Spotlight Stories: From Database to Dreams - Dolapo Fadare’s Trailblazing Voyage in EdTech

Dolapo Fadare: The visionary behind STRIVE OPP.

In the second edition of AthenaCodes Spotlight Stories, I am thrilled to introduce you to an incredible trailblazer, Dolapo Fadare. Her story is one of determination, innovation, and the sheer will to make education more accessible for Canadian students. I had the privilege of connecting with Dolapo in a call where we discussed her journey, her work, and how she’s making waves in the ed-tech space. Let me tell you, I was absolutely inspired and learned so much!

The Genesis of a Dream

Dolapo’s journey began in her high school years. She had a vision: she wanted to graduate debt-free. However, she didn’t initially know how to realize this dream. A turning point came when someone from her high school mentioned getting half of their tuition covered. This ignited a spark in Dolapo, and she decided to make her vision a reality. By the end of grade 12, she had thrown herself into applying for scholarships, drawing from her community leadership activities. And guess what? She secured a whopping 33k in scholarships for her first year, including the prestigious Terry Fox Humanitarian Award!

Over the years, Dolapo continued to hunt for scholarships and amassed approximately 75k! But she didn’t stop with her own success. In the spirit of generosity, she began sharing scholarship applications with her mentees, and this laid the foundation for her transformative initiative, STRIVE OPP.

Building STRIVE OPP

Dolapo discovered that there was a lack of awareness among students about the plethora of scholarships available. She decided to take matters into her own hands. Initially sharing scholarships through Instagram, she soon realized that the ed-tech space could benefit from a more streamlined, database-driven approach.

Despite not being technically trained, Dolapo did not let that stop her. She built a database from various sources she had used during her university days and started STRIVE OPP. Her mission? To make scholarship opportunities accessible to all!

Overcoming Challenges

Our conversation was peppered with honesty as Dolapo opened up about the challenges she faced. Being young, she often faced condescension from those who felt she was too inexperienced. Moving to Montreal, she also grappled with establishing her startup in a bilingual environment. But Dolapo’s spirit is unshakable. She continually reminds herself to take leaps of faith, understanding that every step is part of the learning process.

Another poignant aspect Dolapo shared was the social responsibility that weighs on her. How to balance providing a valuable service with making it affordable for students who are already struggling financially.

Pearls of Wisdom

Dolapo shared some invaluable advice for women and underrepresented groups considering carving their own path in tech or starting a business.

First, she emphasized that "Nobody knows what they’re doing."

She used to feel like she needed to be 200% confident before embarking on any project. Through her experiences, including starting a hair company with her sister in her second year of university, she learned that you don’t need to be completely prepared before starting something. It's about learning as you go.

The second piece of advice Dolapo shared was to "Let people know what you need."

Many times we hold back because we don’t know what we don’t know. Dolapo found that when she asked for help or shared her limitations, it opened doors for other conversations and possibilities, with each interaction holding potential nuggets of wisdom.

Celebrating Successes

Dolapo’s joy knows no bounds when her mentees secure scholarships. She humbly considers herself just a guide, while they are the ones doing the hard work. This humility and genuine joy for the successes of others make Dolapo not just an ed-tech trailblazer but a remarkable human being.

Discover More About Dolapo

I encourage everyone to check out STRIVE OPP to explore the amazing resources Dolapo has put together. Her relentless efforts are paving the way for countless students to unlock opportunities they might not have known existed. Also, I encourage you to connect with her on her LinkedIn to see what excellent work she continues to do.

Closing Thoughts

My conversation with Dolapo left me with a sense of admiration and inspiration. Her story is a testament to the power of tenacity, ingenuity, and generosity. By relentlessly pursuing her vision, Dolapo is not only carving a path for herself but is also empowering countless others with the resources to shape their futures. Through STRIVE OPP, she has created a ripple effect of knowledge-sharing that is bound to have a lasting impact.

May Dolapo’s journey inspire everyone reading this post to embrace their dreams, tackle obstacles head-on, and remember: your path is yours to forge – be bold, be curious, and, like Dolapo, never stop striving for greatness.

Warm regards,

Hamidat Bello