I am Olumayowa Akinkuehinmi, an all-around tech enthusiast with a diverse and extensive background in network engineering and DevOps. I began my career as an Access Network Engineer, where I was deeply involved in enterprise connectivity and network security. My passion for technology led me to the Submarine Optical Network sector, where I received advanced training at the Ciena Learning Lab in London and the SubSea Optical Networking Engineering Summer School, co-founded by Google and Optica, in Finland. I have led deployments at four Subsea Cable landing stations across West Africa and Portugal as a Senior SubSea Network Engineer. In this role, I oversaw deployments for major providers such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Orange, Sonatel, MTN GlobalConnect, and BBC, facilitating the seamless transfer of their traffic between data centers in West Africa and Europe. After a successful stint in the subsea sector, I transitioned to DevOps at Engage Messaging, where I continue to apply my expertise. In addition, I am dedicated to nurturing the next generation of tech talent through TechPeak Lab, which I founded to provide aspiring techies with the resources and guidance they need to succeed.

My Mentoring Topics

  • Network Engineering
  • DevOps
  • Cyber Security
  • Startups
  • Career Development
D.
22.August 2024

Mr. Olumayoma listened to my story, and he could understand what he needed to do to help. He didn't hesitate as he provided the needed assistance right away. I am glad to have had the session with him!

S.
21.August 2024

The mentorship session with Mr. Akinkuehinmi was very educational. It provided me with guidance on the path to take as I begin my career in cybersecurity, highlighting key factors in the industry, what to look out for when applying for jobs, and the domains that will be in trend in the next 5 to 10 years.

O.
9.August 2024

Amazing session! This was an eye opening session for me as I was able to see things from a professionals perspective. Absolute 10/10.

A.
27.July 2024

I enjoyed the session. My Mentor directed me on how to keep moving on my Cybersecurity journey and connected me with a group of like minds. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

B.
24.July 2024

I had a fascinating session with Mr. Olúmáyòwá. His words of encouragements offered me both insight and motivation.

E.
19.July 2024

I am really grateful that I got to meet and speak with Olumayowa. The session was really helpful and insightful. I'm happy that I'll be starting my cloud journey with his guidance

T.
19.July 2024

Oluwamayowa is a good listener and a very quick problem solver. During our interaction he was able to point out the issues i had and he also provided a solution which were spot on, and that was all i ever needed.

P.
18.July 2024

The session with Olúmáyòwá was enlightening and I was able to gain clarity from it.

r.
17.July 2024

This was eye opening for me, I was able to understand that some people have felt the same way I am felling at the moment. I really appreciate the time spent with the mentor

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The Phoenix Project - A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win
Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, George Spafford

Key Facts and Insights from "The Phoenix Project" The Three Ways: The first principle, known as "The flow of work from left to right," emphasizes the need for work to be visualized and flow smoothly from development to operations to the customer. The second principle, "Amplify feedback loops," underscores the importance of creating channels for necessary adjustments. The third principle, "Continual experimentation and learning," promotes a culture of continual experimentation, taking risks, and learning from failure. DevOps: The book emphasizes the critical role of DevOps in modern IT operations and how it can help businesses win. DevOps represents the integration of development and operations teams to deliver better, faster, and more reliable outcomes. IT as a competitive advantage: The book argues that IT is no longer just a support function but a strategic asset that can provide a competitive advantage when managed effectively. Importance of Visibility: The book stresses the importance of visibility in IT operations. It emphasizes the need for clear visibility of work-in-progress, flow, and feedback to reduce wastage and increase efficiency. Work in Progress (WIP): The book highlights the dangers of excessive WIP and how it can lead to burnout and inefficiency. It recommends limiting WIP to improve flow and efficiency. Technical Debt: The book discusses the concept of technical debt and how neglecting it can lead to long-term inefficiencies and increased costs. Value of IT operations: The book underscores the value that IT operations bring to a business, emphasizing the need for organizations to invest in their IT operations. Culture of Learning: The book advocates for a culture of learning where failures are seen as opportunities for learning, not blame. Infrastructure as Code (IaC): The book introduces the concept of Infrastructure as Code, a key DevOps practice that involves managing and provisioning computer data centers through machine-readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools. Automation: The Phoenix Project highlights the importance of automation in reducing errors, freeing up human resources, and increasing efficiency and productivity. Managing Bottlenecks: The book discusses the Theory of Constraints and how managing bottlenecks in any process can improve overall performance. In-depth Analysis "The Phoenix Project" presents a compelling case for the integration of development and operations teams through a method known as DevOps. This critical shift in IT operations management can best be understood through the lens of The Three Ways. The first way emphasizes the need for work to flow smoothly from development to operations to the customer, a principle that is at the heart of DevOps. The second way underscores the importance of creating channels for necessary adjustments or feedback. This feedback loop is an integral part of the DevOps culture as it helps teams to identify and rectify issues promptly, thereby improving the quality of outcomes. The third way promotes a culture of continual experimentation, learning, and understanding that failure is a part of this process. The authors, Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford, argue convincingly that IT is no longer just a support function but a strategic asset that can provide a competitive advantage when managed effectively. This is a significant shift from traditional perspectives and places IT at the heart of business strategy. The book also emphasizes the importance of visibility in IT operations. It is essential to have clear visibility of work-in-progress, flow, and feedback to reduce wastage and increase efficiency. In this context, the book introduces the concept of technical debt, which refers to the future cost of correcting shortcuts taken in system development or maintenance today. If neglected, technical debt can lead to long-term inefficiencies and increased costs. One of the key insights from the book is the dangers of excessive Work in Progress (WIP). Too much WIP can lead to burnout and inefficiency. To address this, the authors recommend limiting WIP to improve flow and efficiency. This is a core principle of lean and agile methodologies, which aim to reduce waste and increase the delivery speed. The Phoenix Project also introduces the concept of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), a key practice in DevOps. IaC involves managing and provisioning computer data centers through machine-readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools. This is a significant shift from traditional IT operations and provides a more efficient and reliable approach to managing infrastructure. Automation is another key theme in the book. The authors highlight the importance of automation in reducing errors, freeing up human resources, and increasing efficiency and productivity. This is a key practice in DevOps, where the aim is to automate as much of the software delivery pipeline as possible. Finally, the authors discuss the Theory of Constraints and how managing bottlenecks in any process can improve overall performance. This is an essential principle in operations management and is particularly relevant in the context of IT operations, where bottlenecks can significantly hinder the delivery speed. In conclusion, "The Phoenix Project" provides a compelling case for adopting DevOps and rethinking the role of IT in business strategy. The principles and practices discussed in the book have the potential to transform IT operations and help businesses win in a competitive environment.

