8 industry leaders share strategies for career growth in tech in 2026
In 2026, industry leaders say career growth has far less to do with your school certificate, job titles or the organisation you work for, and far more to do with relevance, adaptability, and long-term value.
This thinking extends well beyond tech. Across industries, the way careers are built is changing. From global talent managers re-evaluating how people are hired and promoted, to growth leaders prioritising skills over tenure, and content creators treating influence as a strategic career asset, they share a common belief: Upskilling to stay relevant.
To help early-career professionals avoid starting the year with enthusiasm but little direction, I spoke with industry executives who understand the complexities of career growth.
They shared practical, experience-backed insights on how to build a career intentionally over time. In this article, you’ll learn what it truly takes to grow, stay competitive, and future-proof your career in 2026 and beyond.
Read also: 2026 preview: Industry regulations that fintechs should watch out for this year
Sophia Sankey, Ex-Chief Growth Officer, Heirs Technologies
Sophia Sankey
Sophia Sankey is a seasoned sales and growth leader with over 15 years of experience. She has worked across key sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, manufacturing, retail, oil and gas, and government, with a strong focus on digital transformation and the deployment of technology solutions within commercial and public sector enterprises.
Speaking on career growth for marketing enthusiasts, Sankey notes that while youth unemployment in Nigeria remains a concern, paths in tech sales and digital transformation continue to offer some of the fastest routes to career advancement.
Drawing from her previous leadership roles at Heirs Technologies and SOEDIRIT Nigeria Limited, she emphasises the importance of building transferable skills such as sales strategy, partnerships, and consultative selling.
"Start as a Sales Development Rep or intern in fintech/SaaS, advance to Account Executive, then Sales Manager or Growth roles. Commit to lifelong learning via courses on change management and read industry insights. Play the long game with consistent progress amid 93% informal employment. Consider joining tech communities, too. Attend workshops and offer value first—essential for landing roles without prior experience, as seen in telecom transitions."
Elizabeth Ogunseye, Manager, Product & Lifecycle Marketing, Sterling Bank
Elizabeth Ogunseye
Elizabeth Ogunseye is a global technology and growth leader building adoption and revenue in markets where trust is hard to earn. With deep expertise in fintech, cross-border payments, and digital banking, her work sits at the intersection of growth strategy, regulation, and execution.
She leads product and lifecycle marketing for payment products at Sterling Bank, where she is responsible for go-to-market strategy and growth architecture across cross-border payments and consumer banking.
Reflecting on career growth, Ogunseye stresses the importance of visibility and intentional learning. She encourages early-career marketers to be vocal about their work, speak up when something feels misaligned with their goals, and commit to continuous practice.
“If you’re just starting in marketing, ensure you are visible and knowledgeable about your work. To ensure I continuously upskill, I set up a quarterly plan that outlines the skills I want to improve and focus on. I remain disciplined and avoid distractions. Don't wait for a task to be assigned to you. Speak with your boss and share your eagerness to apply something new you've learned that could add real value. As marketers, we are testers and experimenters, so being outspoken is essential."
Chijioke Amaeshi, Global Talent Manager
Chijioke Amaeshi
Chijioke Amaeshi is the head of the Talent Management division at LEKOIL Limited, which encompasses Nigeria, the UK, and the US. He has over 14 years of experience delivering strategic & efficient HRBP & talent management services in the Oil & gas and Tech industry across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, the UK and the USA.
As a global talent manager, he believes that anyone who wants to build a successful career this year should focus on upskilling in their specialised fields and be willing to explore internship opportunities.
“It’s important to stay updated with the latest trends, technologies, and changes in your industry. Job seekers who are unemployed or between jobs should consider applying for graduate trainee programs, as a couple of them will be advertised in the coming months. If they are unsuccessful in securing a spot in such programs, they should explore internship opportunities. Accepting an unpaid internship can be beneficial for their career in both the mid and long term."
Read also: looking to learn a tech skill in 2026? Here are 5 online schools to consider
Tobi Rasaq Alaka, Corporate Communications Manager at Zone
Tobi Rasaq
Tobi Rasaq is a results-driven corporate communications executive with over a decade of experience. Her work is rooted in aligning communications strategy with business outcomes, particularly in fast-moving and highly regulated industries.
She currently serves as Corporate Communications Manager at Zone, a financial services provider, where she leads integrated communications initiatives designed to support organisational growth and long-term objectives.
Beyond her corporate role, Rasaq is the founder of Empowher Nigeria, a women-led community focused on helping young African women build sustainable careers and businesses through mentorship, advocacy, and access to opportunities.
Speaking on career growth, particularly for women, Rasaq emphasises the need for intentionality and visibility. She encourages professionals to approach their careers strategically, treating them like products that must be clearly positioned, communicated, and consistently refined.
"For a long time, women have been told to simply do the work and trust that their excellence will speak for them. That is not enough anymore. In a world full of noise, you must clearly communicate what you do, the value you bring, and how it connects to business goals. Clarity and purpose are essential, especially during demanding seasons of growth. Find something beyond your day job that fuels your ambition and keeps you grounded."
