Okiki Podcast: Making Inspirational People Known- Finding Your Purpose and the turning points that Propel You to Success

Despite her visual impairment, Ashton Smith is a pioneering sports visionary who has overcome adversity to triumph against all odds. She is an accomplished Blind Ex-special Olympic Gold medalist Tri-Athlete, motivational speaker, and a staunch Walk for Reform and Black Lives Matter Activist. Her unpleasant experiences in sports and battling obesity fuelled her desire to speak up against the exploitation of women in sports and raise awareness on the importance of adapting healthy lifestyle habits. She is a Christian who lends her voice in speaking against the ills in the society, to create a better world for all.

Sheer determination, willpower and an unyielding spirit have been the hallmark of her successful sports career. As a highly trained and experienced Olympic Tri-Athlete living with a disability, she rose above the challenges to thrive in a competitive international sports arena. She adapted a highly specialized nutritional plan and a rigorous, specialized Olympic fitness training regime in various churches and Schools.

Her commitment to excellence saw her garner multiple awards and medals due to her outstanding performance. The multi-talented sports personality has been featured in several media publication, including Radio Now 92.1, Houston who described her as a Special Olympics star with a heart of gold and the wisdom of an old owl.

A glimpse into her early life

Ashton began swimming when she was only eight years old. Her mentors Jean and Steve, who were instrumental in her career choice, drove her daily to the YCMA in Waxahachie. In high school, she proceeded with her training sessions at the USA Swimming Camps and Texas A&M.

After High School, Ashton joined a couple of Tarrant County's swimming teams and played different games such as Special Olympic flag ball and basketball. However, her relentless love for swimming could not be swayed. It led her to Seattle, where she went on to bag several medals.

Standing with her Race and Gender

The Black Lives Matter movement greatly influenced Ashton's advocacy. She was actively involved in condemning the killing of George Floyd and other atrocities against the black community. She is also an activist in the Walk for Reform protests, advocating for bringing down the walls of systematic racism and women abuse, especially in sports.

A voice of hope

Crowning her motivational speaking passion is her eloquence, the energy she exudes, and the conviction with which she conveys her message on burning societal issues. She teaches people how to conquer challenges, regardless of their circumstances. She is a firm believer that anyone can rise above the pain, naysayers, haters, abuse and disabilities to become the champion God created them to be! It takes focus, prayer, dedication and healthy lifestyle choices.

Having risen above adversity, like a phoenix in the ash, Ashton Smith is an extraordinary woman on a remarkable mission: to make a positive difference in people's lives!

Opinion Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed on the Okiki Podcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Okiki Podcast. Any content provided by our bloggers, guests, speakers or authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

Ashton's Resources:

https://goldenashton.us/

Resources mentioned:

https://www.insider.com/texas-coach-allegedly-gave-a-black-man-with-autism-a-confederate-flag-hat-2018-11

https://www.newsweek.com/texas-special-olympics-coach-black-student-autism-confederate-flag-cap-1230314

CORRECTION: Dr. Obeng is Ghanian, not Nigerian.

Hello, everyone. Today, I just wanted to do an impromptu solo episode, I have not been doing this a lot since I started the podcast, because, of course, you all know, I very much enjoy interviewing people.

I very much enjoy learning about their process and their journey.

But I couldn't help but notice this very fascinating story with this woman named Tessica and the Gorilla Glue.

And the only reason it kind of came to light for me because I saw it posted everywhere, like most of you, if you haven't heard of it already, just Google that like most of you had. And I just immediately instinctually thought, wow, this person wanted social media attention.

So I didn't really pay much attention to the story.

But when I was hearing that this was still a problem for her a month later, that's when I started to feel a little concerned and a little annoyed in some ways because I thought, why did this have to be the most viral story during Black History Month?

Right. I mean, of course, as a human race, there's going to be some people who make decisions that maybe aren't the most, you know, intelligent decisions for themselves at the time.

So I'm by no means saying we are exempt of that. I wouldn't even make any sense.

But I was just wishing this would be another time where something like this could be highlighted if it had to be highlighted. And what I mean by that is it was kind of a distraction from the month, to be honest.

That's where I am coming in with this, because these are the kinds of things.

Right, these kind of, you know, joking meme ish kind of things I feel have been really pushed on black people in a sense, because it's a lot easier to consume through media, these kind of stereotypes versus our achievements. And as someone who volunteers for a black professional association in my city, that's what I'm really about, really showcasing the talents and the contributions black people have made to society. So for some of you hearing my podcast today, you may not know that about me, but I'm actually quite active in a group called BCACPA.

