Episode #61: Networking Your Way Up, Navigating Cultural Transitions, and Giving Back to Nigeria with Olumide Gbenro

Episode Summary

Olumide Gbenro takes us on his journey growing up in Lagos, Nigeria and then navigating the cultural transitions as his family moved to the UK and eventually the US, all by the time he was in high school. After getting two master’s degrees, learning multiple languages, and being on a career path to make his parents proud, Olumide shares the transitionary moment when he had an emotional conversation with his parents and decided to change his life course and pursue his passion of entrepreneurship and world travel. He opens up about the hard times of sleeping on multiple peoples’ couches and failing multiple times before finally being able to build a digital agency, stabilize his income, grow his following and influence on social media, and live the digital nomad lifestyle. He explains the crucial role of networking and provides specific tips and examples of how to effectively network both online and in person. He also shares techniques for effective personal brand building and the similarities and differences with business brand building. He then shares specific tactics for monetizing your audience. Olumide then talks about what travel means to him, shares his #1 travel memory, and discusses the importance of connecting with locals, especially in ex-pat-heavy locations. He then talks about social awareness and environmental sustainability that travelers need to be conscious of as the digital nomad movement grows. Olumide shares his personal passion for giving back to his home country of Nigeria and discusses his “globo-water” initiative to build water wells in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa. And finally, he discusses his latest initiative, the Digital Nomad Summit which is expected to draw over 500 nomads in Bali. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT www.TheMaverickShow.com

Get The Maverick Show's

Monday Minute Newsletter

Unsubscribe at anytime. You can read the
Privacy Notice and Terms of Use here.

Kick off each week with 3 personal
recommendations from me that
you can read in 60 seconds.

About the Guest

Olúmidé Gbenro

Olúmidé Gbenro is a location independent serial entrepreneur originally from Lagos, Nigeria and currently based in Bali, Indonesia. After getting 2 Masters Degrees in the United States, he began organized high-level networking events around the world from Los Angeles to Tokyo, attracting a clientele ranging from international business leaders to professional athletes from the NBA and NFL. Today he specializes in helping entrepreneurs, influencers, and startups build and monetize their brands through earned media appearances, public relations, and social media growth. Olúmidé has been a full-time digital nomad since 2016, has an Instagram following of over 17,000, and speaks 5 languages – Yoruba, Spanish, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesian, and English. He is also building a social enterprise called “Globo Water” that builds water wells in remote areas across various African countries, including his homeland of Nigeria. He is also the founder of the Digital Nomad Summit in Bali which features world-class speeches and training and attracts over 500 Nomads.

What You'll Learn

The keys to effective networking, both online and in-person
How to build an effective personal and business brand
Tips for being a socially and environmentally conscious entrepreneur and world traveler

Links From the Episode

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you click through any links and make a purchase, you should assume that Maverick will receive financial compensation (at no additional cost to you). We greatly appreciate you using our affiliate links because it helps to support the show and cover production costs of the podcast.

CONFERENCE THAT OLÚMIDÉ FOUNDED

Digital Nomad Summit(Use the Code “MAVERICK” To Get A Special Discount)

THE #1 BOOKS OLÚMIDÉ RECOMMENDS

Rich Dad Poor Dad

THE PERSON WITH WHOM OLÚMIDÉ WOULD MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER

Will Smith

TOP 5 AFRICAN ARTIST THAT OLÚMIDÉ RECOMMENDS

LOCATION WHERE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE

Canggu, Bali, Indonesia

OLÚMIDÉ’S TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

OLÚMIDÉ’S TOP BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS

OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CHECK FLIGHT PRICES TO ANY OF THESE LOCATIONS

CONTACT OLÚMIDÉ

FOLLOW THE DIGITAL NOMAD SUMMIT

Time Stamped Show Notes

[2:44] Matt and Olumide Talk about Bali

Why Olumide chooses to be based in Bali
How Matt and Olumide connected

[5:42] Olumide’s Experience Growing Up in Nigeria, the UK and the US

The importance of his Nigerian roots
Growing up in Lagos Nigeria
Moving to England and Navigating the culture shock
Moving to the US as a teenager and feeling like an outcast
His College and Graduate School experience in the US
Realizing he was living to please other people and re-thinking his life path

[11:20] Olumide’s Life Transition to Entrepreneurship and World Travel

Telling his parents he was going to change course and be an entrepreneur
Getting a one-way ticket to Germany and sleeping on friends couches
Building skills by working for companies for free
Going back to San Diego to regroup and start building a client base
Moving to Mexico and becoming a Nomad

[19:31] Effective Networking Techniques

The crucial importance of building a network by providing value upfront
Working with luxury real estate agents in California
The key techniques for effective online networking
The importance of in-person networking and delivering results

[24:20] Effective Brand Building Techniques

The importance of focusing on your passion
Being authentic and always being yourself
Building your tribe and monetizing the attention you generate
Putting your brand message on the platforms where your target market spends time
The importance of having a brand story video
Niching down your brand identity
Engaging your community and tailoring your content to your audience

[32:21] Monetizing Your Audience