Joy Ekuta's journey from MIT graduate to accidental social justice warrior is a testament to the power of embracing life's unexpected turns. Her story of pivoting from medical school rejections to sparking a corporate revolution around Juneteenth is filled with valuable lessons for African women navigating their own career paths. Whether you're facing setbacks, considering a career change, or looking to make a meaningful impact, Joy's experiences offer a blueprint for success. Here are five key takeaways from our conversation:
You will learn:
- How to pivot your career path successfully when faced with unexpected setbacks from medical school rejections
- How to leverage your unique cultural background to drive meaningful change in corporate America.
- How to build, nurture and leverage a strong professional network
- How to transform personal challenges into opportunities for social impact and entrepreneurship.
- How to align your career with your values and create purposeful impact
What We Discuss:
00:00 - Nigerian Roots and American Dreams
03:39 - Navigating Educational Expectations
08:15 - The Medical School Dream Deferred
16:44 - Finding Purpose in the Tech World
25:57 - The Accidental Juneteenth Activist
41:24 - Building Retrospect and Embracing Social Entrepreneurship
50:37 - Embracing Cultural Identity and Making an Impact
55:07 - Lessons in Resilience and Faith
01:02:55 - Personal Growth and Lighting Round
Bonus Question
🔗 Connect With Joy Ekuta:
LinkedIn | Retrospect Instagram | Website
🔗 Connect With Lola on:
Follow the Kádà rá Woman podcast:
Join the Kádà rá Woman Community - Newsletter
About The Podcast
The Kádà rá Woman Podcast is dedicated to amplifying the often-overlooked impact-driven stories of remarkable African women (and women of the diaspora) who pivoted into their purpose and became barrier breakers, status quo challengers and change makers around the world. This podcast spotlights the journeys of purpose-driven African women who are reshaping their lives through intentional living and powerful mindset shifts.
While we spotlight African women's experiences, our universal stories resonate deeply with a global audience of ambitious, forward-thinking women seeking inspiration and practical insights.
Hosted by Lola Soyebo Harris, this inspiring series explores how impact-driven African women navigate self-doubt, embrace service, and master their purpose while making pivotal decisions in their careers and personal lives. This podcast is an essential resource for those interested in personal development, mindset transformation, African women's empowerment, and purpose-driven living.
This podcast is a production of Kadara Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.