Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth M’balu Oke.
Elizabeth, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
To be honest, I naturally ‘stumbled’ into entrepreneurship when I faced the reality of the endless glass ceilings. It was then I finally understood that I am limitless.
Before founding PivotPath in July 2018, I had a series of Program Manager roles for different non-profit and educational institutions. As a strategic creative, not only did I have ideas, but I also had a step by step process in tackling each idea, one by one. However, over time, the glass ceiling would take effect, prohibiting my growth and stunting my creativity. I would constantly be frustrated by this but had a fear of not being good enough if I were to step out of that comfort zone of working for someone else. So I continued until a very personal situation happened that flipped my whole world upside down and opened the door (and my eyes) to all life has to offer.
In December 2017, I was seven months pregnant with our youngest son while still working as a Program Manager at a local university. One day, I started feeling very ‘off,’ and my husband suggested we visit the Emergency Room to get checked. That night, my blood pressure was 201/104 and I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia, delivering our son at 28 weeks (he was 2 lb 8 oz).
After his three month NICU stay, I left my job but I’m a pretty active person who must continue growing professionally. I decided to freelance on Upwork and started obtaining communications and marketing roles. During this time, I saw how clients not only were pleased with my work but would seek consult on their marketing direction and branding. I saw how consultations were pivoting their businesses and allowing them to obtain revenue they didn’t realize marketing could provide. This is where PivotPath started (and yes, I started using the word pivot in this fashion way before everyone started overusing this word in 2020, LOL).
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have seen a few ups and downs with being a business owner. When I first started, none of my close friends were business owners, and I would often find and connect with mentors who eventually didn’t have time to mentor. As a result, I would make mistakes, lose money, lose bids/opportunities, and not know how to handle the punches financially or emotionally.
As I continued to better understand my mission and purpose, I saw my path steadily attract mentors and seasoned entrepreneurs who were drawn by my potential and have continued walking alongside me to help every step of the way. I’m grateful.
PivotPath – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
PivotPath is a fully-remote Marketing & Advertising agency servicing municipalities, educational institutions, nonprofits and SML businesses across the United States and West Africa. Our mission is to help organizations excel while exceeding the expectations of the communities they serve.
Our talented team brings over 60 years of marketing expertise, a supreme level of creativity, and fanatical customer service for those we serve. We provide strategic brand marketing planning, market research, traditional and digital marketing, web and graphic design, and copywriting.
We get excited when we talk digital, knowing the benefits this medium can bring to our clients and prospects. As clever storytellers, we help organizations find their voice and make it heard, knocking the norm with every aspect of communications to create lasting impressions.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success (to me) is associated with one’s reach and impact in the community. We all are born with a God-given purpose and talents/gifts that we use along the way to help us through our journeys.
If I can look back at my journey as a business owner, and see the lives I’ve personally touched or the lives my clients have positively impacted as a result of services I’ve provided, then I have successfully utilized the gifts God has bestowed upon me.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1911 Grayson Hwy Suite 8-185 Grayson, GA 30017
- Website: www.pivotpathdigital.com
- Phone: 404.919.6560
- Email: elizabeth@pivotpathdigital.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/pivotpath
- Facebook: facebook.com/pivotpath
- Other: linkedin.com/company/pivotpath
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