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

Hi Isadora, what do you attribute your success to?
I’d say the most important factor behind my success has been my work ethic and discipline. In addition to being a model with UWM, I am pursuing my Master of Public Health (MPH) and my Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD), and have been a CrossFit Trainer for over a decade. It’s a LOT to juggle, so being able to manage my time wisely is crucial. Being a full-time student enrolled in two graduate programs comes with a staggering amount of projects, presentations, research papers and exams, in addition to required community service hours and practicum rotations. I’ve found what helps me stay on track is getting organized early on and pushing myself to complete as much as I can on the front end. Since I was a kid, I’ve never been able to procrastinate. If I know I have something due or something that needs to get done, I can’t fully relax mentally so I always try to finish tasks as soon as they’re on my radar. In a generation where everything is instant, it’s hard for a lot of people to delay gratification. As difficult as it is, this ability to delay gratification that for me was innate, has a lot of perks. Especially in the modeling industry, with jobs coming up randomly, planning ahead and getting things done for school early, allows me to be able to accept more gigs. Getting the tedious things done ahead of time allows me more flexibility so I can keep juggling the different parts of my identity successfully and without so much stress. It also allows me to make time for being a wife and doing other things that I enjoy so I don’t get burned out.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m pursuing my Doctorate of Psychology and Master in Public Health, and am set to graduate in 2024. It took me some time to decide what I wanted to do career-wise. I considered so many fields- engineering, physical therapy, nursing, dentistry…Initially I wanted to do my 4 years of college and get out, but after a lot of consideration, I decided to put in my time now and not end up considering whether I should go back to school later in life. It took 3 years of soul searching and scouting different areas after undergrad before I finally decided to pursue psychology. I think one of the hardest things now is seeing other students who are 2-3 years younger than me graduating from the program. As someone who likes to get things done as soon as possible, it’s been somewhat difficult to accept that I’ll be 30 before I graduate. I also have to constantly remind myself that it’s all just part of the journey and that I need to also take a second to enjoy the process and not be so focused on the end goal. I think especially in the US, there’s a culture of go go go, climb your way to the top, and we don’t take enough time to enjoy things along the way. Over the years I’ve learned where my boundaries are to prevent from stretching myself too thin. It’s important to take more time to relax and have fun and not be so serious.

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.
Renting a scooter or walking around the Beltline is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the city. You can’t come to Atlanta without visiting the Botanical Garden or the Georgia Aquarium, so I’d definitely recommend those! If you work up an appetite, you can head over to Eclipse di Luna- great tapas and live music on the weekends, or Rumi’s- best Mediterranean food and an amazing atmosphere! If you’re into a speakeasy vibe, Eleanor’s is a great option as well, with a secret entrance and a seasonally rotating menu, it’s a must!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to my best friend and husband (and favorite MMA fighter), Jo Bakatukanda. Without his support I wouldn’t be where I am now. (@b_kongo)

Website: https://www.ursulawiedmannmodels.com/portfolio/lifestyle-women/women/1492669/isadora

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isadorambakamodel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isamotaylor

Image Credits
The Klark, Justin Kolubah Geno Murray and Photos by Woody

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.