Interview: “I’m doing things I never dreamed of doing” Written by Jamie Oliver Tuesday 14 May 2024 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email Naomi Ogundiran had to rethink her life after not getting the school grades she wanted. Today she's halfway through a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship with tech giant Amazon – and getting "unimaginable" opportunities. “You only regret the chances you don’t take in life, that’s what I think.” So says Naomi Ogundiran, who is halfway through a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA), which she is taking at the University of Exeter while working for Amazon. She is now a passionate advocate for the CMDA – but just two years ago, an apprenticeship wasn’t even a path she expected to be on. “[At school] I didn’t get the GCSE grades I wanted or expected,” she says. “I was planning a career in media, finance or economics, but then I had to rethink. My dad suggested that I look into taking a degree apprenticeship. His advice was to read about it and think about it. So I did. Want to read more about Naomi’s CMDA journey? Login or register below for Free Instant Access Login If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article. Confirm your registration Login below to confirm your details and access this article. Sign in with email Email remember me remember Forget? Please confirm that you want to switch off the "Sign in with email" remember me feature. Yes No Register for Free Access Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox. You have successfully registered As a CMI Friend, you now have access to whole range of CMI Friendship benefits. Please login to the left to confirm your registration and access the article. Interview At CMI, we’re hugely privileged to have contributed to many people’s management and leadership journeys. Take a look back at some of the people we’ve interviewed for some top tips and exclusive insight. Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.
