World Poetry Day is celebrated on March 21st every year. In this interview, med-tech wordsmith Samuel Ogunleke spoke about his collection of poetry, born out of personal experiences and the unspoken moments he has had as a tech-savvy student. He speaks about coding, poetry, the publishing industry and poetry as a tool for social change.

Who is Samuel Ogunleke?

I am Samuel Ogunleke, a passionate polymath driven by a strong interest in solving problems by leveraging technology. I have a background in biomedical laboratory science and a keen interest in bridging the gap between technology and health by building innovative solutions that address real-world challenges. I am the founder and CEO of Tech Plus Plus, an organization focused on empowering the next generation of innovators, as well as providing the best educational technology.

I am also a technical writer, podcast host (Tech Plus Plus on Spotify), and entrepreneur. I am passionate about mentoring and sharing knowledge with people, and that’s why I authored “Tech Plus Poetry” to share real-life experiences over the last few years as a techie.

How does your background in tech, academics, influence your poetry?

My background in tech gives me a unique perspective. I see patterns in code and problems that mirror life’s challenges. Academics taught me critical thinking and structure, and I was able to apply the knowledge from General Studies (GES 201) to write the poems. With both, I was able to craft poems that are logically engaging and reflective. I believe it’s all about finding the poetry hidden in algorithms and error logs, and with that perspective, I was able to express emotions and present code to people in the form of poems.

Do you see any parallels between coding and poetry?

Of course! Both coding and poetry allow you to express ideas in a structured yet creative way. In the 7th chapter of Tech Plus Poetry – ‘The Beauty of Clean Code‘, I expressed how you can best express your ideas as a coder, but in an elegant way, with good structure and clarity. Similarly, in poetry, you choose words to evoke emotions and insights. Therefore, if you can write clean code, we can say you’re writing a poem.

Do you think digital poetry collections have a different impact than physical books?

Yes! Digital poetry collections are easily accessible and also interactive. You can click on links directly, annotate, have access to multimedia content, and so on. However, for physical books, they give a new feeling, and the tactile experience helps you ‘connect’ better with the book – when you hold a physical book, you would have that feeling of being ‘in the book’. Both carry value and together, they enhance the reach of poetry, in our digital age.

What themes does your collection explore?

My collection spans a range of tech and life themes: the struggles and triumphs of coding, tech burnout, the beauty of clean code, mentorship, the myth of overnight success, and even the intricacies of digital work culture. These are experiences people face, not just techies. Each poem reflects on how technology shapes our lives and personal growth, and how we can learn from life’s challenges.

What inspired you to compile these poems into a book?

I actually never wanted to compile them into a book so soon, I wanted to just release one episode after the other, and I already published two episodes online. However, I was in church, on February 2, 2025, thinking about what to do for my birthday, because it had been a culture to always release a project dedicated to my birthday. And I thought, it would be so nice to share my life story with people and all the lessons I’ve learnt over the years, as a techie. Being a mentor, I have listened to many people who have shared their struggles and the problems they’re facing as tech enthusiasts. The best way to respond to them was to share my personal story in a book, containing short poems they could finish in a day. Then, I started writing and voilà!

Is there a particular poem that stands out to you, and why?

Yes, the poem is titled Find or Create a Job. A huge problem faced by many tech enthusiasts is the competitive landscape of tech. It is very hard to get a tech job, and this is something I experienced for many years. However, I stopped applying to jobs and created one for myself. I shifted from building personal projects to building solutions to people’s problems. I became my own boss and took full control of my own time. The reality is, not everyone will be hired, so we have to find other ways to ‘hire ourselves’. In the last stanza of the poem, I wrote:

Some chase jobs, some chase dreams.

The builders hire, the rest join teams.

Some knock on doors, hoping they’ll roam,

But the bold ones build a home.

A poem in the collection was titled ‘The Generalist’s Journey’. Who are the General Specialists?

A common misconception by a lot of people in the tech space is that you only have to learn a particular skill in your entire career. Many people do not know that tech requires you to diversify and be able to connect dots, and more than often, the people who stand out are the ones who know their stuff well, including anything that connects with what they specialize in. A general specialist is someone who specializes in a particular field, but still has a fundamental knowledge about things that connect to that field, whether directly or indirectly.

