We recently connected with Gafar Sanyaolu and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gafar, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I started my event planning business with 2 close friends. We were known for attending a lot of events in Chicago, a lot of people knew us. I decided one day after speaking with my now business partners, we needed to become event curators instead of event consumers, as we were spending so much money attending a lot of these events. We wanted to know what it took to put an event together. But truly, the main reason for coming up with this idea is mostly due to the fact that a lot of minorities didn’t have the opportunity to host events at some of these big venues for a lot of reasons. We wanted to change that narrative by opening doors for us and others to walk through.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I work in Corporate IT Finance, as A Manager of Financial Planning, Technology Portfolio Operations. I went to school for finance with a Minor in Advertising. I love numbers, and i like to figure out how to help grow a business by looking at the numbers in front of me, and using those numbers to leverage new opportunities that can scale the business. I got into FinTech because of my passion for finance, and my love for understanding new technology and how it impacts me, the business, and ultimately, our society.

Event Planning – my event planning business Echelon Group Chicago/Good Company Brand are both lifestyle event-planning boutiques that specializes in the art of driving consumer action through brand interaction and experiences. We basically connect consumers with brands through activations (New product launch) for the brand to connect with a different demographic. My team and i organize events around the nation each year, bringing together a community of fun loving event attendees to connect with other people around the US.

Restaurant Lounge – I also own a 1.5 year old restaurant in Chicago called Chalet with friends/business partners. We opened our doors September 2023. I always wanted the opportunity to own a brick and mortar type business, especially something within the restaurant industry. This has been one of my greatest accomplishments, as i didn’t expect to own one this soon. I had a plan, but God had his own plans for me clearly.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

My main goal has always been to make current clients happy. Happy clients are the best marketers. They make sure to get the word out on your behalf, and they are able to share their experiences online and encourage potential new clients to be a part of the experience.

Let’s talk M&A – we’d love to hear your about your experience with buying businesses.

My current restaurant, Chalet. We purchased this business in good faith from a previous owner who was stepping away to embark on other business endeavors. This opportunity was introduced to my team and i by our current business partner, and it was a No-Brainer. There are just some opportunities in life that don’t require too much information when it comes to pitching; this was one of them. We did our due diligence, met with a lawyer, figured out the best options for us, and we executed on the contract. I haven’t regretted that business decision.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.echelonchi.com
• Instagram: @princegafar
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gafar-sanyaolu-csm-222a0335