Kene Okoye
Role: Third-Party Wealth Distribution
Other(s): Co-founder at The Fluid Network
“When I got off the plane, the air smelled different. It was weird – I was six.”
Kene Okoye recounts his first memory of his inaugural journey to Nigeria from Philadelphia.
Kene’s trip marked the start of his most formative years. It immersed him in his motherland’s vibrant culture, solidifying his values and beliefs. Additionally, he came face-to-face with a flawed system, one that continues to fuel his aspirations to make an impact. In a recent chat, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredible Kene Okoye. From navigating the demanding environment of Loyola Jesuit boarding school to conquering challenges at Cornell University, Kene’s path has led him to the prestigious doors of Goldman Sachs, working as an analyst.
In the following article, I’ll attempt to capture the extraordinary essence of Kene’s remarkable story within the limited characters I have. Enjoy!
Let’s begin with your latest completed chapter, Cornell University. The journey to gaining admission was undoubtedly challenging. Would you please share some insights into your application process and how you managed the possibility of not being accepted?
“It feels like such a long time ago. First, my parents made it very clear that they would not pay for my college. I would need to find a school that would provide significant support in funding my education. That made it extremely hard to compile a list of schools that I could apply to.”
“When it came time to apply, my parents told me no West Coast, no California. Naturally, as Nigerian parents, it was important for them that I went somewhere that aligned with their values. Schools on the East Coast, in areas like New England, Pennsylvania, and the like were ideal for them. Now this really lowered the list of schools. The schools in this area had low acceptance rates, so behind their backs I applied to a bunch elsewhere. Just for safety, you know.”
Securing substantial scholarship funding for his education was no small feat for Kene. Not only did he need an outstanding academic transcript, but he also had to distinguish himself from other applicants. To enhance his chances, Kene’s parents enrolled him in SAT and essay prep classes–ensuring he was well-prepared. Additionally, they generously offered to cover his application fees. However, this support came with certain conditions.
What was truly fascinating was that he never had the opportunity to visit any of the American schools he applied to. Without the luxury of a personal computer or phone, he found himself relying on Loyola Jesuit’s IT Lab to gain access to crucial information. However, even this solution required careful planning, as he had to book his time in the lab three days in advance and had a small amount of time allotted. Why was this sacrifice necessary? Well, he needed a deeper understanding of the various schools he was considering, and he turned to Niche.com for the answers. Despite facing limited opportunities, he maximized his time in the IT Lab, using it to not only research schools but also to work diligently on his essays. Eventually, his hard work and dedication ultimately paid off. He received an official letter from Cornell University, proudly announcing his acceptance into their prestigious undergraduate business school. The significance of this achievement cannot be understated, as Cornell’s business school boasts an astonishing acceptance rate of less than 6%. The letter detailed the specific reasons why he was personally chosen for admission, solidifying his place among an elite group of students.
On your very first day at Cornell’s campus, what were your initial impressions?
“My first thought was that this place was absolutely beautiful, possibly the most stunning place I’ve ever seen. It was tucked away five hours from the city, making it feel like we were a world away from New York. The buildings had an old charm, possibly older than my own country. I remember my dad, who studied architecture, came with me to the campus. He was so excited to see buildings that he had only read about in textbooks. He insisted on taking pictures with each one, giving me all the intricate details.”
Could you describe the steps you took to connect with and meet new people? The social and academic setting you grew up in living must have been quite different from this new environment.
“When I first arrived with my strong Nigerian accent, it was tough for people to understand me. As a result, I was hesitant to socialize. However, over time, I learned the importance of patience – waiting for others and repeating myself until my words were understood.”
“Cornell, like my high school, is practically in the middle of nowhere. At first, moving here was a huge culture shock, but surprisingly, I found some similarities. As freshmen, we could only live in one part of campus, and they make it really tough to have a car. The business school student population is small, so in the first two years, we all take similar classes. Your schedule allows you to work with different people and get to know everyone. I’m grateful for Cornell because they excel at fostering early connections for students.”
“A lot of my friends came by way of the Ujamaa residence hall. This housing option allowed me to meet other Black students and helped me create some meaningful friendships.”
How did you approach the task of choosing your major?
