How do you secure a professional Public Health role in the UK before graduation?

In this episode of Winning Across Borders, I sit down with Brenda, a Public Health professional who transitioned from Medical Laboratory Science into Public Health and successfully secured a role in the UK before completing her Master's degree.

We discuss the realities of studying in the UK, building a career in Public Health, networking, volunteering, job applications, data skills, and the mindset required to stand out as an international student.

Whether you're studying Public Health, considering an MPH, or looking to build a professional career in the UK, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately.

🎙️ Topics Covered

✅ Public Health careers in the UK

✅ Getting a job before graduation

✅ NHS and local council opportunities

✅ Networking and volunteering

✅ International student success strategies

✅ Data skills for Public Health professionals

✅ Excel, Power BI, R, and epidemiology

✅ Career planning and mindset

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Why you need community as an international student (Preview)

01:14 Introduction

02:38 Meet Brenda – Her background and journey

05:00 Why Medical Laboratory Science?

07:28 Why the UK and why Public Health?

10:22 How Brenda secured a UK job before graduation

11:05 The mindset shift international students need

13:18 Understanding Public Health beyond job titles

15:14 The importance of integrating into UK culture

16:15 Expanding job searches beyond the NHS

17:48 Volunteering and gaining relevant experience

19:53 Working with children and the NHS Dynamic Support Keyworker role

21:33 Brenda's job application strategy

23:05 Using LinkedIn, Twitter, and networking to prepare for interviews

24:30 Interview preparation and using AI tools effectively

26:08 Why you should start applying early

29:14 Networking, conferences, and opportunities students miss

32:31 Why networking is not begging

35:06 Advocating for yourself at work

38:27 The growing importance of data skills in Public Health

40:18 Learning Excel, Power BI, R, and epidemiology

41:33 Using university resources and lecturers effectively

44:03 Key lessons for international students

47:19 Final advice – Find your community

48:05 Outro

💼 Connect with Brenda

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-o-539ab51a4/

📺 Subscribe to Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/@thewabpod

🌍 Website

https://thewinningacrossborderspod.riverside.com/

💼 Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-across-borders-podcast

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#PublicHealth #MPH #InternationalStudents #NHSJobs #PublicHealthCareers #DataAnalytics #PowerBI #HealthcareCareers #UKJobs #WinningAcrossBorders #AfricansInTheUK #CareerGrowth #Networking #InternationalStudentsUK

What makes someone leave a successful career behind and start over in a new country?

In this episode of Winning Across Borders, I sit down with Annabel Okuomose, a Power Platform Technical Specialist based in the UK, to discuss her journey from studying Computer Science in Nigeria to building a successful career in tech and eventually relocating to the United Kingdom.

Annabel shares how she accidentally found her way into tech, the role LinkedIn and networking played in opening doors, how she discovered Microsoft Power Platform, and why she decided to leave Nigeria after the last election despite having an established career.

We also discuss:

✅ Breaking into tech without a clear roadmap
✅ Building a career in Power Platform and Automation
✅ Relocating to the UK as a tech professional
✅ Navigating the UK job market
✅ Why community and visibility matter
✅ Tailoring your CV for success
✅ Confidence, resilience, and career growth

Whether you're considering relocating, trying to break into tech, or looking to grow your career abroad, this conversation is packed with practical insights and honest reflections.

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TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Introduction

1:16 – Annabel introduces herself

1:45 – Studying computer science in Nigeria (not by choice)

3:47 – Graduating with no plan — the blank slate moment

4:46 – COVID, one year at home, and reaching out on LinkedIn

6:05 – How community and friendship shaped her early career

10:46 – What is Microsoft Power Platform? A plain-English breakdown

12:00 – How she discovered Power Platform through an internship

14:11 – Why she left Nigeria despite warnings about the UK job market

16:27 – The decision to pursue a master's in project management

19:50 – How she found her unique selling point in the UK market

22:20 – What makes candidates stand out (and what keeps people stuck)

24:36 – The CV strategy most applicants are missing

26:41 – Final reflections and takeaways

─────────────────────────────

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🎙️ Winning Across Borders Podcast

A podcast sharing the real stories of Africans navigating careers, opportunities, and life abroad.

