Grad School Buddy

Ever wondered how banks decide who gets a loan, and who doesn’t? 

In this episode, we sit down with Temitope, a credit risk and financial services professional with an MBA, experienced in advising banks across the UK and international markets.

Credit risk management (CRM) determines who banks lend to, how much risk they take, and how they do it responsibly. Temitope explains how CRM balances regulatory compliance, responsible lending...

Welcome to the premiere episode of  Season Five, themed ‘GSB’s Career Insight Series.’ In this season, we will break down unique career paths, one conversation at a time. 

This episode serves as a blueprint for what's to come. Join our co-hosts Ebelechukwu, who is a social scientist and researcher in the international development and public policy sector, and Chukwuebuka, who works in Private Equity and Venture Capital, focusin...

The year is coming to an end, and we didn't want to sign off without a proper goodbye.

For the Season Finale, we kept it in-house, just the four of us looking at 2025 in review. We talked about everything: our favorite podcast guests, the GSB mentees, collaborations, the lessons from the year, and our hopes for next season.

We discussed what keeps our team tight and what it really takes to sustain GSB four years in. It's a ...

In this special episode, we bring you highlights from our live event hosted by Grad School Buddy in collaboration with EduFurther, designed to equip the next generation of graduate students with real-world guidance and mentorship to thrive in grad school and beyond.

On the panel, Rokeebat discussed grad school preparation and cleared common misconceptions about pursuing a graduate degree; ebelechukwu reflected on the impact of grad ...

In this episode, we discuss joining a graduate program with limited professional experience and how friendships and community make the journey easier. Our guest today is Esomchi Agalamanyi, who studied Economics at the University of Nigeria and earned a master’s in Education, Public Policy & Equity at the University of Glasgow. 

His professional journey has taken him from the UN office in New York to the UNICEF office in Ba...

Dana is a labor market economist whose work in the MENA region spans workforce development, gender reforms, and the future of work.

Growing up, Dana's interests ranged from science and sports to languages, but never policy. She eventually studied Government and International Politics at George Mason University, with minors in Middle Eastern Studies and Economics.

In this episode, Dana takes us through her grad school journey ir ...

It’s not really about grad school this time, it’s a bit of everything.

In this episode, Ebele and Ebuka reflect on the thought behind Grad School Buddy: to share stories from people of all walks of life who have taken different paths to and through grad school. From those who moved countries to study, to people who took out loans, self-funded or received scholarships, and folks who chose not to pursue grad school at all. The goal is...

Seun and Chinemerem met at the University of East Anglia, where they are earning advanced degrees in Global Development and Finance & Economics, respectively. Their friendship and collaboration have since grown, but their journey into development and impact began long before grad school — through grassroots projects, nonprofit leadership, and bold work in public policy.

Seun is the founder of The Development School Africa, an in...

Meet Odinaka Akpamgbo, a Nigerian scholar who earned first class twice—first from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, then from the Nigerian Law School. He also secured admission to four top UK universities, landing three fully funded scholarships, including one to study the prestigious Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford.

In this episode, Odinaka shares how his early encounters with injustice fueled his passion for law, h...

You can work in tech without writing a single line of code.

In this episode, we are with Barbra Okafor, a media strategist, content creator, and digital leader whose career spans TikTok, BBC, Trace, and now the Isle of Wight Council. With Master's degree in media and communications from the London School of Economics, Barbra has carved a niche at the intersection of tech and storytelling.

We talk about her journey from creating ...

Some people are born teachers. 

At just 25, Chisom Paula Ogamba stepped into a classroom at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, as a lecturer in English and Linguistics. In this episode, she walks us through her unique journey, from a curious undergrad who loved simplifying complex topics for her peers to a sociolinguist and PhD researcher passionate about critical narrative analysis.

Chisom had no plan to be a lecturer. In...

In this episode, we connect with Chike Ivor Onyekwelu, a seasoned product designer with expertise in Figma illustration and brand identity design. Now pursuing a Master’s in Information Technology with Project Management in the UK, Chike opens up about his first few weeks as an international graduate student. He shares candid reflections on how reality compares to his expectations, the early challenges of adjusting to a new academi...

In the first episode of Season Four, we talk with Dani, a senior external affairs officer specializing in human development, to explore the role of communication in global development. 

Dani shares her journey from studying history to international relations, her transformative experience at Johns Hopkins, and how storytelling shapes her work in Global Development. She highlights the power of storytelling, the importance of making i...

In this episode, Dr. Ashley Ruba, founder of AfterAcademia, shares her journey from a successful career in academia to roles in UX research at companies like Meta and Arthrex. Despite her academic accomplishments, including publishing multiple papers and winning prestigious awards, she realized the traditional academic path wasn't aligned with her expectations.

Dr Ruba opens up about the emotional and professional challenges sh...

Today’s conversation features Obinna Nwabueze, a dynamic academic and sports enthusiast whose professional journey blends the worlds of academics, football, and languages.

Obinna’s passion for governance and societal issues inspired his decision to study Political Science at the University of Nigeria. At Nsukka, he held several leadership positions and won numerous football trophies for his class and faculty while maintain...

Are you considering grad school as the next step for your creative career? Then this episode is for you! We are joined by Xorlali Plange, a Ghanaian fashion and costume designer, and Ernest Nweke, a Nigerian writer and multimedia storyteller.

Ernest, who is looking to apply to graduate school, moderates this session as Xorlali, a Master of Fine Arts candidate majoring in costume design at the prestigious NYU Tisch School of Art...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to carve out a successful career in policy despite its complexities? 

In today's conversation with Priya Alagarraj and Ruchika Bhatia, co-founders of Policy Career Central (PCC),  we discuss their experience in the public policy profession. 

Policy Career Central is a community-driven platform that provides valuable resources, opportunities, and practical advice for potent...

Conrad, Kosiso, and Chukwuma were classmates from the 2016 Class of the Department of Economics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Today, we bring you an engaging conversation between them as they discuss the different directions their lives and careers have taken since graduation.

After earning their bachelor’s in economics, each has thrived in diverse career paths shaped by their unique interests and values. While Chuks and Kos...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to attend graduate school virtually? 

In this episode, David Ebube walks us through his routine as he juggles a career as a strategic communications consultant and a master's in Sustainable Development at the University of Sussex.

David is passionate about advancing Africa's fashion economy. Having transitioned to media and Public relations, he now channels his passion and expertis...