And so seeing this was a little bit annoying just because I felt like it took the attention of that. And I think those are things that should be highlighted.

There's so many massive contributions being made, things that you may not even know have black led owners behind them, like from a tech perspective, probably one of the most used things in business right now, a company named Calendly that's actually run by a Nigerian.

He's the founder of that scheduling app.

For example, we go back historically, George Washington Carver, he had over 300 inventions. So I think that's where I was coming from with this is like, oh, I wish there was another time or something this silly because I'll always be those people, right? They'll always be those people who are in that category looking for clout. That's something like that would be highlighted.

I did actually get more into her story after I realized she had the glue on her hair for a month.

And at that point, I was actually genuinely concerned for her because with the toxicity of the gorilla glue, she was at risk of scalp damage.

As someone with a very sensitive scalp that just made me cringe.

I used to chemically straightened my hair. I do not today. My hair is all natural because I am so sensitive and there are a lot of toxins. And that's, of course, whatever your views are on hair relaxer and growing natural, that's a whole other conversation.

So I was actually worried for her when she was saying it was giving her headaches and all sorts of things. And I thought, man, like she's really thrown herself in a serious situation for the sake of, you know, clout.

And one of the things that was really fascinating to me is that a black doctor was actually the one who reached out to her and said that he would deal with the situation for free. So this is a chemist and plastic surgeon, Dr. Obeng, based in Beverly Hills. And I watched the video. I watched him taking the hair and figuring it out. And then I heard some, you know, music from Teni in the background. And I thought, this is probably a Nigerian. Dr Obeng is Ghanian.

So I was kind of excited by that. But, yeah, he went on to further explain how he figured out the solution that would break down the solvent and just the process he went through of testing it to finally find something that would. Take this girl out of her hair. It took them four hours, but when she had gone to emergency beforehand, they said it would take 20 hours.

So why am I highlighting this? This is really cool to see a doctor that was actually able to create a good solution to the problem and highlight what is actually happening more often during Black History Month is these work people who are working very hard.

There's too many statistics alone. And I can say from a Nigerian perspective, there's so many other amazing groups in the diaspora doing things from the black community.

But for example, in the Harvard Business School, Nigerians only make up one percent of like the American population.

Yet they make 25 percent of the Harvard Business School. And this was actually said by a reporter on FOX News.

So this is really interesting information and information that doesn't always make mass media.

So I think that in light of Black History Month, what does the Gorilla Glue Girl and this doctor have to do with Black Excellence and Black History Month? And I think it's just thinking about like, what can we showcase?

Of course, you know, people in the black community are known for having vibrant personalities and being, you know, warm and welcoming for the most part.

And, you know, having we come off animated. Right, because we're usually full of life. But I think that that some of those stereotypes have been taken advantage of and sometimes even created boxes that people are comfortable seeing us in. I think it's really important to also showcase these achievements.

And so it was really cool for me to see that a black doctor was able to solve this problem and that it was actually able to showcase him as a doctor and his expertise. I think that was super important. So I would say that's the silver lining in this story. And of course, like I said, everyone's entitled to their decisions on whether they want to make decisions in their best light or just because they want to be funny. That is something that is beyond anyone's control.

But I do think it's really important that as we are putting more content out there, not that you aren't free to be silly sometimes and be yourself and do whatever, but just to be mindful of the balanced view and the opportunity, especially now in twenty, twenty one, that we have to create a balanced view of the perspective of the black community.

So that is what I just wanted to say, just the food for thought today for the podcast.

And I hope you have a great rest of your month. If you are looking for an awesome Black History Month event, you can come to the one that my group is running because it's virtual. And so that link will be in the show notes as well.

Want to know more about the Black History Month Event my group is running? Go to this link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/black-history-month-event-tickets-140622584937

FiFi X is a contemporary twist on streetwear fashion inspired by the vibrant colour and patterns in various cultures throughout Africa. Producing every collection in Nigeria has helped us stay true to our roots and keep our originality.

FiFi X has been a part of various fashion shows around Canada both on the runway and behind the scenes supporting other designers. We have also managed to get a good support from various media outlets.

Our brand believes that an accessory is the best statement piece which birth the launch of a growing collection of Square Scarves with print inspired by our cultural background.

To uplift and bring confidence to everyone in a FiFi X outfit by making designs that are complimentary and accessible to all.

To give back to the lands from which it draws its inspiration and design while empowering the people in the communities.

5 key takeaways:

- Learn from your mistakes

- Have a well designed website, easy to navigate with an integrated e-commerce.

- Don't be afraid to send messages and proposals to magazines, photographers, editorials, etc.

