Meet Deji Adako

We were lucky to catch up with Deji Adako recently and have shared our conversation below.

Deji, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

“I believe my resilience comes from my upbringing. I’m one of four children, and from an early age, I felt a responsibility to be a leader in our family. We faced a lot of challenges growing up, and I knew that if I could set a strong example—through hard work, focus, and determination—it could help pave the way for my siblings and create opportunities for all of us. That sense of responsibility motivated me to push through obstacles, stay committed to my goals, and find solutions no matter how difficult things seemed. Resilience, for me, has always been about turning those hardships into a driving force for a better future.”

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m in the exciting start-up phase of building a pet care brand dedicated to creating high-quality, wellness-focused products for pets and the people who love them. The vision is to combine functionality, safety, and style so that caring for pets is both effortless and enjoyable. What excites me most is being at the very beginning—developing products from scratch, building the brand’s identity, and imagining the impact it can have on pets and their owners in the years ahead.

Right now, we’re working on our first product line, which will include premium grooming accessories, wellness products, and innovative tools designed to make at-home care easier. It’s thrilling to see ideas move from concept to reality and to think about how they’ll improve the daily lives of pets and the people who love them. While we’re just getting started, the passion and purpose behind the brand are already driving everything we do.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three qualities have had the biggest impact on my journey so far: leadership, adaptability, and a deep understanding of operations. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, customer-focused business where leading diverse teams, solving problems quickly, and managing complex operations were part of daily life. Those experiences taught me how to make decisions under pressure, how to bring out the best in people, and how to keep a business running smoothly even in challenging circumstances.

For those early in their journey, my advice is to actively seek out environments that challenge you and stretch your abilities. Learn to lead by example—your work ethic will set the tone for your team. Stay adaptable, because change is inevitable, and often where growth happens. And invest time in understanding the nuts and bolts of how a business runs; that knowledge will be invaluable when you start building something of your own. Even if you don’t see it at the time, every role and every challenge can give you tools you’ll need later.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I try to slow things down and break challenges into smaller, manageable steps. I’ve learned that I don’t have to carry everything alone. Having a trustworthy therapist has been a game-changer—it gives me a safe space to process my thoughts, gain perspective, and find healthier ways to navigate stress. My family has also been a constant source of support; they remind me why I’m working so hard and help me keep things in perspective when the pressure is high.

My advice to others is to build a strong support system—both personal and professional. Surround yourself with people who genuinely want to see you succeed, and don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance when you need it. Overwhelm can be temporary when you have the right tools and the right people in your corner.