From Farmer in Cameroon to Investment Banker in Canada

I just came across this amazing story from Noel Abingwa on LinkedIn describing his journey towards becoming an Investment Banking Analyst, and hopefully it can help motivate some of us here:

"I am so happy to share with you that I started a new role as an Investment Banking Secondment Analyst at BMO Capital Markets.

The job you do does not define you and your resume does not limit what is possible for you. I’ve been a farmer, I’ve been a cleaner, I’ve been a garbage boy, but I always wanted to be an Investment Banker and here we are. At every turn the odds where almost always against me. But I’ve come to realize that the complexity and difficulty of my journey is the ingredient needed to muster my future successes. The stories we have of our triumph over situations is the best resume there is.

I was a farmer in Cameroon after studying Agricultural Engineering in the university. I immigrated to Canada 2019 after several visa refusals for not having enough funds, my parents sold assets and after putting together more funds I applied the third time and got approved. I went to a “non-target school”, I had no network, no internships, no experience in banking and all the other not good enough stuff. I was told to settle for something less competitive than Investment Banking given my odds and the small amount of hiring opportunities vs the number of students from top tier universities with 3 or 4 internships etc. Well, I guess I am proof that the odds don’t define the outcome.

I am so happy to share with you that I started a new role at BMO Capital Markets as an Investment Banking Secondment Analyst on the DCM team. It is my hope to convert the opportunity. I want to thank the amazing people and the leadership of BMO and sister companies for creating an amazing culture that looks beyond stereotypes in race, gender, background, schools, ethnicity etc. to identify character and potentials in talent. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you to all of you who encouraged me, coached me, vouched for me and sponsored me. I am very gratefull and I am paying it forward too. #proudtoworkatbmo

To someone out there with hope, I posted this to hopefully inspires you to keep the faith alive. I only saw an airplane on the ground for the first time in 2019 (yes I had never seen a train before or ride an escalator either) but I knew what I wanted and was ready to work smart and hard. Against all odds I made it. What’s possible for one is possible for all. Creating the life we want, and not accepting what it serves I find to be the best use of time and navigating the obstacles is what makes the process so much fun.

I have a lot to say but I’ll leave it there for now. You can read a summary of my story here on LinkedIn at https://lnkd.in/gS4HRT3Z

Keep caring, keep learning and keep the faith alive and I wish you the very best.

Noel 😃"