We recently connected with Ashton Akinrimisi and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashton, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Upon research and reflection, I have come to understand that success requires several components. Success requires commitment, vision, faith, opportunity, and hard work. It also requires you to be aligned spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally toward your goals. Lastly, success can expect discomfort and change. Whether you desire success in school, business, personal development, or relationships; you must consider these components.

When I look back on my most successful moments, I was particularly challenged and uncomfortable. And while pain and discomfort doesn’t earn success, I believe it can create and environment for enhanced faith and focus. Sometimes success comes with change, and with change you may be pushed into uncomfortable situations. I have learned to embrace change; sometimes on the other side of change is an even better outcome or possibility.

In the pursuit of my career, I’ve had to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. I have had to arrive and become in each new situation I was placed in; from social media influencing, to freelancing, to production, and now to holding corporate positions. All the while, my faith has kept me optimistic, and my passion has kept me curious.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Nigerian, born and raised in PG County, Maryland. Growing up I have always been creative. I grew up dancing, attending my mother’s choir and drama rehearsals, obsessing over pop culture, and loving fashion. As a first generation Nigerian in the U.S., I went from seeing my culture mocked to it being highly revered globally. I discovered my passion for entertainment and marketing in High School. There, I began creating community-based platforms for African, Caribbean, and other minority students to showcase their talents on the big stage.

Throughout college I began to work in media and marketing. My love for fashion and lifestyle content creation led me to begin work in production. My first major opportunities were styling productions for brands like BET, Apple, Total Wine & More, and many others. Simultaneously, I worked event production on platforms like One Africa Music Festival, New York Fashion Week, and D’usse Cognac. Later in my college career I ventured into entertainment marketing, holding positions at Sony Music Entertainment and RCA Records. I continued to build my personal brand, allowing me opportunities to influence for brands like HBO Max, Valentino, &Pizza, and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After studying and working in marketing I have decided to explore advertising. I am currently an Adfellow with Verizon’s Adfellows program. This program is a rotational fellowship that allows minority talent to rotate between 3 brands and ad agencies.

Today, I am living in New York on my first rotation as a producer at R/GA. Since moving to New York, I have had to adapt to an entirely new environment both personally and professionally. Pivots have been a common thread in my journey. As a result, adaptability has become a superpower of mine. On this new journey, I hope to add new skills and experiences to my repertoire. Since leaving the nest in Maryland, I plan to develop a newfound independence.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I owe many of my successes to the platform I have built on social media. It has allowed me to showcase my talents, brand myself, and make meaningful connections. As mentioned earlier, I began building my audience on social media very early in my journey. My love for content creation turned into a strategic personal branding platform.

My advice for building social media presence is to be authentic, intentional, and consistent. You should first decide how you want to be perceived online, then create content that aligns with that. To stand up against the oversaturation and algorithms, use your uniqueness to stand out. It truly takes time to build your platform, so be patient and consistent.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iconic_ashton/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonakinrimisi/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Iconic_Ashton