From Nigeria to N.J.: Business student’s next stop is world of finance

When Taiwo Bamidele-Sanni arrived on campus in 2021, she was just 17, an international student more than 8,500 miles from home, and virtually alone.

Four years later, Bamidele-Sanni is graduating with two business degrees, a nearly perfect grade point average, vast leadership experience, and a position waiting at Goldman Sachs, one of the premier investment banks in the world.

Bamidele-Sanni came to the U.S. from Lagos, Nigeria, with her twin sister, Kehinde, but they soon split for different schools, Taiwo to Rowan and Kehinde to Howard University.

“When you have a twin, she’s typically your best friend,” Bamidele-Sanni said. “This was the first time we were ever separated.”

Culture shock, experience, community and leadership

Bamidele-Sanni will graduate with Bachelor of Science degrees in finance and information systems & analytics (formally MIS), a concentration through the John H. Martinson Honors College, and admission to Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society.

Co-president of the Emerging Business Leaders Association, she’s also vice president of the university's student run investment vehicle PROF Funder, co-president of the Financial Management Association, fundraising coordinator for the Women in Business club, and serves as a community assistant (a position formerly called “resident assistant”) on campus.

Through it all, Bamidele-Sanni maintained top marks and entered her final semester with a 3.97 GPA.

Her great college success might be attributed to an innate drive, a commitment to study and a will to achieve her goals, but it did not come easy, starting with her newness in a foreign land.

“Coming from West Africa, I didn’t even know what I would eat,” she said.

Initially, finding her way was a challenge because everything she knew was different in suburban New Jersey.

“One major thing was just getting around,” she said.

And, naturally, there were cultural differences. In a city the size of Lagos (pronounced lay-goes, her hometown has some 21 million people and is a global finance center) there were a great many forms of transportation, almost limitless entertainment options and a vast network of family and friends.

“I didn’t understand some jokes and just finding fun things to do was a challenge,” she said.

So she immersed herself in studies, clubs and organizations, provided service to other students as a community assistant, and built a new network. She also saw her sister on occasion as well as other extended family members who’ve settled across the U.S.

“Over time I found there are many things to do,” she said. “Attending club meetings was really helpful, I love American food now, and I have friends who have cars!”

As for missing the bustle of a major metropolis, she still yearns for her hometown, but that’s waning.

“It’s very peaceful here, and that’s one thing I really enjoy,” she said.

Career in finance

Originally interested in Baylor University, Bamidele-Sanni discovered Rowan through the College Board.

“I looked up Rowan’s business school and Business Hall really stood out,” she said. “I saw they had a trading room, really good U.S. News rankings, plus AACSB and ABET accreditations for both business and STEM.”

Both of her parents were bankers in Lagos and, soon after starting her own business journey, she was hooked.

“To me, finance is just fascinating,” she said. “I also wanted to do something in technology so that’s where the ISA degree comes in.”

Bamidele-Sanni landed a hyper competitive internship with Goldman Sachs last summer in Texas and they offered her a full-time analyst job, which she’ll start upon graduating. Returning to Goldman’s Dallas, Texas, office, her initial position will be on the Global Markets Credit Risk team.

“I’ll be working in a fast-paced environment alongside some really smart people,” she said. “If you’re an adrenaline junkie, it can be really great.”