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Alumna, entrepreneur, financial influencer and educator Jenny Okpechi educates others in financial literacy through her online platform.

After studying MSc Digital Business Management and Transformation, Jenny graduated in 2024. In the last year, she has built a 45,000-strong online community through educating followers in financial literacy. In our latest Once Upon A Time Alumni feature, she shares her top five tips for financial success.

Can you tell us about life after �������?

University was insightful and incredibly rewarding. I was surrounded by people from diverse backgrounds, which made discussions richer and broadened my perspective. The best part was learning how digital transformation isn’t just a buzzword but a game-changer across industries. There was a moment in a Digital Transformation Strategy lecture when it hit me that tech isn’t just about innovation, it’s about how people adapt to it. That changed how I approached business, finance, and even career decisions. I knew then that adaptability would define how I work moving forward.

Since graduating, I’ve become a Scrum Master and am now studying to become a Financial Advisor. As a Scrum Master, my role involves coaching team members, leading daily stand-ups, removing roadblocks, and ensuring smooth project delivery while fostering collaboration and continuous improvement. I help teams stay on track with their goals while promoting a culture of transparency and teamwork.

I’ve built a strong personal brand online and been selected as a finalist for . I have worked and collaborated with multiple brands, including Etoro, Ohent pay, Curve Wallet, Moburst, The Panel Station, Printify, Webull, and Strabo, among others, and have been featured in magazines and newspapers, including Business Africa. I’ve built a platform across multiple channels using YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn to teach financial literacy and wealth building in an engaging way to a community of over 45,000 people. I also recently partnered with Experian and The Mix UK to teach young people about money management.  

What is your mission and vision as a financial advisor and educator? 

My mission is to make financial literacy simple, relatable, and accessible, so people can build wealth without stress or confusion. My vision is to help build a world where financial freedom isn’t a privilege, but a choice that’s available to everyone willing to learn and take action. 

What does financial freedom mean to you? 

Financial freedom means “Freedom” to me. It’s about having choices, not restrictions. It means waking up every day knowing I can decide where I work, how I spend my time, and who I help, without money being a limiting factor. It’s about being able to walk away from situations and places that are not aligned with my values or beliefs without worrying about money. It means being able to handle unplanned expenses without going into debt. Money should be a tool, not a trap. 

In my experience of growing up in a traditional African household, I noticed that financial knowledge and wealth-building were often considered a “male thing.” The boy child was automatically groomed to inherit property, manage finances, and build wealth, while the girl child was often taught to be prudent with spending. 

I decided early on that I wasn’t going to wait for permission, inheritance or a financial safety net. Instead, I immersed myself in finance and investing to break that cycle, not just for myself but for other women who needed to hear: "You don’t need to be chosen. Choose yourself." 

This is what fuels me to help others step into financial independence with confidence. Because money is a game for whoever is willing to learn and play it well.

What’s your financial pet peeve (in others or yourself)? 

For others, it’s the ‘I’ll start saving when I earn more’ mentality: spoiler alert: if you don’t save at £2,000, you won’t at £20,000. For me, it’s overanalysing investments to the point of “analysis paralysis”. Sometimes, you just need to start. 

What are your five top tips for financial success? 

1. Make your money work for you – if your money isn’t growing, it’s shrinking (thanks to inflation). Invest in assets that grow (stocks, Real Estate Investment Trusts, side businesses, for example). 

2. Always have a budget – knowing where your money goes helps you control it. 

3. Debt isn’t always bad, especially if it’s funding growth. If it’s investing in opportunities that increase revenue or build assets, for example, taking out a loan to expand a business, great. If it’s funding a lifestyle you can’t afford, rethink it. If you must use debt, use it wisely and strategically. The key is ensuring that the potential return outweighs the cost of the debt.

4. It is not about what you make, but how much of it you keep. A high salary means nothing if your expenses eat it up. I recommend focusing on building assets that pay you.

5. Acquire financial literacy – the more you know, the better decisions you’ll make in the long term. Never stop learning! I recommend reading financial and personal development books, attending finance webinars, following reputable financial educators on social media and listening to podcasts that cover financial literacy and self-improvement. 

To read more financial tips from Jenny, visit her .