Class of 2024: Aruoriwo Ocharive

Just days into her Masters, Aruoriwo Ocharive found out she was pregnant and had to draw on her inner strength to continue her studies despite suffering a difficult pregnancy with debilitating bouts of morning sickness.

Although having to face the many hurdles of pregnancy, Aruoriwo completed her Masters in Financial Engineering and Risk Management with distinction.

“This period of my life was more than an academic pursuit, it was a lesson on resilience, time management and thriving under pressure and I am proud to have succeeded in this academic achievement,” she said.

Aruoriwo, who lives in Colchester, works as the Lead Product Operations for a fintech firm as well as Community Events Manager for a community of female product leads, aimed at empowering and connecting women and the underrepresented in the industry.

Inspired by her participation in Essex Startups and its iTeams Programme, she co-founded an innovative fintech startup Render FX with a group of friends, driven by a shared passion for disrupting the industry norm.

She said she chose to study at Essex because of its “renowned reputation for excellence in academics, especially in the field of financial engineering and risk management”. She also was attracted to the University's “innovative approach to education, diverse community, and robust support systems for international students like myself”.

Remembering her time at Essex, Aruoriwo added: “Despite overcoming several challenges, such as navigating my pregnancy while studying, what I most enjoyed about studying at Essex was the supportive and inclusive environment fostered by the University of Essex. The encouragement and guidance I received from faculty members, the sense of camaraderie among fellow students, and the opportunities for personal and academic growth made my time at Essex truly enriching and memorable.”