Oreoluwa Awolowo: Navigating Visual Storytelling
I started with the goal of being an Accountant in school, but somehow I fell in love with something else. I discovered photography and cinematography, which became my world center. I have grown to love what I do and do not regret making the switch.
My Driving Force
At this point in my life, I have not attained the level of success I plan to achieve. There is still a lot more to do. I am still on the pathway, which is why I don’t joke with Capacity Development.
I am driven to grow and be better at what I do. I always want to be better than I was yesterday and this It keeps me going. I operate in an industry where things change regularly. I always have to keep up and be in the know. I am very intentional about my growth, and I try to learn something new every time. This way, I constantly reflect to know if I am still pursuing my dreams.
I’m also driven by the work done by women I look up to. I look around me constantly and am fuelled by great women taking the bull by the horn and doing fantastic stuff. I see these things and tell myself that I can’t afford to be lazy. I immediately get up and get to work.
Memorable Milestones
One very remarkable thing that stands as a memorable milestone for me was getting a Future Awards nomination in 2020 for Filmmaking. That was an extraordinary moment for me. It made me realize that people are watching. They might not always talk, but it doesn’t mean they are not watching. Hence, we must never negotiate the quality of our work. We must always put our best foot out in anything we are doing.
Lessons Learned
If there’s any lesson I have learned from my career, it is the need to evolve constantly. The world is changing so fast nowadays. Anyone who is not ready to evolve would be left in the dark.
Infact, you might not even know that you’ve been left behind. You’d just realize over time that you’re struggling to catch up, and you’re left wondering where you were when everything was happening.
So, it is essential to keep evolving. Be aware of the trend. Even in your career, observe and try to understand the direction your career is heading, and plug into it.
Secondly, I have learnt to always be consistent. This is important, especially if you play in a creative space like me. The attention span of people, especially in the social media era, is very short. There is a need to always show up.
So, if you do not stay consistent and show up regularly, your value will depreciate.
On Women Empowerment
My favorite quote is from Sheryl Sandberg, billionaire philanthropist and former Chief Operating Officer of Facebook. It says, “In the future, there will be no female leaders; there will just be leaders.” This explains the ideal kind of society that needs to be birthed. A community where gender is not a factor, but accomplishments are based on merits.
We must begin to deliberately create spaces and avenues for women to thrive in. It is not just about women taking up more roles in male-dominated industries, it is about creating an enabling
environment where gender equity can thrive. And this job is not just for one person; it is not even for women alone. We all need to come together to help re-engineer society. This is
How we can create a level playing ground for women?
I have been very forthcoming in organizing capacity development training for women in my industry. I also create spaces and platforms where they can connect and network. This way, we can help build competence among women. So, in my little way, I am doing my best to contribute to women empowerment. I hope and believe that as time goes on, I can do much more as time goes on.
The Spark
The one thing that differentiates me is my ability to illuminate those around me. I have this energy that spills out and fills up the room. It is so contagious. You can only be in my circle and get influenced by this. This is my spark.
#FindingHerSpark
If you are a young woman out there, I advise you to ensure that you enjoy life to the fullest. Make sure you are living it to the maximum every minute of the day. Go for your heart’s desires. Chase your dreams and enjoy the chase. Don’t let anyone bring you down or make you feel like you’re not worth it. You just need to keep going; with time, everything will fall into place.