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Kennie Bukky, a co-founder of The Pivot Place, has made headlines with her six-figure income in 2024, attributed to effective strategies in social media engagement and mastering lucrative skills.
At under 30 years old, Bukky has successfully managed multiple roles, earning just over £100,000 (approximately $130,000) within the year. However, her journey to this financial success faced challenges starting from her university graduation in 2017, where she earned a degree in forensic science but felt her future was uncertain.
Reflecting on her early career, Bukky expressed her worries over financial prospects right after graduation. “When I first graduated, I was genuinely anxious about my finances. The salary offerings were just not appealing,” she shared in an interview.
Dissatisfied with potential earnings, Bukky strategically redirected her career path toward fields with better compensation. She focused on seeking high-paying positions, stating, “I was very deliberate about my career choices and how I could optimize my time for money. Financial stability was crucial, so I aimed for prosperous career opportunities.”
This proactive mindset led Bukky to the financial services arena, where she trained as a compliance officer. Throughout her career, she has held positions at notable firms such as KPMG and Visa. Currently, although taking a break from the traditional 9-to-5 job structure for a year, she has transitioned into a lucrative full-time role as a content creator, alongside responsibilities as a digital youth engagement officer, career coach, and public speaker.
In an effort to maintain her privacy, Bukky has chosen to keep her legal name and age confidential, though her income has been validated through invoices.
‘I felt like I had so much value to share’
Bukky emphasizes that establishing a personal brand on social media was pivotal in achieving her impressive income. With nearly 130,000 followers on TikTok and over 35,000 on Instagram, she curates content related to career growth and financial literacy, targeting primarily young, ambitious women of color.
“My goal was to share my expertise in career and personal finance, as I felt I had gained significant knowledge in these areas at an early age,” Bukky remarked. “The value I provided inadvertently led to the formation of my personal brand.”
Her evolving online presence has enabled her to partner with major brands including LinkedIn, Deutsche Bank, Microsoft, ACCA, Bing, and HSBC for collaborative efforts on social media platforms.
The momentum gained from her social media success facilitated the co-founding of The Pivot Place in 2023, a venture aimed at helping individuals develop skills for careers in non-coding technology roles.
‘Skills pay the bills’
Bukky believes in charging premium rates for her services due to her commitment to continuous learning and skill development. “I strongly believe that investing in yourself, honing your skills and knowledge, provides a substantial return on investment, often more lucrative than traditional stock market gains,” she explained.
After starting as an onboarding analyst at RBS with a salary of £28,000 at age 23, Bukky strategically moved to a managerial position that increased her earnings to £40,000. “I aimed for a significant salary jump, not just small incremental raises every few years,” she noted. “This meant pursuing a more senior role and effectively marketing myself for such positions.”
Despite grappling with feelings of imposter syndrome at the time, Bukky pushed herself to redefine her limits. She prepared for her advancement through extensive self-directed study, utilizing various free online resources.
For young individuals aspiring to achieve a six-figure income, Bukky encourages them to cultivate “high-income skills” to maximize the value of their time. She recommends exploring courses, joining supportive communities or boot camps, or even launching side hustles to facilitate skill enhancement. “Building high-income skills is essential. Striving for growth in what your time can earn is critical,” she concluded.
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