Grad School Buddy

Hosted by ebelechukwu monye and Chukwuebuka Amaji

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Grad School Buddy provides reliable resources that help grad students worldwide confidently navigate grad school and excel in their careers. We aim to equip and nurture the next generation of thinkers and doers interested in redefining rules and bringing positive change to their communities.

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55 recent

June 13, 202644 min

Season 5 Episode 7: GSB Career Insights on Pharmacy and Healthcare Management with Dr. Chioma Ogbonna

In this episode, we’re with Dr. Chioma Ogbonna, a pharmacist with over 17 years of experience across Nigeria and Canada, to explore the evolving role of pharmacists in healthcare.Her conversation with us traces how pharmacy has shifted from traditional medication dispensing to a more patient-centered, clinical, and systems-focused profession. Dr. Chioma Ogbonna, Pharm D, MSc talks about her career in hospital pharmacy management, occupational health, and leadership, and explains how pharmacists contribute to better healthcare outcomes for patients.We also discuss the growing importance of systems thinking in healthcare, as well as emerging career opportunities in pharmacy.If you are interested in pharmacy careers, healthcare leadership, public health, or healthcare systems in Africa, listen here.Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

May 23, 2026Episode 627 min

Season 5 Episode 6: GSB Career Insights on Business Development and Neuroscience (with Awwal Abdullahi)

Not all healthcare decisions happen in a hospital.In this episode, we’re with Awwal Abdullahi, a Business Development and Strategy professional on the Neuroscience team at Medtronic. His work sits at the intersection of healthcare and business, focused on one goal: improving how patients around the world access essential medical technologies.Awwal shares his journey from electrical engineering, to public health, to advising governments across Africa on health system strengthening, and now into the for-profit healthcare space at a medical device company. He breaks down what business development and strategy actually look like in healthcare, how partnerships drive access to care, and why sustainability matters just as much as innovation.For anyone interested in healthcare careers, strategy, or the business side of global health, this episode offers a grounded look into how care is ultimately delivered to the people who need it most.Co-hosts: ebelechukwu monye and Chukwuebuka AmajiIf you enjoyed this episode, please turn on your notifications for more from the GSB Career Insights Series.Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

May 2, 2026Episode 543 min

Season 5 Episode 5: GSB Career Insights on Organic Chemistry with Dr. Andre Isaacs

In this episode of GSB Career Insights, we have a conversation with Dr. Andre Isaacs, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the College of the Holy Cross, to explore his journey from Kingston, Jamaica, to becoming an organic chemist, researcher, and educator transforming how students experience science.Dr. Isaacs shares his story of navigating cultural transitions, academic challenges, and identity in science. He reflects on his undergraduate and PhD journey, the realities of graduate school, and how mentorship played a defining role in his success.Beyond science, this conversation highlights the importance of finding joy in learning, representation in STEM, and staying authentic in spaces that don’t always make room for you.Co-hosts: Ebelechukwu Monye & Chukwuebuka AmajiSend a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

April 11, 2026Episode 444 min

Season 5 Episode 4: GSB Career Insights on Public Health Systems and Financial Inclusion with Dr. Adanna Chukwuma

What does it look like to build a career that moves across medicine, public health, and finance?In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Adanna Chukwuma, Associate Vice President for Economic Growth and Private Sector Engagement at CARE.Dr. Chukwuma shares her journey from studying medicine at the University of Nigeria to working on health system reforms at the World Bank, financial inclusion at Visa, and now leading large-scale development initiatives at CARE. She reflects on how personal experiences on both sides of the healthcare system shaped her perspective and influenced the trajectory of her career.We also discuss her approach to getting into top graduate programs at Oxford and Harvard, including how she navigated missing requirements using strategic preparation and storytelling to strengthen her application.Tune in now to hear her insights on career transitions and helpful tips on getting into competitive graduate programs.Co-hosts: Ebelechukwu Monye and Chukwuebuka AmajiIf you enjoyed this episode, please turn on your notifications for more from the GSB Career Insights Series.Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

March 21, 2026Episode 339 min

Season 5 Episode 3: GSB Career Insights on Ophthalmology with Dr. Henrietta Ifechukwude (World Glaucoma Day 2026)

In this episode of the GSB Career Insights Series, we explore the field of ophthalmology and the growing importance of eye health awareness.Our guest, Dr. Henrietta Ifechukwude Monye, is an ophthalmologist and public eye health advocate dedicated to preventing blindness and improving access to eye care. She is also the founder of Eyehub Nigeria, an initiative focused on eye health education, early detection, and community engagement.In this conversation, Dr. Monye shares her journey into ophthalmology, the realities of glaucoma, and why early detection is critical in preventing avoidable blindness. She also discusses the work being done through Eyehub Nigeria to improve awareness and access to eye care services across communities.Tune in for insights into the field of ophthalmology, and how advocacy, research, and clinical practice can come together to improve public health outcomes.Co-hosts: Ebelechukwu Monye and Chukwuebuka AmajiIf you enjoyed this episode, please turn on your notifications for more from the GSB Career Insights Series.Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

