Chidera Joseph is stunning, hilarious, and brilliant.
She's a far cry from the 11-year-old girl who immigrated to the United States from Nigeria after being orphaned. Joseph credits Onondaga Community College with making a life-changing difference in her journey. "My second semester at OCC and the support I received there is why I am where I am today. I may be physically away from OCC, but it is always in my heart."
Joseph lives and works in New York City where she is a Mid-Market E-commerce Account Manager for Google. "Google has been a blessing because it provided me with an opportunity to be challenged by thinking creatively while always having opportunities to learn and grow. It's like going to school but getting paid!"
It's been 16 years since Joseph came to America with her brother. They were adopted and raised by their aunt who was a chemistry teacher at Syracuse's Nottingham High School. "From the moment we arrived she enforced the importance and value of going to college. I remember she would spend hours with us with our 'Hooked on Phonics' which she bought to help us navigate the English language."
Joseph would graduate from Jamesville-Dewitt High School in 2014 and come to OCC. While earning a Business Administration degree, her experiences outside class proved to be just as critical in her development. She became an officer in Student Government, tutored fellow students in Calculus, was an active participant in the Race and Ethnicity Conversation Circles, and joined the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP).
Becoming part of campus life helped her build her network. When she began working on what would come after OCC she had plenty of guidance. “Dr. Crabill (former OCC President), Professor Jerry Farnett, Professor Eunice Williams, and Mr. Drake Harrison (former Director of CSTEP) all had a tremendous impact on my second half success at OCC and during my transfer process to Cornell University. I came calling to their respective doors many times for a multitude of reasons and never once was I turned away.”
Joseph earned a Communications degree from Cornell University in 2018 and planned to take a gap year while saving money and preparing for her law school entrance exams. She was hired at M&T Bank in New Jersey as part of their management development program. She was eventually accepted into law school but decided to go in a different direction. "I wanted to explore my career options. I knew law school would always be there, but didn't want to limit myself."
Thanks to a fellow Cornell alumnus, Joseph heard about opportunities at Google. She applied for three positions, was initially turned down for all three, then brought in for an interview and hired as an Account Strategist. Now she's part of Google's BOLD Internship Program. "BOLD" stands for Build Opportunities for Leadership & Development. The program provides underrepresented undergraduate students access to jobs and internships at Google. As a Mid-Market E-Commerce Account Manager, Joseph has several clients up and down the east coast.
Throughout her professional journey she has had many opportunities where she could have taken the safer route. Her decision to go outside her comfort zone had led to a high level of success very early in her career. That desire to take chances and explore was fostered at OCC. "I learned there to not be afraid to pivot, and to never settle for something less thank your worth."
