We were lucky to catch up with Nkem Oghedo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nkem, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As a Black businesswoman who is often “the only one” in a room, my professional goal is to create equitable economies where Black communities thrive. I believe that, in America, entrepreneurship is the most proven vehicle for community & self-actualization. So, with Adá, our mission is to help Black entrepreneurs build the businesses of their dreams on their own terms

Nkem, 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?

“As a child, I wanted to be a chef. Growing up in a predominately immigrant neighborhood in Queens, NY, I was exposed to diverse flavors at an early age. I spent hours watching cooking shows, following family in the kitchen, and getting lost in crowded grocery stores. I developed an early appreciation for how food can profoundly impact the way we feel & connect to one another.

Fast forward, I studied engineering at Yale, obtained my MBA from Harvard, and worked in consulting & tech. In all these spaces, I have been one of a few Black or female faces. I have experienced firsthand the dichotomy of being hyper-visible yet simultaneously erased. Unfortunately, this contradiction also prevails in the culinary industry.

Despite the immense diversity that exists within global Black food culture and the huge impact they’ve had on global dining, Black chefs are rarely celebrated. Most James Beard or Michelin star recipients are white men. Food media rarely tells diverse stories. Most importantly, Black-owned food businesses make up just 2% of total American food businesses and are 30% smaller on average.

I founded Adá to disrupt this status quo. I believe that cuisines from Black cultures are sophisticated and worthy of immense celebration. Black chefs and culinary entrepreneurs deserve to build sustainable businesses that tell their own authentic stories on their own terms. I believe that entrepreneurship is a powerful vehicle for community- & self-actualization. So, our mission is to create space and a supportive environment to help Black food entrepreneurs thrive.”

Adá is an online marketplace & community that helps Black chefs grow their businesses.

We target the growing population of Black chefs without restaurants — professionals who have left restaurant life often due to burnout, racism, and/or sexism. Our mission is to help these new entrepreneurs grow their businesses by providing demand, admin support, and business education. 

More specifically, we connect chefs to companies for team-building events through our marketplace, Adá Experiences. We handle all the admin they hate so they can focus on what they do best: make delicious food. And we empower our community by providing free business education through webinars, community forums, and other online content.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020, we launched Adá as a supper club where we hosted pop-up dinners with Black chefs in NYC. When the pandemic shut in-person events down, we quickly pivoted to a delivery model. We designed an at-home dinner party experience that included 3 courses, mocktails, plating instructions, an intimate video message from the chef and curated playlist — all delivered to customers’ homes. This helped us validate our core belief: that customers are craving story-led food experiences that center diverse perspectives. Soon, companies began to reach out for private virtual experiences. And eventually, we iterated on this model to build the marketplace that we have now.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I am still in the process of unlearning what “success” looks like. Throughout my life, I’ve been a high-achieving person. But as my career progressed, I realized that our society is not based on merit. Our favorite brands are not necessarily the best in their category. The most well-known entrepreneurs are not the smartest, hardest-working, or most innovative. Luck plays a huge role in reaching what we define as “success”. But that success doesn’t always equate to happiness or fulfillment. So I’m unlearning this and trying to define success on my own terms.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.withada.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adaexperiences/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adasupperclub
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/withada

Image Credits
Liz Clayman Kelsey Cherry