Subscribe for more conversations on relocation, careers, visas, academia, and building a successful life across borders.

Connect with Annabel:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabel-okuomose-076a011a1/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewabpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-across-borders-podcast/

#PowerPlatform #TechCareer #NigerianInUK #AfricanAbroad #UKJobs #CareerAdvice #MicrosoftPowerPlatform #Relocation #TechJobsUK #Immigration #UK #Nigeria #Relocation #AfricanAbroad #WinningAcrossBorders #TechCareers #CareerGrowth #NigeriansInTech #AfricansInTech #LinkedInTips #TechPodcast

What happens after your MPH?

For many international students and public health graduates, this is one of the biggest questions they face after studying in the UK.

In this episode of Winning Across Borders, I sit down with Adaeze Ogoh — an Epidemiology and Information Scientist at the UK Health Security Agency — to break down the realities of building a public health career in the UK.

Adaeze shares practical insights, honest experiences, and actionable advice for aspiring public health professionals.

We discuss:

• What to do after your MPH
• Public health career pathways in the UK
• Job titles people should actually search for
• UK visa sponsorship opportunities in public health
• Networking and LinkedIn strategies
• Skills that matter in public health
• UKHSA, councils, NHS and other organizations to target
• How to gain experience while studying
• How to stay motivated through rejection

If you’re studying Public Health, Global Health, Healthcare Management, Epidemiology, or planning a career in the UK healthcare/public health system, this episode is for you.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations helping Africans build careers and opportunities abroad.

#PublicHealth #MPH #UKJobs #PublicHealthCareers #InternationalStudents #UKHealthSecurityAgency #WinningAcrossBorders #HealthcareCareers #Epidemiology #AfricansInTheUK

Connect with Adaeze Ogoh

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaeze-ogoh-public-health-professional/

Winning Accross Borders 

https://www.youtube.com/@thewabpod

https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-across-borders-podcast/

What does it actually take to move from Nigeria to the UK and reach the top of the tech ladder? In this powerful episode of Winner Across Borders, we sit down with Kayode Ajayi, a Microsoft MVP and Power Platform Solution Architect, to deconstruct his journey from a computer science graduate to an AI expert based in the UK.

Kayode shares the "uncensored" truth about his relocation, why he didn't originally plan to be a Power Platform developer, and the pivotal role his wife played in their move abroad. Whether you are a beginner trying to break into tech or a professional looking to land 100k+ roles in the UK, this conversation covers the blueprint for visibility, networking, and career longevity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Power Platform 101: What it is and why enterprises are ditching pro-code for low-code solutions.
• The "Mountain Climbing" Journey: How Kayode stumbled into tech through 3D animation.
• The UK Job Market Reality: Why Kayode’s applications failed but recruiters kept calling him.
• AI & Longevity: Why you must master the "fundamentals" even in the age of ChatGPT.
• Visibility Hacks: How to brand your LinkedIn profile and why you should post even if "the experts" have already covered the topic.
• Immigration & Mindset: Reframing "settlement" around employability and financial backing rather than just paperwork.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Kayode Ajayi

01:45 - What is a Microsoft MVP?

04:15 - Understanding the Power Platform & Low-Code 06:11 - The Animation Detour: How Kayode started

10:32 - The "Main Ginger": Why he moved to the UK

13:39 - Navigating the UK job market as a student

17:17 - Will AI take your tech job? (The 2+2 Principle)

22:49 - LinkedIn and Visibility: Overcoming the fear of posting

28:04 - The Truth about UK Immigration & Sponsorship 32:23 - Common mistakes immigrants make in job hunting 35:58 - Final Encouragement & The "God Factor"

If you're trying to break into tech, grow your career, or move abroad, this episode will give you the clarity you need.

🎧 Listen, learn, and take action.

