There are cities that test you, and then there’s Lagos.
Lagos has its way of making even the shortest commute feel like a test of character. And when you work customer support shifts that begin before the city wakes up, most days feel like a special kind of endurance sport.
But for Aleru, those days are now memories behind her, somewhere in the rear-view mirror.
Five years after signing her employment contract at Cardtonic, she has not only built a career that has grown far beyond her starting role, but has also received perhaps one of the most exciting perks from her 9-5.
The toughest times are over. The best, it seems, is still ahead.
First Days, Fast Starts & Finding Her Feet
When Aleru joined Cardtonic in 2021, she showed up with excitement and an evident willingness to learn. Like any new team member, she had expectations, but the reality of working here quickly proved even more rewarding.
“From the start, one thing was hard to miss: the collective energy and everyone’s commitment to standing on business!” she says. “The founders are constantly thinking about the next big thing, and there’s a strong sense that everyone is working toward the same goal. The team is open to ideas, and there’s encouragement to learn, ask questions, and take initiative.”
Aleru knew she was in good company (pun intended) from her first day.
Growth Spurts & Wins Along the Way
One of the most striking things for Aleru has been witnessing the company grow. “When I first joined in February 2021, we were fewer than 20 people, and many processes were still developing,” she recalls. “But very quickly, the company started to put more structure in place. We expanded, added more products and services, increased staff strength, and we continued to innovate faster than any new startup I’d ever seen.”
One of her favourite things to witness? Seeing employees grow alongside the company. “New talents have joined in, teams have expanded so much, and there’s now a stronger sense of vision and direction. It’s the exact kind of environment that pushes you to grow.”
Where “People First” Isn’t Just Talk
The average company has a mission statement that tells a tale of being pro-employee. At Cardtonic, employees can attest that these are not mere words. It’s the culture.
Cardtonic is structured with its people in mind.
Aleru recalls moments when she felt genuinely valued. “The company’s commitment to staff development really stands out. From structured seminars to professional training, all fully covered, the entire system is built like the company wants to see its people flourish. They give you the capacity to grow, and then they give you trust.”
That culture of trust also became evident when she was given more responsibility than she expected. “Being promoted to Assistant Customer Success Lead, and later to Customer Success Lead, showed me that the company believed in my abilities. It pushed me to step up, lead confidently, and continue growing while supporting others on the team.”
Playing The Game, Then Calling The Shots
Aleru has grown from Team Player to Team Lead in the last five years. She describes her leadership style as collaborative, adaptable, and results-driven; setting clear goals, empowering her team, and keeping communication open; principles that Cardtonic has helped shape.
Aleru also talked about how working at Cardtonic has challenged her in ways that strengthened her strategic thinking, communication, and adaptability. “Taking on broader responsibilities and tackling complex challenges pushed me to grow professionally and personally,” she adds.
Her proudest achievement? Leading the Customer Success team to build impactful processes and seeing her team succeed and earn recognition. “That’s the greatest reflection of both their achievements and my growth as a leader.”
The Grind That Doesn’t Clock Out
Working in customer support at Cardtonic means quickly realising something: your customers have no official trading hours, and that’s okay.
Sometimes 12:30 PM is peak hour, and other times it’s 2 AM, when most of Lagos is asleep.
The Toniks, as Cardtonic’s users are called, are known to trade round the clock, and when they do, there’s always a team of customer support staff on standby. It’s a standard the company has held through the years.
For Aleru, working those night shifts was genuinely hard at the beginning. Staying awake was one thing; the job required you to be fully alert.
Sometimes, she powered through with coffee. But what kept her showing up, shift after shift, was the commitment to serving well; to making sure that every customer, no matter the hour, got the help that solved their problem.
According to Aleru, “those long shifts were probably my biggest challenge, but they built a discipline I’ll carry forever.”
Stretched, Sharpened, Sure Of Herself
Aleru also had a lot to say when asked how working at Cardtonic had impacted her career growth.
“I’ve seen myself grow in ways I didn’t anticipate,” she says.
“Working in a fast-moving environment, leading a team, strategic thinking, and of course, the ability to stay calm and find solutions when things get complicated: all of it has been a learning curve. My confidence in my abilities has increased, my skill sets have expanded, and I understand people better: customers, colleagues, myself. Cardtonic has a way of stretching you, and one day, you realize you’ve grown. You’re wearing some big-girl shoes, and they fit, because your capacity’s widened!”
From Bus Stops To Her Own Front Seat
At Cardtonic, efforts clearly compound.
Most days, the perks of working at Cardtonic come in pleasant, somewhat-predictable ways: scheduled company team-bonding trips, quarterly bonuses in six and seven figures, care package boxes on special dates, and even custom birthday treats, complete with cake and presents.
But some days, company recognition takes you completely by surprise in the most mind-blowing way. And in December, years of hard work rolled up in four sets of wheels for her.
Aleru still remembers the exact moment she was gifted a car at the company’s End-of-Year Party in 2025. “It was unreal,” she laughs while saying. “I was feeling everything all at once: shock and disbelief, then immense gratitude, then pride. That single gesture reminded me of how much Cardtonic truly values employees, but it was still so unexpected!”
A Word For The 9-to-5ers
If you’re also clocking in somewhere every day, wondering whether the grind is adding up to something, Aleru has good advice: “Find a place full of growth and opportunity, and go all in. Hard work and initiative get noticed and rewarded, so be ready to take on meaningful responsibilities and keep learning. The possibilities are almost always wider than your starting role. Trust the process, stay open to surprises, and let the work speak for you.”
Just for fun, we asked her what feature on the Cardtonic app she’d liken herself to, and her answer was almost immediate: “Instant withdrawal. I like to think I’m reliable and fast.” And that, she says, sums up not just her growth, but the company’s philosophy: Cardtonic moves fast, invests in its people, and rewards initiative.
Cardtonic might not be family, but Aleru has, in her own words, “never felt more at home.”
And this ride she’s on? It’s (still) only just beginning.
