Balancing career and family
Kemi Awoniyi Ige shares how reuniting her family led to new learning opportunities and connections
Financial reporting. Working with auditors. Reconciliation. This is a typical day in the professional life of Kemi Awoniyi Ige CPA, CGA, FCCA, Senior Financial Analyst at Canlin Energy. But life did not always look that way.
When Kemi moved to Houston, Texas, from Nigeria to pursue her Master’s in Management Information Systems, she never imagined she would end up in Canada. However, in 2007 (at the height of one of Alberta’s economic booms), Kemi’s husband found a job opportunity in Calgary, and she relocated with their children to be with him.
Young children have a remarkable ability to adapt and make friends. But integrating into a new community, especially in a new country, can be more challenging for parents. Kemi also started pursuing her CPA designation after the move and admits that juggling family responsibilities and her studies wasn’t easy. “At that time, I had to make sacrifices. It was hard when my kids were younger because I didn’t have a lot of time,” says Kemi.
While studying, Kemi made a point to form study groups with her classmates and ask for help from those around her. She credits the support of her workplace, community, and family as essential to her success and encourages other internationally trained professionals to rely on supportive connections. “My tip is to connect with your cultural community because there are a lot of networks there. Reach out and find people with similar interests and backgrounds,” says Kemi.
Kemi believes her designation has set her apart in an evolving and competitive job market. “In the past few years, there has been a downturn in the economy. I believe people who have their designation have more job security because there is legitimacy that comes with having those letters behind your name,” she says.
Kemi’s days of balancing studies and childcare may be over, but the experience remains fresh in her mind. “That is why I love being a mentor; I want to give someone the supportive experience I had.”