Life and Work with Emi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emi.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Emi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started Emi Eats from my dorm room in Milan while studying abroad. For as long as I can remember, I have had a love of food and the way it can bring people together. And after sharing one too many food posts on social media, a few friends suggested that I make a food focused instagram.

It was only a few short weeks before I decided to expand into a blog as well. Three years later, Emi Eats has followed me across continents as I share my love of food, travel, and most recently a lifestyle section.

Working on Emi Eats has not always been the easiest of endeavors, but it has been a priceless experience. Connecting me with new friends, taking me to new places, and capturing incredible memories (like meeting James Norton).

Has it been a smooth road?
There have definitely been challenges along the way. I think that any creative or entrepreneurial individual runs into seasons of inspirational drought. It is in times like these that I must deliberately refocus on what my goals are for this brand and what kind of content I would want to see. Creating content that I enjoy reading and watching is essential.

However, even when the vision is clear… timing can be another hurdle to overcome. Emi Eats is what one might call my “side hustle”. In real life, I have a day job that requires me to travel almost every week working semi-long hours. It’s been helpful for me to plan out my milestones for the month, season, year; then track against those to better allocate my time.

Before I entered Corporate America, I was pretty involved in the Chicagoland entrepreneurial ecosystem. I had founded a startup of my own and gained a few mentors in the process. The best advice I received was to make you hustle/passion the #2 priority without fail. You might have a “9 to 5”, but if you want to create a brand or start a business, it must become your “5 to 10”.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Emi Eats – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Bringing together my background in business, love of a global perspective, passion for food, and Nigerian-American culture; I believe that Emi Eats has grown and will continue to grow into a forum for people to connect with me or others on a vast variety of topics that interest them.

From food recipes to matters of racial & social injustices to travel and professional advice. I endeavor to continue creating a dynamic portal for introspective reflection and interpersonal connection.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
In recent history, society has begun to rally around young girls to foster a love of technical skills and “c-suite” aspirations. This is great! But it is not enough on its own.

What I believe needs to happen now is for society to create spaces for women in Corporate America (like myself) or other competitive fields to thrive. Until equity in perception, pay & recognition is shown. Women will continue to hit glass ceilings and be pushed out by intangible bottlenecks. This takes both the work of 1) women who continue to crush it in their respective fields day-after-day and 2) male & female mentors that are willing to turn back and help women of the next generation to succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.emieats.com
• Email: emi@emieats.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emi_eats_/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Emi-Eats-885908944870717/?ref=bookmarks
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvzieGT7D6Vm0ePsVvhNCNQ

Image Credit:
Eric Noelke, Allie Appel, Ricky Barrow

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