As the Oakglen Wealth team continues to grow, we are keen to champion all of our employees, both new and existing. Today, we have the pleasure of introducing Sean Onayade, who joins our UK Wealth Team as a Placement Intern through the Oakglen Wealth Internship Initiative. In this interview, he shares a glimpse into his hobbies and interests, as well as what drives him on a personal and a professional level.
Thanks for joining us today Seun and a warm welcome to Oakglen Wealth. We would love to find out a bit more about you and introduce you to our ever-growing network of clients, financial advisers and professional connections.
How has your first week at Oakglen Wealth been?
So far it has been fun, but I am ready now to get stuck in and do more. I have already undertaken a variety of tasks for the team and have been looking at some of the compliance aspects primarily. I am due to start my key systems training soon as well as any CPD training.
What inspired you to select Oakglen Wealth for your internship?
I was keen to select an internship programme that suited me and aligned with both my skills and experience. I found the position at Oakglen Wealth advertised on the University Online Portal ‘Handshake’ and the corresponding role sounded really good. I felt it would provide great exposure to specialist investment services, global market insights and client related activities.
What was the selection process like?
Believe it or not, the interview process was very personable and fun. My meetings with the team were the most grounded and friendliest interactions I had during my placement search. My first interview was with Chief Operating Officer, Nick Middleton, which was a great back and forth exchange, and highlighted the strong team culture of Oakglen Wealth. I then met with Investment Manager, Eloise Rouse, which again really underlined the team culture and connection between colleagues, which cemented the decision for me. Team culture is incredibly important to me, and so far, I really enjoyed the evening out at the cricket and the charity cycle from London to Brighton.
How has it been getting to know your new colleagues so far?
It has been really good. Everyone has been very welcoming and willing to chat. The team regularly impart good advice and provide information on each of their roles, which has helped me gain insights into the team dynamics. I have also been included on key weekly meetings, such as the onboarding pipeline discussion and the investment market updates.
What are your goals and aspirations for the upcoming year?
My main goals are to experience a professional background, increase my knowledge of financial services and apply aspects of my study in economics to everyday situations. I also have a keen interest in behavioural economics and finance, and how this occurs in financial services when working closely with clients. The CIO Jeff Brummette is always happy to share investment insights with me and has already provided some great material to study.
Do you have mentor or anyone to report into?
Yes, I have a 1:1 meeting on a monthly basis with the COO Nick Middleton, to check in on my progress, highlight any areas I wish to focus on, and generally see how things are going. It is a fluid process, and they are constantly shaping the experience based on my interests.
That sounds great. And are there any areas at this moment in time you want to focus on?
I think it would be the making of investment decisions and fund selection. How the Investment Committee make their decisions regarding which stocks, bonds and/or funds to select and when to make changes to the investment portfolio. I have been reading through example investment proposals and looking at how the Investment Managers approach things. I’m also really looking forward to having an opportunity to meet some of our clients and learn what drives them.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I will be 26, so I would be well into my professional career by then, therefore a strong idea of how I wish to progress further and continue expanding my skillset. My main goal is to make my mum’s efforts worth it and prove nothing she sacrificed was in vain. She was really pleased for me to be joining a company like Oakglen Wealth, as she knows how hard I have worked and how big a step this is in going forward in my career.
Are you doing any additional study in terms of your professional development?
Alongside my role, I will be completing any standard CPD regulatory training such as Consumer Duty, Anti-Money Laundering, GDPR etc. I am interested in applying some of the key learnings from my economics degree to the workplace.
Why did you choose the subject you have selected to study?
I have a strong interest in the social science of economics. Although I initially started focussing on Law in Sixth Form, I changed to Economics as I was more passionate about this subject. I enjoy applying the theory to real world examples in life and understanding the behaviours of people.
How do you see your future career shaping?
At this immediate stage, I am interested in an investments and financial advisory route. I’m a people person therefore really interested in working with clients and professional advisers directly.
How would your past colleagues and fellow students describe you?
I hope they would describe me as reliable and approachable. My mantra is, look out for others. There’s a saying that we are to be our brother’s keeper. If you need me, I will drop things to help.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work and study?
I am a massive football fan, so most of the time, I am either playing or watching football, and I even did a brief spell of podcasting. I’ve got a membership at Chelsea, so I am always at Stamford Bridge watching the team play. I’ve also started boxing and loved competing in Fight Night last year, an event in Exeter that everyone comes down to watch.
Describe an interesting hobby or pastime that you have.
As already mentioned, football is a huge interest of mine. Otherwise I enjoy reading, such as the book ‘Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness’ by Richard H. Thaler. Unfortunately, I don’t get as much time to read on my journey to and from the office as I would like.
On that subject, what type of books and movies do you enjoy most?
When I do read, it is mostly economics related otherwise I take recommendations from people I know if they suggest reading something interesting. My university friend Will and previous boss have suggested the Will Carnegie book, ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People.’
In terms of film, one of my favourite movies is Inception. Otherwise, I’m more likely to be watching a TV series on Netflix such as Manifest or the House of Dragon.
What’s something surprising that not many people know about you?
I’m an open book so I doubt there is anything the people close to me do not already know!
Who are some of your biggest influences?
My two biggest influences, whom I take inspiration from, are my mum and sister.
My mum for her sacrifices, how she prioritised putting our family into a better situation and improving social mobility.
My sister for applying herself and making the most of mum’s sacrifices, being awarded a 1st in Accountancy at De Montfort University, which has led to an accountancy role at a property investment firm in Central London.
Do you have any creative outlets or interests?
I would have to say cooking! I love to cook. Specialty fried rice with steak is a favourite of mine, so that is always a good one. I also make sure I meal-prep my lunches every day.
We have a master chef in the house. So what is your favourite food?
Jollof rice is my absolute favourite. Being away at university means I really miss my home cooked meals.
Finally, what are some of your favourite spots in London to visit?
Anywhere I can meet friends to play football or go bowling, otherwise I like going to the O2 cinema at Greenwich.
Thanks again for sparing us your time today Seun and we wish you all the best in your role at Oakglen Wealth.
We hope you enjoyed this quick-fire interview and gained some insights into the new member of our investment team. You can read similar content for our more established team members below:
Under the Spotlight: Tara Le Feuvre – Assistant Investment Manager (Jersey)