STEAM Spark - Think STEAM Careers, Podcast with Dr. Olufade
STEAM Spark: Think STEAM Careers Podcast with Dr. Olufade. Welcome to STEAM Sparks: The Think STEAM Career Podcast, hosted by Dr. Ayo Olufade. Our mission is to raise awareness about the importance of pursuing college and careers in STEAM fields and the positive impact they can have on BIPOC communities.
Dr. Ayo's journey, fueled by his passion for STEAM education, lies at the heart of this podcast. His experiences and meaningful conversations with guests from STEM and STEAM backgrounds inspire us to highlight the significance of STEM education and careers as sources of empowerment. We aim to better position the next generation for success.
By sharing personal stories and experiences, we hope to inspire and encourage our audience to consider STEAM careers. We are committed to promoting diversity and representation of BIPOC communities in the STEM field, breaking stereotypes, and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone's unique perspective is valued.
Join us as we explore the endless possibilities and opportunities in STEAM fields. With your participation and support, let's work together to shape a brighter future for all.
#ThinkSTEAMCareers #BeInspired #BeAnInspiration
It is time to innovate!
Dr. Ayo Olufade, Host STEAM Sparks: Think STEAM Careers Podcast with Dr. Olufade
STEAM Spark - Think STEAM Careers, Podcast with Dr. Olufade
Revolutionizing Learning Through STEM Innovation and the Power of eSports in Africa
Discover how the fusion of STEM education and innovative technology is revolutionizing learning experiences worldwide. In our latest conversation, we delve into the challenges schools face in harnessing technology for educational advancement and the creative solutions emerging in the space, such as educational apparel. Our guest shares enlightening perspectives on the struggle for resource allocation in different school environments and the drive required to establish brand recognition for fledgling enterprises. It's not just about overcoming barriers; it's about the resilience needed to turn setbacks into comebacks and the sweet taste of triumph that follows.
Then, we shift gears to the electrifying world of eSports, examining its potential as a transformative force for education and community engagement in Nigeria and Ghana. Imagine a realm where gaming paves the way to scholarships and STEM career paths, where the lines between play and professional aspirations blur in the most empowering way. We celebrate the young gaming prodigies who have struck gold in the industry and share a compelling vision for STEAM education that reaches into underrepresented communities. This is a call to action—a rallying cry for supporting initiatives that unite mental health awareness, economic growth, innovation, and the rich diversity of our shared heritage. Join us on this extraordinary journey as we champion the cause for a more inclusive and prosperous future through STEAM.
So, in terms of educational outreach, we have a lot of schools, not only in the United States, but also outside the United States. Technology is a major problem. They could use a lot of help in terms of resources when it comes to technology. So earlier you highlight the importance of education in STEM field, right. How do you tailor? You explain that by selling your apparel by focusing on the young I would say Gen Z maybe, or maybe lower than that, because they are all about how they look, what they're wearing, they have to look fresh and all that, and so that's why I'm asking this question how do you tailor your program to ensure that, let's say, in the schools, when you try to reach the schools, that the curriculum resonate with students, resonate with the students? So let me tease this out a little bit. What I mean by that is. So I'm assuming also that the apparel that you're going to be selling is not only just targeting you're not just selling it to inner city students, right, you're selling it to even students in the oven centers.
Speaker 2:I send it to everyone.
Speaker 1:The clothing is everyone. Anybody can purchase the clothing, so let's say that now you're going to, maybe I should have asked you this question Do you do any outreach to schools? I don't.
Speaker 2:As far as in terms of what? In terms of?
Speaker 1:your clothing, your apparel, for example, I know in my schools every year we buy apparel, right, so they access. What type do you want? Let's say, like the hoodies, the polo shirt, things like that, and it has the name of the mascot of the school, things like that. Every year we do that and I also know that, like my children, they buy apparel from the schools. So we know that schools are actually selling this dance right.
