Meet Joycelynn Okezie | Marketing Manager, CEO & Recording Artist

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

Hi Joycelynn, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Being resilient, punctual, determined, having integrity, good character and perseverance through uncertainty. I also feel having faith and a belief in a higher power has helped. A spiritual foundation along with humility and a reduction of ego has really helped open doors that I could never imagine. No matter how high up you get you never have all the answers. You have to keep learning and also be open to feed back and constructive criticism.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started Cudaput Marketing Agency in January 2022. I began this marketing agency to help independent artists grow their online platforms and streaming platform presence. What sets me apart from others in the Music Marketing space is that I have been in the business since I was 15 years old and have gained hands on knowledge and experience to help advise artists properly. I have learned from music industry veterans and have label and music executive experience. Through building my network through my YouTube channel as a teenager, I was able to work with music executives, producers and artists from all over the world. This exposed me to loop holes and voids in the industry that I could fill. Along the way I’ve learned to stay true to my morals and goals in this industry. Through the media, so much negativity, degradation of black men & women and violence has been perpetuated into the hip-hop culture in order to sell records. This is the culture I grew up in, in Atlanta. Yet I am college educated and prefer for there to be a more positive influence and social message in the hip-hop culture. Being emerged in that culture, I still had to make sure that I represented myself a high-value woman who exudes knowledge of self and who does not self deprecate myself by settling for less than what I am worth and deserve. I was raised by Nigerian parents, and anyone who can relate knows that we all have a strict upbringing and are nurtured to be career professional preferably Doctors, Nurses and Engineers. Being a music executive and artist can be frowned upon among Nigerian Americans. However, Nigerian America’s such as Wale Folarin, Ugo Mozie, Ziwe Fukushima, Sonny Digital and Yvonne Orji are exceptional examples of people who strived to cultivate a successful career in the entertainment field while also staying true to their passions. In a world that’s always trying to define you and your role in society, choose YOU. Choose your path and shine your light. That’s what being a business owner, artist and marketing leader has taught me along my journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When coming down to Atlanta, I would take my best friend thrift shopping to get some nice threads at Labels Resale Boutique and Park Ave Thrift. After we have loaded up on some nice name brands for less we would go grab lunch at Natty’s Jamaican & Soul Restaurant or some Jollof rice at Ike’s Cafe and Grill then wash it down with a smoothie from Wadada’s Healthy Market & Juice Bar. After all the food is consumed we would go hang out on Marietta Street at Urban Grind Coffee Shop and get some work done on our MacBooks, check some emails and catch up on our business affairs after we get that done we would go catch a vibe and grab dinner from Rock Steady Lounge across the street from Urban Grind and just wind down there on the roof top and get our dancing on for the rest of the night. The next day we would take a hike up Kennesaw Mountain ⛰ then go to the High Museum, I would also take them to Truist Park to check out the restaurants, shops and stores at the Battery then to end the trip off we would go to Roswell Mill Waterfall to meditate and go within to decompress.

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?
I want to take this time to thank my soul tribe and loving community of supporters. I am very grateful to the most high and universe for surrounding me with people who motivate and encourage me to hone my talents, grow and to be confident in my God given abilities. My mentor is Ms. Sha’Ron Jones of D’Minj Couture Clothing, we have been working together since 2018 and she has been nothing short of Inspiring to me as a confident and classy business woman. I’d also like to highlight one of my best friends since 2016, Brandon “Yukon” Walden, he has really stood by my side through my success journey in the media and music industries and just a great life partner and shoulder to lean on. I appreciate and love these two particular relationships for pouring into me over the years and always telling me what I need to hear whether I like it or not.

Website: http://Cudaput.com

Instagram: http://Instagram.com/Cudaput.agency

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycelynnokezie