Meet Njideka Obijiaku | Financial Advisor & Business Coach

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

Hi Njideka, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I grew up in a household that showed me the value of and power in the ‘have a job AND a small business’ mindset. I am a first generation American (born to Nigerian immigrants) and even after obtaining 2 degrees (Bachelors & Masters) I realized that not just any education will suffice. Institutional education is not the same as financial education.

In fact, (following my 4-year journey as a Community Organizer in South Central Los Angeles), I became adamant that all the degrees in the world would not replace the fact that financial education is a key puzzle piece in movements toward social justice. All these things led to my unconventional pivot into the financial world where I’ve now been for 14 years.

In a world where less than 4% of Financial Advisors are of color, I proudly launched Shifting the Culture Wealth Partners LLC to begin to focus on financial planning and 1st generation wealth building guidance.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Shifting the Culture Wealth Partners Wealth is a Black-owned, Woman-owned, Investment Advisory (RIA) Firm that helps ambitious professionals organize their finances, invest and grow their portfolio, & build income as an entrepreneur to buy/acquire more assets. I don’t work with just any professional. My firm is focused on helping ambitious professionals of color turn their high-paying careers into generational wealth.

Let me offer even more context…, in the U.S., the top 25 college degrees by pay and demand are all in ‘STEM’ (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects. Arguably, S.T.E.M careers are one of the most formidable paths for people of color to close the income inequality gap (and thus wealth gap as well). But did you also know 41% of Americans earning between $150,000 to $200,000 annually are living paycheck to paycheck? I’ve mentored many high-earning S.T.E.M professionals of color that find themselves at a unique crossroads – in a perpetual cycle of financial survival, unable to translate their incomes into lasting wealth. Thus, our mission is to equip people of color with the strategy & tools to leave generational wealth and a lasting legacy for their family.

The Black-white wealth gap is wide. And try as we might to get ahead, the systemic hurdles and hoops we have to jump through can make it seem like we’re running this race without a roadmap. The reality is there’s key financial information that flows freely in affluent circles that we often don’t receive in communities of color. And most of the time, we don’t receive any financial education at all. So, even though professionals go to work every day and try to save up as much as they can, they still can’t build the wealth they’re striving for without a solid foundation of financial literacy to stand on. My firm breaks everything down for them to take the stress out of managing and growing their money.

As a former STEM professional myself, I understand that despite securing these prestigious positions in healthcare, technology, and engineering, many high-earning (or H.E.N.R.Y) POCs realize that their 9-to-5 income alone won’t create the generational wealth and financial independence they envision. They lack investment knowledge, strategic financial planning, or the confidence to efficiently transition from an employee to an entrepreneur.

That’s why I pivoted to become a Financial Advisor and Business Coach. It allowed me to combine my STEM background, entrepreneurial experience, and passion for empowering my community to help my master their money, multiply their income, and build a future where work is optional.

I have bootstrapped most of my entrepreneurial journey, and it hasn’t been easy. Without a doubt, my commitment to personal development as well as my participation in strong mentorship circles and annual conference attendance has been key to helping me move along my journey. My biggest accomplishments are helping my clients build real wealth and move from 5-figure to 7- figure portfolios and beyond…confidently. I know the challenges of navigating the financial world, especially when you don’t see many people who look like you in positions of financial support. I intend to build bridges that shrink the gap between ambitious professionals of color & their first million, so it is not the only million they leave. It is my belief that with the right strategy, ambitious professionals (and business owners) can become seriously wealthy and create more examples that our communities need to see…. For the Culture!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For breakfast, I’d have to make sure I took them to Court Cafe in Inglewood, Roscoe’s in Inglewood, or Griddle Cafe in Hollywood. At some point, we’d have to take a trip to South LA and visit Tev’s Kitchen for some mouth-watering Jamaican food. We’d at some point need to go to El Cholo for some authentic Mexican food and margueritas. We’d have to visit Santa Monica pier and probably the Long Beach Downtown for dinner and Ferris wheels. We’d definitely have to visit one of the many rooftop bars in DTLA like Level 8 or Spire 73 at the Intercontinental. For dessert, we may have to to go to Little Tokyo or this really good funnel place in the Long Beach pier area. I can’t remember either of their names. Finally, I’d probably make sure we hit up Chocolate Sundaes at the Laugh Factory on Sunset for some really good comedy.

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?
As a first generation Nigerian American, my work has been inspired by the story of the Igbo Landing. If you’re familiar with the country, you’d know that the Igbo tribe is one of the largest in the country. My family is Igbo and the story of the Igbo landing resonates with me so much because it connects my Nigerian identity to my African American identity.

A movement highlighted by even the likes of Beyonce, the story of the Igbo Landing is referred to by some as the first major freedom march in America’s history. The story is one of rebellion by enslaved Africans (specifically, Nigerian Igbos) that chose to die rather than live a life of slavery. In May 1803, the Igbo and other West African captives arrived in Savannah, Georgia, on the slave ship the Wanderer. During the voyage, approximately 75 enslaved Igbo rose in rebellion, took control of the ship, drowned their captors, and in the process caused the grounding of the ship in Dunbar Creek.

It is known only that the Igbos marched ashore, singing, led by their high chief. Then at his direction, they walked into the marshy waters of Dunbar Creek, committing mass suicide. Apparently only a subset of the 75 Igbo rebels drowned. Thirteen bodies were recovered, but others remained missing, and some may have survived the suicide episode, making the actual numbers of deaths uncertain.

Regardless of the numbers, the deaths signaled a powerful story of resistance as these captives overwhelmed their captors in a strange land, and many took their own lives rather than remain enslaved in the New World.

To me, this is a powerful story of heart, fight, resilience, sacrifice, and self-determination. It is jaw dropping and inspiring.

Website: https://www.stcwealth.com

Instagram: @n.o.theculturescfo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/njideka-obijiaku/

Facebook: @n.o.theculturescfo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@n.o.theculturescfo

Image Credits
2 images were created in Remini. The other 3 photos were taken during a photoshoot. The photographer is Mikeisha T.