Rising Stars: Meet Olive Nwafor of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olive Nwafor.

Hi Olive, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a middle-class home in the largest city in Africa, Lagos. Back in school, I was a high performer in math and science, but aside from being good at these subjects, I enjoyed them and have always valued systematic thinking in problem solving. When I was a junior, one of my teachers advised me to study engineering at university, which stuck with me. Three years later, I was accepted into my first-choice program to study Computer Engineering. It was the longest five years of my life, but right after graduation, I received an offer to join one of the world’s leading technology companies, HPE. I worked cross-functionally to grow the reach of the business and its products across Nigeria and parts of Africa. Outside of work, I co-founded a social enterprise and participated in lots of business training and certifications, and these experiences have shaped my career into what it is today.

My journey to the vibrant city of Atlanta began after I accepted an admission offer from Georgia State University’s top program, the Master of Information Systems. I landed in Hartsfield-Jackson ready to take on everything life had for me. My life goal has always been to expand the horizon of my knowledge and this was also my motivation for applying to graduate school. It was a challenging experience, but the right kind of challenge I needed for the transformation that I needed. Leaving my hometown to experience the world had been a dream of mine since I was 15 and it was the mix of preparation, perseverance, and the right opportunity that turned that dream into reality.

Since graduating from my master’s program in 2023, I have continued to advance my career as a business and product expert, growing my skills across industries like supply chain, retail, financial services and asset management. I’ve led the development of high-impact products used by tens of thousands of users and directly contributed to growing the businesses I have worked with while delivering double-digit revenue growth.
Throughout my journey, I have consistently taken actions that improve my luck surface area. One of the quotes I love and live by is by the inspiring Iyanla Vanzant, she says, “The only way to create success or luck is to think, speak, and act in ways that support ourselves.”

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has been anything but smooth, there were times that I failed, fell, or lost track of the things that I wanted to achieve. When I first announced that I would be moving to Atlanta for school, everyone in my life was confused and concerned. My manager tried to convince me to defer my admission, because I had just received a promotion months back. My parents tried to talk me into staying back because I lived a “good” life back home. So I went through this phase where I debated my choices and was filled with so much doubt, and this was just a few weeks before my flight to the USA.

Settling into the United States was another hurdle I anticipated, but still struggled with for a few months. I got a lot of help from friends who already lived here, but I still had a lot to figure out on my own – bank accounts, taxes, public transportation, even grocery shopping felt different early on. It was fun on some days, and miserable on others.

In this journey, I have navigated toxic bosses and companies, a layoff, unreliable friendships, feeling stuck and underappreciated at work, starting over, office politics, identity crises, and so much more.

One of the ways I get back up is recalibrating these obstacles as lessons, you know what they say about how diamonds are made? It will be hard, but the pressure will be worth it in the end.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a product manager, I help turn ideas into real, usable products that make people’s lives easier and productive. I work at the intersection of engineering, design, and business, coordinating with multiple teams and stakeholders to ensure we’re building the right products, in the right way and for the right reasons.

What I specialize in is listening. That might sound simple, but it’s powerful in my work right now. I take my time in understanding what users truly need – the real problem, not just what they say they want. I do this through customer interviews, data analysis, or testing prototypes.
I’m known for being a calm, collaborative presence on high-pressure teams. I’ve led projects that launched successfully under tight deadlines, and I’m proud of how I help shape a culture of clarity and accountability within my team, especially during moments of uncertainty.

One of the projects I’m most proud of involved fine-tuning an AI model into a product expert. This involved preparing large product datasets with accurate product descriptions, training the model to understand how products work, including domain context tagging, explaining how shoppers think and search, and a lot more. This effort helped improve the search experience for the product users and reduced errors significantly. I am proud of the work that I do daily, whether it involves simplifying a user experience, improving workflows or enhancing a feature.

What sets me apart is my mix of empathy and execution. I deeply care about people—both the users I serve and the teams I lead. I try to create an environment where thoughtful decisions win and where building something meaningful always takes priority over chasing trends.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Yes! This is especially for anyone who’s ever felt the pull to build a new or better life for themselves.
I came to the United States with more than just a plan—I came with a vision. Not just to earn a degree or land a job, but to build a life that felt meaningful, intentional, and full of possibility. And truthfully, it hasn’t been easy. Starting over in a new country comes with its fair share of unknowns, navigating new systems, standing at the edge of unfamiliar territory, and carrying the quiet sacrifices that no one else sees.

But through all of it, I stay open to growth even when the path isn’t clear. I ensure I give this journey my all while never forgetting why I started. I’ve learned to embrace the discomfort, befriend the uncertainty, and trust the process, even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard.

Because at the end of the day, I believe fulfillment isn’t something you stumble upon; it’s something you work for. It starts with one brave choice to chase something better, even if your voice shakes when you say yes to it.

Contact Info:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivenwafor
• Other: https://nextwaveintelligence.substack.com/