We recently had the chance to connect with Jeff Osuji and have shared our conversation below.
Jeff, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt true joy was at the Chicago Culture Ball. I remember standing in the middle of the room and just taking it all in. Everywhere I looked, people were connecting, laughing, and celebrating. Leaders from business, arts, and community work were all in the same space, and at the same time, we were awarding scholarships to students who are the future of the city.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jeff Osuji, an entrepreneur and the CEO and co-founder of Eventnoire, a culture-driven event discovery and ticketing platform. I was born and raised in Chicago, the son of Nigerian immigrants who taught me the value of hard work and community. My journey started on a very different path — I studied chemistry at the University of Illinois and even prepared for a career in medicine. But while in school, I also launched an event company, and I quickly realized that my true passion was building spaces for people to connect, celebrate culture, and create memorable experiences.
That passion eventually led to Eventnoire. We built the platform to solve a problem: event technology wasn’t serving our community. Eventnoire not only helps people discover and attend culture-centered events, but also reinvests a portion of its service fees back into Black and community organizations. Today, Eventnoire serves event organizers and consumers in more than 50 markets across the U.S. and abroad, and we’ve been fortunate to earn national recognition through awards from Google for Startups, Pepsi, and Mountain Dew.
What makes us unique is our commitment to cultural ownership and community impact. We’re not just a tech platform — we’re part of an ecosystem that empowers event creators, funds scholarships, supports first-time homeowners, and builds wealth and opportunity where it’s often been missing.
Right now, we’re focused on scaling even further. We just launched Eventnoire Academy, which provides training, funding, and community for event professionals to help them grow their businesses. We’re also expanding partnerships with brands and creating new opportunities for creators and entrepreneurs. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to elevate culture, empower communities, and create platforms that make lasting impact.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me the foundation of work. They showed me that work isn’t just about making a living, it’s about building a life of purpose. They worked with consistency, pride, and resilience, and I learned early that dedication and discipline are non-negotiables. Later, mentors and peers added layers of insight, but that early example of sacrifice and persistence shaped my DNA.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self: “You are enough, and the vision you carry is valid. The setbacks aren’t signs of failure, they’re building blocks. Trust the process, because every challenge is teaching you how to lead and how to serve.”
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Community. I believe deeply in building spaces where people feel seen, celebrated, and connected. Protecting community means protecting trust, integrity, and shared growth. No matter the venture, I won’t compromise on creating platforms that honor our culture and bring people together.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I was someone who built bridges and left doors open for others to walk through. That I turned vision into platforms that empowered thousands, maybe millions, to dream bigger and create more. That I showed how business, culture, and community can intersect, and that my work made the journey a little easier for the next generation.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffrosuji/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyosuji
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
