We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Debbie Onyibe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Debbie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.
Growing up, I had an extraordinary relationship with my parents. They showered me with love while allowing me to express myself. They never dimmed my light by trying to force me into a box of what a perfect child should be. Rather, they supported my dreams and visions and allowed me to be who I wanted to be. When I was younger, I recall going through a phase where I was passionate about music. I returned from school to see an electric guitar my father purchased. This showed me how far my parents were willing to support my dreams. When it came time to attend college, I explained to my parents that I wanted to attend University to pursue an art career. In Nigeria, art is not a socially acceptable career path. I expressed my desire to pursue a degree in art to my parents. Not only did they support my decision, but they also sponsored my tuition throughout my time as a student. Experiences like these shaped who I am and my journey as an artist.
Debbie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
At my core lies a multifaceted artist. It’s tough to pinpoint where my journey began, one could say I woke up this way. My work as an artist could be viewed through various lenses, it often reflects the evolution of my character. As a child, I was a hardcore Disney fan with aspirations of one day becoming famous. At the time, my art took its form of expression through music and dancing. I dabbled in modeling as a teenager but shortly phased out of it. I have now fully discovered myself as an artist and I express myself through two personas (Nuee and Aletheia). At the core of my creation is a desire to share God’s love and bring many to the consciousness of his character. In 2019, I founded a branding company Spirête Inc. The company’s goal is to aid businesses in developing their brand voice through animations, videos, and graphic design. Spirête offers competitive prices while converting social media viewers into customers. We have created for large corporations such as SunTrust oil, and currently have two companies on retainer for social media and marketing. Alongside Spirête, I co-founded a non-profit organization, Erupt art. The organization influences artists to create for change through its annual scholarship competition. Each year, the theme is centered around hard-hitting social issues (human trafficking, mercenaries, child hunger, etc) that ought to be spotlighted in the media. Amongst many things, I am most proud of the excellence and consistency with which I deliver my work. My reputation for excellence is a byproduct of my relationship with God, as excellence is a facet of God’s nature.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
To anyone managing a team, first, you must understand that those on your team are real people with emotions and feelings rather than tools. Next, understand that without a team, you cannot fulfill your vision, this will produce genuine value for your team members, and express your value for them often. Also, take time out for team-building activities to know your team members beyond a project. Finally, create a conducive environment for productivity, people are more productive when happy.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
As the coordinator of Believers LoveWorld Atlanta, pioneering the organization on my campus at SCAD (Savannah College of Arts and Design) came with various challenges. BLW is a Christian youth organization with chapters across the United States, however, there wasn’t a chapter in Georgia. At the time, God and I were the only ones with a vision of the impact that the club would make on my campus. There were days when a lot of time and resources went to inviting people to programs I was hosting; however, the event outcome did not match the effort put into the planning. In those moments I felt disappointed at the turnout, however, I continued to pray and continue trying. Event after event, the attendance averaged from 6-8 people despite the hundreds of flyers distributed. One day, after what felt like another low turnout, one of the attendees stayed behind to share the impact of the program. She wanted to become a member of the club and part of the event planning. Today, she along with nine others are members of the executive board. The organization has over forty consistent members and established a chapter at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://erupt.art/ | https://www.spireteinc.com/ | https://aletheiaartisan.pb.online/aletheia
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nuee_creation/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-onyibe-977470161/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nuee_creation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1V9H0Ag3NxV0ftvFb-W_Ag