Some people stumble upon their passion, for Fredrick Olusola Oladipupo, his began with a simple conversation that changed everything. One moment, he was just a curious learner hearing about programming for the first time, the next, he was diving into a world of endless possibilities that would take him from self-taught nights of trial and error to leading engineering teams across continents.
From building complex systems in finance to powering large-scale infrastructure in iGaming, Fredrick’s story isn’t just about mastering technology, it’s about mastering growth, adaptability, and purpose. His path shows that you don’t need a perfect start to create an extraordinary journey, just curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to evolve.
But what truly makes his story captivating isn’t just where he’s been, it’s where his work is taking him next. His dedication to mentorship, his heart for impact, and his drive to use technology to make life simpler and smarter make him stand out as more than just a Software Engineer, he’s a builder of both systems and people.
In this interview, Fredrick opens up about the pivotal moments, hard-earned lessons, and personal values that have shaped his remarkable journey in tech, a story that proves one spark of curiosity can light up an entire career.
CA: Fredrick, your journey as a Software Engineer is truly inspiring. Can you take us back to how it all began?
Fredrick: It all started with a simple conversation. A friend once told me about programming, how people were building websites and apps that could reach millions of users, and something about that instantly clicked. I remember thinking, “I want to learn how to do that.”
I didn’t have a formal background in computer science at the time, but I was curious and eager to learn. So I started teaching myself the basics, staying up late to watch tutorials and experimenting with small projects. The more I learned, the more I fell in love with the process.
Eventually, I got a postgraduate degree in Information Technology, and curiosity turned into a career.
CA: That’s such a powerful start, from curiosity to a full-fledged career! You’ve worked across top organizations like FSDH, UBA, and even Axxess USA. What was that journey like for you, and were there any mentors or experiences that shaped your growth?
Fredrick: Working across organizations like FSDH, UBA, Coronation Group, and Axxess USA has been one of the most defining parts of my journey. Each company had its own culture, challenges, and expectations, and I grew tremendously from all of them.
At FSDH and UBA, I was exposed to the inner workings of financial systems at scale. It taught me the importance of precision, security, and reliability, because in finance, even the smallest detail can have huge implications.
At Coronation Group, I had the chance to work on systems that connected different parts of the business, which sharpened my ability to design software that supports complex operations and diverse teams.
My time with Axxess USA was equally transformative. It was my first experience working closely with a global, distributed engineering team. I learned how to communicate better, write cleaner code, and think beyond just building, to building for scalability and impact.
Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to have mentors and team leads who believed in me. They challenged me to take ownership, to go beyond “just coding” and start thinking strategically about architecture, performance, and user experience. Those lessons still guide me today.
Looking back, that journey wasn’t just about switching companies, it was about learning to adapt, grow, and always find ways to make a meaningful impact wherever I work.
CA: That’s incredible, the depth of your experience really shows how much growth can come from embracing change. The tech space evolves rapidly, though. What are some challenges you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
Fredrick: One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been keeping up with how fast technology evolves. New frameworks, tools, and best practices seem to emerge every few months, and early in my career, that constant change felt overwhelming. I remember trying to learn everything at once, which only led to burnout and confusion.
Over time, I learned to slow down and focus on fundamentals. Instead of chasing every new trend, I started mastering the core principles that never go out of style, clean architecture, security, scalability, and user experience. That shift completely changed how I approached growth.
Another challenge has been stepping out of my comfort zone. Working with global teams at Axxess USA or moving between industries like finance and healthcare required adaptability. Each transition forced me to unlearn, relearn, and approach problems with fresh eyes.
What helped me most was curiosity and community. I leaned on mentors, read widely, contributed to open discussions, and later began writing technical articles to share what I’d learned. Teaching others became one of the best ways to keep learning myself.
Every challenge, in hindsight, became a stepping stone, not just to improve technically, but to grow in resilience and perspective as an engineer.
CA: I love that perspective, turning challenges into stepping stones. You’ve mentioned a passion for mentoring upcoming developers. How does it feel knowing your journey and coaching are guiding the next generation?
Fredrick: Mentoring upcoming developers has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my journey. When I think about how I started, just a curious person who got inspired because someone took the time to explain programming to me, it feels deeply meaningful to now be in a position to do the same for others.
Through my work with CodeYourFuture UK, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring people who are new to tech. Watching them grow from complete beginners to confident developers ready to take on real-world challenges is truly inspiring.
Mentoring also keeps me grounded. It reminds me that growth isn’t just about climbing higher, it’s about lifting others as you go.
CA: That’s such a beautiful mindset, growth through giving back. How has your background and experience influenced the way you approach problem-solving today?
Fredrick: My background has taught me that problem-solving isn’t just about writing code, it’s about understanding people, systems, and context. Working across industries like finance, healthcare, and iGaming, I’ve learned that every problem has both a technical and a human side.
In finance, precision and security were everything. That experience made me meticulous, I learned to think through edge cases, failure points, and data integrity before touching a line of code.
Today, my approach to problem-solving is shaped by those lessons: start with empathy, think with clarity, and build with intention.
CA: That’s a thoughtful approach. You’re currently working in the iGaming space, building backend infrastructure, what excites you most about this phase of your career?
Fredrick: What excites me most about this phase of my career is the scale and complexity of the problems I get to solve. Working in the iGaming space, I build backend infrastructure that supports millions of transactions, real-time data flows, and high-performance systems that need to stay reliable under heavy load. It’s challenging, but in the best possible way.
This stage feels like the culmination of everything I’ve learned so far. I get to combine my love for clean architecture, performance optimization, and security with the thrill of building systems that power experiences for users around the world.
CA: That sounds thrilling, especially seeing everything you’ve learned come together. Outside your full-time role, you’re also collaborating on a project around parenting technology. Can you tell us more about that project and what inspired it?
Fredrick: Outside of my full-time work in iGaming, I’m working on a project called BabySteps, a parenting support app designed to guide new parents through the early stages of their child’s life.
The idea came from a mix of personal experience and observation: becoming a parent is incredibly rewarding, but it can also feel overwhelming, especially with the wealth of conflicting advice and resources available online.
With BabySteps, we aim to simplify that journey. The app combines expert guidance, milestone tracking, and personalized recommendations to give parents a reliable, easy-to-use companion.
What excites me most is that this project allows me to build technology that directly impacts people’s daily lives in a meaningful way, helping parents feel more confident and supported during one of life’s most important transitions.
CA: That’s such an impactful initiative, blending tech with empathy. What’s next for you in your career? Any exciting projects or milestones on the horizon?
Fredrick: Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue building at the intersection of technology, impact, and innovation. On the professional side, I aim to deepen my expertise in scalable backend systems, exploring new ways to optimize performance, reliability, and security in high-traffic applications.
At the same time, I’m passionate about expanding BabySteps, growing its reach, improving its features, and helping more parents navigate the early stages of parenthood with confidence.
I also plan to continue mentoring and sharing knowledge with the next generation of developers, because giving back has become an integral part of my journey.
“The next chapter is about building smarter systems, stronger communities, and leaving a positive impact wherever I can.”
CA: I love that vision. From your experience, what’s one misconception people often have about software development or working in tech?
Fredrick: One misconception I often see is that software development is just about writing code. Many people assume that if you know a programming language, you can automatically solve any problem, but in reality, coding is only a small part of the job.
The bigger challenge is understanding the context, the users, the business goals, and the system as a whole.
Early in my career, I learned that technical skill alone isn’t enough, the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and design solutions with empathy is just as important.
CA: That’s such a needed reminder. Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to aspiring software engineers, what would it be?
Fredrick: When I started, I didn’t have a formal background in tech, a friend simply introduced me to programming, and I decided to make the jump. From that moment on, curiosity became my greatest teacher. I experimented, made mistakes, sought feedback, and learned consistently.
Technical skills matter, of course, but what will truly set you apart is your mindset: ask questions, solve problems thoughtfully, and never stop learning.
And perhaps most importantly, share what you learn, mentoring others or contributing to a community not only helps them, it strengthens your own understanding and growth.