- Put yourself out there, meet people.

- Write down every expense.

OKIKI RESOURCES:

Need to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile? Try my new LinkedIn Profile Optimization Course!

Video Editing and Subtitle Programs I use (affiliates links are included):

Subtitles: Happy Scribe

Subtitles and Headers: ClipScribe

Need high-quality virtual assistants? Mine is amazing and I met him through iWorker.

Pivo App to create amazing video content:

Want to create 360 Virtual Tours?

Insta360 ONE R Camera

Insta360 ONE X Camera

Insta360 ONE R Virtual Tour Kit

FREEBIES:

FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF:

www.okikiconsulting.com/resources

My Top 14 Resources for Entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs PDF contains:

My Top 4 Free Resources for Creating Content

My Top 4 Phone Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 3 Desktop Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 4 Recommended tools for Solopreneurs

ABOUT FIYIN:

Fiyin Obayan is the founder of Okiki Consulting, where she helps business owners communicate their personal brand or company brand stories through video content, in order to communicate to their target audience.

She has been participating in video storytelling for 9 years starting with her previous Myspace Channel, and to her personal YouTube Channel. As an entrepreneur, She has learned to develop that skill for the social media and now specialized in using it for the LinkedIn platform. Through posting regular content from September 2019, She has gone from 1000 connections to 8000 connections on the platforms and gained clients and she wants to empower others to do the same.

Contact Fiyin:

Website: www.okikiconsulting.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (306)716-0324

Instagram: @Okikiconsulting

Facebook: @Okikiconsulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiyinfoluwaobayan/

Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okiki

5 Takeaways:

• Different ways to get private investment.
• Being flexible as an entrepreneur.
• Evaluating what is working and what is not, to change the business strategy.
• Retail needed a change and COVID made it happen.
• Brands focus more on what the community and each individual needs in a particular time.

I discovered Hillberg and Berk and Rachel Mielke at the same time. She was speaking at a Fuze Marketing event at the jazz club in Saskatoon called "The Bassment" along with another amazing speaker Zahra Al-Harazi. When I walked in the room there was a super fun photobooth setup and a table lined up with beautiful bright, vibrant and colorful earrings.

If you know anything about me, I rarely wear jewelry, or earrings. Jewelry for me has always felt overhyped, overpriced, and in my mind a lot of designs seem generic and boring. I couldn't be bothered to keep cheap bracelets on, let alone, expensive jewelry.

Yet, what I saw on the table, blew me away. These designs were bright, colorful fun. I love when earrings are small and not too overwhelming. There was literally every shade and color imaginable, and for the first time, I literally wanted to buy EVERY PAIR I saw on that table.

Then I got to hear Rachel share the story behind her brand and trust me, it is equally as astounding.

Growing up, Rachel Mielke didn't have a lot of special or "nice" jewellery — it was just too expensive. Then at 23, in anticipation of a trip to Banff, Rachel decided to make special happen for herself. Using materials she could afford — some freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, and Bali Sterling Silver — Rachel made her first-ever necklace. "I put it on and thought, this is really special. This makes me feel special. I want to do more of this."

She started regularly making jewellery for herself and her girlfriends. Working for a non-profit called Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan, Rachel had ambitions of starting her own company, but she'd yet to combine her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for design. But when some savvy girlfriends insisted her jewellery was marketable — you've got to sell these, they said — Rachel decided to set up a table one weekend at a nurse's convention. The demand for her designs was astounding. "I said to myself, 'okay, I'm going to do this.'"

Over the next decade, Rachel grew her jewellery business — named Hillberg & Berk in homage to her great-grandmother, Hilda Bergman, and her dog, Berkeley — from a kitchen-table-operation to one of Saskatchewan's most beloved jewellery brands, now with eleven retail locations across Western Canada. Along the way, Rachel has seen the business through some pretty unique successes, including a showing at the Oscars, a pitch-turned-deal on Dragons' Den, partnerships with Olympic athletes such as Tessa Virtue, and two designs commissioned for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. "Honestly, thinking back to both times we designed for the Queen, I have to pinch myself and think, is this even real?," she laughs.

Designing jewellery for the Queen of England is a pretty sparkling accomplishment, but accolades like this aren't what get Rachel through a hectic week of work and family life (she is also a wife and mother of three). Her energy comes from a desire to support women through design, and to recreate those "I feel special" moments — just like the one she had at 23 — for women who want to feel beautiful and put-together, whether for special occasions or everyday life. "What makes something like Sparkle so special is that it's a product you can wear casually, everyday, or to the fanciest events. It's so transitional," she says. "I think we make some of the most beautiful product in the world at an affordable price point."

