In this episode, Simi Musa, a Customer Fulfilment Intern at AFEX, a lover of the word “serene, and a melomaniac gives us an insight into a Gen-Z working in a corporate space. She takes us through her journey of learning about the agricultural sector in Nigeria while working to be an excellent customer service agent. She shares with us her love for creating solutions to help people, and how her working environment influences not just her corporate career but serves as a ladder to reach all the positive energies required to go through a day.

Let’s meet her.

Hello, welcome to our seat.

Thank you. Is this meant to be a corporate version of “Is this seat taken”?

“Is this seat taken”?

It’s one of the YouTube series I binge-watch at any given time so if this is it, Yay! Also, check out the web series later; you’d love it.

Lmao, I love your excitement about this. Do you like music as much as you love movies?

Look at my ear. I always have earbuds on; this is my average thing to do when not on a call with customers. It’s probably the most soothing thing after a hot bath on a cold evening or even a hot one. I read somewhere that the steam stimulates your body to adapt to the temperature. That’s a thing you know.

It’s funny; we don’t even know your name yet; what’s your name?

My name is Simi Musa, Simi not Simisola or Simioluwa. Fun fact, I'm not even Yoruba. I am from Plateau State, my tribe is Berom, one of the several indigenous tribes in the region; my name Simi means Love. Just as I am Laughs. I’m currently interning with the Customer Fulfilment squad here in AFEX, where we answer calls and solve clients’ and customers’ issues.

How did you find out about AFEX?

Through a friend who coincidentally works here. We were catching up on our positions in the career world, and he mentioned AFEX; instinctively, I had to check the company out. So, when I saw an opportunity for my current position, I applied. Luckily, it was a role I love.

I love it; what tool makes your job seamless as a Customer Fulfilment Intern at AFEX?

I speak for my team members and myself when I say Hudu- Avertium.

It helps us integrate and track Info on calls we have had with AFEX’s customers over time. We use it to make calls; if we were to use any other platform, getting reports would be almost impossible. So, it makes your work easier, more efficient, and more effective. For me, tracking info is vital because I wouldn’t know how to track the information of close to 50 clients per day without it.

Our position (Customer Fulfilment) is an intermediary between the organization and the customers. If we are uncouth with them (clients and customers), it sets off how the entire AFEX will be seen. Have you ever experienced bad customer service with any brand? Did you blame the brand or the person that spoke to you? The truth, is you begin to see the brand in the way its representatives treated you. So, every time I have to relate to customers, I do so amicably, no matter how I feel then.

What informed this current career path? You mentioned loving it earlier.

I am a great listener and always look to solving a problem. I have a positive attitude toward helping people and playing middleman. If I apply these qualities to my daily life, why not pursue them as a career? I got into the best team ever. People complain about the positivity, and those are people who barely know me, though; they think I fake it sometimes. I’ve had someone tell me they thought I was faking my constant brightness. No, dear. I shine with positivity, and that’s on purrrrr.

Big Energy, we love! Has your expectation of AFEX been met?

I need to put this out, this is my first time working in the Agric space, so I came in for an exploration mode. AFEX shows that the agricultural value chain is broader than we would ever think about. Here, I learn something new from every conversation I have with Xperts. The additional knowledge I get beyond relating to customers makes me smile. I can go on a 10-minute talk about technology in agriculture and not stop. I just learned the definition of AFEX in July 2022. So yeah, it met my expectation.

Oh, one last add-on, I’m grateful for empathy from colleagues. I may be a naturally happy person, but we know if you have negative energy around you, it could all sap out. So I’m grateful they help me keep it in.

What funny thing can we find in your bag?

I think “funny” is relative here. So, you’ll see these random things in any bag I carry; I always have sweets, a comb, tissue, and two different types of lip-glosses, my otrivin, to combat my allergy reactions. Do you know how pregnant women have their delivery bags? Well, these are the contents of mine, to get me by any day and occasion.