Testimonial by Chidinma Okoli, Fellow at Moniepoint.  

Chidinma Okoli joined the 2024 LGT Impact Fellowship cohort after building a strong career in venture capital and private equity, investing in early-stage technology companies across Africa. Motivated by a desire to transition from investor to operator, Chidinma spent her fellowship year at Moniepoint, a Lightrock Portfolio Company, and a leading fintech platform, contributing to the company’s corporate development and investor relations functions. 

What motivated you to apply for the LGT Impact Fellowship? 

I was at a pivotal point in my career, having spent six years supporting African tech startups from the vantage point of an investor. I realized I wanted to experience the operational side where I would be involved in the day-to-day challenges and growth of a company. The LGT Impact Fellowship stood out as an opportunity to make this transition thoughtfully, allowing me to test a new career direction without leaving behind my previous experience. 

How did your role at Moniepoint take shape and evolve as your fellowship progressed? 

I joined Moniepoint’s corporate development team, where my initial focus was on market analysis to support the company’s mergers and acquisitions strategy.  I spent my first three months designing a rigorous scorecard, analysing over 50 African countries against market potential, economic indicators, and regulatory environments. As the year progressed, my responsibilities expanded to include investor relations, investor reporting, stakeholder communications, and organizing due diligence trips for investors visiting our Lagos office, helping to showcase Moniepoint’s impact and operational capabilities. 

What skills and experience did you find most valuable in your work? 

The investment and analytical skillset I’d developed in venture and private equity was directly transferable. I used it to build rigorous frameworks for market selection and to standardise investor reporting. But beyond technical skills, driving investor reporting for a company of Moniepoint’s scale taught me crucial cross-functional competencies: stakeholder management across teams and with external partners, building influence remotely, and driving collaboration under tight timelines. Those soft skills were just as important as the analytical work. 

What stands out to you as your proudest achievement from the fellowship? 

Three accomplishments stand out for me. First, creating a framework to drive the company’s international expansion strategy. Second, designing and implementing a monthly investor reporting and communications process. Third, playing a pivotal role in our Series C fundraise, supporting due diligence activities, and managing investor visits, culminating in the closing of a USD110 million round.  

What challenges did you face during that one year, and how did you overcome them? 

Adapting to a new environment brought its share of uncertainty, especially as I navigated ambiguity in a large organisation and fast-paced team. I learned to embrace proactive communication by setting up regular check-ins with my manager and team members, asking questions early, and clarifying KPIs. These habits helped me adapt quickly and deepened my resilience, reminding me of the importance of openness and relationship building in any new setting. 

In your view, what sets the LGT Impact Fellowship apart from other leadership programs? 

The immersive, hands-on nature of the fellowship is unique. As fellows, the opportunity to embed ourselves within an organization enabled real-time learning and tangible contributions. The dual support system, both from my cohort and the LGT VP team, made it a wholesome experience: a blend of professional development through practical, hands-on business learning, and personal growth through peer exchange and reflection. The relationships within my cohort have also been a highlight of the program and will last well beyond the fellowship year. 

If you could encourage someone to apply, who would it be and why? 

I’d recommend the fellowship to mid-level career professionals from private and public sectors who want to move into roles in mission-driven organisations. People who want to pivot into impact work. A year embedded in a social organisation is a powerful way to test whether that transition fits you. 

If you could give one piece of advice to future fellows, what would it be? 

Take initiative in building relationships, from day one, connect personally with your cohort and colleagues. Set regular goals and check-ins with your manager. The year goes by quickly, so be intentional about what you want to learn, how you want to contribute, and make time for reflection along the way. 

How has your fellowship experience influenced your career and how you see impact today? 

The experience was both eye-opening and transformative. It introduced me to new paths in corporate development, fintech operations and impact measurement. It also reinforced the importance of adaptability and taught me how to lead with empathy. If I had to describe the year in three words, it would be: unprecedented, eye-opening, and exciting. 

To my Moniepoint colleagues, the LGT VP team, and my cohort, thank you for making the journey so meaningful. I’m excited to see how we all continue to grow and make an impact in the future. 

About Moniepoint 

The problem Moniepoint tries to tackle: 

• Access to payments and banking is crucial for the success of any business. In Africa, where the majority of employment comes from MSMEs, the stakes are even higher. 
• Moniepoint is a pan-African payments business and banking platform that provides banking, credit, and cross-border payment solutions for African businesses and their customers.  

The solution Moniepoint provides: 

• Moniepoint provides businesses and individuals with access to banking, payments, credit and business management tools to help them grow. 

Chidinma’s impact during her Fellowship: 

• Supported due diligence activities for a successful USD110m Series C fundraise. 
• Supported strategy development for international expansion and M&A activities. 
• Developed monthly investor reporting templates and quarterly investor updates.