Speaker 1:So my question is do you sell to school, do you have an outreach to schools? And then, if you do, every school is different. Schools in inner city you know that their perspective is likely different from school in the urban center. How do you tailor your apparel to make sure that it resonates with the school? So maybe the curriculum and, by the way, here's also the other idea that I'm trying to hint at, if you're not doing it, maybe think about curriculums depending on the different curriculums that is being taught in the school. Maybe you may want to make sure that your apparel also is addressing certain curricula, if it is STEM oriented, to try to jazz it up a little bit. So it's just a talk, it's a question and also a feedback.
Speaker 2:No, to answer your question, we are not, because often with schools the way my under single schools usually when they purchase apparel, like you said, they have their own logo on it, right. They have school mascot and everything like that, right? Which would mean the only way we can connect with them would be not only have the school mascot but also have our logo on there as well, so it'd be double logo and I believe that's a little bit harder, especially with schools. For the simple fact that they're going to need approval, the price might be a little bit higher and usually the only time they do something like that if there's a sponsorship, okay this company coming in and sponsorship what do you have?
Speaker 2:that go in the sponsor. So, we wanted the other way around, right, okay, okay. So, we're not sponsoring the school is best at the school sponsor us in a way. So we don't do it that way because financially it's okay. Yeah, yeah, it wouldn't.
Speaker 1:I got it. That's legitimate, that's understandable. I can see that. So we have to look at the obstacle, overcoming obstacles, a cohesious of challenges you have encountered along the way, and how you have overcome it to keep your mission of promoting STEM education alive. Wow, so many challenges.
Speaker 2:I don't know where to start when you start a business. It's a good example, right? So my bottom today is I was able to get in touch with you, and which was great, right. Which was great. That's a win. I call it that's a win, right, because you're going to get a lot of.
Speaker 2:So the challenge is building awareness, right, how to? Because the goal is to get as, because that's how business work. The more you sell, the more you can. More computers I can purchase, the more I can earn, and it all can move people knowing who you are right. So you have to be a very critical thinker by the same time. Reach out to people to try to get in touch, try to get them to understand your mission, get them to be part of the process and get them to see your vision and see if that's something they would want to align themselves with.
Speaker 2:So a lot of times, especially when you're in the beginning, you're not all great names like Nike. Nike, when you're all known, it's like a Suryana You're known and she probably get a ton of things for free when she doesn't need it. But in the beginning, when she was in Barbados singing and everything, she probably it wasn't that easy, even if she had a beautiful voice. So in the beginning you're going to come across a lot of obstacles, a lot of no's, a lot of no responses and everything like that. But there's a beauty in that as well. The obstacle is what makes it even better, because there's a rhyme that I'm going to quote from the rapper 50 Cent.
Speaker 1:He was like it wasn't. I love 50 Cent, I love it.
Speaker 2:I was like, because he's from Queens, because I remember Queens, I live in Queens. So he said joy wouldn't feel so good if it wasn't for pain.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's profound, that's profound.
Speaker 2:And that's how I look at life in general, coming from Haiti. So to me, the obstacle is nothing, because my life growing up has always been an obstacle. To the point where I'm here talking to you. That's the joy. I had to go through the pain to get to the joy. So to me, it's just part of the process, because that's like my fuel, what I'm going to. These obstacles, these are just my fuel because I'm not going to stop for the simple fact that I have this is my life purpose. For fellow boys, apparel or mission is my life purpose. I find what my purpose is. So to me, the obstacles mean nothing to me because I know I am going to succeed in this. It's going to be bigger than I can even imagine. I know that. That's why I'm passionate about it. That's why I'm having this conversation with you. I know in the next five years I'm going to look back and smile and appreciate it. I appreciate it, but it's going to be a good thing.
Speaker 1:I can see it was not to like. I can see the name it has longevity Favela.
Speaker 2:Exactly, so I can go into it.
Speaker 1:Go ahead.
Speaker 2:So that's the obstacle is getting responses, connecting with people being able to get on Gainable and podcast because, it's all about the outreach and partnering and stuff like that. So that's the obstacle you come across.
Speaker 1:But, eventually.
