Meet Wendy Oshifodunrin | Business Owner, Videographer & Children’s Book Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wendy Oshifodunrin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wendy, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Listening to podcasts such as “How I Build It” inspires me to create and take the calculated risk for my business. I love listening to how other business owners worked through all the growing pains regarding starting a successful business. Not only do they share success stories, but they also share tales of caution when approaching business startups. I believe that well-calculated risk is healthy and necessary. I believe we are humans regret more of the risks we don’t take, rather than the risk we do that. With that in mind, I manage my risk-taking with pros and cons which include, how would l feel if I didn’t take this risk. Reading books such as Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, help me get over any Impostor syndrome that I may face throughout my journey as a business owner.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own multiple startups, one being The Vibe Planner, which is a yearly calendar designed for women. We currently launched our 2021 Planners, which I am most proud of because of the impact it has had on me and my customers. After months of planning, we were able to successfully create a product our clients love. One of the most difficult tasks regarding a custom stationery company is finding the right manufacture. We interviewed and sampled multiple vendors for months before finding the right vendor that suited our needs. What sets us apart from other planner and stationery brands is that we are not afraid to create a space for our target audience. Our customers love the unique and hand-drawn designs of all three of our 2021 planner covers. My other passion is Directing, Film, Commericals and TV. I also wrote and published a Children’s Book, called The Adventures of Olufunmilayo and Her Magic Lunchbox. The book is about a Nigerian girl moving to the United States with her family. She’s shy about making new friends, but with the help of her Magic Lunchbox, she shares her cultural food with her new friends. It took over a year and a half to develop this book and to publish it. I interviewed multiple illustrators and book printing manufactures. We’ve had many challenges throughout this process, including the development of the doll for the main character. What I’ve learned from this process is trusting your instincts and not being afraid of being “difficult”. This story, book, and doll fills a gap I believe a lot of people did not realize was there, which is the immigrant story of the children of immigrants and their journey of self-development. Through this process, I gained a passion for consulting other small businesses to help avoid some mistakes I’ve made.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting the city, I would love to take them to some of the amazing ice cream locations. I am a fan of Jeni’s Cream, Little Five Points, and other areas around Atlanta. I would also take them to the Avalon in Alpharetta, go watch an Atl United game, and some southern brunch areas around the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family and friends have been instrumental in motivating me to pursue my business. Without realizing it, they have also mentioned how I have inspired them as well. I also appreciate authors who help create a path and insight into their lives and how they created their brand and business.

Website: wendyoshi.com
Instagram: wendy_oshi
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyoshifodunrin/
Other: 2021 Planner – Thevibeplanner.com Book order – https://wendyoshifodunrin.com/products/the-adventures-of-olufunmilayo-and-her-magic-lunchbox

Image Credits
Image credit The Vibe Planner – KaydeeAtsbeha, Ckam.Designs, Ambarai Verónica Sánchez Book illustration credit – Bulankina Ekaterina