In this staff spotlight, we sit down with Joel, our Operations Analyst at XENO:

Interviewer: Hi Joel 

Joel: Hi Joanita

Interviewer: You graduated top Sciene Graduate at the recently concluded Makerere 71st Graduation. What does it take to get a 4.91 GPA? Did you have a specific strategy to achieving high in your education? 

Joel: What it took to get here was a combination of hard work, determination, and perseverance! I tried to always be ahead of time when it came to studies. I would cover all the content even without the help of my lecturers; I would review material after class on a daily - and track my progress in every unit. Also, I think setting goals to be achieved at the end of every term really helped.  

Interview: On the flip side, what were some of the biggest challenges you experienced during your program? 

Joel: I faced challenges like any other student would... you run short of pocket money and so on. In academics, balancing my time was a challenge because when you’re a top student, a lot of your colleagues want your help. I had to balance my personal reading and help my course mates. 

Interview: How did you deal with this, and do you have any tips for students in a similar position? 

If you’re a smart and everybody knows that and wants your help, you have to be ready to increase your personal reading time. Instead of using four hours to study, I would add a few more hours to my personal reading time and spend the other hours discussing with my colleagues.  

When it came to challenges around money, I wasn’t a ‘showbiz’ person honestly. I never went clubbing or partying, so it really helped me spend for personal use only.  

Interview: That’s a cool way of avoiding unnecessary expenses... 

Joel: I also had opportunities to teach and do some tutoring. That helped me to cover some expenses.   

Interview: As an Operations Analyst at XENO, how have you applied your school experience to your current role? 

Joel: That's a hard question. My job involves a lot of data analysis and computation of numbers around investments – which requires a lot of critical thinking. It is not directly linked to what I studied, but my background in Mathematics helps me be analytical, in a way that other subjects wouldn’t. As a Mathematician you can always blend in. 

Interview: Where do you see your career heading? 

Joel: I love Mathematics, and I want to pursue it further. Mathematics has two main branches: Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and I want to follow the path of Applied Mathematics and explore the field of Data Analysis. XENO gives me a good perspective on applied Mathematics. But the doors are wide open when it comes to Applied Math. I can work in the financial sector, the medical sector, among others - there’s a lot I can do. 

Interview: As both an employee and user of XENO's platform for your personal finances, what financial knowledge do you wish you had during your university years? 

I got to know XENO through my lecturer who recommended me for the internship. But I wish I had known XENO as far back as my first year. I have a feeling that I would have planned better for my money.  

Interview: What are your top financial tips for students at campus and probably just starting their financial journeys? 

Students always get money, but because of their mentality or bias against saving, many of them ignore its benefits. I would advise students to seek knowledge; to understand how fund managers work.  

Two, I would advise them to have financial goals. Without a goal on campus, you can easily waste your money partying and so on. If you have a goal, you’re more likely to think about keeping that money somewhere purposeful.  

Lastly, I would advise them to keep their money with XENO. It is easy to access and has so many features that provide transparency on the growth of your savings. Great for someone starting out in investing.