A trip to Cuba changed everything for former film marketing executive Dee Poku. While on holiday during a busy, chaotic time for her industry, Dee realized it was time for her to make a transition and strike out on her own, even though she didn’t know exactly what that would look like. Eventually, after being invited to an exclusive event with a room full of powerful women who came together to network, share information and build new relationships, Dee realized she wanted to create a way for all women to have access to such a room. The result? WIE (Women, Inspiration, Enterprise) Network, co-founded in 2010, which hosts symposiums to support ambitious career women, and that has attracted high-caliber speakers, such as Arianna Huffington, Diane Von Furstenberg and Rosario Dawson.
In 2015, after attending a one too many male-heavy music festivals, Dee was struck with another idea and a way to reach a new set of women emerging in the professional space. In order to serve millennials, who are launching their own businesses and embracing entrepreneurship, she created a women-driven music event — The Other Festival, which held its inaugural event in summer 2016 — featuring women artists, vendors, makers and more.
In this episode, Dee talks about the evolution of her vision to empower women, how to host a powerful event no matter what scale, what you need to know about African women, and the beauty of being The Other.
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On this episode, you’ll learn:
- The benefits of a gap year.
- When it comes to your passion you don’t have to have it all figured out.
- The power of content and of cultural leaders to influence when partnered with content.
- Opportunities come when you’re open.
- What it really takes to be successful.
- The importance of friends who love you through the highs and the lows without judgement.
- You’d be surprised who will say yes if you ask in the right way.
Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, click here to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!
VISIT DEE at deepoku.com
FOLLOW DEE at…
Instagram: @deepoku
Twitter: @deepoku
VISIT WIE Network at wienetwork.org.
FOLLOW WIE Network at…
Twitter: @wienetwork
Facebook: @wienetwork
Instagram: @wienetwork
** ATTEND WIE Network’s next event on creating Your Personal Brand on August 16, 2016: Click here for tickets. USE THE DISCOUNT CODE “SUPPORTISSEXY” for 15% off. **
FIND OUT MORE about The Other Festival at theotherfestival.co.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Learn more about African women in technology…
4 Senegalese women create land rights app.
Meet the Head of Facebook Africa, Nunu Ntshingila.
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[Music: “Someone Else’s Memories” by Revolution Void]
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