Okey Onyegbule, also known as Proff, is the visionary behind AskOkey, a bespoke clothing brand. With a past as a Wall Street banker and amateur boxer, he shares fascinating insights on discipline as a key to success. Okey discusses transitioning from finance to entrepreneurship and highlights the role of mentorship in personal growth. He dives into the importance of health, embracing risk, and how global experiences shape entrepreneurial mindsets. His journey emphasizes creativity, community, and living vibrantly.
Okey's diverse upbringing and military education instilled discipline, shaping his character and future successes in finance and entrepreneurship.
The speaker's shift from engineering to investment banking highlights the role of passion and mentorship, particularly influenced by Reginald Lewis's impactful journey.
Physical fitness is integral to the speaker's well-being and discipline, serving as a foundational aspect of achieving success in various life endeavors.
Deep dives
Global Upbringing and Early Education
The speaker shares their diverse upbringing, highlighting their Nigerian origins and experiences living in various countries before moving back to Nigeria at the age of 10. They attended a military boarding school, which instilled discipline and shaped their character during formative years. After graduation, they pursued an electrical engineering degree and worked at prestigious firms such as Schlumberger and Shell, gaining valuable industry experience. This early exposure to different cultures and education set the foundation for their future career in finance and investment banking.
Transition from Engineering to Finance
The speaker describes a pivotal moment when they watched the movie Wall Street, which ignited their passion for finance, specifically investment banking. They eventually shifted from engineering to business school through a scholarship, leading to a career on Wall Street with J.P. Morgan. Their background in the oil and gas sector provided a natural transition into the natural resources and power group within investment banking. The speaker later moved to Citi, transitioning into corporate finance with media and telecommunications clients, further expanding their expertise and network.
Mentorship and Inspiration from Reginald Lewis
Reginald Lewis, a prominent figure in private equity, emerged as a significant mentor for the speaker, shaping their aspirations in finance. After reading Lewis's biography just before business school, the speaker identified with his journey, particularly his entrepreneurial spirit and ability to navigate the corporate world. They recount Lewis’s groundbreaking successes, including his billion-dollar deal with TLC Beatrice in the late 1980s, which exemplified the potential for wealth creation in private equity. This relationship encouraged the speaker to seek mentorship and learn from successful figures in their own career.
The Importance of Fitness and Self-Discipline
Physical fitness plays a crucial role in the speaker's life, stemming from their military school education which emphasized discipline and fitness. They attribute their ability to maintain fitness routines to the self-governance developed in that environment. Reading Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich at age 21 further reinforced their belief in the importance of discipline and maintaining habits aligned with their ideals. The speaker views fitness as a bellwether for overall well-being, suggesting that neglecting one area can lead to declines in others, thus highlighting its integral role in achieving success.
Adapting to a Global Lifestyle and Entrepreneurial Mindset
The speaker reflects on their decision to move away from Wall Street and explore opportunities in various global markets, emphasizing the benefits of exposure to different cultures. They highlight the importance of adaptability and recognizing that life is more than a corporate job, believing that entrepreneurship enhances personal growth. Through their journey, they have traveled extensively, gaining invaluable insights into diverse economies and cultures, which has influenced their perception of success. The speaker underlines the significance of creativity and imagination in entrepreneurship, suggesting that these traits are vital for making lasting contributions in any field.
Okey Onyegbule, better known to his fans simply as Proff, is the man behind AskOkey, a bespoke clothing company and YouTube channel.
A former Wall Street investment banker, amateur boxer, and citizen of the world, Okey is one of the most fascinating and awe-inspiring men I've ever had the pleasure of speaking with.
We discussed the importance of discipline, being an ambitious young man, and the art of creating an interesting life.
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