Roye Okupe
My passion lies in teaching and helping creators/creative entrepreneurs embrace and master the business side of their art. As a creator myself, I know how hard it is to lay off the right side of the brain (the side responsible for creative thinking) to focus of the left side (the side responsible for analytical thinking). Why? Becuase I'd rather just focus on, well, creating. But in order to have sustainable and successful growth on our projects, we creators must embrace BOTH. And that's why I'm here. To offer my 10 years of experience running multiple creative businesses as a blueprint to help you turn your hobby into a career. Transition your side hustle into a full-time gig. Make your dream(s) a reality.
Why I do what I do
My name is Roye Okupe and I like to think of myself as a Creatorpreneur ( get it? creator...entrepreneur) but more on that in a bit. This platform is designed to show you how I went from several failed creative businesses/projects to starting/running a successful one that put me on the list (2016/17) of 100 of the most influential Africans on the globe.
I was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria but moved to the United States when I was sixteen to study computer science. After graduating with both a masters and bachelor's degree in comp sci, I worked as a software developer/government contractor for about 4 years (FDA, EPA and some other organizations with fancy 3 letter acronyms).
But like every other creator (and I'm guessing you since you're on this website), I felt the need every day for those 4 years to create. So while I worked full time as a software developer, I would spend nights, weekends and lunch breaks pursuing that urge. For those 4 years, I dabbled in: web design, graphic design, writing, acting, singing, rapping (yes, you heard that right. Don't laugh, I was actually pretty good and I'll prove it later), directing/producing (film/animation), animating, illustrating, editing and visual effects.
Boy, did I scratch that itch. Many of these resulted in failed businesses but some are actually successful ones today. Now you're wondering if I still rap. I don't :) Today my focus is on being an author, speaker and entrepreneur. I write graphic novels and self-help business books and speak at conferences that cater to creative startups/entrepreneurs. I know because I've been there. For 8 years I failed at entrepreneurship. But now I know it wasn't for nothing. Those painful times where xxx have led me to spend sleepless nights researching all these topics.
That's why I started this. To help other creatorpreneurs like you avoid the mistakes I made. To give you the confidence to chase your dreams by showing you how exactly I'm living mine. Trust me, if I can do it, you most surely can as well. Maybe even better.