📌 Connect with Kayode:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/naijatechmentor/

📌 Follow Winning Across Borders:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewabpod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-across-borders-podcast/

#winningacrossborders #techcareers #africansintech #ukjobs #powerplatform #microsoftmvp #careergrowth #relocation

In this episode of Winning Across Borders, we sit down with Femi, a cybersecurity engineer in the UK, who shares his journey from Nigeria to working in one of the world’s leading cybersecurity companies.

We dive deep into:

• Breaking into cybersecurity as an immigrant
• The reality of relocating to the UK
• Why networking is more powerful than certifications
• The truth about the UK job market in 2026
• How to stand out in tech without experience

If you're navigating expat experiences, aiming to become a high achiever, or building your own cross border success story, this episode is packed with real, practical insights.

We also discuss the relocation challenges most people don’t talk about — from job struggles to financial realities.

🎯 Whether you're:

• Planning to move abroad
• Trying to break into tech
• Or already in the UK struggling with job applications

This episode is for you.

👇🏾 Don’t forget to:
Like 👍🏾 | Comment 💬 | Subscribe 🔔

In this episode of Winning Across Borders, we sit down with Bolu, who shares her powerful journey from Nigeria to the UK and eventually to Canada.

After working in banking back home, she moved to the UK in 2022 and had to start over — taking a job as a support worker, something she initially struggled to accept, but that decision would go on to change everything.

From working in the care sector to gaining healthcare experience, her journey eventually opened the door for her to move to Canada and secure her permanent residence.

Today, she is not only building her life in Canada but also helping others navigate their relocation journeys as an immigration educator.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The reality of starting over in the UK
• From banking to support work — mindset shift
• How UK experience can help you move to Canada
• Express Entry and PR pathways
• UK vs Canada — honest comparison
• Advice for immigrants facing uncertainty

If you're currently in the UK or planning to relocate abroad, this episode is packed with real insights you don’t want to miss.

📌 Connect with Bolu (Immigration Educator):
https://www.instagram.com/_bolutife/

📌 Subscribe for more stories:
https://www.youtube.com/@thewabpod

In this episode of the Winner Cross Borders Podcast, we sit down with Mr. Moshood to discuss his powerful journey of relocating to the UK and building a career from scratch.

Like many immigrants, his journey did not start with a dream job. He worked survival jobs — waiting tables, working as a stadium steward, and doing night security — while studying for his master's degree.

But through persistence, networking, and continuous learning, he transitioned into managing critical IT infrastructure for one of the top institutions in the UK and is now building a career in IT security.

This episode is a real and honest conversation about what it truly takes to start over in a new country.

If you are:
• Planning to relocate abroad
• Currently studying in the UK
• Working survival jobs while chasing your career
• Trying to transition into the tech industry

Then this episode is for you.

🎯 Key Lessons From This Episode:

• The reality of relocating to the UK as a student
• Why your first job abroad might not match your qualifications
• The power of consistency when facing rejection
• How networking can accelerate your career
• Building the right community while abroad
• Turning survival jobs into stepping stones

💡 One powerful message from this episode:
"Consistency in the right direction will get you somewhere."

If this story inspired you, please:
👍 Like the video
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments
🔔 Subscribe for more immigrant success stories

Winner Cross Borders Podcast shares real stories from Africans in the diaspora who are building careers, businesses, and new lives abroad.

#UKImmigrantStory #CareerPivot #TechCareer #DiasporaStories #JapaStories #AfricanDiaspora

The World Only Rewards Boldness, Not Ideas: How I Moved From School Teacher to Hair Studio Owner in the UK | Winning Across Borders

Relocating abroad often forces people to rethink everything — their career, identity, and long-term plans.

For many Africans in the diaspora, the path to success is rarely straightforward.

In this episode of Winning Across Borders, we sit down with a guest who made a bold career pivot after relocating to the UK — moving from being a school teacher to owning a hair studio business.

We talk about:

• Life before relocating

• The challenges of starting over in a new country

• Why bold decisions matter more than just having good ideas

• The reality of building a business in the diaspora

• Lessons for anyone thinking about pivoting careers abroad

This is an honest conversation about risk, reinvention, and what it really takes to win across borders.

If you're navigating life in the diaspora, considering a career pivot, or building something from scratch, this episode is for you.