Speaker 2:I know at some point I'm going to overcome that.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. You're overcoming one aspect of making this networking and you've done it. You're doing it and hopefully this podcast is just going to be another factor that will help propel you forward. I also ask that question deliberately so that the audience, the kids, can be able to see all the students that may be given up because they feel one way or the other that stem is too hard. And one of the challenges that we've noticed with our students, with children in our community they give up a lot because mathematics they feel I can do math. Even in your family, all you have to do is talk about math sometimes and everybody says, oh math, oh, nobody wants to have that conversation. But I'm glad that you share your experience.
Speaker 1:Nothing that will bring you a lot of benefit comes easy. It's supposed to be challenging, it's supposed to be hard, but it is doable. We can enjoy it, we can do well and we can excel, and there are many examples. You're one example. It's not easy for you, but look at you. You're a perseverance, but someday you are going to reap the reward of all your hard work. We suffer enough anyway.
Speaker 2:Exactly, I think, what it is when things get hard, even going to the gym. I remember at any good example. I remember when I was in high school. That's one thing that stuck with me is I was most of my high school, middle school was in ESL classes. I took a lot of ESL and I eventually, I think it's.
Speaker 1:Can you remind the audience what ESL is?
Speaker 2:ESL. English is the second language, right From Haiti and everything. The majority of my classes were ESL and then I took accounting. So my last year at high school I took accounting. At first I enjoyed it and then it got complicated. It was hard and I couldn't comprehend it. But I'm still going right Because my mindset is listen even though it get hard. I would rather follow my face rather than quit right.
Speaker 2:So one thing a teacher says to me that stuck with me till this day. She was like Andrew, I see you don't understand it, but you keep trying. No matter how many times you feel, you keep going. I've been at high school a long time, until this day. I still remember that it's something about who I am, my personality, that I've always done right, but I never I didn't know people were acknowledged of it. I didn't know there was a word of anything to name it right. So that's something that even in college I took some math classes that are incredibly hard. Some I failed. Hey, I'm gonna come into the class, I'm gonna keep trying. I rather fail multiple times. Right, I didn't give up.
Speaker 1:It's easier to give up.
Speaker 2:Giving up is the easiest thing.
Speaker 1:Right right.
Speaker 2:Life. You only have one life. Why would I want something easy? If it's easy, I don't want it, because the journey is what makes it amazing, cause it's like this you take a flight to Thailand. That's a 16 hour flight. That journey is hard, beyond not playing for 16 hours, that's hard. But once you get to Thailand, it's relaxed, you like it, you're lovely, like, oh, this is amazing, it was worth that hardship of 16 hours. That's how life is. You gotta go to that hardship. And then at the end, that's when you're gonna be sitting on the beach drinking pina colada or whatever, or Coca Cola. So that's life. You just gotta go to the hardship. And that's the same thing I do with this business. I'm gonna go to the hardship. I'm gonna get nose, I'm gonna get all these things, but that doesn't fade me Because I can see the end of the road.
Speaker 1:Excellent. So actually, that leads me. So what advice? So, for aspiring advice, for aspiring change makers, people that want to make a difference, just like you, for individual, who are inspired by your journey and your work. What advice will you give them if they want to make a difference in the community using their skills and the passion, because you're using your skills and your passion to make a difference, so what advice will you give?
Speaker 2:My advice would be definitely your passion. You guys love it because when things get hard, your passion is your fuel. That's the thing, because no one's gonna believe in you as much you can believe in yourself. You are your own cheerleader. It's not necessary you need your friend or your family to be like, oh, this is gonna work. You have to believe in yourself first. In order for you to be loved, you need to love yourself. So it's the same thing. So you gotta love what you're doing, have a passion for it, and then the next thing you gotta do is be a creative thinker.
Speaker 2:What I would recommend is, if you're not a reader, listen to audiobooks. Listen to as many audiobooks as possible. I love audiobooks. Long drive, because you're gonna get so many information. All this information. At some point you're gonna it's gonna come to you. Don't rush it. Don't rush the process. My advice is don't rush the process. Don't try to force it. Don't be like, hey, it's just gonna come to you, it's gonna come to you. I recommend, if you're not a walker, walk, because when you're walking, your mind is clear.
