UNVEILING

• Unyime’s journey into Co-founding Assurdly was anything but conventional. It was a journey sparked by curiosity and fueled by determination.

• At Assurdly, she leads a team with over 25 years of combined experience.

• Unyime’s career started as a Quality Assurance Engineer at Interswitch, and Korapay.

• She has worked across banking, fin-tech, logistics, education, and more, helping businesses achieve their goals with precision and impact.

• Her favorite thing about her work? Seeing her products provide real solutions that actually matters.

• “The focus is always on getting the work done without compromising quality.”

Hi Unyime, an Icebreaker question for you:

Can you tell me one thing about yourself?

I’m Unyime, and the complex part about being me is that a lot of people do not know how to pronounce my name. One of the peculiar things people don’t know is that the letter ‘N’ is silent in my name, so it’s pronounced ‘UnYIME’.

Introduction and Background

What’s Unique to Assurdly?

I am the managing partner of Assurdly and we’ve been in business for 5 years now. We celebrated our fifth anniversary this month, November. We are in the business of quality software delivery, but what sets us apart is the fact that we are more than a development shop. Assurdly is a shop filled with Quality assurance engineers and Product Managers.

So, our main focus is to ensure that our clients get what they want through whichever development team they desire to use, recommended by us; sometimes, it could be their own internal team or an outsourced team.

The entire goal there is to ensure that the clients get what they requested for and more, not just what they have requested for but to ensure that the quality standard of what has been delivered meets industry and global standards. With this, we find ourselves offering these services to our clients from quality assurance as a whole, to testing the  Product definition itself, Requirement gathering ensuring that the right tools, the right process, and the right approach is used while the products are being built is what sets Assurdly apart, and in doing these, we have been able to build out solutions that help to Fast Track and assist in all delivery process. You would have things like our Nips In The Books and Direct services, which are like college product of, trying to solve typical day to day integrations.

Looking at you, I’m amazed. How do you manage all of these?

Honestly, it’s challenging. If we were working with machines where it’s a case of “garbage in, garbage out,” life would be easier. But we’re working with people, and because we’re a client-facing organization, we interact with various personalities and dynamics daily.

We’ve trained ourselves to adapt by moralizing processes but remaining flexible. While we have set processes, once we’re in a project, we need the ability to adjust and not be confined to rigid principles. For instance, we might have a detailed plan, but reality often demands flexibility. The focus is always on getting the work done without compromising quality.

Even though we deal with different clients and projects where no two reports are alike, we strive to align things to maintain structure amidst the chaos. This flexibility, combined with a quality-first mindset, helps us manage effectively and achieve results.

“The focus is always on getting the work done without compromising quality.”

How did your career journey start, and how did it lead to where you are today?

Sure! My career really began with my role as a Quality Assurance Engineer at Interswitch. That was a pivotal experience because it was more than just testing software. I was entrusted with responsibilities beyond the typical role, such as project and product management.

In that role, I learned that as a QA engineer, you’re not just testing; you’re the custodian of the product. If something goes wrong, it’s on you. You’re the one who says, “This is ready for production.” This accountability taught me to ensure quality at every stage—from inception to delivery.

Quality assurance isn’t something you study in school. It’s not just about testing functionality; it’s about ensuring things are done properly across the entire development lifecycle. My time at Interswitch laid the foundation for this approach. Then later, while pursuing my master’s degree, I joined a startup called Korapay. Working at a startup was an eye-opener because it required wearing multiple hats. It showed me I could handle different roles, from project management to stakeholder engagement. This experience shaped me into someone who could take ownership of projects from start to finish.

That eventually led to the idea of starting my own company. Essentially, everything I was doing on the job—managing engineers, confirming requirements, testing products, and ensuring delivery—translated directly into running a business. I made my job into a business, and that is Assurdly today.

Inspiration and Motivation

What is your Biggest Inspiration?

The most fulfilling moment for me is seeing a product we’ve worked on being used by customers and solving real problems. After all the stress, frustration, and challenges that come with a project, seeing the final product in use makes it all worth it.

For example, when I see someone paying with a POS system we developed or using a platform we helped build, it feels incredibly rewarding. Knowing we’ve impacted thousands of lives through technology inspires me to keep going.

“Knowing we’ve impacted thousands of lives through technology inspires me to keep going.”

What’s a common myth about your industry that you’d like to debunk?

One common myth is that developers can handle quality assurance themselves. There’s this misconception that testing and QA can just be passed along without a dedicated team. But Quantity Assurance is so much more than just testing code. It’s about ensuring the product is functional, efficient, and meets the customer’s needs. Execution is everything. Ideas are great, but without proper execution, they’re meaningless.