February 28, 2026Episode 232 min

Season 5 Episode 2: GSB's Career Insights on Credit Risk Management with Temitope Kazeem

Ever wondered how banks decide who gets a loan, and who doesn’t? In this episode, we sit down with Temitope, a credit risk and financial services professional with an MBA, experienced in advising banks across the UK and international markets.Credit risk management (CRM) determines who banks lend to, how much risk they take, and how they do it responsibly. Temitope explains how CRM balances regulatory compliance, responsible lending, and financial inclusion, and shares why sometimes saying “no” to a loan is the most responsible decision a bank can make.We discuss how Temitope transitioned from a non-finance background into credit risk management, the entry-level opportunities available, essential skills, and the evolving future of the profession.Whether you’re exploring a career in finance or curious about how lending decisions are made, tune in for practical insights and career advice from a credit risk expert.Co-hosts: Ebelechukwu Monye and Chukwuebuka Amaji If you enjoyed this episode, please turn on your notifications for more on the GSB Career Insights Series.Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

February 7, 2026Episode 126 min

Season 5 Episode 1: What to Expect From GSB's Career Insights Series (with Ebelechukwu Monye and Chukwuebuka Amaji)

Welcome to the premiere episode of Season Five, themed ‘GSB’s Career Insight Series.’ In this season, we will break down unique career paths, one conversation at a time. This episode serves as a blueprint for what's to come. Join our co-hosts Ebelechukwu, who is a social scientist and researcher in the international development and public policy sector, and Chukwuebuka, who works in Private Equity and Venture Capital, focusing on fintech investment across emerging African markets.In this conversation, we explore two fields you may not have heard of or may only know at a surface level. You’ll discover the less-visible roles within international development and private equity/venture capital spaces that keep these industries running, the skills needed to break into these spaces, and the gaps early-career professionals are well positioned to fill.Tune in now for practical insight into how these industries work.Co-hosts: Ebelechukwu Monye and Chukwuebuka Amaji If you enjoyed this episode, please turn on your notifications for more on the GSB Career Insights Series. Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

December 20, 2025Episode 1133 min

Season 4 Episode 11: Did Someone Say Season Finale?

The year is coming to an end, and we didn't want to sign off without a proper goodbye.For the Season Finale, we kept it in-house, just the four of us looking at 2025 in review. We talked about everything: our favorite podcast guests, the GSB mentees, collaborations, the lessons from the year, and our hopes for next season.We discussed what keeps our team tight and what it really takes to sustain GSB four years in. It's a wholesome, honest look at the journey so far.To everyone who's been with us this year, thank you. Your support means everything to us, and we couldn't have done this without you. Hit play and join us for this special finale episode as we close out the year together.Co-hosts: Ebelechukwu Monye and Chukwuebuka Amaji Guests: Chike Onyekwelu, Hairat Olawumi Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

November 22, 2025Episode 1057 min

Season 4 Episode 10: Empowering the Next Generation of Grad Students (an Event by Grad School Buddy and EduFurther)

In this special episode, we bring you highlights from our live event hosted by Grad School Buddy in collaboration with EduFurther, designed to equip the next generation of graduate students with real-world guidance and mentorship to thrive in grad school and beyond.On the panel, Rokeebat discussed grad school preparation and cleared common misconceptions about pursuing a graduate degree; ebelechukwu reflected on the impact of grad school and how to make the most of the experience; and Chukwuebuka explored building a thriving career without an advanced degree.The discussion was followed by a Q&A and themed breakout sessions, where mentors from Grad School Buddy and EduFurther answered personalized questions from participants, offering actionable advice and mentorship.If you missed the live event, this episode brings all the insights straight to you. Tune in now to discover strategies needed to navigate grad school and beyondFeaturing: Rokeebat Hammed, Ebelechukwu Monye, and Chukwuebuka Amaji, Amatullah Mahmoud, Hairat Olawumi, Goodness Ajamu, Gbenga Idowu Elufisan, Shamim Ibrahim, and Chukwuebuka AmajiIf you enjoyed this episode, turn on notifications so you never miss more stories and resources from Grad School Buddy.Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy

October 25, 2025Episode 857 min

Season 4 Episode 9: Creating a Safer Future for the World’s Children (with Esomchi Agalamanyi)

In this episode, we discuss joining a graduate program with limited professional experience and how friendships and community make the journey easier. Our guest today is Esomchi Agalamanyi, who studied Economics at the University of Nigeria and earned a master’s in Education, Public Policy & Equity at the University of Glasgow. His professional journey has taken him from the UN office in New York to the UNICEF office in Bangkok, and currently, he is at UNICEF Geneva, where he has built expertise in governance, accountability, and knowledge management. We discuss his early days as an economist, what drives him, what his work as a knowledge management specialist entails, why it matters in shaping policy, and the new challenges children face in a rapidly changing digital world.For anyone curious about policy, children’s rights, or knowledge management, this is worth your listen.Co-hosts: ebelechukwu monye and Chukwuebuka AmajiGuest: Esomchi AgalamanyiIf you enjoyed this episode, hit follow and turn on notifications for more grad school stories and resources.Send a message or comment to Grad School Buddy