Speaker 2:If you're not a person who will walk, get all your books and then sometime go for a walk. Go for a now walk, go for 30 minutes walk, just walk, and then, as you walk, all these great ideas gonna come in your head and then, just like that, something might just your passion is, something else can just come together, and then you create something that is.
Speaker 1:Excellent, excellent. That's an excellent advice In terms of future vision. What are your long-term goal for Vela Boys apparel? Are your dedication initiatives? How do you envision to impact? Yeah, in the coming year.
Speaker 2:So here's my vision. I'm gonna be honest, okay, my big vision is oh, wow, so these computers deliver. Yeah, a lot of people with different skill sets change their life and everything At the same time. Remember, these computers are mixed use devices. They can also use for eSports, right, yes, go eventually. I wanna have eSports tournaments between people in Nigeria or Ghana competing for big eSports, Just like we have World Cups.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:We got a favela World Cup of Ragn. There's gonna be scholarship prize money, absolutely Whoever win, and everything like that, as well as bragging rights.
Speaker 1:What is that?
Speaker 2:Computers. I wanna have an organization and everything. Eventually I wanna have them all come together. We have, because eSports is the future. It's gonna be bigger than NFL, bigger than soccer, bigger than everything you can think of when it comes to gaming. That's the future.
Speaker 1:Bigger than soccer, bigger than soccer.
Speaker 2:It's gonna be bigger than soccer, like, way bigger than soccer. Right, the future for eSports is massive and no one will be able to compete with eSports At some point. Maybe in the next 30, 40 years it's gonna be the number one sport. And the thing is we see the next generation, the young kids. Already we have young girls. They're gaming. It's very common, right, young like they are gamers as well, right? So I wanna have these tournaments at some point.
Speaker 2:The same computers that is donated for you to do your cybersecurity, to do coding, to do all these other graphic design everything you use during the day to get done at night it turns, or the evening it turns into a gaming device where you are competing, you are training in order for you to compete with other schools, and everything. At the same time you have show casting. You're getting paid for show casting because a lot of viewerships, right, you get sponsorships. So not only these schools, these organizations, have those devices, but at the same time they get scholarships, they get funding and they also getting a lot of sponsorship from the gaming, so they'll be able to expand even bigger.
Speaker 1:While I'm just listening to you, let's clarify something. Okay, you have a passion for Vela boys apparel. That is one, your daytime job. You're in technology and you have a passion for eSports it's like eGamers, right? And then you wanna help in regards to STEM programs by providing, let's say, computers. So where do they all connect?
Speaker 2:So here's how it is right. All right, let me all bring it all together, okay the clothing funds, the computers, the nonprofit organizations.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay.
Speaker 2:The nonprofit organization takes the computers. They have those kids, they have young adults and they already have curriculum. There's nonprofit got curriculum that's around STEM education already. Okay, okay.
Speaker 2:Teaching these kids the different STEM skill sets, right? Well, they have that in place right. At the same time, a lot of these nonprofit organizations, these kids, they wanna game, right. So now they also wanna game, because gaming, shout casting is also part of STEM they may expand on. Why so the gaming?
Speaker 2:When you look at gaming let's say, for example, you're playing XYZ game right Now you can actually understand hey, listen, I can do gaming design, right. I can be a shout casting, the person that talks and similar to football, right, the shout casting person right, I can be the person who'll write the gaming, write the code for the game, right. I can be the person that design design the game right, which is all STEM related functions, right. So they're all pretty much connected, right. So now you do STEM curriculum early in the day, right, and then at night, maybe you do. If you wanna do some nonprofit or about gaming, you do gaming. You have these kids competing with other schools and they don't switch and other streaming devices. You see them competing and they competing with cause. There's a lot of, there's a lot of what we'll call it gaming platform, where kids go and game to get scholarships and everything right. So now they can go and game to get scholarships and a lot of in some gamers. So 12, 13 years old, you're multi-millionaires. Wow, at 12, at 13.