Another myth is that the role of QA or even project management is easy. But the reality is these roles require ensuring alignment across teams, maintaining quality standards, and managing timelines—all while juggling personalities and challenges.

“Ideas are great, but without proper execution, they’re meaningless.”

Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a founder?

It has to be Recruitment – recruitment is hard! Finding the right people who not only have the skills but can also thrive in a chaotic, dynamic environment is incredibly hard. Enthusiasm alone isn’t enough. The job demands competence, adaptability, and the ability to work well under pressure. In the beginning, I handled almost everything myself to understand the challenges and build solutions around them. It helped me empathize with my team and support them better, but hiring competent, reliable team members is still a constant challenge.

What was a risky decision you made while growing your business and how did it contribute to your success?

One risky decision was running the business for the first two years without full-time staff. I took on most of the operations myself, which was overwhelming but necessary. It helped me learn every aspect of the business and identify potential bottlenecks. This hands-on approach allowed me to empathize with my team once I started hiring, as I understood their challenges firsthand. It also meant I could step in when needed and support them effectively. This decision to start lean ultimately laid a strong foundation for the company’s growth.

I really resonate with what you said about understanding your business before expecting others to when you don’t know what your team needs to do, it can sometimes lead to setbacks for the entire business.

Exactly. Recruitment can be tough because you need to know what you want the person you’re hiring to do. If you’re unsure, it’s easy to end up with unmet expectations. But once you have clarity, it becomes glaringly obvious when someone aligns with your needs.

It’s essential for founders, especially in technical fields, to at least grasp the basics of their operations. Even if you don’t know the technical details line by line, you should understand the overall process. That’s something we emphasize in our work. We ensure our partners are carried along, and by the time we’re done, they’re familiar with the terminology and technical aspects of what’s happening. For example, one of our partners mentioned how empowered he felt after working with us. He went from having no technical knowledge to confidently discussing projects with his developers. It’s that kind of understanding that protects you from errors, helps with decision-making, and ultimately leads to better outcomes for your business.

Success Factors

What are the three unique skills that helped you become successful?

First, I’d say one of my key skills is understanding work-life inclusion. I learned this concept from a coach who explained that your work and personal life don’t have to be separate—they can coexist in harmony. It’s not about achieving a perfect balance every day; it’s about aligning both aspects of your life in a way that works for you. If I know I need a day off, I plan to clear my schedule so that nothing urgent falls through the cracks. I prioritize rest, and Sundays are my non-negotiable rest days. This allows me to start Mondays fresh and ready to go.

Another critical skill is ownership mentality. I treat every project as if it were my own. When my clients succeed, I succeed. This perspective drives me to stay on top of every detail—whether it’s knowing when to step in, when to delegate, or when to ask for help.

Finally, responsiveness has been vital. In any team or client relationship, being dependable is key. If people know they can count on you, it builds trust and strengthens relationships.

How do you unwind or practice self-care outside of work?

I prioritize rest and enjoy discovering new restaurants and cuisines—hunting for good food is one of my hobbies. I also love traveling. When I’m abroad, I’m usually walking a lot, exploring streets, and soaking up new experiences. I’m still trying to incorporate exercise into my routine consistently, but it’s a work in progress.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career?

The biggest lesson for me has been realizing that you’re not working for anyone, you’re working for yourself. While someone else might be paying you, every job is an opportunity to learn and grow. The knowledge and experience you gain stay with you, long after you leave a company. I always tell people to see their job as an investment in themselves. Take ownership of your learning and look for ways to grow. When challenges arise, figure out solutions instead of folding under pressure.

“When challenges arise, figure out solutions instead of folding under pressure.”

Personality and Fit

Do you think there’s a specific personality type suited for being a founder?

I wouldn’t say there’s one specific personality type, but adaptability is crucial. Personally, I can switch modes quickly. My work persona and personal life are distinct but coexist harmoniously without clashing.

Lessons Learned and Plans

Can you share any upcoming projects or developments?

Yes, actually! We’re currently working on solving some internal challenges related to managing multiple streams of projects. As our workload grows, it’s become harder to keep everything organized, especially with documentation and project artifacts scattered across different platforms. To address this, we’re developing a tool—almost like an internal intranet—that centralizes all work-related documents, plans, and reports into one unified view. It’s been in beta testing internally for a month, and the results are promising. We aim to launch it publicly by the end of the year. This tool will also give our clients real-time visibility into their projects without needing to sift through endless emails. I am thrilled to put our new development and product out there.

A Word of Advice For Aspiring Women in Tech?

It has always been Quality over Quantity, and it will always be that way. Put in your best in whatever you find yourself doing. It won’t be effortless, but it will be a mark you carry.

“Always remember that every great achievement comes with its share of challenges.”