Meet Ayoleka Sodade | Human Performance Strength and Fitness Coach

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

Hi Ayoleka, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a graduating student-athlete, you go from being on such a high, kind of like a constant state of adrenaline, to then such a state of unknown and fear post graduation. Life really hits you and you go through a phase where you feel like you have no control, but in reality you always do. This realization was when I decided to take control over the next few transitional phases in my life, I decided to pour my heart into something I was passionate for. I decided to start my own health and wellness business and have never looked back.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I grew up in a small town – Windsor, Ontario Canada. I learned quickly the power of adaptation and social networking. As I navigated through my years of grade school and high school, I searched for my passion and community. I was thrown into piano lessons, gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, track and field, Kumon Learning, Choir lessons, dancing … literally anything worth the challenge you can imagine. My mother supported me and threw me in any and every extra curricular activity I asked her too. I was trying so hard to fit in, copy my peers who looked nothing like me, and quite frankly, my parents wanted the same… for me to “fit in”, “stay out of trouble” and excel in everything possible.

I’m blessed to have been exposed to so many different opportunities, but at the same time, it was overwhelming trying to excel in every single thing from athletics to academics. I come from a family of academia and athletics. My father has his PhD in Civil engineering and so did his father and so forth. My mother has her MBA. My brother is now an Accountant with his MBA, but played professional soccer in the MLS for Seattle sounders, while my two first cousins Sone and Eniola Aluko were British professional soccer players.

In 5th grade, I was scouted at a track and field meet by an opponent’s coach to join his basketball team. This was where my life changed. I found my passion and my sport and knew I wanted to derail from my family’s typical lineage of pursuing a life in soccer. I knew I wanted to play college basketball in the states because watching NCAA Women’s Basketball was one of the most motivating moments for my 11-year-old self, living in Windsor, Canada.

I became the best female basketball player in my city and won several awards. I was recruited by several universities in Canada but knew I wanted a better opportunity to play on the biggest stage for college basketball. Many people doubted that I could go D1… but during the spring of my senior year in high school, I went on a late visit to the University at Buffalo where I was put through a tryout, unexpectedly, against another girl for their last scholarship spot. Till this day, this is one of the most important moments in my life … everything I worked so hard for over the past 8 years, had to be earned at this visit. So, I had tunnel vision and was offered a full-ride scholarship that same day.

At the University at Buffalo, My team and I were blessed and talented enough to win 3 MAC Championships and make it to the biggest stage 3 times – 3 NCAA WBB Appearances. I was blessed to be a captain my last two years while earning scholar-athlete of my conference several semesters in a row. I graduated with a 3.6 GPA in Health Sciences. (2015-2019)

This was where my passion for health, wellness and fitness brewed. As a student-athlete, I used my summers earning internships at Orthopedic Hospitals like Johns Hopkins where I shadowed an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Tanaka, for six weeks. I also used my summers to intern at Sport Performance facilities, like the one at my school and in the nearby area.

After graduating college, I continued my education at Tulane University where I earned my master’s in Kinesiology (2019-2021). During my time at Tulane, I was a graduate assistant for the Women’s basketball team. My passion for coaching was confirmed,…. but it was not in basketball… it was most definitely in Fitness Performance and health. During my time at Tulane, I seeked yet more internships in this industry I felt was calling my name. I was blessed yet again to work at a sports performance facility where I trained my first professional athlete. I knew I wanted to continue doing this as a career through educating/teaching and coaching.

Since graduating, I’ve moved to Atlanta to continue to pursue my dreams of helping other women, professional athletes, retired athletes like myself, and life-letes move better, feel better and become stronger through pain-free strength and conditioning. I teach strength and conditioning classes BrickHouse Strength and Conditioning located in Buckhead.

As I continue to grow my professional career, I’ve learned that I like being multi-dimensional. I continued to network in learning and engaging spaces and attend quality events. My corporate career in business sales has allowed me to keep a close network of former and current colleagues in different industries like residential real-estate and sport tech.

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?
My favourite spot in the city is my home. Whenever friends come into town, I love making them feel welcomed, comfortable and setting the vibes right for the rest of the day/weekend. It is usually mandatory we squeeze a workout in, so getting that out the way early is usually what’s done. All my friends know that they will indeed get a solid workout with me at the best gym in the city – BRICKHOUSE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING in Buckhead. After a great workout, we would immediately grab food nearby. My favourite spot on-the-go, post- workout, is Flower Child. My favourite area to chill around is Ponce city market. I love walking around the area, taking the scooters and riding the beltline. I also love going up to the rooftop at Skyline park to play games. I get super competitive with my friends.  During the evening time, my friends and I would usually either spend the night eating again or get  ready for a nice night out for drinks, dinner and vibes. My favourite restaurants in the city are The Garden Room, APT 4B , STK, Nobu, Bar Vegan, Gritt’s and Eggs, Toast, Slutty Vegan, Ray’s on the River, Steak Market, and for a cute and calm night out I love spaces like spaceman, Rose and Rye and other rooftop bars in the area.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so thankful for the opportunities that were thrown my way as I navigated through my passion. From my first internship at Johns Hopkins Sports Medicine Hospital where I was able to shadow alongside the day to day activities, including surgeries performed by Dr. Tanaka, an Orthopedic Surgeon. Followed by my research internship at Kennedy Krieger Institute, where I learned about the developmental disabilities and diseases of those suffering with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This internship sparked my passion for physical Human development and performance and led me to my next internship at The University at Buffalo Sports Performance department, where I had the pleasure of learning sports specific performance, injury prevention and how to efficiently train high level athletes. I had the pleasure of learning from a diverse group of strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers and sports medicine doctors. Specifically, Mr. Brian Bratta, Mrs. Beth Cooney, Coach Mike Snowdan, Coach Gino, Coach Annette Stutzman, Coach Nate L. for taking their time to treat and educate me throughout my athletic and academic career at Buffalo. These were the first coaches and leaders ,outside of my basketball coaches, that really paved the way for my career outside of just athletics. They gave me career hope, guidance and advice along the way. Furthermore, I’d like to thank my former co-workers at Pinnacle Performance for giving me an opportunity to intern alongside them and allowing me to learn in such an experienced and educated environment.

Website: fitwithleks.com

Instagram: fitwithleks

Image Credits
Luke Crabtree for pictures training the athletes ESPN HR for single Head Shot Shelson Jeangilles for pictures at ESPN event (one solo, one with a friend) Chad Price for solo pics in green Nike outfit Armon Dauphin for the pic with me and 3 other girl friends