Sefunmi Osinaike, a Toronto resident born in Nigeria, believes the technology industry is booming, but those leading the pack don’t always reflect what he sees when he looks in the mirror.
That’s why the University of Waterloo alum made it his mission to change up the status quo by starting an online school that seeks to provide non-traditional tech talent with a community of like minded individuals.
As the co-founder and CEO of Co.Lab, and a former product manager for Microsoft and Apple, Osinaike has a unique teaching style and makes team-based learning accessible to anyone with the slightest interest in breaking into the tech savvy space.
There’s a reason why he was recently listed under the Forbes top 30 under 30 in the education category for 2023.
He said his company has helped over 800 career switchers from over 45 countries land their first tech roles at companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and more.
“Co.Lab grads since 2021 have obtained cumulative annual salaries of over $50M post-program. They boast a 92% program completion rate, with the majority of students being women-identifying and Persons of Color,” he told Now Toronto in an interview.
Aside from teaching the craft, he is also the author of How to Product, a book on transitioning into product management from outside the industry.
Co.Lab also has free digital resources and books that have been downloaded by over 30,000 people globally and inspired thousands to begin their journey into tech.
As an immigrant founder, Osinaike said he is willing and ready to work with people from all walks of life, regardless of age, ethnicity, lived perspectives and experiences.
