Quit Your Day Job! How Content Creator Drea Okeke Ditched Engineering for Hosting & Comedy

The Exit Interview with Kim Rittberg

Today we have the dynamic Drea Okeke, known to her 6 million followers as @drea_knowsbest. A Nigerian American content creator recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 and New York Magazine’s The Cut, Drea brings a unique blend of cultural richness and personal authenticity to her work. Her story begins as an engineer Lowe's, which enabled her to start her dual career as an engineer and content creator. Drea shared how her childhood passion for capturing moments on camera evolved into creating engaging content on platforms like Vine and TikTok. Even early in her career, she managed to integrate her vibrant personality and cultural roots, eventually growing a substantial following of 700,000 on Vine but then facing setbacks like losing those 700,000 followers in 2017.

What truly resonated with me were Drea’s insights into her transition from engineering to full-time content creation. She experienced pressure from her Nigerian family to pursue traditional careers (like so many of us First Gen folks do) and explains how she balanced these expectations with her passion for storytelling and humor. Her strategic approach to content creation, finding balance and advancing her skills through improv classes, and engaging with her audience through comments rather than likes, all underscored her thoughtful and genuine approach to her work. Reflecting on our shared experiences and immigrant backgrounds, we discussed how humor and authenticity have been pivotal in our respective careers. Drea’s recent endeavors, like the launch of her card game Sabi Slangs, demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to cultural representation. It was an enriching conversation filled with valuable lessons on following your heart, strategically pursuing your goals, and investing in your personal brand.

In this episode you will learn:

• Her thoughtful and intentional journey to leaving her full time job - 5:06
• How improv comedy helped her be a better host & creator - 10:10

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