At Uncovered Conversations, we're all about highlighting purpose and pursuing it. Our purpose must be kept in full view as we navigate not just the world of finance, but the world as a whole. We need to live life with purpose in mind, and our guest this week is an embodiment of this in practice.
I'm so honoured to be joined by Ruth Akiba, a first-class Civil Engineering graduate from Warwick University. She began her career as a Graduate Analyst in a leading investment bank in London and currently works as a Senior Sales Associate in the same bank.
Ruth is passionate about manifesting her God-given purpose daily, which is to know Christ with all her heart and make Him known in every sphere.
She serves as a youth leader at Liberty Tribe, the teens ministry of The Liberty Church London, and also serves in the Women’s ministry, Liberty Ladies.
Rhieme: Hi Ruth, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you please tell us about yourself and what you do?
Ruth: Hi Rhieme, thank you so much for having me on your platform. I am Ruth Akiba and I am from Lagos, Nigeria, but currently live in England. I studied Civil Engineering at Warwick University and graduated in 2017. Following that, I started a graduate scheme at an investment bank in London and became a Senior Associate in the bank. This is the role I currently have within a Sales and Relationship Management capacity. So yeah, it's been a journey. I'm very pleased to be here and I hope we have a very fun conversation.
Rhieme: Thank you for that introduction! So, what's your take on finances in general? Do you see them as important?
Ruth: Finances are definitely an area of passion for me, which is probably why I ended up working in a bank. I believe whatever God has given us we have the responsibility to manage it in a way that brings Him glory. I take my finances seriously because God takes them seriously. God gave us the initial mandate as humans in Genesis–He said “be fruitful, and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.” So, we are to multiply through and subdue. It’s an instruction and a commandment from God to make sure we are multiplying our value and resources. We’re using it to execute the will of God.
Rhieme: I love that perspective. You take your finances seriously because God does. That’s so key because we sometimes wonder, how does God care about this? But there are many scriptures that talk about the need to be accountable for everything God has placed in our hands.
Rhieme: As someone who works in a leading investment bank, would you say it's had an impact on how you manage your finances?
Ruth: Working in a bank helps. I've always been money savvy. At the end of the day, a bank is only a bank by virtue of the function that it sells and the part of the bank I work in focuses on getting capital from where it's available to where it's needed. It’s definitely made a difference but in terms of financial education, I wouldn't say that much.
I would say where I work, because it’s a financial institution, there are always conversations surrounding revenue, and there are always conversations about what’s currently in the market. How should we be positioning ourselves? There's always a global outlook. Whether you like it or not those conversations influence you. And I would encourage anyone listening, whether or not you work in a bank, to immerse yourself in these conversations, they are publicly available. I mean, some people put a price tag on this kind of information but if you search well, you’d probably find it somewhere on Bloomberg or Finimize.
Rhieme: That's an important point, on exposure. Especially with COVID, almost everything's online.
Rhieme: How did you get to where you are right now? Would you tell us a bit about your story?
Ruth: I will share to the degree I can, it's always important to hear about the journey. I came to England, just like you. I’ve always liked problem-solving, so I was really good at math and physics. When the conversation around what to study came my dad pointed out that I naturally solve problems so recommended that I study engineering. I attended Warwick University and I would recommend it as a very good option to anyone looking into a career in finance.
In my first year, I started applying for spring weeks. I did one in Rothschild, a boutique, global financial advisory firm, and worked in M&A there. I also did a spring internship at Goldman Sachs. As much as this was nice and cute on the outside, I was really exhausted at that point. It was a lot of work. I made the decision to revisit what I really wanted to do. I then decided to go to JP Morgan and take on a grad scheme– a Corporate Analyst Development Programme.
I completed my final year and earned a first-class degree by the grace of God. Truly, that result was totally to the glory of God. Following that, I began working at JP Morgan, which is where I am currently employed. It’s really been a journey of learning. I joined the firm, and my aim was not really to do a job. I wanted to understand the industry. I came there from day one and said to myself, “I might run the space one day”. I already had a leadership mindset from day one. I was meeting a lot of people, always having coffees, learning about divisions in businesses that I didn't know about before I joined. At the end of my grad scheme, I had a better understanding, mostly of what I didn’t like, but also what I did like, which I think is very important. I'm glad that I did, but I have to add that it wasn’t a seamless process. It came with a lot of questions like, how am I doing this? What next? Can I move? That kind of resistance? One thing–God teaches you how to humble yourself and just focus on what He's asked you to do at the time and trust him to bring the increase when the time comes. I work in e-Commerce, which is high innovation and high speed but quite enjoyable too. That's pretty much the journey, and in all this, I've seen God change me.
This is what I want to echo, it’s the most important thing. It’s not about the roles that I took on, it's not about the names of the companies or the brands that I’ve worked for. What is most important is God. It’s to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, that’s your purpose. My drive is something that comes with my humanity. It is inherent to what God has placed inside of me. I think it's Psalm 24 that says, “who shall ascend to the mountains of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? The one with clean hands and a pure heart,”
My only desire is to do the will of my Father. I used to pray this every day and probably should start again. I say to God, what have you placed in the belly of today? And how can I help you do this?
