Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tomike Ogugua. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tomike, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from watching my mother and everything she has triumphed over. Coming from another country for a chance at success in the United States; being an immigrant and having to endure and persevere through so so much; then being a single parent on top of everything else. I not only get my resilience from her, but my hustle and work ethic from her as well. Watching her let me know that everything is earned, never given. I also get my resilience from the Community where I was raised. I carry the legacy of Durham, NC, and Nigeria with me. My hometown, “Bull City” has a rich history of Black entrepreneurship and enterprise.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am an Actor and Artist based in NYC. I moved to New York in 2008 after starting my Acting career in earnest in Chicago around 2005. I earned my degree in Acting from NC A&T State University in 2004 and immediately moved to the Windy City where I spent several years doing theatre. TV and film was always the goal, so in 2008 I made the leap, and within weeks I booked a play, then my first feature film “The Tested”. The independent film went on to win awards and streamed on Netflix for several years. I subsequently found myself cast on Starz “Power” for what I thought was a single episode. It turned into a multiple season recurring role. Other films and television have since followed. My favorite role to date is that of ‘Henry’, in short film “East River Story”. That film was a psychological challenge; the frigid temperatures on set didn’t make things easier, but I am thankful for that film and proud of what it did. Bruce Gorman and Richard Bird deserve all the credit in the world for having me. We had a very successful festival run, winning a number of awards from festivals on the East Coast. Currently, I have a feature films “Shadows” and “Payback” streaming on Prime Video. I have a new short film alongside Austin Pendleton and a few other things cooking. I have also gone back to my first love of music…I am working on some stuff. Writing. Studio. Recording. Performing. It’s coming.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
As Artists in any arena, you must know when to say NO. Know who you are as an artist and stand on it. I had to learn some stark lessons.
You will make mistakes but be kind to yourself, because we don’t know what we don’t know.
Remain positive and manifest things for yourself; and get qualified mentors. Always believe in yourself. No matter what.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
I value peace and quiet more than anything. I have grown in terms of being even more private, rededicated myself to fitness and being in the best shape possible, become vegetarian, stopped drinking alcohol, and only eat whole foods as much as I can. I pay attention to what I put into my body and mind. That would be the biggest. Also, doing music again, which is actually my favorite thing, it’s my first love. Sharing my love of words at this stage, I am looking forward to that journey.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: officialtomikeog
- Facebook: Tomike Ogugua
- Soundcloud: https://SoundCloud.com/Ogugua
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Jamil Mangan
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