Affordable also means accessible. It's always been Rachel's goal to create a brand-image that women find both aspirational and attainable, which is why she seeks trail-blazers and change-makers as the faces of her campaigns. "I think that's an important opportunity for us: to tell stories of real women though our photoshoots and campaigns." A couple recent cases (or faces) in point: Ashley Callingbull, the first Canadian and Indigenous Woman to win Ms. Universe, was the face of the 2017 and 2018 collections; while Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, a celebrated journalist and fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, was the face of the Aurora Lux Collection in 2013. Rachel hopes that by making-visible these stories of resilience, she can show her customers what empowerment looks like at its most beautiful, inspiring them to take power over their own life-stories.

But Rachel knows that empowerment doesn't just "happen" when someone sees a woman they admire wearing jewellery they love. "Only you can empower yourself, but I think Hillberg & Berk provides tools along that journey," she says. "When I think about what got me to this phase in my life, there are three pillars: inspiration, education, and opportunity." Another must-have for fellow dream-chasers? Community. "You need people who believe in you. Even if your dream is crazy. You really have to find that community of people who lift you up."

Speaking of lifting people up: since its inception in 2007, Hillberg & Berk has donated well over $2,000,000 in cash and product to a variety of charitable organizations that educate and provide opportunities to women in Canada and globally. Rachel has also funded several scholarships for women through her alma mater, the University of Regina, and she recently established a collective of jewellery makers in Myanmar, in an effort to give back jobs to local craftspeople. Her activism occurs on a micro-level, too: it wouldn't be uncommon to see her giving away her jewellery — sometimes from around her own neck or wrists — to people she meets randomly, or to those deserving a pick-me-up. In the wake of the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016, Rachel and her team gave away over 500 pairs of earrings, meant as Mother's Day gifts to women in Edmonton and Calgary who had been displaced by the fires.

There are other stories like these, all of which fall under the umbrella of "Share Your Sparkle," a catchphrase turned hashtag turned way-of-life, established after Hillberg & Berk launched their now-iconic sub-brand, Sparkle, in 2009. "Sparkle is about sharing our light and love with the world, then having women go out and feel confident wearing the product. They can then pass that [Sparkle] on to other women."

Rachel and her team have traveled the globe in pursuit of the best gemstones and jewellery components — whether its rutilated quartz from a small vendor in China, or gorgeous chains from an Italian merchant —but the heart of the brand still beats firmly in Rachel's hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan, where the majority of Hillberg & Berk's jewellery is designed and made.

Local production also helps keep things sustainable. "We have almost no waste. We use elements like sterling silver and semiprecious gemstones so the products we make are long lasting," she says, adding that most of their scraps are remelted and made into new components for future collections.

As for the company's future, Rachel wants to go global. "We thought, how can we become the best in the world at something? And thinking about who we are at the core of our company, we thought, we can be the best in the world at championing and supporting women through our entire supply chain."

In other words, the future sparkles.

Source: Hillberg and Berk, 2020

Rachel's Resources:

https://hillbergandberk.com/pages/this-is-us

Dragon's Den Episode:

https://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/m_pitches/hillberg-berk-jewelry

OKIKI RESOURCES:

Need to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile? Try my new LinkedIn Profile

Optimization Course!

I started investing in stock with the app Wealth Simple, if you are interested too click this link: Wealth Simple

Video Editing and Subtitle Programs I use (affiliates links are included):

Subtitles: Happy Scribe

Subtitles and Headers: ClipScribe

Need high-quality virtual assistants? Mine is amazing and I met him through iWorker.

Pivo App to create amazing video content:

Want to create 360 Virtual Tours?

Insta360 ONE R Camera

Insta360 ONE X Camera

Insta360 ONE R Virtual Tour Kit

FREEBIES:

FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF:

www.okikiconsulting.com/resources

My Top 14 Resources for Entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs PDF contains:

My Top 4 Free Resources for Creating Content

My Top 4 Phone Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 3 Desktop Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 4 Recommended tools for Solopreneurs

ABOUT FIYIN:

Fiyin Obayan is the founder of Okiki Consulting, where she helps business

owners communicate their personal brand or company brand stories through

video content, in order to communicate to their target audience.

She has been participating in video storytelling for 9 years starting with her

previous Myspace Channel, and to her personal YouTube Channel. As an

entrepreneur, She has learned to develop that skill for the social media and

now specialized in using it for the LinkedIn platform. Through posting regular

content from September 2019, She has gone from 1000 connections to 8000

connections on the platforms and gained clients and she wants to empower

others to do the same.