Rhieme: Wow, you’ve said a lot. So good. I picked on what you said about when you got to JP Morgan, you entered with a mission. I think it’s so important, especially when you call yourself a Christian or you say you want to be a light, if you want to do this, then you can't work the way other people do. You must know how things run; you have to know the system. I love that because most people might not come in with that mindset.
You also spoke about taking a step back to reflect on whether you liked the place you worked in. With the pandemic, there can be increased pressure to just take whatever comes your way. The real question is, are you happy there? Is that where God wants you to be? Are you enjoying the position with the right mindset? Who are you becoming during the process? On our Revival Hour calls, we always reflect and ask ourselves who are we becoming in all we are doing. Where I find myself having a lot to do and not working from a place of ease, I try to take a step back and reflect on myself. I love that you shared that because a lot of the time people just chase positions but don’t consider the type of person they're becoming. Are we becoming more like Jesus in those roles or allowing those positions to overtake us and turn us into someone else? It's not necessarily about the big names. Yes, the names are great. But if you work in these positions and no one can say, because of x, I came to know God or because of x the way I saw life or the way I worked changed, then there’s really no point. At the end of the day, you can work in these amazing places, but the impact you leave is most important. Honestly, even the prayer you shared; I need to write that down because it’s so good. It's something I've just started doing recently, asking God what He wants, because that's how you develop more intimacy with Him.
Ruth: You're so good at summarising, you picked out some solid points. That shows a lot about your character. I was going to say I think I got it from Myles Munroe. He always said that Kingdom people are led by assignment. So, we move by assignments, not just by jobs. We understand throughout scripture that the call of God is upon our lives and is to do good works so that people will see it, and they will glorify our Father in heaven. I strongly believe that all of us have that evangelical mindset to just be good disciples. And that if there's anything that started to drive me, it was that. Maybe not from day one, more like towards the end of my first year. Because at some point, I had to ask, what am really I here for? The journey we’re going on is not an easy journey, but we have Jesus. God is interested in this company and the team. That’s why I am here. So I pray that prayer, that God should give me the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. I know Demi loves it a lot, it’s a prayer that I prayed consistently.
Rhieme: Wow, so good. And to add to where God has called you–you may not necessarily like it at first. For me, with finance, I hated maths. I struggled so much, so when God started highlighting all these sectors within the legal field that had to do with finance, I was like this is the last thing I would have seen myself doing. But even with what you said about asking God to give you that desire. It's funny how the more He kept speaking about it, the more my passion for it increased. A lot of it had to do with me simply not wanting to copy my parents but rather, to have a name for myself. But I had to ask, what does God want me to do? My path will never look like my parent's because we are not the same.
Ruth: Yeah, it’s like you're trying to hit a target but you don't know where the target is. You might as well find out where the target is and align yourself. I love that you shared that as well. It's really all our realities.
Rhieme: When you broke into this industry, what do you wish someone had told you?
Ruth: I have three top things. The first is to understand that with every position there comes responsibility, especially when you go into an industry as a minority. As a Christian, you cannot conform to the pattern of the world. You need to believe that you're there as a change agent. The second thing is to prepare. We always pray we should be 10 times better than our counterparts, but we actually have to be. Make sure you understand what is required on your team. And finally, network. Be a kind person, someone people can seek guidance from. People vouch for you, they put you in contact with people. Immerse yourself in things that are improving the lives of the people in the firm. I got involved in a lot of diversity initiatives.
Rhieme: Thank you so much for sharing, especially about knowing your mission. And not just knowing your mission, but constantly asking God how to go about every step. When God is elevating you and taking you where He wants you to be, you need to stay in tune with Him consistently. I also loved what you said about preparing and being better than your peers in practice. It’s not just about praying, but also doing the necessary work. God is a God of excellence. In everything we do, we have to be the best, we can’t do the bare minimum.
Ruth: Your work is your worship as well, so don't isolate your devotion from your work. If you look at the life of David, it’s clear to see that everything he did was an overflow of his devotion to God.
Rhieme: So important, keep in mind who you’re doing it for.
Rhieme: Where you’re at right now, how were you able to gain that sense of security? How do you know you’re where you’re supposed to be?
Ruth: I love that question because it's the reality of our day-to-day. The Bible says the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. I believe God every single day, as long as I'm connected to him as divine, I have to bear fruits for Him. I know I'm where God wants me to because He affirms me through His Word. Some people landmark their lives by one encounter they had with Him. Those are great but I think what’s really transformational is the day-to-day steps that God gives you. For example, God gives me words, I write them down and commit them to prayer. Over the course of the month, things unfold, not because of anything, but because God already predestined it. You need to keep growing into perfect alignment. I know I'm where I'm supposed to be because it's where God wants me to be. I'm just allowing Him to continue to align me with His plans.