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose, University Lecturer and Social Commentator
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose is a linguist, writer, and lecturer in the Department of English at Lagos State University (LASU). With years of experience in English studies and sociolinguistics, he has built a reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading voices on language use, education, and career development.
Speaking on career growth and fulfilment, Dr Bamgbose advised that young people must recognise and nurture their natural strengths when making life choices.
According to him, career growth can also emerge from identifying and addressing societal gaps. He encouraged young Nigerians to explore the vast opportunities technology offers — either as a tool to enhance their work or as a gateway to new fields such as software analysis and content creation.
“Young people must understand that they are all carriers of one potential or the other, and what they carry should inform their career. Life is easier when you are in your place of comparative advantage. A serious-minded person must move from the level of ability to the stage of expertise through practical efforts such as volunteering and seeking mentorship. A critical engagement with social needs assessment can also be a way to choose and develop a career path. For instance, technology has so much to offer in the 21st Century, and anyone can tap into any aspect of it. Technology can either serve as an aid to whatever one does or serve as an insight into some new and lucrative ventures, such as software analysis, content creation and so on."
Adeife Adeoye, Founder, Remote WorkHer
Adeife Adeoye
Adeife Adeoye is a brand strategist, content creator, and the founder of Remote WorkHer—a women-led media-tech platform dedicated to helping African women break into the remote work economy and build financially empowered lives.
Having started her content creation journey in 2022 while freelancing, Adeife has since transformed her career by embracing continuous evolution and adaptability. She explained that one of the biggest lessons that propelled her growth was learning to shed old identities and take bold leaps, even when it meant stepping outside her comfort zone.
According to her, many creators and professionals struggle to grow because they cling to past versions of themselves or outdated perceptions of who they are.
“In life and business, the rule is simple: evolve or dissolve. If you’re not growing, you’re fading away. The life and success you want are on the other side of an identity change. You can’t expect different results while being the same person. If you want better pay, more opportunities, or bigger rooms to walk into, you must let go of the identity that keeps you small. My challenge to you for 2026 is to shed that old image. Evolve into a new version of yourself. Stop playing small and start embodying the person who belongs in those bigger rooms. Growth demands transformation — so step into it boldly."
Ota Akhigbe, Director of Partnerships and Programs at eHealth
Ota Akhigbe
Ota Akhigbe is a Global executive with over 17 years of experience leading multi-country health and development portfolios across complex operating environments. She currently serves on an executive leadership team at eHealth, providing institutional leadership across partnerships, programs, and portfolio strategy.
Speaking on career growth in the health sector, Ota emphasised that 2026 will reward professionals who prioritise impact over titles.
“In 2026, career growth in health will belong to people who focus on outcomes, not titles. Build fluency in data and digital tools, not necessarily coding, but understanding how technology actually works in real health systems. Develop systems thinking across policy, financing, service delivery, and partnerships, because health challenges are never isolated. Investing in execution skills, delivering results, managing stakeholders, and communicating clearly matter more than certificates alone. Lastly, choose a real problem, specialise deeply, and stay grounded in ethics and human-centred impact. Credibility compounds faster than visibility."
Ibukun Onitiju, Digital Media Growth Executive
Ibukun Onitiju
Ibukun Onitiju is an enterprise sales and digital media growth executive at Business Traveller in the United Kingdom. With a career that spans emerging markets, enterprise media, AdTech, MarTech, and the evolving landscapes of AI and Web3, Onitiju has consistently championed one core belief — that growth becomes possible when complexity is made simple enough for people to act with confidence.
He has helped businesses across emerging and complex markets grow by simplifying how they sell, communicate, and reach the audiences that matter most. His career track record includes leading digital and commercial transformation initiatives across 25 African markets at Nestlé, building multi-country media and sales operations at Ringier, and now driving enterprise sales and digital growth for INK’s global travel media network.
Sharing his thoughts on what it takes to build a strong and resilient career in 2026, Onitiju advised professionals to focus less on job titles and more on creating real value. According to him, professionals should learn how revenue is truly generated by understanding buying committees, budgets, incentives, and where decisions often get stuck.
“Stop optimising for roles and titles, and start optimising for value creation as judged by the people who control budgets, risk, and outcomes inside complex, real-world systems. Build one hard, commercial skill that compounds — such as enterprise selling, product storytelling, or data-driven growth — rather than relying on surface-level tools. Use AI as a force multiplier at the decision layer, not just the execution layer. In 2026, a personal brand without a track record will fade fast, and a track record without distribution will stay invisible. The professionals who will thrive in 2026 are those who can connect strategy to execution, demonstrate measurable impact, and make themselves indispensable in critical moments."
Read also: How She Leads: Oluwatoyin Aromokeye’s blueprint for growth, security, and product integrity
The post 8 industry leaders share strategies for career growth in tech in 2026 first appeared on Technext.
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