Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Nweke.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a product of my parents’ entrepreneurship. I consider them entrepreneurs because they had a vision larger than life and took a massive risk by leaving Nigeria. Moving to America with no money and no family isn’t an easy feat, but they did it. They started a family and got an education. Their journey to America jumpstarted my journey to law school and entrepreneurship.
I’m the oldest of four and the first in my family to attend law school. When I started law school last fall, I didn’t have any guarantee on how well I would finish. I thought about the things I’m passionate about, the things I’m good at, and my personal experiences. These things revolved around family, education, service, and economic opportunity. I decided to hold onto these values no matter what and figured that everything would fall into place according to God’s plan for my life.
I’m originally from Dallas, TX, but moved to Houston for school. During undergrad, I did a lot of service in the Third Ward, which is a historically black neighborhood that is mostly low-income. Those experiences helped me recognize how I could use my legal education to have a direct impact on my community. Even more, Houston’s diversity and access to the global economy was really attractive.
My service in Third Ward and experiences in mentoring my peers then led me to join my friend AJ in building Blademy. Blademy is an online platform where Black millennials come to learn new skills, land better jobs, and reach their full potential. We exist to bridge the increasing racial wealth and economic opportunity gap that exists between Black millennials and millennials belonging to other racial and ethnic groups.
I want to use technology not only to make the practice of law easier but also to help young Black people create a story they’re proud to share.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing worth having ever comes easy. I’ve received a “no” more times than I’ve received a “yes.” Sometimes, I wouldn’t even hear back about an opportunity I applied for. That rejection can be stinging! I’ve also failed several times, and I still make mistakes.
The best piece of advice I have for young women starting their journey is to embrace the uncertainty 100%. If we walked around with complete assurance and certainty about the next step, then we would not know how to be bold, courageous, relatable, or humble.
Accepting and getting comfortable with the reality of the unknown is what pushes you to the next level. You’re no longer afraid to ask for help. You learn to educate yourself and how to listen to others. Most importantly, you’re able to recognize the value you bring to the world and how to harness the power that flows from it.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a second-year law student by day and entrepreneur by night. I’m one of the co-founders of Blademy and our chief content officer, although I play some other roles as well.
With established relationships with 500+ university career centers and direct access to 1.4 million black college students, Blademy partners with companies, foundations, startups, and universities to develop curriculum, and programs that prepare our diverse talent pool for in-demand careers in tech, design, finance, and entrepreneurship.
I’m most proud of the strength of our brand and team. What we’re doing at Blademy is more than merely creating an online course platform. We’re building a community of the world’s next leaders, engineers, creatives, and business people. We’re part of our target market and have a vested interest in seeing members of our generation level up. It’s a blessing that people reach out to us seeking advice, inspiration, and economic opportunity.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
The practice of law has traditionally been considering the “white man’s job.” Even in tech, diversity is still a huge issue. In both of these industries, it’s difficult for women to gain respect and leadership because of ancient notions that we are not capable of handling the pressure and responsibility of our leadership. Leadership has been viewed as a burden for women, while it’s been viewed as a trophy for men.
But that’s changing. I’m thankful for all the female athletes, lawyers, developers, politicians, and artists that have come before me. They were the catalyst for destroying the notions that we cannot hold our own merely because we’re women.
Now, I believe that a big barrier to female leadership in any industry is the female herself. Who says I can’t be a partner at a law firm by 30? Who says I can’t build a billion-dollar tech company? Who says I have to choose between a healthy family and a fulfilling career?
I still catch myself subconsciously believing I’m unqualified or undeserving of an opportunity I’ve been given. Despite the history, we as women must continually empower and uplift ourselves. We are not imposters. We are certainly capable of being great CEOs, teachers, and everything else we may set our eyes on.
Contact Info:
- Website: blademy.com
- Email: stephanie@blademy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumofsteph/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learnblademy/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LearnBlademy
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-nweke/
Image Credit:
Larry Allen III
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