Contact Fiyin:

Website: www.okikiconsulting.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (306)716-0324

Instagram: @Okikiconsulting

Facebook: @Okikiconsulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiyinfoluwaobayan/

Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okiki

When Amy reached out to me to be a guest on my podcast, I was gobsmacked by her story. We had so many parallels in our stories. Amy's passion is being a performing artist and like Amy,

My first love and passion is music, singing and songwriting. Yet, it was during a very intense performing arts program I experienced a major event in both my mental and physical health. Although Amy's story around mental health was slightly different than mind, she has found a way to beautiful intertwine art and healing at the same time.

Amy Oestreicher is an Audie award-nominated playwright, performer, and multidisciplinary creator. A singer, librettist, and visual artist, she dedicates her work to celebrating untold stories, and the detours in life that can spark connection and transform communities. Amy overcame a decade of trauma to become a sought-after PTSD specialist, artist, author, writer for The Huffington Post, international keynote speaker, RAINN representative, and health advocate. She has given three TEDx Talks on transforming trauma through creativity, and has contributed to NBC's Today, CBS, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen Magazine, The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, and MSNBC, among others. Amy has toured her multi-award-winning musical, Gutless & Grateful, to over 200 venues from 54 Below to Barrington Stage Company since its 2012 NYC debut, and developed her full-length play, Flicker and a Firestarter, with Playlight Theatre Co. Her multimedia musical, Passageways (original lyrics, music, book and mixed media artwork) has been performed at HERE Arts Center, Dixon Place, and the Triad Theater. Her plays have been published by Eddy Theatre Company, PerformerStuff, Narcissists Anthology, New World Theatre's "Solitary Voice: A Collection of Epic Monologues," and were finalists in Manhattan Repertory's Short Play Festival, NYNW Theatre Fest, #MeTooTheatreWomen, "Women in the Age of Trump," and Tennessee Williams's New Orleans Literary Festival, and performed across the country by students for immigration festivals, academic projects, and Sexual Assault Prevention Month. She is founder of "LoveMyDetour," a campaign creating seminars, workshops, curriculum, books, music, and performances designed to entertain, educate, and engage on the intersection of arts and social justice, is part of the National Initiative for Arts and Health in the Military. Her memoir, My Beautiful Detour: An Unthinkable Journey from Gutless to Grateful. was awarded 2nd Place Winner of Best Memoir/Autobiography for the 2019 CT Press Awards, and she is currently recording the audiobook. She is in the process of creating a performance combining puppetry, Butoh, and site-specific theatre on environmental justice, ecofeminism, and sacred feminine mytholofgy to encourage women to claim their role in preserving our planet and has launched a series of workshops, Step Into Joy, inspiring people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to claim a walking practice that inspires connection with their environment and respect for various ecosystems. See more at www.amyoes.com.

5 Takeaways from Amy's Episode:

• Creativity can help you release trauma.
• Do what feels good to you.
• We have the power and the energy to make a difference just by inhaling and exhaling.
• Believe in your vision.
• Being vulnerable to really learn what you need.

AMY'S RESOURCES:

Www.amyoes.com/book

OKIKI RESOURCES:

Need to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile? Try my new LinkedIn Profile Optimization Course!

Video Editing and Subtitle Programs I use (affiliates links are included):

Subtitles: Happy Scribe

Subtitles and Headers: ClipScribe

Need high-quality virtual assistants? Mine is amazing and I met him through iWorker.

Pivo App to create amazing video content:

Want to create 360 Virtual Tours?

Insta360 ONE R Camera

Insta360 ONE X Camera

Insta360 ONE R Virtual Tour Kit

FREEBIES:

FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF:

www.okikiconsulting.com/resources

My Top 14 Resources for Entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs PDF contains:

My Top 4 Free Resources for Creating Content

My Top 4 Phone Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 3 Desktop Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 4 Recommended tools for Solopreneurs

ABOUT FIYIN:

Fiyin Obayan is the founder of Okiki Consulting, where she helps business owners communicate their personal brand or company brand stories through video content, in order to communicate to their target audience.

She has been participating in video storytelling for 9 years starting with her previous Myspace Channel, and to her personal YouTube Channel. As an entrepreneur, She has learned to develop that skill for the social media and now specialized in using it for the LinkedIn platform. Through posting regular content from September 2019, She has gone from 1000 connections to 8000 connections on the platforms and gained clients and she wants to empower others to do the same.

Contact Fiyin:

Website: www.okikiconsulting.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (306)716-0324

Instagram: @Okikiconsulting

Facebook: @Okikiconsulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiyinfoluwaobayan/

Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okiki

I connected with Roshni through LinkedIn and she was interested in being a guest on my podcast. I was curious to learn from another fellow marketer who had been in the industry ahead of me and I definitely learned a lot!

