By Olamide Ayeni, 2025 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow
In February 2025, I resumed as an Executive Fellow at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, representing Michigan Sea Grant through Michigan Technological University. Now, as this chapter comes full circle, I am deeply grateful for the journey and the lessons I will carry forward.
Ola joined the National Sea Grant Office as a Policy and Reporting Specialist. Photo: Olamide Ayeni
When I first saw the opportunity, my immediate reaction was: this is not for me. The eligibility criteria didn’t feel like it had my name stamped on it, I seemed to fall short more than I fit. So I thought, maybe this isn’t meant for me.
Then I paused.
This journey hadn’t started that day. It had been over six years in the making, long before I decided to pursue my master’s degree. I had been at the forefront of environmental action through waste reuse, waste that would otherwise have ended up in oceans and lakes. I had been part of teams speaking truth to power, contributing to environmental systems, and policy formulation. Our work gained international relevance and helped researchers better understand waste reuse. These weren’t just conversations; they were real, measurable impacts.
[Editor’s note: You can learn more about Ola’s background in transforming waste and empowering communities in this Q&A]
And I realized: if anyone was the right person to apply, not just based on eligibility, but on lived experience, contribution, and what I could give back, it was me.
So I applied.
What followed was a rigorous but necessary process, including back-to-back sessions with Sarah Isaacson, who at the time worked at the Career Services Center of Michigan Technological University. Sarah played a pivotal role in making this possible. My interest in applying was communicated to the Michigan Sea Grant team, my application was accepted, and an interview was scheduled.
That interview happened when I had barely been six months in the United States, armed with a thick Nigerian accent that has refused to be diluted. Still, it went well. I later received an email saying my application, alongside others, had been forwarded to the National Sea Grant Office in Washington, DC, where the final decision would be made.
I didn’t think much of it, until I received the news that I had been selected, the only successful applicant from Michigan. In that moment, I understood exactly why my work in waste management and the circular economy mattered.
One year later, after serving as a Policy and Reporting Specialist at the National Sea Grant Office, I can confidently say I learned more than I ever imagined. I gained deep insights into governance and leadership, lessons that have prepared me for top-level expertise in this field.
As someone who had run her own organization before starting her master’s degree, and who was accustomed to fast decision-making, I initially struggled with hierarchy and process. It took time to understand. But what I saw were standards, procedures, structures, and playbooks being referenced and relied upon. That experience taught me how to build structurally viable and sustainable organizations.
This wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned. My prior experience with governance had always been from the outside, as a third-party partner. This time, I was inside the system, learning, building, and contributing. That perspective gave me clarity.
Beyond the work itself, I had the privilege of collaborating across teams, supporting project success, and most importantly, sitting with people to learn their stories. One truth stood out: we are all unique in our journeys.
During this time, I took a train to New York City, not for leisure, but to witness myself displayed on the iconic Nasdaq billboard in Times Square. It was unforgettable. As my face lit up the screen, strangers stopped, pointed, and asked, “Is that you?” When I said yes, they clapped with me. Strangers celebrated a stranger. In that moment, I was reminded that humans have so much love to give, the world just hasn’t always shaped it well.
That Times Square moment would not have happened without the insistence and support of the Michigan Sea Grant Director, Professor Silvia Newell. I owe her immense gratitude.
Ola’s appearance on the Nasdaq billboard honored her entrepreneurial work with Hopcyku in Nigeria. Photo: Olamide Ayemi
A few months later, I spoke as a panelist at the WWF Plastic Summit, sharing insights on Hopcyku, our waste reuse projects, and the vision of creating a safer world. Sitting alongside top environmental leaders, one theme kept resurfacing: impact brought me here. Some might call it grace.
As this year drew to a close and I walked across the stage to receive my certificate honoring our service, I reflected on the people who made this journey possible. Michigan Sea Grant, the team went above and beyond. My mentors who walked alongside me. My family who held everything together. NOAA, for recognizing talent regardless of where one comes from, and for nurturing that talent through leadership and governance.
And finally, I honor myself, for not stopping myself, for believing in myself, and for going for it even when eligibility didn’t seem to have my name on it.
As this chapter closes, it’s greatness from here.
