Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Vivian Otabor.
Hi Dr. Vivian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey has been shaped by reinvention, curiosity, and intention.
I immigrated to the United States with strong academic credentials and global experience, and over time built nearly two decades of leadership across organizations like McKinsey, NVIDIA, and JPMorgan Chase. While my career advanced, my personal experience navigating new systems as an immigrant gave me a deeper understanding of how opportunity actually works, and why so many capable people struggle to move forward despite doing everything “right.”
I began to notice a pattern. Many professionals weren’t lacking talent or drive. What they lacked was clarity around their identity, confidence in their presence, and a strategy for being seen and trusted in the rooms that mattered.
That insight became the foundation of my work.
Today, I’m known as The Elevation Strategist, a trusted voice on identity, presence, and strategic visibility for ambitious professionals and immigrants navigating growth. I help ambitious professionals and immigrants elevate how they see themselves, how they show up, and how their value is positioned, so they can step fully into opportunities that align with who they are and where they’re going. I’ve helped hundreds of professionals secure six-figure roles, transition into the IT industry, land executive-level positions, and change the trajectory of their lives.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth, and that’s been one of my greatest teachers.
As an immigrant and high-achiever, I experienced moments of professional invisibility, cultural adjustment, and the pressure to constantly prove myself. There were times when I was doing excellent work but still felt overlooked or underestimated because I didn’t yet understand the unspoken rules around presence, influence, and perception.
One of the biggest turning points for me was realizing that working harder wasn’t enough. I needed to be more intentional about how I positioned myself, communicated my value, and showed up as a leader.
That shift from effort to strategy, changed everything. It completely reframed how I approached my career. I started networking up instead of just across. I positioned myself for higher roles before I felt “ready'”, and I stopped waiting for my work to speak for itself. I took strategic actions to ensure I was gaining visibility in the rooms where decisions were made. That mindset not only accelerated my own growth, but also gave me the clarity to help others navigate similar challenges with confidence and purpose.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At the heart of my work is elevation; helping people move from capable but unseen to confident, visible, and in demand.
As The Elevation Strategist, I specialize in career strategy, executive presence, visibility, and identity alignment. I’m known for helping professionals articulate their value clearly, strengthen how they show up in high-stakes spaces, and position themselves for leadership, advancement, and impact.
My coaching and advisory work is delivered through Agile Career Consulting, a career strategy and leadership development firm where I work with ambitious professionals, both early-career and experienced leaders who are ready for their next level. The goal is simple: help them strategically elevate their careers, grow with clarity, confidence, and credibility.
One example that stands out is a senior manager I worked with at a financial services firm who had been passed over for promotion twice. She was technically excellent and well-respected by her team but largely invisible to senior leadership. Through our work together, we repositioned how she communicated her impact, strengthened her executive presence, and created a strategic visibility plan. Within six months, she was promoted to Vice President and now leads a division of over 100 people. That’s the kind of transformation I live for; helping people step into roles they’ve been ready for all along.
I’m also the Executive Director of Resilient Immigrant, a platform and movement focused on supporting immigrants as they navigate growth and transition while also celebrating immigrants who are excelling, leading, and contributing at high levels. A key part of this work is changing the narrative and expanding what it means to be an immigrant beyond survival by highlighting immigrant excellence, contributions, and achievements.
What I’m most proud of is the impact; watching people reclaim confidence, secure leadership roles, build meaningful careers, and finally feel seen for who they are and what they bring. What sets me apart is that my work is lived, not theoretical. I don’t just teach strategy, I help people embody it.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, surrounded by family, friends, and constant activity. Some of my favorite memories are tied to togetherness—attending family events, celebrations, parties, and gatherings where community, conversation, and joy were always at the center. There was always something happening, and you were expected to show up well-dressed, respectful, confident, and aware of how you carried yourself.
I also attended an all-girls school, which played a huge role in shaping who I am today. From a young age, we were taught discipline, confidence, self-expression, and the importance of conduct. One quote that left a lasting impression on me was, “How you dress is how you will be addressed.” Presence wasn’t something you turned on and off, it was simply a way of life.
Looking back, those experiences explain so much about my passion today. Growing up in environments where presence, etiquette, and self-respect were emphasized taught me that how you walk, talk, treat others, and represent yourself in different spaces matters just as much as what you know. That foundation still guides my work; helping people carry themselves with confidence, intention, and composure, no matter the room they’re in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vivianotabor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivian__otabor/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianotabor/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vivian__otabor
- Other: https://www.agilecareerconsulting.com
