We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michael O.. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michael below.

Michael , appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was betting on myself—twice. Once as an artist, and again as a technologist.
I grew up between worlds—African and American, traditional and modern—and my heart was always split between two passions: music and technology. After college, I faced a pivotal choice. I had opportunities to follow a more predictable career path, but I couldn’t ignore the voice that said, “Build what you believe in.” So I did. I poured my savings, time, and energy into my two callings: my music and my company.
In music, that meant walking away from safe gigs to create something original—music that fused Afrobeats, soul, and R&B in a way that told my story. It meant long nights in studios, self-funding tours, and releasing songs without knowing if anyone would listen. The payoff came slowly—performing on The Sing-Off, winning an American Music Award, and hearing my music placed in Pitch Perfect 2 and NFL broadcasts. Those moments proved that belief and persistence could create opportunities where none existed.
Then came the second risk: launching NKENNE, a language-learning platform to preserve and teach African languages. When I couldn’t find an app to learn my own language, Igbo, I decided to build one. I knew nothing about raising funds or building an AI company, but I believed in the mission. What began as a personal project grew into a startup recognized by Apple and Google, supported by the National Science Foundation, and now expanding globally with NKENNEAi, our AI translation API.
Both times, I risked stability for purpose. Betting on myself meant accepting uncertainty, trusting vision over validation, and committing to something bigger than comfort. Looking back, every milestone—from standing on stage to leading an AI team—has been a reminder that the most transformative risks aren’t about gambling with failure, but investing in faith.

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.

My name is Michael O. (Michael Odokara-Okigbo). I’m a singer, songwriter, and tech entrepreneur passionate about using creativity and innovation to connect people across cultures. My journey has always been about two things: storytelling and impact. Whether through music or technology, I aim to build bridges between Africa and the world.
Music has been my first language for as long as I can remember. I started performing at a young age and went on to study at Dartmouth College, where I led an a cappella group that won national recognition. That experience opened doors — I later appeared on NBC’s The Sing-Off, won an American Music Award, and had songs featured in Pitch Perfect 2 and Love & Hip Hop. My sound blends Afrobeats, soul, and global pop, and my performances have taken me from New York to Lagos to London.
But while music gave me a platform, technology gave me purpose. During the pandemic, I tried to find an app to learn my mother tongue, Igbo — and there wasn’t one. That realization led me to create NKENNE, a language-learning platform dedicated to teaching and preserving African languages. What started as a small idea became a global innovation: NKENNE was named Apple’s App of the Day, featured by Google, and supported by the National Science Foundation to develop NKENNEAi, a groundbreaking AI translation API for African languages.
Through NKENNE and NKENNEAi, my team and I are building tools that make African languages accessible to anyone, anywhere. We’ve created a mobile app for immersive learning through music, games, and storytelling, a live tutoring platform connecting learners with native speakers, and an AI translation system capable of real-time, tonally sensitive translation — the first of its kind.
What sets me apart is the ability to blend art and science, culture and code. Few people operate at the intersection of music, language, and AI, and I see that intersection as a powerful space to redefine how the world experiences African identity. My creative work feeds my technology, and my technology deepens my cultural storytelling.
I’m most proud of building something that serves both people and purpose. NKENNE now has over 300,000 users worldwide, including thousands of paying subscribers and partnerships with schools, cultural institutions, and governments. On the music side, my songs reflect my roots while still being global — they tell stories of migration, identity, and love that resonate across borders.
At the heart of everything I do is a belief that language and music are two of the most powerful tools for connection. I want people to know that my work — whether a song or a piece of software — is about bridging worlds. For me, innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about humanity.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is the ability to turn personal truth into something that connects with others. Whether it’s through a song or through technology, I’m constantly reminded that creativity has the power to bridge distance — cultural, emotional, and even linguistic.
When someone hears my music and says it made them feel seen, or when a user messages us to say that NKENNE helped them reconnect with their heritage, those moments remind me why I do this. Art and innovation are both languages of empathy — they allow people to find pieces of themselves in something you’ve made.
As an artist, the reward isn’t just in the performance or the product, but in the connection that follows. It’s seeing how an idea born from my own experiences can inspire someone else to embrace theirs. That’s the magic of being creative — you build something that outlives the moment, something that travels further than you ever could alone.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Yes — one of the most influential books for me as both an entrepreneur and creative leader is Grit by Angela Duckworth.
That book completely reshaped how I think about success, talent, and perseverance. It taught me that what truly drives progress isn’t just intelligence or opportunity — it’s sustained passion and relentless effort over time. That idea has guided me through every stage of building NKENNE and NKENNEAi, from the early days of uncertainty to scaling to hundreds of thousands of users.
Grit helped me understand that resilience is a skill — one that can be cultivated through purpose and consistency. It reinforced my belief that the people who win are the ones who stay committed when things get uncomfortable. As an artist, that’s what fuels me to keep creating even when inspiration fades. As a founder, it’s what pushes me to keep leading, iterating, and believing — even when the path forward isn’t clear.
Ultimately, Grit reminded me that the intersection of passion and perseverance isn’t just where growth happens — it’s where transformation begins.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themichaelo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelomusic/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelomusic/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-odokara-michael-o-60183225/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPiIkpv5gso9ImdWrAM-kRw
• Other: https://www.nkenne.com

Image Credits

I have all the rights on my pictures