Level Up: He failed medical school. Now he helps global founders communicate clearly

In this edition of Level Up, we spotlight Nosike Nwigene, who has worked as a spokesperson for notable startups, the UN, and the World Bank for close to a decade.

In this conversation, he shares how his friend Peter Bunor sent him a link to apply for a global PR firm, and he casually did; how he was expelled from medical school; his experience handling communication for founders, what they get wrong about PR; and how to turn a negative brand narrative around.

What’s a surprising thing that’s happened in your career?

I don’t have a degree in mass communication or any media-related field. People assume I do. My path was writing, marketing, and hands-on experience instead, and it got me into rooms people with the “right” degree sometimes don’t get into. If you put the work in front of people and let them see it, that often matters more than what you studied.

Last updated: August 24, 2026