By James Okoth
Payment Operations Manager, DailyPay
I am an immigrant from Nairobi, Kenya, which is located in East Africa, and I have now lived in America for more than half of my life.
For many immigrants, we often struggle to find careers and companies where we feel accepted and where our work means more than just putting food in our mouths or just paying bills. We look for a place where we feel valued and where we can contribute.
I first came across DailyPay when I was in graduate school researching companies that help individuals make ends meet. I was reviewing banks, payday lenders, microfinance institutions, etc. My first reaction when I read about DailyPay was disbelief. The concept was so smart and forward-thinking — but do they really live up to their claims and help people with their financial wellness?
I did more research and decided to highlight DailyPay at one of my group presentations in school because I truly believed in the product. Everyone deserved to have access to their earned pay that is already theirs!
When the opportunity presented itself to work at DailyPay in their Minneapolis office, I jumped at the chance.
I believe DailyPay has a product that is long overdue. This product could make a huge difference here as well as where I come from in Africa, where the option or ability to have access to early wages could be life-changing. In Nairobi, as well as in my new home in Minneapolis, having better control of your cash flow could allow a better quality of life.
Not only has DailyPay worked to help people with increased financial options, it also provides a community that accepts everyone and their uniqueness.
Here at DailyPay I can bring my authentic self to work and take pride in the fact that I am empowered to “always act like an owner,” which is one of our core values. My ideas have often been put into practice or adopted into business functions. I can’t count the number of times I have felt that I not only have a seat at the table, but my voice counts. I’m also proud to be a member of DailyNoire, one of the many ERG (Employee Research Groups) groups that have developed over time, showcasing the acceptance of everyone’s uniqueness.
I am honored to work at a company with a core value that states that “we win with diversity” because it is here that, after a 15+ year career at various corporations in the U.S., I have found my home.