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The Unicorn Project - A Novel about Developers, Digital Disruption, and Thriving in the Age of Data
Gene Kim

Key Insights from "The Unicorn Project" Five Ideals: The book introduces five ideals that are crucial for the success of any project. These are Locality and Simplicity, Focus, Flow, and Joy, Improvement of Daily Work, Psychological Safety, and Customer Focus. Value of Developers: The book highlights the importance of developers in the digital era and how they can cause disruptions and innovations in the industry. Data Centricity: Data is the new oil. The book accentuates the significance of data and how it can be utilized to thrive in the current age. Communication and Collaboration: The importance of effective communication and collaboration between different departments in an organization is emphasized. Technical Debt: The book discusses the concept of technical debt and how it can hinder the progress of a project if not managed properly. Psychological Safety: The novel underscores the need for psychological safety in a working environment. The team members should feel safe to take risks and communicate openly. Importance of Automation: The book sheds light on the role and importance of automation in achieving efficiency and speed in projects. Customer Centricity: The importance of keeping the customer at the center of all decisions and development is highlighted. Leadership: The book underlines the role of effective leadership in driving the successful execution of projects. Continuous Learning: The emphasis is laid on the importance of continual learning for staying relevant in the ever-evolving tech world. DevOps and Agile methodologies: The book discusses the use of DevOps and Agile methodologies for efficient project management and execution. Analysis of "The Unicorn Project" "The Unicorn Project" by Gene Kim is a business novel that provides significant insights into the world of software development and digital disruption. It is a sequel to his previous book "The Phoenix Project", and it continues the conversation around DevOps, this time with a focus on the developer's perspective. The book is centered around the character of Maxine, a senior lead developer and architect, who gets exiled to the Phoenix Project, which is considered a disaster. The narrative follows her journey as she navigates through the complexities and challenges, ultimately leading her team towards success. In this journey, the author introduces us to the "Five Ideals" which are core principles for success in any organization. The first two ideals, Locality and Simplicity and Focus, Flow, and Joy, resonate with the concept of Agile methodologies, which emphasize breaking down complex tasks into simpler ones, focusing on one task at a time, and maintaining a steady flow of work. It shows how these principles can lead to joy in work, which is essential for productivity and innovation. The next ideal, Improvement of Daily Work, is in line with the concept of Kaizen, a Japanese term for continuous improvement. It suggests how improving daily work is even more important than doing the daily work. The idea here is to maintain a culture of constant learning and improvement, and this can be done by encouraging experimentation, rewarding innovative ideas, and learning from failures. In the fourth ideal, Psychological Safety, the author emphasizes the need for creating an environment where team members feel safe in taking risks and expressing their thoughts. This is crucial for innovation and creativity. It aligns with the concept of Transformational Leadership, where leaders encourage open communication, promote risk-taking, and foster creativity. The last ideal, Customer Focus, aligns with the concept of Customer Centricity. It highlights the importance of keeping the customer at the center of all decisions and developments. This ideal is crucial in the era of digital disruption, where customer preferences and expectations are rapidly changing. The book also discusses the importance of effectively managing technical debt, which can be a significant obstacle in software development if not addressed timely. It further highlights the importance of automation in achieving efficiency and speed, which is a key aspect of DevOps. In conclusion, "The Unicorn Project" provides valuable insights into the best practices for software development and project management in the age of digital disruption. It emphasizes the importance of developers, data, communication, collaboration, leadership, continuous learning, and customer focus for the success of any project. The concepts and methodologies discussed in this book can be incredibly beneficial for anyone looking to thrive in the ever-evolving tech world.