Roshni is a trusted marketing leader with 15 yrs of progressive experience helping companies bring brands and products to market. Having started her career working on top consumer brands on the agency side, she has built her reputation by bringing creativity and strategic insights to leading global technology companies such as Microsoft, Sony & Kobo. Most recently, she has built out Marketing teams & brands at domestic technology leaders, Juice Mobile, Thinking Capital, Benecaid and Foxquilt, and has started her own consultancy, specializing in Marketing Strategy, Planning and Communications.

CORE AREAS

| Global & national brand and product launches & lifecycle management

| Product, Category, Brand Planning & Marketing

| Communication strategies inc. promos, B2B, retail, sponsorships, digital, PR, Advertising

| Sales & MarComm toolkits

| Customer acquisition, Lead Generation programs & CRM

| Forecasting & budgeting

| Multi-agency management

| Team building, leadership, mentoring

RECOGNITION

| Chartered Marketer, Canadian Marketing Association, 2018

| Synthesios Top Canadian Marketers to Follow on Social Media, 2017

| DX3's Top 100 Digital Marketing Pros, 2014 & 2015

| Microsoft's Women of Microsoft, 2014

| Marketing Mag`s Top 30 Under 30, 2013

| Sony Ericsson's Global Select Award, 2012

5 Takeaways from this episode:

• Believe in your skills
• Find what segment in the workforce has an opportunity and what are their obstacles.
• The Health Tech segment is blooming and it will get bigger.
• Have clear customer objectives.
• If your just starting: try to get clients and people on board.

Contact Roshni:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshnimichelle/

https://twitter.com/roshnimichelle

OKIKI RESOURCES:

Need to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile? Try my new LinkedIn Profile

Optimization Course!

Video Editing and Subtitle Programs I use (affiliates links are included):

Subtitles: Happy Scribe

Subtitles and Headers: ClipScribe

Need high-quality virtual assistants? Mine is amazing and I met him through iWorker.

Pivo App to create amazing video content:

Want to create 360 Virtual Tours?

Insta360 ONE R Camera

Insta360 ONE X Camera

Insta360 ONE R Virtual Tour Kit

FREEBIES:

FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF:

www.okikiconsulting.com/resources

My Top 14 Resources for Entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs PDF contains:

My Top 4 Free Resources for Creating Content

My Top 4 Phone Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 3 Desktop Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 4 Recommended tools for Solopreneurs

ABOUT FIYIN:

Fiyin Obayan is the founder of Okiki Consulting, where she helps business

owners communicate their personal brand or company brand stories through

video content, in order to communicate to their target audience.

She has been participating in video storytelling for 9 years starting with her

previous Myspace Channel, and to her personal YouTube Channel. As an

entrepreneur, She has learned to develop that skill for the social media and

now specialized in using it for the LinkedIn platform. Through posting regular

content from September 2019, She has gone from 1000 connections to 8000

connections on the platforms and gained clients and she wants to empower

others to do the same.

Contact Fiyin:

Website: www.okikiconsulting.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (306)716-0324

Instagram: @Okikiconsulting

Facebook: @Okikiconsulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiyinfoluwaobayan/

Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okiki

Nkechi was someone I noticed immediately on LinkedIn. When I pictured a women in tech, I believe she flips the definition and appearance of that stereotype on its head. She is an Associate Vice President, Technology at TD and was nominated for WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women 2020 by TD Bank Group. Yet when you encounter her vibrant personality and amazing and unique hairstyle, you can tell she is here to create a space of her own and I knew she was someone I wanted to connect with.

Nkechi has a vibrancy for life that is unique and laced with an incredible depth of energy. She has a magnetic personality that serves everyone she meets in the most uplifting way. Nkechi is a Technology Executive, an entrepreneur, author, professional bodybuilder and inspirational speaker, whose "You Matter" speech has gone viral with over 5M views to date, and shared well over 10,000 times, globally.

She is CEO and founder of Empowered in My Skin (EIMS) Inc., an emerging Personal Brand development organization. Her podcast,"Empowered in My Skin," launched, February 2020, and is quickly gaining subscriber momentum.

5 key points:

• Find out what makes you happy and what you are good at.
• Think about your life holistically by changing your mindset to a healthier one.
• Serve and help other people to empower their lives.
• What's on your mind and on your heart?
• Value each moment of your life.

Nkechi Resources:

www.empoweredinmyskin.com

https://linktr.ee/nkechinwaforrobinson

OKIKI RESOURCES:

Need to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile? Try my new LinkedIn Profile

Optimization Course!