Can you discuss the role of imagery, metaphor and other poetic devices in your work?

It was essential to use imagery, metaphor and other poetic devices in my work, in order to transform abstract tech concepts into vivid, relatable human experiences, even for those who’re not into tech. An example of strong imagery in my work can be found in The Death of Documentation. In that poem, I didn’t just mention missing documentation — I brought it to life as a “friend we all miss” who has “rested in peace.” This personification turns an abstract idea into a tangible presence, evoking feelings of loss and regret. In Feature Creep, I expressed a metaphor to compare adding unnecessary features to a product to the growth of a tree, in the second stanza:

When did a simple idea

Grow branches before even taking root?

Furthermore, in The 80/20 Developer, the book I pick up at the mall isn’t just a book — it’s a symbol of a turning point. The moment I choose the book over ice cream represents a shift from seeking temporary pleasure to investing in long-term wisdom (symbolism and allusion).

What feedback or responses have you received from readers so far?

Quite exciting. The responses have been overwhelmingly positive. I’ve gotten feedback from both techies and non-techies. I’ve received some really heartwarming responses. People have told me things like, “My best friend recommended this, and I confess, the title piqued my interest.”

Tech beginners have reached out, saying, “Thanks for the mentoring boss, I really appreciate all your efforts for we tech beginners 🔰 Keep it up 💪 big boss 😀”. And others have shared, “Thank you, Samuel, for the gift of this book and for choosing to live a life of impact.” “It is good to know that we the non-techies would still be able to relate. Well done, Samuel.”

I was truly shocked when I got readers from seven different countries and when folks from outside the country who even asked about getting a physical copy. It means a lot to see that my words are resonating with both techies and non-techies alike.

What impact do you hope it will have on readers?

I hope it will give people a new perspective to what techies face. There are many stereotypes about people who are into tech or who are building stuff. Apart from techies, we all have life struggles we face and the days of silent cry. This is me saying that you’re not the only one, and we all have to be strong together, learn and grow together.

How do you see the publishing industry evolving in terms of digital publishing?

I feel like things are a lot faster and easier these days. I watched a couple of YouTube videos to understand how to go about purchasing an ISBN, then I discovered that I could purchase it directly online. It was also quite easy to get the book on Amazon Kindle and the process was pretty straightforward. Without doubt, digital publishing is giving many authors, especially ones with self-published books, the opportunity to get their books (ideas, opinions, stories, reflections) easily to the world. It’s much easier to get to your specific target audience and with the advent of technology, especially in AI, we now have better recommender systems that would recommend your book directly to those who would read it.

What poets or poetic movements have influenced your style?

I get my inspiration from poets both old and new. I love the free spirit of the Beat poets, the raw honesty of confessional poets, and even the neat, careful style of sonnet writers. Not only that, I also really admire how modern poets mix digital culture into their work, and this really speaks to my journey as a tech enthusiast.

Can poetry still be a tool for social change in a digital world dominated by short-form content?

Absolutely! I made Tech Plus Poetry into a thematic collection of poems instead of a continuous prose writing, simply because I wanted to pass my message to people without making them spend too much time. I know that it’s quite hard to find people who would read an actual book, not to talk of finishing it, because it’s a long-form content. In a world where people mostly share quick bites of information, poetry still has a unique power. Digital platforms make it easy to share your poetry widely and a few well-chosen lines can pack a deep truth, spark meaningful conversations, and inspire change, which is the point of writing Tech Plus Poetry.

What advice would you give to emerging poets struggling to find their voice?

My advice to emerging poets is simple: just be honest and write about what you care about. Don’t be afraid to share your true feelings, what you’ve seen, what you’ve felt, and ultimately, what you’ve lived. In other words, be original. Your words are real when they stem from your unique experiences. Try and experiment with different styles. In my own journey, I was able to blend my technical side with my creative side. I didn’t care about strictly obeying all the traditional rules of poetry, and I saw free-verse poetry as a way to express myself freely. Keep writing, keep editing, and keep sharing your work with the world.

PostScript – You can access Samuel Ogunleke’s poetry collection here.