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The DevOps Handbook - How to Create World-Class Agility, Reliability, and Security in Technology Organizations
Gene Kim, Jez Humble, Patrick Debois, John Willis

Key Facts and Insights DevOps is a cultural shift and a collaboration mindset: The book emphasizes that DevOps is not just about tools and technologies, it's a cultural shift in the IT industry that promotes collaboration between the development and operations teams. Three ways of DevOps: The authors describe the three ways of DevOps – systems thinking, amplifying feedback loops, and developing a culture of continuous experimentation and learning. Value of automation: The book illustrates the importance of automation in the software delivery process to improve efficiency and reduce errors. Importance of Continuous Integration and Delivery: DevOps is heavily reliant on the practices of Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) in order to deploy reliable software faster. Security and Quality are not add-ons: They need to be embedded in the DNA of your DevOps culture, leading to the devsecops movement. DevOps affects the entire business: The authors highlight that the benefits of DevOps extend beyond the IT department. It can improve the entire business by enabling faster delivery of features, more stable operating environments, and more time to add value rather than fix problems. Case Studies: The book features numerous case studies from companies that have successfully implemented DevOps principles, providing practical examples and lessons learned. Measurement and Monitoring: Emphasizing the necessity to measure everything from performance to deployment frequency, and incorporating real-time monitoring to catch issues early. Lean Management: The book borrows many principles from lean management, such as eliminating waste, optimizing for speed, and building quality in. Resilience and Learning from Failures: The authors stress the importance of learning from failures and building systems that are resilient to failure. In-Depth Summary and Analysis "The DevOps Handbook" is a comprehensive guide for understanding and implementing DevOps principles and practices in technology organizations. The authors - Gene Kim, Jez Humble, Patrick Debois, and John Willis - are industry veterans who provide a wealth of knowledge and practical insights based on their vast experience. The book begins by defining DevOps as a cultural shift and a collaboration mindset, not just a set of tools or methodologies. It's a profound transformation in how IT organizations operate, breaking down silos and promoting cross-functional teams. This emphasis on the cultural aspect of DevOps is a crucial insight, as it highlights that successful adoption of DevOps involves significant organizational change. Following this, the authors discuss the 'Three Ways of DevOps,' which form the core principles of the DevOps philosophy. The 'First Way' focuses on system thinking, emphasizing the importance of understanding the entire system from development to operations to the end user. The 'Second Way' is about amplifying feedback loops, ensuring that problems are identified and corrected as early as possible to improve quality and reliability. The 'Third Way' encourages a culture of continuous learning and experimentation, fostering innovation and constant improvement. The book further illustrates the importance of automation in the software delivery process. This complements the principles of Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD), which are central to the DevOps philosophy. CI/CD practices help in deploying reliable software faster, reducing the time to market and enabling quicker user feedback. Security and quality are other key themes in the book. The authors stress that these elements should not be afterthoughts or add-ons; instead, they must be integrated into the development process from the start. This is a critical insight, as it aligns with the emerging trend of 'DevSecOps,' which aims to embed security within the DevOps process. The book also highlights the broader business benefits of DevOps. By improving collaboration and efficiency in the IT department, DevOps can help organizations deliver value to customers faster and more reliably. This can provide a significant competitive advantage in today's fast-paced digital economy. Numerous case studies are included in the book, providing real-world examples of companies that have successfully implemented DevOps. These case studies offer valuable lessons learned and practical advice for other organizations embarking on their DevOps journey. Lastly, the book emphasizes the need for measurement and monitoring. By tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and implementing real-time monitoring, organizations can gain valuable insights into their operations and make data-driven decisions. In conclusion, "The DevOps Handbook" offers a comprehensive guide to understanding and implementing DevOps. It emphasizes that DevOps is not just about tools and technologies, but a cultural shift that requires substantial organizational change. The book provides practical insights and advice, making it a valuable resource for anyone involved in the IT industry.

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