“In my application essay to Cornell, I voiced my desire to use economics to potentially change how things are in Nigeria. The business school offered only one major, Applied Economics and Management, but you are able to pick your concentration. A lot of the people I was around were Finance and I was able to see the things and moves that they were making. After two years of generals, I ultimately decided to focus on Finance.”
When did you start crafting and taking your post-college plans seriously?
“Freshman year was quite a challenge for me. It was a huge period of adjustment, a new culture with tough classes and no knowledge of the pass-fail option and my GPA wasn’t stellar. In my sophomore year, I overheard people discussing internships, something I had no clue about. This piqued my curiosity, so I decided to dive deep into it. I started to learn about some of the top firms to work for and what is required to get into these places. That’s how I came across Goldman Sachs.”
“Cornell had a lot of GS alumni and their reputation on campus was amazing. I’m on Reddit, looking into GPA requirements and what not, and I was like my God – I really had to get locked in with my academics if I wanted a shot at joining a firm like Goldman Sachs.”
Along with building a strong academic case, Kene’s involvement on campus and in leadership positions increased. The very first group he got involved in was the Cornell Consult Your Community and there he was able solve real problems for real clients. From there, he joined BlackGen Capital, a premier minority-lead and student-run investment fund with individuals from some of America’s most prestigious universities. BlackGen, Kene says, gave him a look into how the corporate world operated, helping him with professional development and resume prep. In his upperclassmen years, he gained valuable leadership experience through being the Co-founder of Cornell’s Scholars of Finance chapter and overseeing Finance for Scholars in Our Society and Africa (SOSA).
Intrigued by his knack for recognizing gaps in his personal skill set, I was eager to shift the conversation towards the period of his life that shaped this ability. Kene completed all his primary and secondary schooling at Loyola Jesuit College in Abuja, Nigeria. This private boarding school has a unique approach to education, using the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm to shape their students into well-rounded individuals who excel in academics, character development, spiritual growth, and service to humanity.
Loyola Jesuit College has quite the impressive track record when it comes to producing successful alumni. Just take a look at Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, the General Partner and Co-Founder of Future Africa, or Kechi Okwuchi, who made it to the finals of the 12th season of America’s Got Talent. These are just a couple of the many distinguished individuals who have walked the halls of Loyola Jesuit College.
Let’s take a moment to go deeper into your roots, starting with Nigeria and your upbringing at LJC. Feel free to take this conversation in any direction you find fitting.
“When I got off the plane, the air smelled different. It was weird – I was six. Maybe it was just the fact that I was in a different country for the first time.”
“I’m driven to my house by a chauffeur, and I began to see the difference in the standard of living. A hundred dollars that we easily spend in a day in the US, goes very far in Nigeria and could last a month. Another major difference is hope. In America, you can study economics and have hope since you can see trends in the economy and it’s possible to know that you’ll be able to get a job when the economy is doing well.”
“The only hope there is within religion. When all reason fails, faith helps keep your mental up, you know. To make something out of nothing, education is also super important. Doing well in school, to secure opportunities to study abroad in either the US or the UK, is the way out. I know people who stayed in Nigeria for college and many that left, and the trajectories of their lives have turned out vastly different. Schools there are massively underfunded.”
What sets a school like Loyola Jesuit College apart? From what I’ve researched it seems to be an institution that has the facilities and faculty to truly cultivate some of the brightest minds.
“Loyola is extremely selective, and this is primarily because students from there do very well on the national exams. There’s an entrance exam that almost every single student in their final year of elementary school sits for; out of the maybe 20,000 students that take it, 100 are accepted and start their first year together at LJC.”
“It’s a place that has some strict terms when it comes to discipline. Every part of your day was scheduled. There was no access to personal phones or computers. You ate what was served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – and you better not be even a single second late to the table. Each disciplinary mark is recorded for your entire six years. So, there was an understanding that when it came time to apply for college admissions and if you had a long record, it would mean your chances of getting in were practically zero.”
The school accepts some of the smartest and most ambitious students in your country, what was that social environment like?
“To illustrate a little – they had a ranking system, and after every exam you’d have to go check your results on the board that’s available for everyone to see. Not only your exam score but also where you ranked in the class. It’s like a double-edged sword, if you were doing good and ranked high it was rewarding, if you were not doing as well it was a constant reminder that you had to get better. The only way to move up is by someone else moving down, so you’re always competing with each other.”