Rhieme: I love what you said about asking Him daily. He can ask you to move at any time. It's always about asking Him, what do you want? What's next? Where am I? When He speaks, He doesn’t lie.
Ruth: That's the way to think about revelation. You don't receive words and just sit on them; you have a part to play. I try not to treat the words God gives me daily with neglect or contempt. I pray for the greater desire to cherish the things that God gives me. I think a lot of the time when we feel out of alignment, it’s because we almost forget what God last told us or what God is telling us. Be faithful stewards, like we do with wealth about the words that he's given us as well.
Rhieme: So key, especially about always going back to be sure. I journal a lot and there are times where I’m asking God and He’s like I already told you this so go back. As you said, you don't know any other way to find out if you're where you're supposed to be. I agree because if you believe and say it's God that asked you to be somewhere, you have to go back to the person who’s directed you. It’s like trying to go to a friend’s house, they give you directions, you miss the way and you're not sure if you’re on the right track. You have to go to the one who gave you instructions in the first place.
Ruth: Yes, safety is found in multiple counsel, but you must go back to your first love always, God.
Rhieme: What gives you the drive to stay consistent?
Ruth: For me, it’s remembering that there’s so much at stake. I know the disposition that God expects of me. We see it all through Scripture. I just prayed this prayer and was like God, like you've done in the past put a sense of urgency in me. Just knowing God's standard makes a difference. Whenever you feel you're not meeting the standard He’s set, you can pray those kinds of prayers, you can ask Him to help you. We have to take our stand because God’s will must be done.
Another thing that encourages me is the fact that I know there are people that are 1 billion times better than me. I would just see it as a disservice to all the people that could come after me to be lazy. It's a personal revelation that God has given me of what is at stake. I had that switch from being somebody that wanted to make a lot of money and become an MD in this number of years to having God's vision at the core of my heart.
Rhieme: Basically, your why is that you’re living a life in service to God. You know the benefits of your relationship with Him and He’s using us to reach others. Especially in the corporate field, how many transactions are done with God in mind? Not just using logic, but I also believe God is very practical.
Ruth: Yes! I ask Him, what pricing? What’s sensible? He sees the heart of men and knows the end from the beginning. Having God makes you 10 times better than everyone else.
Rhieme: God being your advantage is very true. Demi was telling us about her mentor who was at an interview and God literally told her the answer to a question at that point in time. With the legal field being competitive, sometimes I get caught up in doing different things, but my friend always reminds me that it’s not about doing all the internships, it’s about God. He is enough, He will get me there.
Ruth: Yes, He’ll lead you to the right person to speak to, the book to study, etc. There’s a scripture that transformed my university experience from my second year when I began to walk with God. It was in Proverbs 3:4-5, to trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways. I remember there was an interview I was attending in London. I missed my train and was wondering if I had to buy another ticket, and this lady shows up asking if I want a ticket to London. We don’t live ordinary lives, so at the core of this message is, we’re here on assignments. There’s a season for everything, everything is timed.
Rhieme: This is so important especially with what you said about timing. You got to the station at the right time, and someone was there to help. God cares about every single step. God is very intentional. He knows why. Anytime He instructs you to do something, He's released His grace, which automatically means however that situation turns out, He’s behind you.
Ruth: I love what you said about him releasing His grace. Because sometimes I think that that leads to envy and comparison, like when you see your peers doing great things and like, they're just like going, going, going, and you’re like, I don't really know if I'm supposed to be here. Just believe God, that whatever He's called you to, He has the applicable level of grace to release on to you to do it. So overall, if you are looking into a career that is competitive, very tasking, believe that He's released the adequate level of grace needed so don't short-change yourself. There's a scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:24 that says, “He who has called you is faithful, and He will do it”. There's a bigger purpose that we're all feeding into.
Rhieme: So important, especially about focusing on your race. Before I had any vision from God, I was always looking at other people and always asked when will my time come? At the start of the year, He started off by saying I should go for the Skinneeds' Revival Hour calls every day. I started to grow spiritually which spread into my personal time with Him. It’s just knowing you need to go to God first.
Rhieme: What's a life lesson you’d like to share?
Ruth: For me, it’s realising everybody carries the image of God. Pay them that regard, honour people, be kind. Be somebody who exudes the fruits of the Spirit. I think that’s really what’s crippling our world today, be someone that mirrors the heart of Jesus wherever you go.
Rhieme: So important, some people may say, I’m kind but I don’t get this in return. It’s remembering the standard you have been called to.
Ruth: Don't ever be kind to people because of what you think you will get back as a response. I always say like, just do it as unto God because you are a child of God.
Rhieme: So important, sometimes we stop ourselves from being who God wants us to be because we think will anyone do this for me? But which is more important, doing something when you are asked to by God and actually helping change someone's life at that moment or not taking action at all? Thank you so much for everything you’ve shared Ruth.
Thank you for reading! How did you find this conversation? Has Ruth said anything that resonated with you? Share your thoughts in the comment section below
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