We recently connected with Dr. Ijeoma Okoligwe, PhD and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Ijeoma, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Dr. Ijeoma & Co. is a deeply mission-driven business, and the heartbeat came from firsthand experience. Years ago, I joined an international startup and was immediately struck by just how much small and minority-owned businesses, especially those led by women and people of color, are expected to figure everything out on their own. There were so many moments where we needed support, resources, and guidance, and it just wasn’t there.
That experience opened my eyes. I realized that I wasn’t the only one navigating overwhelm, tight budgets, or unclear messaging. I had the knowledge and the training, yet even I felt like I was piecing things together without a map. That’s when it hit me: if I, with my PhD, 15+ years in business & marketing strategy, was feeling lost, how much harder must it be for others without that foundation?
So I created Dr. Ijeoma & Co. to be the very resource I wish we had. A strategy and marketing partner built specifically for the under-resourced, over-capable entrepreneur. A place where startups and small businesses, especially those owned by women, Black and brown founders, or immigrant entrepreneurs, could get real, actionable support to grow with confidence.
Dr. Ijeoma & Co. isn’t just a business; it’s a mission to help others build boldly, brand smart, and grow with intention. Because when one of us wins, we all move forward.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I was born in Nigeria and moved to the U.S. when I was 8 years old. Like many first-gen daughters, I grew up with a deep sense of responsibility, to succeed, to uplift, and to make something meaningful out of every opportunity. Education was everything in my family, and I took that seriously. I earned my PhD in Communication with a focus on advertising and media, which gave me the language and framework to understand how brands connect with people on a deeper level.
My entry into this field wasn’t linear. I’ve worked across corporate agencies and startups, leading multimillion-dollar media campaigns and wearing every marketing hat you can think of. But it was during my time at an international startup that I saw the stark gaps in support for small, underfunded teams. I watched incredible founders with powerful missions struggle, not because they lacked passion or potential, but because they didn’t have access to the same strategy, clarity, or resources as their more well-funded counterparts.
That’s when the vision for Dr. Ijeoma & Co. came to life.
My company provides strategic consulting, brand development, content marketing, and digital products tailored for entrepreneurs and startups who are tired of “doing the most” but seeing very little traction. I simplify the messy middle of marketing, offering clarity in place of confusion, confidence in place of chaos.
What sets me apart is my blend of academic rigor, industry experience, and cultural awareness. I’m not just offering marketing buzzwords, I’m offering culturally attuned, research-backed, real-life tested strategy that meets people where they are. I understand the weight of being a visionary who’s also wearing 10 other hats. So I build systems, messaging, and strategies that are not only effective but sustainable.
One thing I’m most proud of is building a business that reflects who I am, one that’s heart-led, faith-filled, and rooted in community. I’m also proud that in less than a few months, I’ve helped entrepreneurs across the country clarify their brand, increase their visibility, and build with purpose, not just vibes.
For anyone learning about me or my brand for the first time, I want you to know this: I’m not here to gatekeep. My goal is to make strategy accessible and marketing make sense, especially for those of us who’ve been overlooked in traditional business spaces.
Whether you’re building from scratch or trying to grow what you’ve already started, I’m here to help you move smarter, not harder, and build something that actually lasts.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the most defining moments in my journey and a real test of my resilience was getting laid off from a six-figure job while I was on maternity leave with my second child.
It shook me. I had done everything “right”—climbed the ladder, led major campaigns, showed up fully and professionally and yet, in a moment where I should’ve been supported the most, I was suddenly unemployed with a newborn and a toddler to care for. It felt like the rug had been pulled from under me.
But what came next changed everything.
Instead of rushing back into another role just to feel secure again, I gave myself permission to pause and reimagine what I really wanted. That’s when I decided to go all in on Dr. Ijeoma & Co. I took all of the expertise I had built, all the lived experience I carried, and created a brand that reflects who I am and who I want to serve.
Starting a business while healing from that betrayal, while navigating motherhood, and while rebuilding my sense of worth wasn’t easy. There were moments of doubt, burnout, and fear, but I kept going. Because deep down, I knew that what I was building wasn’t just for me. It was for every woman, every Black founder, every first-gen kid with big dreams and no blueprint.
Today, I’m proud to say I turned one of the hardest chapters of my life into a mission-driven business that supports others through their own messy middles. That’s what resilience looks like to me not just surviving the storm, but building something beautiful in the aftermath of it.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I built my social media audience the same way I built my business: intentionally, authentically, and one post at a time.
When I first started Dr. Ijeoma & Co., I didn’t have a huge following, I still don’t have a massive following. I wasn’t going viral. I wasn’t even sure who was really watching. But what I did have was a message and a mission. I knew I wanted to show up for entrepreneurs, especially Black women, first-gen founders, and startup owners who felt overwhelmed, under-resourced, or stuck in the “what now?” phase of building their business.
So I started sharing what I knew: marketing tips, mindset shifts, and strategic insights that actually made sense. I leaned into my voice: smart, honest, culturally aware, and sometimes even humorous because I didn’t want to sound like every other marketing expert online. I wanted people to feel like they were learning from a big sister who’s been there, not just another business coach tossing out buzzwords.
I also got really clear on who I was talking to. I wasn’t trying to go broad, I was speaking directly to that overworked solo founder, that first-time entrepreneur, that person who’s brilliant but just needs a roadmap. And that made all the difference.
Growth didn’t happen overnight, but I stayed consistent. I repurposed content. I engaged with my audience. I treated every follower like a real person, not just a number. And because of that, my content started to resonate and get shared, and slowly but surely, the right people started finding me.
My advice for anyone just starting out:
Don’t try to be everywhere. Start with 1 or 2 platforms where you feel most comfortable and where your audience is likely hanging out.
Focus on value + vibe. Educate, entertain, or inspire and let your personality come through.
Consistency beats perfection. You don’t need a perfect feed or studio-level lighting. Just show up.
Engage with your people. Talk to them in the comments and the DMs. That’s where real connection (and clients!) come from.
And most of all: stay true to your voice. You don’t have to copy what’s trending to grow. The more you lean into your uniqueness, the more you’ll attract people who genuinely want what you offer.
Growing an audience takes time, but when it’s built on authenticity and real value? It sticks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drijeomaandco.com/
- Instagram: @drijeomaandco
- Facebook: Dr Ijeoma and Co.
Image Credits
images were taken by https://www.instagram.com/aikes.photography/