After over 15 years of leading IT projects across public and private sectors, Korede Oludiran knew process improvement and change management inside out. But when he launched his own management consulting firm, Echo Oscar Inc., in Ottawa, Canada, he realized something was missing. His technical expertise alone wouldn’t unlock the next level of growth. He needed a deeper understanding of strategy, marketing, and organizational collaboration.
That’s when Korede discovered the online iMSM (Master of Science in Management) from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The program, he says, “helped me rethink everything about how I manage, how I serve clients, and how I grow my business.”
A career rooted in project and process management
Korede’s professional foundation was built on project management. Since earning his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2009, he’s led IT projects and process improvement initiatives across multiple industries. “I’ve always been focused on how teams work together (change management, process efficiency, and getting systems to align),” he explains.
In 2022, he turned that expertise into an entrepreneurial venture as he launched Echo Oscar Inc., a management consulting firm helping organizations improve processes, enhance collaboration, and implement change effectively. “We work with businesses to make things function better, from process improvement to change management to team collaboration to training,” he says.
But as he began growing Echo Oscar, Korede realized his company’s offerings could be more strategic and more attuned to clients’ needs. This is when he saw the opportunity to upskill, gain an additional credential, and enroll in the online iMSM with the University of Illinois.
Finding the missing link: Strategy and marketing
Korede chuckles, “I assumed marketing was more about ‘go sell.” However, I learned how strong it is while I was at Illinois. Selling is only one aspect of it. It is far less operational and far more strategic. It involves having a thorough understanding of your clients.
Korede learned how to think from the customer’s point of view through iMSM courses including Creating Value: Developing a Marketing Mix for Growth, which is a component of Marketing Management BADM520. He remembers, “That course was a turning point.” “You must know what your customers truly need and ask the appropriate questions. I was able to change my business because of that.
Equipped with these data, he introduced a new user-focused survey at Echo Oscar in order to pinpoint customer problems and optimize services. “I came to see that teamwork is the essential
Korede’s path to Gies
When Korede began looking for a master’s program, flexibility was key. “I explored universities in Canada like Queen’s and Ottawa,” he explains. “But I needed something I could do while still running my business. That’s when I found the University of Illinois through Coursera.”
He appreciated how accessible the process was: from applying online with his copy of transcript from Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo University, to participating in live lectures and office hours.
And despite studying virtually, the connections were real. “At graduation, I met people I’d been talking to online for over a year. It was incredible to meet classmates and professors in person,” Korede recalls. “I even reconnected with my Operations Management and Marketing Management professors on LinkedIn afterward.”
From insight to action planning
Today, Echo Oscar Inc. is expanding its offerings with an 8-module training program on team collaboration, developed directly from what Korede learned in the iMSM program. “It was published this year,” he says proudly. “We created it because our survey results clearly showed that collaboration plays a key role in employee engagement and the overall success of the organization.”
He credits courses in operations management, organizational management and marketing management with reshaping how he runs his business: “Those courses made me realize where I was falling short. I wasn’t reaching the right people or serving them effectively. Now, our approach is more strategic and more data-driven.”
Why the iMSM was the right choice
According to Korede, the MSM felt like a condensed MBA. In a more condensed style, we studied many of the same subjects as MBA students, including strategy, marketing, operations, and leadership. I really enjoyed the classes, and it’s really solid.
He really appreciated Coursera’s ability to continue his education after graduation. He states, “I’m still on Coursera now.” “I want to continue learning, but I had my graduation ceremony last year, which was my first time back in a classroom since 2008.”
After more than ten years, why did he go back to school? He acknowledges, “I needed more cerebral energy—a challenge.” To be honest, I wanted the credit. My Nigerian side desired the degree! Korede chuckles.
However, he goes on to remark, “I wanted something to motivate me.”
A career, redefined
From managing IT projects in Nigeria to running a consulting firm in Canada, Korede’s journey shows what’s possible when lifelong learning meets entrepreneurial ambition.
“The iMSM confirmed what I’d always known, but it also gave me the tools to turn that knowledge into strategy,” he says. “Now, everything we do at Echo Oscar has a clearer purpose: improving collaboration, efficiency, and impact. That’s the real ROI of my education.” Learn more about the program →
