Building Value, Breaking Barriers: Obianuju Odukwe on Leadership, APIs, and Work-Life Balance

Obianuju Odukwe’s career is like an expertly written code; well-structured, adaptable, and always delivering value. Starting in HR and pivoting through roles in card services, consumer payments, digital commerce, and now the Vice President of Digital Ecosystems at Interswitch, she’s proven that a great career is all about iterating and scaling up.

With a passion for working with developer communities and simplifying complex tech, Obianuju is not just managing ecosystems; she’s fostering the connections that make them thrive. In this edition of Switch Stories, she talks about career transitions, solving real-world problems, and her secret to balancing heavy lifting both in the gym and at work.

Tell us about your career journey.

My career started in 2011. I began in HR at a bank. I was in HR for a few years, specifically in the strategic workforce planning team. After a while, I was advised to try e-business. So, I transitioned and worked in card services when auto-reversal wasn’t a thing in Nigeria. My job was to monitor transactions, check for failures on Postilion, and process refunds. After a few years, I took over handling Mastercard chargebacks when the erstwhile Lead left. Eventually, I became a Product Manager, handling card projects, and that's how I connected with a lot of people from Interswitch.

In 2016, I was hired by the Interswitch Payment Tokens (Verve) team to work in issuer management, ensuring that the banks we managed had sufficient card stock and deals to help grow adoption and usage. I also managed operations in West Africa for a while, covering Ghana and Gambia. Then, in 2020, I moved away from card services entirely and transitioned to Quickteller, focusing on lifestyle services. We aimed to create consumer-focused services like transportation, health, travel, retail, and more, all under the Quickteller platform.

Despite initially thinking the transition from cards to digital would be challenging, it wasn’t as difficult as expected. My manager at the time was very supportive, and we would brainstorm for hours. It was a lot of fun. After Quickteller, I moved to other aspects of our Industry Ecosystems business, where I stayed for about two and a half years. Eventually, an opportunity arose in the Digital Commerce and Merchant Acquiring business, and I decided to try something new. Now, I manage ecosystems, APIs, and our remittance business.

If you could swap jobs with anyone at Interswitch for a day, who would it be and why?

I’d swap with the Head of Strategy. The team has an overview of what everyone is doing and can see the big picture. It would give me a better understanding of the company’s vision and direction.

Can you elaborate on your work with the Developer Community and how that ties into the Interswitch API marketplace?

Everything starts with value—what value am I bringing to the table? With the Developer Community, it’s about fostering a safe space for developers to communicate, share challenges, and collaborate. They are incredibly influential in today’s economy, and having a community where they can connect, discuss APIs, and solve problems together is essential.

The API marketplace, on the other hand, is a one-stop shop for businesses looking to integrate various services. Whether it’s managing inventory, payments, or KYC, businesses can find the APIs they need in one place, streamlining their operations. By tying this into the Developer Community, we’re giving developers access to the tools they need and creating an ecosystem where they can easily integrate our APIs into their solutions.

What’s your most memorable day at Interswitch?

It was the day we had an inter-house sports event. We were all divided into different houses, and it was just a fun day. People you would never expect were out there dancing, cheering, and singing. It made everyone so relatable, and I’ll never forget it.

What’s something you wish you knew earlier in your career?

I wish I knew not to care too much about certain things, and not to put so much pressure on myself. I’ve always felt underestimated, so I constantly pushed myself to prove others wrong, and I was really hard on myself when things didn’t go perfectly. Over time, I’ve learned to take it easy. I still work hard and never compromise on quality, but I’ve learned to accept that it’s okay if things don’t always turn out exactly as planned.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I love puzzles, especially Sudoku. I play the hardest levels and take pride in solving them. I also enjoy crossword puzzles and occasionally play video games. I work out a lot as well.

What’s your workout routine like?

I lift heavy weights and work out five times weekly, focusing mostly on strength training. I do cardio twice a week and also take long walks. I work out because I love food, so it’s my way of balancing things.

How do you manage to create a work-life balance?

I’ve learned to prioritize myself. Earlier in my career, I was always trying to prove myself and would overwork. However, I realized that neglecting my health and personal life would eventually affect my work. Now, I balance things by managing my time effectively. When I work, I give it my all, so when I step away, I can focus on myself without feeling guilty.

If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?

Honestly, I’d be a philanthropist or running an NGO. I’m passionate about helping people, so I’d likely be involved in some kind of charity work, advocating for causes that matter to me.

Can you share some noteworthy milestones or highlights from 2024 with us?

Errr…could you give me a minute to think about that? Much as I didn’t think too much about this until you asked, a few ‘small wins’ do come to mind now…

For the first time in 2 years, from the perspective of my work at The Switch, I surpassed my budget significantly, so I’d say it wasn’t a bad year business-wise.

On a personal note, but still tied to what I do at Interswitch, I got the opportunity to speak on a pretty big stage along with industry leaders I greatly respect at the 6th Annual FirstBank Fintech Summit two months ago; that was quite significant as it was my first speaking opportunity at a ‘big’ event. As you can imagine, that came with surmounting my fair share of ‘impostor syndrome’! (laughs out loud).

The third one I’ll share is a bit amusing—one that many fintech and banking 'OGs', especially those involved in the merchant acquiring space, can easily relate to. 2024 was the year I went to the EFCC (If you know, you know) for the first time…and I overcame! (laughter)

Interesting highlights. So, as we wrap up the conversation, are there any projections or outlook for your space (digital ecosystems/APIs) which you think we should be looking out for as 2025 unfolds? This is where you get to whisk out your crystal ball, assuming you’ve got one.

In my opinion, a key trend to watch in 2025 would be the increased application/integration of generative AI through APIs (Application Programme Interfaces). Businesses are embedding AI capabilities directly into their platforms via APIs to drive smarter automation, real-time analytics & insights, and personalized or curated customer experiences. Companies that prioritize scalable and secure AI-powered API strategies will definitely stay ahead within increasingly digital contemporary ecosystems.