🎧 Watch the full episode here:

[Insert YouTube link]

👍 If you enjoyed this conversation:

• Like the video

• Subscribe to Winning Across Borders

• Share with someone navigating life abroad

I Had a PhD…

But Almost Settled for Support Work in the UK

Winning Across Borders: From Nigeria to UK Academia – The Journey of Dr. Olalekan Adisa

In this episode of Winning Across Borders, we sit down with Dr. Olalekan Adisa, a Nigerian academic whose journey spans Nigeria, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

From starting out in a polytechnic in Nigeria to earning multiple master’s degrees, completing a fully funded PhD in South Africa, and now serving as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Programme at a UK university, Dr. Adisa’s story is one of resilience, humility, strategy, and purpose.

We explore:

• What it truly takes to transition into UK academia
  
• The reality of relocating as an African professional
  
• Working support jobs despite holding a PhD
  
• How to secure sponsorship and navigate the UK system
  
• The difference between African and UK academic cultures
  
• Why networking, mentorship, and upskilling are critical
  
• The mindset shift needed to succeed abroad
  

Dr. Adisa speaks candidly about rejection, starting from the bottom, night shifts, balancing family life, and the power of positioning yourself as valuable in a competitive system.

If you are:

• Considering relocating to the UK
  
• Interested in academia or lecturing
  
• Struggling to find sponsorship
  
• Trying to pivot from survival jobs into your career
  

This episode will challenge and equip you.

Because at the end of the day, the real question is:

What do you have to offer?

🎧 Listen now and discover how to win across borders.

In this episode, Gbolahan Akinola shares his journey of relocating from Africa to the UK, discussing the challenges and opportunities faced along the way. He emphasizes the importance of preparation, networking, and leveraging current skills to navigate the job market successfully. Gbolahan also highlights the significance of maintaining a positive mindset and continuously improving oneself through self-assessment and upskilling. The conversation serves as a guide for others considering relocation and seeking to thrive in a new environment.

This episode isn’t about pretending it’s easy.
It’s about answering the real question:

👉🏽 After the hard jobs… what next?

If you’re:
• currently in the “survival phase”
• confused about your next career move
• scared to relocate
• or wondering if things will ever click

This episode is for you.

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
📺 Watch on YouTube
📲 Follow @thewabpod

This is Winning Across Borders.
And this is just the beginning.

Takeaways

The podcast aims to inspire Africans relocating abroad.

Relocation comes with challenges, including societal perceptions.

It's essential to navigate the job market with research and preparation.

Networking plays a crucial role in finding opportunities.

Harnessing current skills can lead to better job prospects.

Starting early in job applications is vital for success.

Self-assessment helps identify areas for improvement.

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for job seekers.

Feedback from interviews can guide future improvements.

A positive mindset is key to overcoming challenges.

Titles

Navigating the Relocation Journey: Insights and Strategies

From Africa to the UK: A Personal Journey

Sound bites

"This is the year to get started."

"How do you move from that stage?"

"You need to learn to keep upskilling."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Its Purpose

03:20 The Journey of Relocation and Career Transition

11:42 Navigating the Job Market in a New Country

20:07 Leveraging Skills and Networking for Success

23:35 Starting Early and Embracing Small Beginnings

25:11 Starting Small and Building Momentum

30:01 The Importance of Self-Assessment and Upskilling

38:22 Leveraging LinkedIn for Career Growth

42:41 Navigating Job Offers and Visa Sponsorships

45:14 Maintaining a Positive Mindset for Success

49:23 Introduction and Call to Action

50:41 Introduction to the Podcast Journey

53:35 Understanding the Relocation Experience

56:52 Navigating the Job Market: Research and Preparation

59:44 The Importance of Networking and Community

01:02:27 Skills and Upskilling: Enhancing Your Career

01:05:52 The Application Process: Strategies for Success

01:08:41 Interview Insights and Feedback

01:11:54 Leveraging LinkedIn for Opportunities

01:14:44 Maintaining a Positive Mindset

01:17:36 Conclusion and Call to Action