Omolade Oduyemi
Your job title?
Application Developer
Length of Service so far?
1+ year
Describe your current role?
Recently I have been working across several projects for the Credit and Rates banner. I primarily develop and maintain one of the tools responsible for the transference of reference data globally. The Bear Stearns merger has also brought some exciting projects my way; for example, I am one of the lead developers on the requirement to automatically upload over 20,000 of BBG bonds traded by Bear Stearns.
My team consists of 42 members that form the EIS Integration team, part of a wider department with a headcount that currently exceeds 150. It is a fast paced environment and the expectation to turn requirements around quickly is very high.
What do you enjoy most about working for J.P.Morgan?
I work with some really talented people and have made many friends and built great relationships over the past year. It’s a fantastic atmosphere to work in - I call it the sticky thing that keeps everyone together and makes working easier.
When did you first become interested in technology as a career?
I’ve always had a keen interest in anything related to technology. As a child, I was notorious for dismantling electronics and putting them back together. I’m guessing it started from that point.
What made J.P.Morgan attractive to you?
A couple of pointers:
- Global company with challenging opportunities.
- Outstanding performance in the financial market
- Opportunity to work in a fast paced environment
What was your first impression when you came to the J.P.Morgan for interview?
Friendly staff; relaxing environment; a great place to work.
Did you relocate? If so, where from?
I moved to Glasgow in 2004 from Nigeria to study at the University of Strathclyde. I’ve been in Glasgow ever since.
How do you ‘make a difference’ in your work?
The 3 key areas I feel that I make a difference are:
1) Technical skills that help me think through the business requirement end to end.
2) Ability to deliver to requirement on time and be held accountable.
3) I’m a detail-oriented person however at the same time I always keep the bigger picture in mind.
Do you take part in any social activities organised through J.P.Morgan?
I’m very sociable, getting myself involved in many of the organised company activities. For example over the last year I’ve been involved in: -
Townhalls: Not only great for knowledge expansion, employees gather from across all parts of the company. They are excellent networking events.
Annual balls: Although it only comes around once a year it is more than worth the wait. It’s amazing to see all the ladies dressed up in their evening dresses and all the gents in kilts and tuxedos.
Sporting activities: 5-aside football tournament, pool tournaments; to mention a few.
University events: Interacting with the students takes me back a few years. It’s amazing what students get up to these days!
Nights-out: All work and no play can be really draining. A good opportunity to relax, all senior and junior employees are in non-working mode and the “banter” that evolves from these events is second to none.
Other Events: Recently several employees across the Enterprise Information System department planned a trip to Inverness for the Rocknes festival. The weather was great and the event was brilliant. In addition, its summer and there’s been several barbecues organised. Its refreshing to stand around and have sizzling hot bbq’s with colleagues.
What technologies or technological issues are most important to your clients/customers?
The most important of all technological issues is Service availability. Downtime costs the company not only financially but reputationally too. We endeavour to always be functional by ensuring we produce good quality applications.
What has been your biggest challenge so far in IT?
I’ve had a career in Chemical engineering before switching to IT. Switching to IT was daunting however, so far it’s been successful. My biggest challenge in IT was writing my very 1st line of code. I had a 14 day target to put a small project together and it took me 7 days to write the very 1st line of code. I completed the project, met the target with a couple of sleepless nights. Ever since then, embarking on new projects, irrespective of the size, has become easier. My 1st experience has acted as a motivation for every other obstacle I’ve come across.
How have the training opportunities / program assisted in your career at J.P.Morgan?
Training opportunities are vast and varied. I like the fact that as an employee, I can request for customized training to achieve my individual goals. There is now a push for industry recognised certifications proving that individuals have an indepth understanding of their skillset. The certifications help define and achieve one's careers.
What are the key challenges facing technology over the next 12 months?
The key challenges facing technology are centred around the control of rapidly changing technologies. As technologies evolve, the architectural design, implementation of applications and people (just to mention a few) must also evolve and cope with these changes. It is bound to be an increasingly daunting task. Proper control measures and early adoption of changing technologies can bring about increased profitability to the technology based industries. However, this also exposes the industry to greater risks. Delayed adoption and improper control can keep the industry from taking advantage of the changing market needs. Change is the only constant thing in life however, it is rarely a painless process.
In a male dominated industry what career tips would you give to a female who's just starting up on her career?
It’s very important to be very confident of oneself. Self confidence goes a long way in one's appearance, interaction with other colleagues and the quality of work performed. Everyone around will notice this attitude and the appropriate respect will be attributed to the person. However, when stuck or in doubt never hesitate to ask questions. This tip applies to both males and females.