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- The Warm Intro by Oba #17
The Warm Intro by Oba #17
Fix your networking + AI Week + New Roles
oba ajayi
November 07, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
I'm Oba.
I had 7 internships in college, got into Stanford GSB, and founded HeadStart Fellowship. Now I share what worked on LinkedIn and Instagram.
This newsletter? Everything you need to turn your professional and educational dreams into reality.
What I Wish Someone Told Me
This week's insight: Stop cold messaging strangers.
I used to send LinkedIn messages & emails to random people at companies I wanted to work at. Maybe 1 in 20 would respond.
Then I tried something different. I'm Nigerian, so I Googled "common Nigerian last names." Found about 15 names like Adeyemi, Okonkwo, Nwachukwu. Went to LinkedIn, filtered by those names plus the companies I wanted, and suddenly I had a list of 50+ people who shared something real with me.
My response rate went from 5% to about 40%.
The trick works for anyone. You don't need an ethnic connection. LinkedIn lets you filter by almost anything:
Your hometown
Your high school
Your university
Volunteer groups or nonprofits
Campus clubs and organizations
Most people think networking means messaging whoever has the job title you want. But people respond to people they feel connected to. Shared background is that connection.
The difference is simple. "Hi, I'm interested in your company" gets ignored. "Hi, I'm also from Austin and noticed you went to Westlake" starts a conversation.
The takeaway: Find people who already have a reason to care about you.
Don't Miss These
Sponsored by Leland:
10+ virtual sessions cover how AI is changing jobs, business, and daily life.
Panel features former Spotify AI lead Andrew Q., LinkedIn's Get Hired host Andrew S., and AI expert Solomon.
Throughout the week, you'll get practical sessions on AI upskilling, AI for business growth, landing jobs in AI, and more. Click Below!
Career Strategy Call with Oba 10-60 minute strategy call with someone who landed 7 internships and got into Stanford GSB. Get the exact framework I used plus see if ongoing coaching fits your goals.
Paid Part Time Remote Jobs Platform Paid part-time remote roles paying $40 to $270 per hour across different fields. 20-40 hr/wk, remote
Target Test Prep Exam prep I used to get into Stanford GSB
Resources This Week
Links for additional Resources can be found HERE
Most coverage tells you what happened. Fintech Takes is the free newsletter that tells you why it matters. Each week, I break down the trends, deals, and regulatory shifts shaping the industry — minus the spin. Clear analysis, smart context, and a little humor so you actually enjoy reading it.
New Opportunities
Goldman Sachs
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Bank of America
General Atlantic
oba