Upskilling where necessary

Global exposure can start small:

• Remote roles
• Volunteering
• Online courses
• Regional opportunities (not just UK/US)

 

5. Visibility is a Career Strategy

Doing good work is not enough if no one sees it.

Visibility means:

• Sharing insights relevant to your field
• Being intentional about your online presence
• Speaking about your work and achievements

It doesn’t have to be overwhelming — consistency and relevance matter more than frequency.

 

6. Networking is Intentional (and Sometimes Slow)

Building relationships is key, but it requires strategy:

• Reach out thoughtfully (not generic messages)
• Be clear about your intent
• Don’t take silence personally

Even if 1 out of 20 people respond — that one connection can open doors.

 

7. Common Misconceptions About Global Opportunities

Temilade addressed a few important myths:

• You don’t need to be 100% qualified before applying
• Global doesn’t only mean UK/US — it starts beyond your current location
• Opportunities don’t always start “big” — small steps count
• Success is rarely instant — persistence matters

 

8. Know Your Worth (and Do Your Research)

To avoid being underpaid:

• Research salary benchmarks
• Ask peers for ranges
• Use data when negotiating

Confidence is important, but information is power.

 

9. Think Small to Win Big

Instead of overwhelming long-term goals, focus on:

One achievable goal in the next 6 months.

Break it down. Commit to it. Build momentum.

Progress compounds when goals are realistic and consistent.

 

10. The Mindset Shift: Back Yourself

If there was one message to take away, it’s this:

Believe in yourself — fully and consistently.

Be as kind to yourself as you are to others.
Give yourself grace.
Try, fail, learn, and try again.

Because ultimately, positioning is not just about strategy — it’s about confidence.

 

✨ Final Reflection

The session ended with a powerful exercise:
What is one thing you can commit to achieving in the next 6 months?

Sometimes, that one step is all you need to start repositioning your life.