From TEDx Talks to Transformative Action: Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya Inspires a New Generation of STEM Innovators
Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya is the founder and CEO of African Women In STEM, a New Jersey-based company that is on a mission to empower African women globally by offering resources and a supportive community to help them take ownership of their careers, reach their full potential, and succeed.
She is a visionary leader with a wealth of experience spanning two decades as an engineer in the energy industry. Adaeze is a master at transforming challenges into opportunities and developing creative solutions to complex problems. Her passion for STEM is contagious, and she strongly advocates celebrating the unique identities and contributions of cultural minorities in the STEM ecosystem.
Adaeze is a TEDx speaker, and her talk encourages professionals to embrace their cultural identity so as to unlock their potential to innovate and make a lasting impact.
For more details, visit their website here.
Today we sit down with Adaeze to gain some insights about her journey as an entrepreneur.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
Adaeze: What inspired me to become an entrepreneur was a combination of personal experiences and a profound realization. Throughout my career and as I became more senior, I found myself increasingly isolated — I lacked mentors, sponsors, and advocates who could guide and support me. This solitude was compounded by the challenges of the bias and microaggressions I faced, which made navigating my career even more daunting.
The turning point came when a young woman reached out to me for guidance, sharing struggles that mirrored my own experiences. This conversation underscored the systemic nature of the issues many women, especially black women and women of color, face in the workplace. I was inspired to create an organization that offers a supportive community and a safe space for women to learn, thrive, and rise together.
African Women In STEM is more than a business to me. I am on a mission to ensure no other woman has to feel the isolation and solitude I felt in my career as I navigated the challenges of advancement without much support.
How did you get started?
Adaeze: I got started with African Women In STEM after almost two decades of experience as an engineer in the energy industry. As a woman in STEM, I often felt isolated and lacked mentors or a supportive network. This led me to initiate a mentorship program, which quickly evolved into one-on-one conversations with other African women in STEM who shared similar experiences.
These conversations revealed a significant need for a dedicated space that offers resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy for a more inclusive STEM ecosystem. Recognizing this opportunity, I founded African Women In STEM. I have been organizing community events with other African women in the STEM industry for over two and a half years, and my business, African Women in STEM, officially launched fifteen months ago.
Today, we are a thriving community united by our shared passion and desire to make a difference. Through education, mentoring, and networking events, we are making a tangible impact on the lives and careers of women in our community. I am excited about the future we are building together.
What was your biggest startup challenge? What steps did you take to overcome it? What did you learn?
Adaeze: My biggest startup challenge was the mindset shift from being an employee to becoming an entrepreneur. As an employee, my focus was primarily on executing specific tasks within a defined role. Transitioning to an entrepreneur meant I had to wear multiple hats, many of which I had no prior experience in, such as marketing and tech. Learning how work gets done in a startup environment, where I am responsible for every aspect of the business, was a significant adjustment.
To overcome this challenge, I leaned heavily on the power of community and collaboration. I sought out, researched, and accepted help from those who have walked this path or are currently on the same journey. This included both free and paid resources, such as mentorship programs, networking groups, and online courses. By surrounding myself with a supportive community, I gained valuable insights and practical advice that helped me navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship.
What I learned from this experience is the incredible power of leverage. Leveraging other people’s time, talent, knowledge, and experience has been instrumental in my growth as an entrepreneur. It has allowed me to focus on my strengths while benefiting from the expertise of others. Currently, I am also working on leveraging financial resources to further scale my business.
What is the most memorable thing you’ve done since you started your business?
Adaeze: The most memorable thing I have done since starting my business was delivering a TEDx talk titled “How Embracing Cultural Identity is Key to Unlocking Your Success in STEM.” The experience was transformational, insightful, heartfelt, and extraordinarily liberating!
In my talk, I spoke about my experiences as an African immigrant and a black woman in STEM. I highlighted the negative impact that being othered or compelled to assimilate can have on one’s career. I shared my belief that our cultural identity can be a source of strength and empowerment and embracing it can lead to incredible growth and success in our professional lives.
Fully embracing my cultural identity triggered a chain of events that led to the launch of my organization, African Women in STEM. Giving the talk was a defining moment that showcased the impact of my work. The feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive and deeply touching. I cannot wait to share the video when it is released. I am even more inspired to continue driving change and empowering others.
What is one book you recommend, and why?
Adaeze:I highly recommend “We Should All Be Millionaires” by Rachel Rodgers. This book is a transformative guide that addresses a critical issue: the lack of correlation between the number of women, especially minority women, starting businesses and achieving financial independence.
In the book, Rachel Rodgers offers a powerful mindset shift, encouraging women to embrace the possibility of making significant money and striving for financial success. Her insights and strategies are invaluable for women who need to understand that they deserve wealth and can achieve it.
What are your top 3 favourite online apps, tools, or resources and what do you love about them?
Adaeze: I will keep this simple and accessible. My top three favorite online apps, tools, or resources are:
- ChatGPT: My friend likes to say working with Chat GPT is like having a “smart intern and thought partner.” and I agree with him. Chat GPT helps me brainstorm ideas, draft content, and solve problems efficiently, making it an indispensable part of my workflow.
- Google Workspace/Apps: Google offers a comprehensive suite of apps that cater to almost all my needs, and most of them are free. From Gmail to Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive, it provides seamless integration and collaboration tools that are essential for running my business.
- Calendly: Since I cannot afford a personal assistant, Calendly is a lifesaver for managing my schedule. It automates meeting scheduling, eliminates back-and-forth emails, and ensures that my time is efficiently allocated.
In terms of legacy, what is the mark you’d like to leave on the world?
Adaeze: I envision building a vibrant, global network of African women in STEM who are recognized, valued, and celebrated for their exceptional contributions to the global community. It is my desire to transform the lives and legacies of African women and girls now and for generations to come.
Together, we have more power than we realize, and my legacy will be that I helped unleash that power, triggering a chain of transformation that will ripple through future generations.
In one sentence, what’s the best advice you’d give to someone just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey?
Adaeze: There is no reason in this world for you to have to figure everything out yourself. Have a vision, have goals, and have a draft of a plan, but enlist the help of mentors and accountability partners as soon as you can, and coaches or sponsors as soon as it makes sense for your business.
Sorry, that was two sentences.
To keep up to date with Adaeze and her journey, connect with her on her personal LinkedIn or business LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.
