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Time stamps:

00:00 Podcast Prayer of Gratitude

08:29 Chose Health Science Path

11:48 Uncertain Post-Graduation Path

17:25 Love-Hate T-Mobile Experience

20:52 "Turning Laughter Into Motivation"

26:21 Interpreting Sales Data for Strategy

33:43 Aspiring Business Analyst Journey

37:31 "Balancing Work and Job Search"

45:59 Unexpected Reality of Fancy Job Title

52:24 Translating Requirements for Developers

57:26 Adapting from iPhone 6 to 16

01:01:30 Business Analysis Coaching Launch

01:03:26 Guidance for Apple Collaboration Success

About this video:

Welcome back to another episode of Tech Woke! In today’s conversation, host Christopher Okpala sits down with the vibrant and insightful Dahlia, a certified Scrum Master and Product Owner, who opens up about her unconventional journey into the tech world. From her beginnings in a small Virginia town, navigating the pressures of an immigrant household, to finding her way through college and pivoting from health sciences to a career in business analysis—Dahlia shares the real, relatable ups and downs along the way.

You'll hear how she overcame feelings of failure and self-doubt, got her start as an unlikely retail store manager at T-Mobile, and discovered her knack for business analytics through hands-on problem solving and data-driven leadership. Dahlia gets candid about what drove her to finally make the leap into software development, the value of transferable skills, and what being a business analyst actually looks like day-to-day—complete with stories of setbacks, breakthroughs, and her passion for guiding others on similar journeys.

Plus, Dahlia reveals the origins of her new consulting business, why she’s committed to helping others break into tech, and drops wisdom everyone can use to pivot their own careers. Stick around for practical advice on selling yourself in interviews, understanding requirements gathering, and achieving a fulfilling work-life balance, all while staying true to your unique path.

Let’s jump into this inspiring conversation with Dahlia on this episode of Tech Woke