Capstone Finalist Snapshot: Kikelomo Adegoke-Ode

ST capstone finalist Kikelomo Adegoke-Ode may well have the most remarkable story of any TLI student we've talked to. She submitted her capstone project, "Securing City Networks: A Risk Analysis for Metro-INET, Roseville, Minnesota", the very same day she gave birth to her lovely daughter Iyanu Tehillah. A week later, Iyanu accompanied Kike to her capstone defense. 

According to Kike, "Securing City Networks" began with a risk analysis drawn from data collected through interviews and a survey, and proposed a three-phased approach for the security maturity of her subject organization’s IT infrastructure.

Q: How did you first hear about the TLI program?

A: As I started pondering about continuing education and getting a Masters degree, I noticed one of the billboards advertising the Technological Leadership Institute. I searched online and discovered information about online and in-person info sessions. I attended and liked what I heard but did not apply for the program until a couple of years later.

Q: What kind of support have you received from your company while in the program?

A: My company and managers were very supportive throughout the program. I received tuition reimbursement totaling $3000 as well as a lot of cooperation that helped in the writing of my capstone. Staff from management and different teams participated in interviews and surveys that provided data for my research.

Q: How easy was finding a subject for the capstone project? What did your decision-making process look like?

A: Finding a subject for my capstone was something I'd been thinking about from our first few classes at TLI. Practically every member of the faculty encouraged us to think of possible problems in our companies or around society that we can tackle for a capstone. I looked at my office and indeed there was a need for a detailed risk analysis of our IT infrastructure that would enable the provision of a roadmap for security maturity. I was not quite sure how to tackle this project but as the program went on, tools were provided by many of our courses that empowered me to take on this need for my capstone project

Q: You are the only student I'm aware of who gave birth and delivered the capstone during the same week! Can you tell us more about that?

A: Now that was a very interesting twist but a good one. Surely not one that I planned. When I found out the baby was due in November, the same month when capstones were due, I figured I could try to finish writing before the baby's due date. Naturally, the writing ballooned at the end so that plan fell through and the baby also did not come on the 16th as expected. As I was writing the final pages and proofreading for submission the contractions started. I recalled the many times Prof. Laingen had said “get it done in ‘22”, so I decided it was unwise to delay the inevitable or table any excuse no matter how valid. Iyanu Tehillah was born at 9.15 am on the 22nd of November and I submitted the final draft of my capstone on the same day before midnight. I presented my capstone to the committee as scheduled on the 30th of November.

I could not have accomplished this without God’s help, the support of my family, and my wonderful advisors. Thank you.

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