Speaker 1:Seriously wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 12, 13,. They're multi-millionaires for the same.
Speaker 1:I didn't know that.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, you have Intel, you have all these major organization companies sponsoring, some of them Logitech. One gamer Logitech make a mouse that's specifically fit for his hand that they sell right. And I was at. Let me give you an example I was at a conference for Intel and there was one gamer from Brazil. That was a gamer that came from Brazil, that was a sponsor gamer by Intel Wow. And she came in to talk about gaming, wow. So gaming is massive in our community, especially in the African-American community and the inner cities. We don't know that, but when I go to these conferences, when I go to this gaming tournament, a lot of us are not represented. We don't know. But you see, the parents that are there, the mostly Caucasian parents, they understand it, they know it.
Speaker 2:Right so the kids are benefiting from it.
Speaker 1:Wow, wow. So, in regards to in terms of career parts, how will this affect, how will this impact or how will that position them to be able to get a great job, let's say, in the STEM industry, in the?
Speaker 2:STEM. It's actually going to benefit from it massively because you have the skill sets already in place. You're learning the skill set. You can go get a certification.
Speaker 1:Like, hold it.
Speaker 2:A lot of time, especially in the organization I work in Brazil. They're already working with companies. As soon as they complete their certification, they are working automatically. Wow, A lot of organizations we work with. We are teaching them blockchain. Hmm, Right, so you teach, being taught black skill set you're going to need 30, 20 years from now. So, by the time you're done, you are good to go. And that change because you're talking about that change your life, your family life, completely. You went from making I don't know how much you are making a year to making six figures or more. So now you and you can be an engineer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's what engineer, that's epic.
Speaker 2:This is the big picture of, for fellow boys, a period. This is what this is, why I'm passionate about it, because, like I said, I want to make a difference. I want to change lives, and that's how I'm going to do it, without asking, hey, can you donate? No, I have a brand that that school to wear as a mission. We're going to do it. We're going to make it happen.
Speaker 1:I love that. I love that in terms of community engagement, I love that. How do you engage with your community to ensure that you're yeah go?
Speaker 2:ahead please. So, from a community engagement, what we do is pop up shops we go to, for example. We do have different pop offs. That's in the community. Okay, you have what they call black and everything like that, things like that. In Brooklyn you have bill bill black, best side.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So you have your pop up, you have your everything that tells your story. People come on. I love this idea and it pushes that way.
Speaker 2:So it's more of, yeah, you're building it from ground up, but at the same time, like I'm doing that, but at the same time I'm also doing different outreach. Okay, get to, because I can do it like that, which is cool, it's a lot of work, but at the same time, hey, if I get somebody like you said Rihanna, she then you went from millions of people know who you are and that automatically changes the dynamic, because now I'm getting much more devices out there Absolutely and don't help much many more people.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I totally get it. I love that community. In regards to churches what about churches? Have you ever talked about going to churches? Maybe people one or two churches talk to the pastor and say, look, I have this apparel, I'm on a mission. Right, I'm talking to you because that's what I'm thinking about, doing something similar.
Speaker 2:You give me a lot of good ideas. I have to be honest, I was even thinking about that. Now I'm going to go to churches and, as well as the the library. I'm going to start doing that because I was even thinking about that. I don't think that's those. All that even crossed my mind.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's what we have to do. We have to talk, give each other, share some ideas, because we're all in the same fight to try to see more representation of our people in the Bible community and the steam field, because it is important for the health of our community. We both see the benefit. One thing that I would like to say before I give you the last award is, if you do ever meet Rihanna, tell her that she has one big fan.
Speaker 2:I let him know I'm going to have a little show for a newborn.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, it's a big deal. It's a big deal. Congratulations for her, to her on that. I think that's a big deal. Legacy and impact. As we conclude, looking into the future, what legacy do you hope to live behind through your work in promoting STEM education and empowering the under on the south communities?
