Next up in our monthly Career Mobility spotlight series is Ola Awosika. Ola joined Multiverse two and a half years ago as a Business Operations Manager and has progressed to Head of Business Operations.
Tell us about your recent career change at Multiverse.
I joined Multiverse two and a half years as a Business Operations Manager, working on things like driving efficiency during secondments, or Project Managing software sunsetting journeys. After 6 months in the role I was promoted to Head of Business Operations and was looking after a small but mighty team of internal fixers!
Shortly afterward I was diagnosed with Cancer which saw me need to take extended medical leave whilst undergoing treatment. Now I am back (Cancer-free!) and the scope of my role has become both broader and deeper. I now look after internal operations, covering the services needed for Multiversers to get their jobs done.
How are you enjoying your new team and remit?
It’s been an incredible six months, and I’m loving my new role! The opportunity to bring functions together—and, in some cases, to build them from the ground up—has been both exhilarating and rewarding. We’ve accomplished a great deal in a short time, delivering significant value for the business and Multiversers, with even more exciting plans on the horizon.
Any career change comes with its challenges, what did you have to overcome and how did you approach this?
One of the most interesting challenges has been balancing sustainability with velocity - we aim to strengthen Multiverse’s security and maturity while fostering innovative growth. In this role, my team and I have been passionately focused on optimizing ‘Time to Value’, which means making things more effective and efficient. Many systems and processes have been built to address specific needs, but as the organization expands, it's crucial for us to adapt our ways of working to accommodate new priorities, even when they don’t fit neatly into our current framework. For example, we’ve built an internal ticketing system, Multibot, and are leading Project Fortress, which aims to enhance our security and achieve multiple ISO certifications.
To tackle these challenges, we embraced a proactive mindset, taking ownership of identifying and bridging the gaps wherever identified. This means having strong relationships cross-functionally to encourage collaboration and creative problem solving. We also aim to be as agile and flexible as possible to ensure we not only meet current demands, but lay a robust foundation for future growth. It’s been a rewarding journey that has taught me the importance of adaptability and the value of a cohesive team in navigating change.
If you could share one piece of advice for someone looking to develop their career or move internally, what would it be?
Engage with others! It can be daunting when you’re unsure about the unknowns in your career, but gaining insights from those around you is invaluable. Reach out to a senior leader you admire or connect with a colleague who has faced similar challenges; remember, your situation isn’t unique (and that’s perfectly okay). Learning from others who’ve walked a similar path can provide guidance and clarity.
Moreover, embrace change—it’s the only constant! While navigating change can be challenging, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Take a moment to reflect: when was the last time you embraced change, and when did you resist it? Understanding the gaps in your approach can help you fine-tune your adaptability to transformation. By cultivating this skill, you empower yourself to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.
Ola’s journey from Business Operations Manager to Head of Business Operations showcases our Career Mobility approach at Multiverse and highlights the importance of embracing change and the challenge that comes with it when wanting to make a career change. Want to join a company where career mobility is a priority? We’re hiring.
