Story & Lesson Highlights with Jeff Osuji

Jeff Osuji shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Jeff, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me is definitely full — balancing family life and the demands of running Eventnoire keeps me very busy. I do my best to stay organized so I can be present for both my loved ones and my work. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, but I try to approach it with focus, structure, and gratitude

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.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
The people who taught me the most about work are my parents. My mother raised me and my siblings while working as a nurse. When she came to the U.S. from Nigeria, she worked double shifts to provide for us and make sure we all had opportunities, including putting us through school. Her sacrifice and discipline showed me what true dedication looks like.

My father was also an incredible example. He was the first in his family to read and write, and through hard work he earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees on scholarship before completing his Ph.D. His journey taught me the value of education, resilience, and perseverance. Together, my parents instilled in me a relentless work ethic and the belief that anything is possible with determination and focus.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell myself: fail fast and don’t hesitate. Go with your gut and trust your instincts. Everyone will have an opinion, but very few will take the leap to make their vision a reality. Don’t be afraid to take risks, because even the setbacks will push you closer to your purpose.

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?
For me, it’s about representing my family well. I carry a deep responsibility to make sure my parents are proud. They sacrificed so much to give me opportunities, and I want my work, my values, and my character to always reflect the legacy they built.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will say that I was an ecosystem builder — someone who created solutions that helped people feed their families and put them in positions to reach their goals. That I built platforms and opportunities that made a difference in their lives. And that through unforgettable experiences and events, I was able to bring people together, inspire community, and change lives for the better.