Meet Karissa Uko | Experience Curator, Effective Marketer & Operational Leader

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

Hi Karissa, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
My biggest career goal is to have my reputation synonymous with impact and empowerment.

I am big on integrity and building people up. I’ve been very intentional around what my agency represents and how we work with our clients, the projects we take on and the environment we’re cultivating as Black-owned, women-led organization.

I’ve been able to help large companies create new products, host incredible events and grow their audiences, so I’m looking forward to doing the same under my own direction. My ultimate goal is to strategically partner with top nonprofits and organizations that are working to make employment, housing, healthcare and education more equitable for the Black community and other minority groups.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Asé Group a Black-owned, women-led boutique creative agency focused on marketing and events.

We live and breathe purposeful work. We get excited about collaboration, fresh ideas and humanizing brands. So we balance listening to our clients, trusting our gut and analyzing data to make strategic decisions.

Our values are rooted in creativity, integrity, community and synergy. And because our team is diverse, representing and empowering BIPOC-owned businesses and creatives is important to us.

All of this influences the projects we take on and helps us build strong client relationships and strategies for our collective success.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love being outdoors so I spend a lot of time at parks, beaches, and hiking trails.

Chantry Flats has been closed for awhile but when it reopens, I’ll be the first one up there. Lacey Park, the Rose Bowl and Eaton Canyon are local favorites.

I really enjoy riding through the Santa Monica mountains toward Malibu and beaches north of it.

Museums are also a recurring outing for my family. We enjoy visiting the California African American Museum, Getty Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Norton Simon and other art/history/culture spaces in the LA area.

Leimert Park is my favorite neighborhood in LA. I love the sense of culture and community in the area, along with the revolving schedule of family-friendly activities. Nappily Naturals is a monthly visit for us, so I’m always sending people there!

As far as food goes, La Estrella in Pasadena is a favorite (the one on Foothill is the best), In-N-Out will always have my heart and there’s nothing quite like a donut from a local shop….my guilty pleasure.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband Carlton Uko, is also an entrepreneur and it’s been wonderful seeing how his passion for health and wellness has resonated with thousands of people in education and healthcare.

He’s motivated me to dream big, live by my own rules and create success for our family.

Website: www.theasegroup.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theasegroup.co/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ase-group-llc

Image Credits
Amber Iris Iris Mannings AfroTech/Blavity