We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Oyindamola Shoola. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Oyindamola below.
Oyindamola, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
As a polymath, I’ve oddly never found myself tied to a single purpose. I believe purpose is always changing and contextual, defined by seasons and wherever I find myself in life. However, what has assured me the most that I am fulfilling my purpose is this quote I’d never forget from a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey where Caroline Myss said: “You know you’re on the right path, here’s your clue: you’re not put in a position to betray yourself anymore. You don’t have to negotiate your sense of integrity, which is an act of betrayal, your heart, an act of betrayal. You don’t feel like you have to compromise who you are. It feels right.”
Finding purpose at various stages of my life has often felt like throwing a dart at a board and hoping it lands in the center. It doesn’t always hit the target, but when it does—whether for a project, a job, or an academic opportunity—I run with it and make the best of everything it offers within its season. Over time, I’ve also learned to enjoy the process of throwing those darts and making the best-informed guesses about my life’s direction based on what’s available to me.
As a highly creative person who has explored a wide range of pursuits, I’ve noticed a common thread in the purposes I’ve fulfilled: the opportunity to empower the less privileged in different areas, education, art, health, and more.
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?
My name is Oyindamola Shoola. I am a writer and the author of Face Me I Face You—a collection of romantic comedy and lyrical poems that won the 2024 Kermit Moyer Prize at American University. I am also the co-founder and CEO of Sprinng, a nonprofit organization empowering African writers through mentorship, and the Programs Director at Poetry Journal, where we discover widely-relatable African stories.
I hold an associate degree in Psychology from the City University of New York (CUNY) – Bronx Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior and Change from New York University (NYU), and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Poetry from American University. During my undergraduate years, I interned with leading trade and academic publishing companies, including Elsevier, Simon & Schuster at 37Ink, and Hachette Book Group. My works—spanning fiction, creative nonfiction, op-eds, and poetry—have been published in esteemed platforms and magazines such as Brittle Paper, Black Fox, Phi Theta Kappa’s Nota Bene, Authorpedia, Dovetail, Kalahari Review, and others.
I have received several leadership, scholarship, and community service awards, including NYU’s Founder’s Day Award, the Outstanding Service Award for Building Bridges, and WRR’s Recognition Award for continuous contributions to literature in Nigeria. In both 2017 and 2018, I was named one of the Nigerian Writers Award (NWA) 100 Most Influential Nigerian Writers Under 40.
With over six years of experience in higher education, I have utilized my creative writing and storytelling expertise to help students secure nearly $1.5 million in scholarships and gain admission to prestigious academic programs. Simultaneously, I established the Sprinng Writing Fellowship, which has mentored over 330 African writers since 2018.
In addition to my creative pursuits, I support organizations in operations and development management, focusing on creating structures that enable teams and organizations to reach their full potential. In my free time, I enjoy mentoring others, traveling, reading, and crocheting.
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?
I believe the three most important qualities that have shaped my journey are clarity, commitment, and discipline.
On clarity, I’ve learned that neither speed nor distance matters if you’re heading in the wrong direction. True progress begins with knowing where you’re going.
On commitment, I’ve embraced the importance of letting my “yes” be yes and my “no” be no. I don’t commit to anything unless I’m prepared to give it my best effort and dedication.
On discipline, I’ve discovered that mastery transforms discipline into play. When you truly immerse yourself in growth, discipline becomes second nature and even enjoyable.
Most importantly, at the end of the day, when I ask myself, “Have I done the best I can with what I’ve got?” I hope the answer is yes.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
When I co-founded Sprinng in 2016 with a close friend, Kanyinsola Olorunnisola, it was born from our reflections on the challenges we faced as emerging African writers. Despite being in the early stages of our journeys, we took on the ambitious task of creating a supportive community for writers and engaging them through meaningful initiatives.
For years, writers in many African voices and beyond have voiced the need for structured programs to nurture their creativity. A recurring conversation has been the lack of institutional support, such as the absence of an MFA program dedicated to Creative Writing, which often forces writers to seek opportunities abroad. Addressing this challenge became our top priority.
In response, we established the Sprinng Writing Fellowship, a six-week mentorship program that pairs developing African writers with expert mentors to focus on a specific genre. Since 2018, we’ve paired over 360 writers with 180+ mentors. Our alumni have achieved incredible milestones, including starting and leading literary organizations, publishing books, winning prestigious awards, and securing admissions to fully funded graduate programs abroad.
Today, Sprinng is recognized as a leading organization dedicated to empowering diverse African voices, amplifying their voices, and celebrating their literature. However, our current challenge is sustainability—how do we ensure that this impactful work continues for as long as it’s needed?
In 2024, Sprinng took a pivotal step by registering as a nonprofit in the USA, positioning ourselves to secure the resources necessary to sustain and expand our mission. We’ve already received support from like-minded organizations such as MasterClass and are actively seeking additional funding and partnerships.
To learn more about our work and how you can support us, visit sprinng.org/donate. Every contribution helps us amplify the voices of African writers and strengthen the literary community we’ve worked tirelessly to build.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shoolaoyin.com
- Instagram: @oyindamolashoola
- Facebook: Face Me I Face You
- Linkedin: Oyindamola Shoola
- Twitter: @shoolaoyin
- Other: Sprinng’s website: www.sprinng.org
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
