Meet Jiji Ugboma | Writer and Engagement Strategist

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

Hi Jiji, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I am a risk taker because I believe life is about growth. Taking risks means you’re stepping out of your comfort zone to challenge yourself and see what you’re capable of. I welcome every opportunity to leave my comfort zone, experience new challenges, and learn something new. My life has been full of risk-taking which can be challenging, but things always turn out as they should and every risk I have taken has always left me good life lessons and immense gratitude to be able to live my life to the fullest.

I took a risk to change careers at a crucial moment that would make you wonder if I had lost my mind. After spending years and resources getting an MBA and building a career in business and finance, I decided to take a risk and switch careers to something that I was truly passionate about. I had just started a five-year Ph.D. program in Business Finance in Madrid, Spain. I had a full scholarship with a monthly stipend. It was a great opportunity but I could see the rest of my career mapped out following this path and it just didn’t excite me. I took the risk of dropping out of that program and I spent the next few years in Spain reinventing myself and figuring out the best way to go after my dreams. In my time in Spain, I started writing again and founded Clever-ish Magazine. A few years later, I moved to New York to get a second master’s degree in Media Management and grow my media career. I took a big risk by dropping out of that program but it was a calculated risk that paid off eventually. And it also served to make me even more of a risk taker and make bold decisions as I navigate my life and my career.

I believe in taking risks and chasing your dreams with reckless abandon, and that was what I did. I’ve learned that the cost of inaction can be worse than the cost of action. I’d rather make a move and fall flat on my face than sit still, watch life pass me by, and wonder “If only”.

I am from Nigeria and currently live in New York. My background and upbringing are the foundations of who I am, how I see the world, and how I navigate the good and bad of life. I was raised by very kind and intelligent parents and that taught me to always lead with kindness and view things from an objective place. They also taught me to be resilient in the face of adversity. This has helped me tackle challenges and navigate uncertainties in my personal life and career with bravery and without compromising my values or losing myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about? >>>>>>

A new project I am currently very excited about is my newsletter, Wandering, Not Lost.

The Wandering, Not Lost newsletter is a resource to help people in their 20s and 30s navigate the complex stage of figuring out what to do with their lives and help bring meaning into their work, career, friendships, creativity, and more. I provide candid advice and thought-provoking perspectives for those eager to find their purpose and gain a better understanding of themselves.

My newsletter is for those who feel discontented, untethered, or unsure of what path to take. I call them the wanderers. I know firsthand what it’s like to be a wanderer and I know that just because you wander, doesn’t mean you are lost. Drawing from my own experiences, I offer insights and encouragement to help you navigate your journey and live life to the fullest. I share practical tips and inspirational stories to help you find direction, overcome anxieties, and embrace life’s uncertainties with courage.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This shoutout is dedicated to my mother the late Dr. Mrs. Ugboma. She’s the reason I am where I am today.

Website: https://www.cleverishmagazine.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiji129/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiji-ugboma-mba-3b780852/

Other: Wandering, Not Lost Newsletter: https://jijiugboma.substack.com/