7 career lessons from Emmanuel Faith on building in Tech

I recently had a conversation with Emmanuel Faith, an HR manager with nearly ten years of experience working across African startups. From setting up HR systems to shaping workplace culture, his story is packed with practical lessons for anyone building a career in tech.

Here are seven takeaways from my conversation with him.

1) Leave a lasting impression

Emmanuel describes his career as “Blueprints and Bold Moves.” Wherever he has worked, he’s made it a point to build systems that outlive him. At Cowrywise, he didn’t just handle HR, he helped the growth team launch the Career Campus Ambassadors program, wrote blog posts for product launches like football savings, and even managed partnerships. At Big Cabal Media, though his time there was short, he still implemented people processes that stayed in place after he left. His approach is simple: a successful career isn’t just about doing the job, it’s about creating lasting work.

2) Don’t let job titles box you in

Emmanuel’s story proves that job titles don’t define impact. Though his role at Cowrywise was People and Culture, he crossed into growth, product launches, and partnerships because he saw opportunities to contribute. That mindset expanded his skill set beyond HR and made him more valuable as a leader. For young professionals, this is a reminder that the most interesting growth often happens outside the narrow boundaries of your JD. If you see a gap, fill it, even if it isn’t “your job.” Those extra contributions compound into credibility.

3) You can tactfully challenge leadership decisions with data

One of Emmanuel’s boldest traits is his willingness to challenge management decisions he believes are flawed. But he never does it empty-handed. When his CEO was about to make a decision that could have caused long-term harm, Emmanuel wrote a three-page document filled with research, data, and context to explain the risks and propose a better option. He believes Nigerian tech talents often struggle with fear—people often agree with the CEO to avoid conflict. His lesson? Don’t just disagree; bring facts and better alternatives to the table.

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4) Community can be a launchpad

Emmanuel’s entry into tech wasn’t through a big break but through community. He started as a volunteer at NaijaStartups, helping organise events before tech became “hot.” He then pitched himself to the founder, who gave him his first shot at recruitment. That experience, plus commissions on successful placements, became his entry point into HR in tech. Sometimes the best way to break in is not through formal job postings but by showing up, helping out, and pitching yourself to people who already believe in the vision.

5) Visibility is currency, build in public

In between jobs, Emmanuel created a video telling his story. He didn’t do it to get hired but to express himself creatively. Months later, it caught the attention of the hiring manager who eventually brought him into AfriChange. He also runs an HR Clinic, contributes to international platforms, and regularly shares insights online. As he puts it: “Don’t just work, show you are working.” Visibility isn’t vanity, it’s leverage. It makes your reputation travel further than you can.

6) Manage your energy

Balancing HR leadership, a YouTube channel, writing for global publications, and building Fevora (a women’s football project) sounds like a handful, but Emmanuel makes it work through “work-life flow.” He doesn’t aim for perfect balance; he prioritises different things at different times. During a critical HR project, Fevora paused. When WAFCON approached, it picked up again. His approach is shaped by the idea from an HBR article: “Manage your energy, not your time.” Instead of trying to do everything at once, he focuses on the most important thing in each season and uses tools like app blockers to stay disciplined.

7) Careers are marathons, not sprints

One of Emmanuel’s strongest lessons is that careers unfold over time, with different stages demanding different strategies. Early on, he stayed longer at Cowrywise to build credibility and systems, even when external offers came. Later in his career, he prioritised roles that offered scale and new challenges. He encourages professionals to ask themselves: What am I optimising for right now—stability, growth, money, or learning? There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Sometimes moving jobs makes sense; other times staying put is smarter. The real mistake is moving blindly without clarity on your current priorities.

If you missed the full interview, you can read the full conversation with Emmanuel Faith here.