A University Student in Nigeria Competing for Global Roles? Here’s How to Stand Out
Discover the Boot Camp That Turns Students into Consulting-Ready Analysts
Kaothar’s journey from university student in Nigeria to Business Analyst at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Most university students don’t struggle because they lack ambition.
They struggle because they don’t know how to prove it.
That was the position Kaothar Rufai found herself in while studying at a university in Nigeria. She had academic exposure to finance. She had discipline. She had drive.
What she didn’t yet have was something top global firms quietly screen for: real, defensible proof of analyst-level thinking.
Instead of waiting to “graduate first” or hoping opportunity would find her, Kaothar made a different decision.
This is the story of what she built — and where it ultimately led.
Meet Kaothar Rufai
When Kaothar joined the Valuation Master Class Boot Camp (VMC), she was still a student.
She had studied accounting and participated in the CFA Research Challenge. She wasn’t new to finance — but she was honest about where she stood.
“I was a student, but I had fair knowledge of finance. I’d say I was somewhere between a starter and an advancer. I understood the concepts, but valuation still felt complex.”
She knew enough to recognize the gap.
And she knew that gap would matter.
The Real Challenge: Knowing Enough to Be Dangerous, Not Enough to Be Trusted
Before VMC, finance didn’t feel intuitive to Kaothar — it felt opaque.
Even with prior exposure, valuation still felt like a closed system.
“Before joining the Valuation Masterclass, finance felt very complex. Even with some experience, I kept asking myself how you know if you’re forecasting a company correctly. It felt like a niche world.”
She understood the purpose of equity research, but not the depth required to do it independently.
“If I wrote a report before, I would mostly narrate about the company like a news reporter. I didn’t yet know how to form strong opinions or support them properly.”
That uncertainty created a quiet risk:
without proof, her ambition would look like potential — not readiness.
Why She Chose VMC
Kaothar didn’t discover VMC through an ad.
She saw the results.
On LinkedIn, she noticed students sharing completed equity research reports — not certificates, not notes, but actual work.
“I saw people posting the equity research reports they had produced. I could see real results. It wasn’t theoretical — they were actually doing the work.”
That mattered.
She wasn’t looking for more explanations.
She was looking for output.
Inside the Boot Camp: Structure, Feedback, and Pressure
From the start, VMC felt different.
The coursework was detailed and practical, but the real shift happened in the live sessions.
“Andrew’s teaching style is very direct and very disciplined. He doesn’t just give formulas. He explains how things work in real life and forces you to think like an analyst.”
One moment in particular changed how Kaothar approached her work.
“After presenting just one page in a live session, I received very detailed feedback on both the content and the presentation. That forced me to rethink how I approach equity research entirely.”
She also encountered a level of accountability she hadn’t experienced before.
“If you didn’t meet the required percentage of work, you could actually be removed from the program. At first, I thought it was a joke — then I realized it was real.”
The pressure wasn’t accidental.
It was the point.
The Transformation: From Student Thinking to Analyst Thinking
By the end of the program, Kaothar had written multiple equity research reports and valued 10 companies.
But the most important change wasn’t volume — it was how she thought.
“The biggest transformation for me was learning how to think forward. I became able to form opinions about the future prospects of a company, not just describe what it did in the past.”
Her confidence followed.
“Before VMC, my confidence would probably have been a four. After the program, I’d say it’s an eight. I understand the technical side and how to communicate my analysis convincingly.”
“In about three months, I learned what some people take two years to learn. That showed me I’m teachable and capable of pushing through intense challenges.”
She wasn’t just better at valuation.
She trusted herself under pressure.
Where That Proof Led
As a student applying to global consulting firms, Kaothar needed to stand out without years of experience.
She did it with proof.
“I built a portfolio showing my valuations, equity research reports, and presentations. That became a major way I stood out as a student.”
In interviews, her VMC experience wasn’t a footnote — it was a foundation."
In interviews, her VMC experience wasn’t a footnote — it was a foundation.
“Many interview questions allowed me to directly reference my VMC experience — my discipline, my drive, and my ability to work under pressure.”
That preparation paid off.
Kaothar went on to secure offers from top-tier consulting firms and ultimately chose a role as a Business Analyst at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Why This Story Matters
Kaothar didn’t wait until graduation to become credible.
She built the skills, discipline, and output that global firms look for — while she was still a student.
“If you want to learn how to think like an analyst — not just punch numbers — and you’re willing to be pushed to deliver real work, I would definitely recommend the Valuation Masterclass.”
Your Turn
If you’re a student with ambition but no clear way to prove it, Kaothar’s journey shows what’s possible when learning turns into output.
The Valuation Master Class Boot Camp isn’t about theory. It’s about building work that speaks for you.
Now the question is simple: what proof are you building right now?