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

Hi Dorien, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?

Knowing when to keep going or to give up is a question that comes up every time I hit a road block. Fear and doubt begin to cloud my judgement and it’s in that moment when I have to think back to why I started my business in the first place. I think of my purpose and ask myself if I have fulfilled it. And if the answer is, no, I surround myself with encouraging people and thoughts to keep me going. Having a strong support system adds to my motivation to strive for success.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
At age 4 I came to the states from Ghana, Africa. Already challenged with a language barrier I overcame adversity and managed to “fit in”. By the age of 16 I was taking classes at the prestigious Brown University during my high school years and pursued the stereotypical dream that many African parents have for their children to be in the Healthcare field. After earning my Bachelors in Biology with a minor in Psychology and a Masters in Healthcare Administration at URI, I decided Healthcare was not for me it was the ideology of my parents. In order to make my parents “proud” I was determined to get a job in a field that would at the very least compensate me as if I were in the medical field. And that was my only goal, with this in mind I went into an industry that involved my organic passion for fashion. I took part time jobs in retail in order to figure things out.

Once I received the earning potential in the retail field I maximized my role and became a store manager for a prominent retail brand. After traveling with my job and mastering the skillsets needed to be successful in the retail field I was finally in the six figure bracket that some doctors earn. I made it!

Until I realized I was making millions of dollars for a company when I could potentially make it for myself. My career has allowed me to financially support my personal business and it has also given me the entrepreneurial courage to be successful. However, I did learn not to give up my career until I knew I was financially able to support myself without it as an entrepreneur.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Hmmmm, for Breakfast I would schedule the following depending on the day: Thumbs Up, Highland Bakery, Broken Egg, Breakfast at Barney’s. Brunch: Park 75, Flying Biscuit, Cultivate Food and Coffee or even Murphys Restaurant
Lunch: Nan, Mary Mac’s, Slutty Vegan,
Dinner: The Oceanaire, Fish Market, Poor Calvin’s
To Do: Botanical Garden, Centennial Park, Fellaship, Battery, Trap Museum, Sky Lounge, Painted Duck

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are a few people that I have to shoutout because without their advice, faith and encouragement I may have quit a long time ago. My father Dr Anthony Toku (may he rest in perfect peace) is a man who always taught me to go after my dreams. He came to the states from Ghana, Africa determined to achieve the “American Dream”. From the University of Rhode Island my dad achieved 3 Bachelors Degrees, a Masters and a Doctorate Degree and since I can remember he always had his own business. Inspired by non-conformity I followed in my fathers steps of believing that anything is possible.

In 2012 after losing my best friend and father it took other family members to pick me up and inspire me to live again. Shout out to my cousins Alua Arthur and Bozoma St John for giving me strength and drive to keep my business going. Alua Arthur, is a brilliant, Death Doula who nurtures the acceptance of death as a reality. At a time where I saw no hope she allowed me to realize that my dad served his purpose and that it is ok to move forward. She allowed me to accept my loss and utilize it as a means of motivation to be successful. Her consistent energy and love keeps me in-tuned and inspired.

My final shout out goes to my cousin Bozoma St John. As a brand and marketing genius Bozoma teaches me how to be unapologetically proud of who I am and to do everything with intention. She encourages me to be the best at whatever business venture I set out to pursue and to be diligent in my follow through. More importantly she teaches me the importance of staying true to my brand and the story behind it.

These are a few of the many people that show me love, mentorship and encouragement in my progression. Even the strongest personalities in life need a support system and I am grateful for those around me and I do not take them for granted.

Website: www.sapobodysponge.com

Instagram: @mstoku, @sapobodysponge.com

Facebook: sapobodysponge

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