Speaker 2:That's a big question. That's a huge question. I guess the impact I want to have is that I want that community to have to be more confident in self, understanding that, hey, listen, we are more than what we were told that we are. We came from, we came from our. We came from a background of kings and queens and we were doctors and lawyers and philosophers before we came here through slavery and the diasporas and before colonization of Africa as well. I wanna leave this legacy that, hey, you can do, we can be bigger than that. We can be, we are not, can be, we are. We just haven't tapped into, we haven't had the access, these resources. So that's the legacy I wanna have. I wanna change that whole mindset, that whole entertainment mindset that we have. We can start being more professionals. Yes, you can be a singer or rapper and everything. Yes, you can do that. But at the same time, you can be lawyers, doctors and cybersecurity professionals and engineers and stuff like that as well.
Speaker 1:So that's why I'm on the behind.
Speaker 2:That's why I'm on the behind.
Speaker 1:Excellent. If people want to get in contact with your organization, how can they reach you? Do you want to give some information?
Speaker 2:Correct. If you go to info at FavillaboyzApparelcom, you can reach out to me. Just go on my website. You can go to our contact information. You can send me an email there and you should get in touch with me. Or better yet you can Andrew Matelis on LinkedIn and draw ENDRO W Matelis M-E-T-E-L-U-S. You put my name on there there's not that many end rows and then you should be able to reach out to me directly on LinkedIn and that's the best way to find me.
Speaker 1:Excellent. Thank you so much, andrew. I really appreciate you Just would like to end this by saying STEAM plays a pivotal role in our community because it encompasses essential elements such as public health, advancement, economical growth, agricultural resources, waste management, technology and sustainability. These areas are crucial and integral to the innovation across various industries, consistently ranking among the top 10 fields of innovation. This podcast STEAM spark, think, steam career podcast delves or dives into ever evolving landscape of science, technology, arts, mathematics and engineering. It explored the intersection of this academic and career path, while shedding lights on the underrepresentation of the blacks, the indigenous or people of color and the people of color in the STEAM collegial programs and professions. As the STEAM field transforms, this podcast aim to engage with individuals who are championed in STEAM education and have a fostering experience in STEAM careers by sharing their insights. The content seeks to provide perspective on how the BIPOC community can become integral part of the STEAM multi-disciplinary field that drives innovation within our community. Additionally, this podcast discusses the strategy to boost the BIPOC participation in the STEAM field, thereby enriching the quality of research, data collection and innovation. By incorporating diverse viewpoints, this podcast aspires to create awareness about the significance of STEAM and STEAM education, providing empowerment for the upcoming BIPOC generation. It aims to help them to envision themselves in the realm of STEAM and in STEAM, ultimately fostering increased representation in the field and sparking novel research and innovation. The interview and the resources shared through the podcast are compiled to provide valuable information for STEAM students, professional and enthusiast.
Speaker 1:My name is Dr Ayo Uluwate. I'm the host of STEAM SPACS Think STEAM Career Podcast. I want to thank you for joining us today on this podcast. This has actually been a great episode. It's really great to have a young man trying to change the world through his skills and passion. My hope is also that the young people that are watching this program will be able to see that they also can be part of this innovation, and it will definitely enrich their life.
Speaker 1:I would like you to support Favela Boys Apparel. It is very important. Remember, 15% of his profit will go towards his STEAM program initiatives. I also would like you to support my podcast. I'm also coming with African sauce and oil to actually focus more on, because I do believe that Africans will also have red sauce too. You can use that red sauce, just like Italian sausage, italian sauce to do many things in terms of cooking. So support my program. Please, it is very important that you, if you like what you're seeing, the episodes that I'm bringing please do support STEAM SPACS Think STEAM Career Podcast. And the last point that I would like to ask you to do is also support a friend of mine. His podcast is called the Question Guy. He is trying to raise awareness to mental health. So if you can go on YouTube, he's up there. Just look up the Question Guy. Mental health, as we all know, is very important in our community, so I want to thank you again everyone. Thank you so much, andrew, for coming onto this podcast. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me have a good night.
Speaker 1:YouTube YouTube.
