Ep 57 // African Storytelling & Evolving Your Definition of Success with Joko Edu

Get inspired by Jokotola Edu "Joko," an entrepreneur who has pivoted careers several times and has a wealth of experiences in different countries and sectors. In this episode, Akua welcomes Joko to chat about her perspective on being able to evolve and adjust the definition of success.

Joko is the founder of Joko Edu, a stationary company using storytelling to highlight and preserve the rich culture and history of Africa. She tells the story of how she fell in love with history while going to Gustavus Adolphus College in the US. There she learned US history from many perspectives and wished she knew the same about her home country of Nigeria. Eventually, this curiosity would inspire her to create Joko Edu.

From banking to the education sector, bag design, and finally, entrepreneurship, find out how Joko has evolved her definition of success and learned how letting go is not a sign of failure.

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What's Covered in this Episode About African Storytelling

• Joko describes her background and how she came to be an entrepreneur.
• She talks about how learning history can help us avoid past mistakes.
• Joko describes her fascinating education experiences, including doing a study abroad in Europe while already abroad in the US.
• Akua and Joko talk about the educational system in Nigeria and how Joko found herself working in the public sector as a teacher in a village.
• Learn how Joko decided to shift away from bag design after her passion for it disappeared and how she felt when she let it go.
• Discover why Joko started her stationary business and how she uses storytelling to help promote Africa's history and culture.
• Joko talks about her new journal that she will launch soon, called: Inscribe, including fun, non-traditional writing prompts to help users evoke joy.
• Akua asks Joko about living in a challenging city like Lagos and reminds us that it's okay to acknowledge when we live in a challenging situation.

A note from Akua: Enjoy this podcast content and guests? These are the kinds of conversations (and amazing humans) we will have in my new community and container. If you are an action-oriented and accomplished professional who is pivoting into service-based entrepreneurship and are ready to get out of theory and into practice, join my waitlist to cut through the noise and get to the money here: www.akuanm.com/cheatcode 

Quotes from this Episode of Open Door Conversations

• "I used to volunteer at the school right here. And because so my husband now actually started doing it. So he teaches math at a public school over here. And when I found out that he was doing it, I was like, Oh, my God, I've always said I want to get involved in education." - Jokotola Edu
• "I just find that really some things I didn't really think about or worry about before I do. So now, now that I have a son to you're also thinking about, what direction is this country going in?" - Jokotola Edu
• "Try as much as possible to take care of yourself. Because the truth of the matter is, we don't know when the city is going to become less stressful." - Jokotola Edu

Get to Know this Episode's Guest

Joko’s personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/jokotolaedu/ 
Website: www.jokoedu.com  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jokoedu/ 
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joko-edu/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Joko_Edu 

Get to Know the Host of the Open Door Conversations Podcast

Learn more about your host, Akua Nyame-Mensah.

Akua is a certified executive and leadership coach, recognized learning and organizational development facilitator, speaker, and former startup executive. 

Since 2018, she has had the opportunity to partner with amazing organizations, from high-growth startups to multinational brands all around the world, to maximize people, performance, and profit.  Outside of her coaching and corporate speaking engagements, she is a regular mentor, coach, and judge for various entrepreneurship-focused organizations.

Stay in touch with Akua Nyame-Mensah, Leadership & Culture Advisor:

• Read about Akua’s services if you’d like to learn more about how you can hire her to help you strengthen your organization’s culture.

• Complete her contact form to jump on a call.