Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shola Ajayi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Shola, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
About three to four years ago, I was a bit lost. As a creative who could do a lot of different things, I struggled to find my true direction. But one day, I had an epiphany about what really matters to me: my purpose was to foster connection. I realized this purpose stemmed from a deep love for people, a reflection of God’s commandment to love — to love Him and to love our neighbors. Loving people, to me, meant giving: giving time, resources, little gifts, effort, and kindness. That’s how I came to gift curation – which I already was doing on a small scale. Creating gifts for others became so natural, and customers felt comfortable opening up to me about their loved ones, and even messy situations they wanted to apologize for with gifts. Together, we’d curate gifts for special and even ‘non-special occasions, and their heartfelt feedback showed me the impact we were making. Over time, I knew I’d found my purpose: helping people connect and express love for each other. It’s made me a better person, too.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Thank you for this chance to share my story! I’m the creative director and founder of two gift brands—Subs and Giggles, and Happy Jar Store—both built around the joy of helping people connect in meaningful ways through gift-giving.
Subs and Giggles specializes in quirky, personalized greeting cards and unique items like picture frames, word art, and glow-in-the-dark frames for all occasions. We focus on crafting gifts that celebrate relationships with a personal touch, whether it’s for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, or those everyday ‘just because’ moments. Each piece is designed to make people smile, feel seen, and be celebrated.
On the other hand, Happy Jar Store is focused on custom gift curation, with an emphasis on creating curated gift boxes, flower arrangements, and corporate gifts that capture exactly what the giver wants to convey. Here, we handle everything from the details of each item to the presentation, making it easy for customers to express gratitude, joy, or even encouragement to those who matter most. The most exciting part for me is seeing people use our creations to share a bit of themselves and foster genuine connection.
Right now, we’re thrilled to be expanding. We’re growing our production capacity and have recently opened our production studio, and also launched a dedicated business line to help our customers stay connected with our latest offerings. Whether it’s through Subs and Giggles or Happy Jar Store, the mission is simple: to help people celebrate each other in ways that feel deeply personal and genuine
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?
Looking back, three qualities were most impactful for me: resilience, excellence, and empathy. I didn’t graduate with the best results, and at 20, everything seemed uncertain. I wasn’t sure if I should go back to school, find a job, or sell something quick cos it seemed like time was going against me. But when I got an opportunity to learn web design in a two-week skill acquisition program, I gave it my all, aiming to be the best in my class to secure an internship. Thankfully, I earned that spot at a startup, and while the pay was minimal, the learning was massive. It was tough, but I developed grit, and no matter the task, I committed to delivering my best work. I learned that an excellent work ethic can open doors that talent alone might not.
I also realized the importance of emotional intelligence. I’m sensitive to people’s emotions, so I trained myself to meet each conversation where the other person was. This ability to tune into others’ needs and communicate genuinely has been key in customer relations.
When I started my business, it was just me—sometimes carrying boxes of supplies on my head, going to markets myself, operating out of my grandmother’s room, and borrowing my boyfriend’s camera to take pictures of my products. As my business grew, I learned to ‘write the vision,’ be bold, and lean into my faith. I also had to adapt, learning new skills to keep up with changing demands. At one point, I felt stuck and decided to pivot back to tech, studying product design. But it wasn’t fulfilling, and I didn’t want to become a ‘jack of all trades’ or an unserious person to people. Eventually, I realized that none of those skills were lost; every experience, from design to customer relations, was helping me become a better entrepreneur. I also learned that one must know when to pivot without allowing what other people would say hold you back. Most people are even just winging it like you.
For anyone starting out, I’d advise three things: don’t shy away from challenges—they build resilience; pursue excellence in all you do, because people remember quality; and develop empathy, as kindness and warmth build connections in ways you might never expect.
Above all, stay close to what grounds you, whether it’s faith, family, or purpose, and don’t be afraid to pivot when needed or to dream big. Every step, even the difficult ones, is part of the journey to fulfilling your vision.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I ground myself by journaling, especially to God. I have a book called Notes to Yahweh where I write letters to Him, and pouring out my thoughts this way brings me peace and clarity. I also turn to loved ones to vent (a lot) when I need to—just sharing what’s on my mind with those close to me often lightens the load.
Prayer and a practical approach help me move forward.
First, I make a list of everything weighing on me, arranging tasks from the most stressful to the least. Seeing it on paper, step-by-step, makes it all feel more manageable. And one thing I always remind myself of is this: I’ve faced overwhelming challenges before, and I got through them. This time is no different.
My advice to anyone feeling overwhelmed is to find a grounding practice that brings peace, like journaling or prayer, and to tackle tasks one at a time. With patience and trust in yourself, even the biggest mountains become conquerable
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sholaa__/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shola-ajayi/
- Twitter: https://x.com/TheSholaAjayi
- Other: https://beacons.ai/subsandgiggles
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