Do you feel that being in that arena more-so positively or negatively impacted your overall well being?
“There are some real geniuses in this world, and I found that out at LJC. I learned that sometimes you simply won’t be the smartest person in the room. Sometimes the only way to grow is to admit this and ask people what methods they used to come to their conclusions.”
“It was very hard at first. I didn’t think that I could succeed there. My first year I was trying what felt like my hardest and wasn’t seeing the results I expected. I told my parents there’s no way I could make the top 10 honor roll and you know they were like just keep trying. When I went back for my next year, I was completely locked in. Honestly, when I reflect, going to Loyola was one of the best things that happened in my life.”
As we neared the end of our conversation, I wanted to touch on the present. Transitioning from being an undergraduate to working full time and moving to a new city is a lot for anyone. Despite already having experience with independence from boarding school and studying abroad, Kene still found the transition challenging.
We are now in the phase of our life where, for the most part, we must solely provide for ourselves. Could you highlight some of the thoughts and reflections pertaining to this current phase and the transition from undergrad?
“Ha, well there’s no more homework. On a more serious note, there seems to have always been an obvious path as to what was next in the previous stages. Do well in high school, get into a good university, land a great job. What happens now? If I kill it at Goldman Sachs, what’s the next step? I still have to think about and create that path for myself, and it’s complex. So, now things have really gotten real.”
What are potential next steps you’ve considered?
“Right now, I’ve mostly been thinking about getting myself in the position to go to a top business school. That’s what I really see for myself. My job now is to do my best here at Goldman Sachs and be super disciplined. I’m a couple months into the role and I feel like I’ve completed freshman year. Now that I understand the role, I need to find out where I can truly add value and get myself involved.”
Is there anyone who has helped you along in this transition?
“I pray very regularly and talking to God has given me some comfort and helps put me in the right place mentally. Also, my girlfriend has been a tremendous support. She’s currently studying for the MCAT, and I feel like having an accountability partner makes it easier for me to keep sight of what the goal is. Having someone that pushes you, looks at things from a different angle, and sees something bigger in the horizon is a blessing.”
Outside of your day job, what are you building and what impact do you envision it having?
“I’m working on something right now that is aimed at bringing brilliant early career professionals together. People who are asking the same thing I’ve asked myself, having worked extremely hard to get into some of the top firms in the world, and are thinking, now what? People who are looking to be involved in community building, sharing of insights and access, and finding ways to be resources for our each other, the places we call home, and the younger generation coming after us.”
“At Goldman, there’s been two things I’ve heard repeated over and over and those are: one, the only thing constant is change, and two, build your network. I envision what I’m creating to address both. Creating a melting pot where we can keep each other informed with new ideas and be the connecting bridges to opportunities and people that align with each of our goals.”
Thanks so much for your time today, Kene. I’m excited to follow your journey as you pursue all you’ve set out to accomplish. As your past has shown, whenever you have been dialed in and focused on where you are at, excellence has followed.
Welcome to the Industry.
Welcome to NUFRIENDS.
Kene’s story is one of resilience and determination. Throughout his academic journey, he has consistently shown an unwavering commitment to personal growth and success. Despite facing rigorous academic demands and a competitive atmosphere at Loyola Jesuit boarding school, Kene embraced these challenges as opportunities for self-improvement.
At Cornell University, Kene thrived, pushing himself academically and personally. He not only excelled in his coursework but also took on leadership roles on campus, leaving a lasting impact on the university community. It was during this time that Kene’s ambition and drive caught the attention of Goldman Sachs, a renowned institution synonymous with excellence.
Now, as Kene embarks on his full-time role at Goldman Sachs, his dedication and perseverance have earned him the chance to contribute to one of the world’s most esteemed financial institutions.
Kene’s story serves as a testament to the power of resilience and determination. Through his journey, he has proven that with hard work and a relentless pursuit of excellence, one can overcome any obstacle and achieve remarkable success. Kene’s journey has shaped him into the exceptional person he is today, and it will undoubtedly continue to propel him towards even greater accomplishments in the path forward.
