About Me
Hello there, I’m Segun Akinyemi, pronounced sheh-goon ah-keen-yeh-mee.
Segun is short for Olusegun, sometimes spelled Oluwasegun, a Yoruba name meaning “God is victorious” or “the Lord conquers”. Akinyemi means “valor befits me”. A mouthful, I know, and my full name is a bit longer still (if you ever run into me, ask me for it).
Welcome to my personal website, a place where I share my various passions and interests.
Short Bio
Me, abridged. Check out my speaking page for a longer version.
Segun Akinyemi is a Nigerian American writer, speaker, educator, and Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft known for explaining complex topics in a practical, down-to-earth way. He writes, speaks, and teaches about software engineering, applied AI, and tech careers, helping students and professionals use AI tools while keeping humans in the loop. Based in Charlotte, he founded Discovery Days, a local field trip program connecting students with STEM opportunities, created and maintains Charlotte Third Places, and was named to the 2025 Charlotte Business Journal 40 Under 40 list at age 28. Learn more at segunak.com.
Where My Time Goes
Here’s some of what fills my days as the world spins madly on.
- Writing, speaking, and teaching about AI-assisted software engineering, with a focus on keeping humans in the loop.
- Running Discovery Days, a field trip program connecting local students with STEM opportunities.
- Building Charlotte Third Places, a guide to welcoming community spaces around Charlotte.
- Volunteering with the Carolina Youth Coalition, where I mentor students, help with college essays, and serve on their Young Professionals Board.
- Loving Jesus, blogging, running, longboarding, watching anime, hunting down the best cinnamon rolls around town, and reading more science fiction, fantasy, young adult, classics, nonfiction, and Christian literature than I have time for.
Background & Education
I grew up in Seattle, Washington, but after high school, I made my way to the Midwest to attend Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. If you’re wondering how I ended up there, I’ll admit I didn’t exactly choose Lindenwood out of a sea of options. The athletic scholarship they offered me made college just barely affordable.
During my time there, I competed as a track & field athlete in the high jump while studying Computer Information Systems, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 2018. Looking back, I truly believe my time at Lindenwood was divinely ordained. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it was perfect for me at that time in my life, and I’m grateful for the experience. Shortly thereafter, I continued my education at Washington University in St. Louis, earning a Master of Science in Information Systems Management in 2020.
Personal Journey
I often tell people that while I was raised in the greater Seattle area, I became a man in St. Louis. During my time there, I met people who meant a lot to me, not only because they preached the Gospel but because they lived it. They picked me up when I was down, offered essentials while I was a broke college student, opened their homes during holidays when I couldn’t afford to fly back to mine, and housed me over summers so I could work odd jobs to support my family.
They helped me pay off a Sallie Mae (a truly evil organization) loan so I could stay in school, ensuring that by graduation, I owed them nothing. They stood in the crowds at my track meets, wrote references for internships and grad school, insisted on sending money to my family when I finally opened up about our needs, and sat with me in church pews, offering comfort, a listening ear, and prayer long after the service had ended. It was through these people that I experienced Jesus, not in a whirlwind from heaven, but in everyday acts of love and sacrifice.
Those experiences transformed my understanding of what it means to be a Christian. As is written:
If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
The generosity I’ve received is why I’m so passionate about service. I do for others what God did for me through people who didn’t just talk about being Christians. They lived it. Or, to put it another way, they were bout that action.
If the world were ending tomorrow, without hesitation, I’d be on my way home to St. Louis, Missouri. It was the Midwestern kindness of people in the “Show-Me” state that helped me find myself and become who I am today.
Professional Life & Values
Professionally, I’m a software engineer, but like to style myself more broadly as a tech enthusiast. I’m fascinated by technology and its ability to transform the world around us. I consider myself fortunate to have been born in our present era of computing innovation, problem-solving, and discovery. At the rate we’re advancing, it seems like Moore’s Law might just need an update. If you’re wondering what I’m up to career-wise, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, or check out my highlights page.
Regarding my personal convictions, I strive to live in a way that emulates the character of Jesus Christ. His teachings guide my life, my definition of who I am, and my understanding of what’s truly important. I could speak at length on this topic, but this page is meant to be only a brief introduction, so I’ll refrain. Instead, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes below.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.
All that being said, thanks for visiting. You can learn even more about me on my blog, speaking, highlights, and library pages.