Video Editing and Subtitle Programs I use (affiliates links are included):

Subtitles: Happy Scribe

Subtitles and Headers: ClipScribe

Need high-quality virtual assistants? Mine is amazing and I met him through iWorker.

Pivo App to create amazing video content:

Want to create 360 Virtual Tours?

Insta360 ONE R Camera

Insta360 ONE X Camera

Insta360 ONE R Virtual Tour Kit

FREEBIES:

FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF:

www.okikiconsulting.com/resources

My Top 14 Resources for Entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs PDF contains:

My Top 4 Free Resources for Creating Content

My Top 4 Phone Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 3 Desktop Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 4 Recommended tools for Solopreneurs

ABOUT FIYIN:

Fiyin Obayan is the founder of Okiki Consulting, where she helps business

owners communicate their personal brand or company brand stories through

video content, in order to communicate to their target audience.

She has been participating in video storytelling for 9 years starting with her

previous Myspace Channel, and to her personal YouTube Channel. As an

entrepreneur, She has learned to develop that skill for the social media and

now specialized in using it for the LinkedIn platform. Through posting regular

content from September 2019, She has gone from 1000 connections to 8000

connections on the platforms and gained clients and she wants to empower

others to do the same.

Contact Fiyin:

Website: www.okikiconsulting.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (306)716-0324

Instagram: @Okikiconsulting

Facebook: @Okikiconsulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiyinfoluwaobayan/

Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okiki

Allison Ramsey, is the Founder of Empire Life, Tech & Digital Marketing Company. At Empire Life, Entrepreneurs are Guided in Launching & Scaling Their Online Empires. Allison is also a Software Developer & Digital Marketing Professor of Facebook Digital Marketing. The Empire Life Podcast also broadcasts interviews with mega successful empire builders from all around the world. The Empire Life Blog has tons of exposure and engagement everyday. She is also an international speaker on women in tech, entrepreneurship, business, leadership and business partnerships.

Top 5 takeaways from this episode:

• Allison revolutionized the tech industry by providing women a space to feel contained and to be completely themselves.
• The Network Effect.
• Facebook groups serve to create communities of support among individuals.
• Podcasts are interesting because they're a good way to share what other people think and why they do what they do.
• The job of the future: data analysis (lots of data).

Contact Allison:

www.empirelifeacademy.com/contact

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramseyallison

https://twitter.com/allison__ramsey

OKIKI RESOURCES:

Need to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile? Try my new LinkedIn Profile

Optimization Course!

Video Editing and Subtitle Programs I use (affiliates links are included):

Subtitles: Happy Scribe

Subtitles and Headers: ClipScribe

Need high-quality virtual assistants? Mine is amazing and I met him through

iWorker.

Pivo App to create amazing video content:

Want to create 360 Virtual Tours?

Insta360 ONE R Camera

Insta360 ONE X Camera

Insta360 ONE R Virtual Tour Kit

FREEBIES:

FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF:

www.okikiconsulting.com/resources

My Top 14 Resources for Entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs PDF contains:

My Top 4 Free Resources for Creating Content

My Top 4 Phone Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 3 Desktop Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 4 Recommended tools for Solopreneurs

ABOUT FIYIN:

Fiyin Obayan is the founder of Okiki Consulting, where she helps business

owners communicate their personal brand or company brand stories through

video content, in order to communicate to their target audience.

She has been participating in video storytelling for 9 years starting with her

previous Myspace Channel, and to her personal YouTube Channel. As an

entrepreneur, She has learned to develop that skill for the social media and

now specialized in using it for the LinkedIn platform. Through posting regular

content from September 2019, She has gone from 1000 connections to 8000

connections on the platforms and gained clients and she wants to empower

others to do the same.

Contact Fiyin:

Website: www.okikiconsulting.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (306)716-0324

Instagram: instagram.com/Okikiconsulting

Facebook: facebook.com/Okikiconsulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiyinfoluwaobayan/

Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okiki

Sydney Wong is a young, enthusiastic and ambitious entrepreneur, angel investor and speaker. We actually met through virtual coffee when the pandemic first hit.

So how exactly did she get into tech? She got a one-way ticket to Silicon Valley and quickly immersed herself in the world of tech startups.

Now her goal is to bring the Silicon Valley model to Canada through her company VenturX.

Top 5 takeaways from this episode:

• Understand what problem you're trying to solve.

• Offer a better solution than the one already in the market.

• Get out and be sure to put your money where your mouth is.

• The importance of managing your money.

