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Emil Ekiyor

Mar 22, 2023

NFL Lessons in Leadership & Black Business Opportunities with Emil Ekiyor

Emil Ekiyor was born in Lagos, Nigeria and came to the US when he was 15 years old with a suitcase and a one way ticket. Since then he has been a catalyst for change to those around him. He played football at the University of Central Florida where he was a 3 year letter winner. Following that he continued to pursue his passion on the gridiron with a 7 year career in the NFL.

Podcast Summary

Emil Ekiyor was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and came to the US at 15 years old with a suitcase and a one-way ticket. Since then, he has become a catalyst for change in his community. Emil played football at the University of Central Florida, where he was a three-year letter winner, followed by a seven-year career in the NFL. After his football career, he settled in Indianapolis, where he served as an administrator for public schools, became a business owner, and emerged as a nonprofit leader. He is actively involved in the community, sitting on the board of three nonprofits.

As the CEO of Innopower, Emil and his team use seed-stage impact investing to drive innovation and accelerate economic prosperity in Black communities in Indiana and sub-Saharan Africa. In our conversation, Emil shares his insights on identifying opportunities and capitalizing on them, how sports can build a framework for business success, and opportunities for underrepresented founders to achieve entrepreneurial success.

Guest(s)

Emil Ekiyor

Date Published

March 22, 2023

This podcast is sponsored by

Sweetwater

Sweetwater, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a large music store and online retailer that specializes in musical instruments and pro audio equipment. It's known for its extensive inventory, expert staff, and dedication to customer service.

Sweetwater, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a large music store and online retailer that specializes in musical instruments and pro audio equipment. It's known for its extensive inventory, expert staff, and dedication to customer service.

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A person in casual attire poses with a person in a vibrant red mascot costume wearing a baseball jersey that reads "Indians," both against a blue backdrop with text promoting "Get Indiana" with Nate Spangle.