The Road to Success: How Dara Olayebi Secured a Role at Spotify Through Persistence
Overcoming struggles, embracing change, and inspiring IT professionals and job seekers to never give up
When she started, Dara Olayebi never envisioned herself landing a job at one of the world's top tech companies.
Born into humble beginnings, she faced numerous hardships that shaped her into the determined software engineer she is today. Her story is one of resilience, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to growth.
Growing up, Dara was fascinated by technology but lacked access to formal training or resources.
“I remember taking apart my first computer just to understand how it worked,” she shared. Her passion for problem-solving propelled her, but she soon realized that passion alone wouldn’t be enough. Financial constraints, societal expectations, and a lack of mentorship made the journey difficult.
Despite these setbacks, she pursued self-learning, enrolling in free coding programs and attending workshops whenever possible.
“I knew I had to work twice as hard as my peers to make it,” she admitted.
Her persistence paid off when she landed her first internship at a small tech startup, where she learned the ins and outs of the industry. However, this was just the beginning of her uphill battle.
Navigating the tech world came with its own set of challenges. Early in her career, she often found herself being overlooked in meetings or struggling to have her ideas heard.
“I once proposed a software improvement during a team meeting, only to have a colleague repeat it and receive all the credit,” she recalled.
Instead of giving up, she doubled down on her efforts. She sought mentorship from experienced software engineers, refined her skills, and built a strong network. Eventually, she began applying for roles at major tech companies, including Spotify, but faced multiple rejections.
“I lost count of how many times I got rejection emails,” she admitted.
The Event That Changed Everything
Fast-forward to March 13, 2025, when she stood on stage at Excel, London, as the keynote speaker for Tech Show London.
Addressing an audience of IT professionals, aspiring engineers, and job seekers, she shared her story, highlighting the importance of resilience and adaptability in the competitive tech industry.
The topic of her speech, “Thriving in Tech: Navigating Self-Doubt and Embracing Growth,” resonated deeply with the attendees. She emphasized persistence, self-improvement, and adaptability were crucial to her success.
“Getting a job at Spotify wasn’t easy. It took years of preparation, rejection, and learning from my mistakes,” she said.
During her speech, she provided practical advice on overcoming obstacles in the job search process. “If you feel like an imposter, remember that growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone. Keep learning, keep applying, and never let rejection define you.”
Turning Setbacks into Opportunities
One of the most defining moments of her journey came when she received yet another rejection from Spotify. Instead of giving up, she asked for feedback, improved her skills, and reapplied. “Rejection doesn’t mean failure. It means you have room to grow,” she explained.
Her persistence paid off when she finally received the job offer from Spotify. “When I saw the email saying ‘Congratulations, you got the job,’ I couldn’t believe it. It was the result of years of hard work and perseverance.”
As her speech concluded, she gave the audience a powerful message: “You have to believe in yourself before anyone else will. Every rejection is an opportunity to learn and improve. Keep pushing, applying, and most importantly, believing in yourself.”
Her journey serves as a testament to the power of resilience. To all IT professionals and job seekers struggling to land their dream role—don’t give up. The road may be difficult, but success belongs to those who refuse to quit.
Success doesn’t happen overnight, nor is it reserved for a select few.
Whether you’re an aspiring software engineer or an experienced professional, your breakthrough moment could be just around the corner. Stay curious, stay determined, and never stop chasing your dreams.
As Dara Olayebi proved, the only limits that exist are the ones we refuse to challenge.