• 2020-21 Investment trends like: food delivery, retirement homes, and more!

Contact Sydney Wong:

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/sydneywong1

OKIKI RESOURCES:

Need to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile? Try my new LinkedIn Profile

Optimization Course!

Video Editing and Subtitle Programs I use (affiliates links are included):

Subtitles: Happy Scribe

Subtitles and Headers: ClipScribe

Need high-quality virtual assistants? Mine is amazing and I met him through

iWorker.

Pivo App to create amazing video content:

Want to create 360 Virtual Tours?

Insta360 ONE R Camera

Insta360 ONE X Camera

Insta360 ONE R Virtual Tour Kit

FREEBIES:

FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF:

www.okikiconsulting.com/resources

My Top 14 Resources for Entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs PDF contains:

My Top 4 Free Resources for Creating Content

My Top 4 Phone Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 3 Desktop Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 4 Recommended tools for Solopreneurs

ABOUT FIYIN:

Fiyin Obayan is the founder of Okiki Consulting, where she helps business

owners communicate their personal brand or company brand stories through

video content, in order to communicate to their target audience.

She has been participating in video storytelling for 9 years starting with her

previous Myspace Channel, and to her personal YouTube Channel. As an

entrepreneur, She has learned to develop that skill for the social media and

now specialized in using it for the LinkedIn platform. Through posting regular

content from September 2019, She has gone from 1000 connections to 8000

connections on the platforms and gained clients and she wants to empower

others to do the same.

Contact Fiyin:

Website: www.okikiconsulting.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (306)716-0324

Instagram: instagram.com/Okikiconsulting

Facebook: facebook.com/Okikiconsulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiyinfoluwaobayan/

James Sowers is one of the top 50 angel investors in the world, according to Forbes, with over 65 investments and counting. This is all the more impressive since he came from humble beginnings.

James was adopted from South Korea and he was in an orphanage and the first cohort (who) came over in 1974 with Catholic Charities. A couple from Baltimore, Maryland paid only $300.00 for him, as he explains, "I think it was for the flights, and also, for the immunizations." (Source: Thrive Global, 2020)

Growing up as a minority and looking for his sense of identity in his surroundings he looked to legends like Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth Ty Cobb, Ted Williams. In addition he learned about business, success and failure from Shelby Davis, Ben Graham and Jess Livermore, the Rockefellers and the Carnegie's who assisted in his formation of who he is today (Source: Thrive Global, 2020).

"I think too many people in life conform. That's one thing I learned from the books." (Source: Thrive Global, 2020)

Due to storms in the region, we weren't able to bring your discussion about his past, but you will get to hear his advice on investing, bitcoin and trending industries in 2020.

Top 5 takeaways from this episode:

• The Bitcoin and blockchain investment business.

• Paying attention to the new trending habits of society.

• The importance of cybersecurity for the future.

• Computer-based and health related businesses.

• Every person has ups and downs. Stay focused on doing something great!

James Sowers LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-sowers-925a1b17/

Thrive Global Article:

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/rising-up-after-adoption/

OKIKI RESOURCES:

Need to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile? Try my new LinkedIn Profile

Optimization Course!

Video Editing and Subtitle Programs I use (affiliates links are included):

Subtitles: Happy Scribe

Subtitles and Headers: ClipScribe

Need high-quality virtual assistants? Mine is amazing and I met him through iWorker.

Pivo App to create amazing video content:

Want to create 360 Virtual Tours?

Insta360 ONE R Camera

Insta360 ONE X Camera

Insta360 ONE R Virtual Tour Kit

FREEBIES:

FREE DOWNLOADABLE PDF:

www.okikiconsulting.com/resources

My Top 14 Resources for Entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs PDF contains:

My Top 4 Free Resources for Creating Content

My Top 4 Phone Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 3 Desktop Apps for Creating Video Content

My Top 4 Recommended tools for Solopreneurs

ABOUT FIYIN:

Fiyin Obayan is the founder of Okiki Consulting, where she helps business

owners communicate their personal brand or company brand stories through

video content, in order to communicate to their target audience.

She has been participating in video storytelling for 9 years starting with her

previous Myspace Channel, and to her personal YouTube Channel. As an

entrepreneur, She has learned to develop that skill for the social media and

now specialized in using it for the LinkedIn platform. Through posting regular

content from September 2019, She has gone from 1000 connections to 8000

connections on the platforms and gained clients and she wants to empower

others to do the same.

Contact Fiyin:

Website: www.okikiconsulting.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (306)716-0324

Instagram: @Okikiconsulting

Facebook: @Okikiconsulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiyinfoluwaobayan/

Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okiki