Meet Mayowa Adegoke, a vibrant storyteller who embodies the power of creativity and resilience. As she once described herself, ‘I’m a joyous bundle of a human being who loves to tell stories through media.’ But Mayowa’s impact extends far beyond her captivating narratives. In Dubai, where she’s stationed with Channels Television, she has defied conventions and carved out a unique path, inspiring countless individuals.
From her early fascination with cartoons to her current status as a respected media professional, entrepreneur, and community builder, Mayowa’s journey is one of innovation, unyielding ambition, and passion for driving positive change.
As the founder of Success Community Dubai and Archgoke Interactive, she is reshaping the narrative for African immigrants in the UAE and creating new pathways for social and economic opportunities. Through her tireless efforts to mentor young women, champion gender equality, and accelerate progress in every aspect of her life, Mayowa is a shining example of what it means to be a force for good.
In this last leg of the 2025 Women’s History Month Spotlight conversation, Adegoke shares her experiences, insights, and the passion that fuels her work, offering a glimpse into the mind and heart of a true changemaker.
“I believe every woman should strive for success, influence and power, without which we can’t change much about our present challenges.”
Mayowa Adegoke
Mayowa Adegoke is Driving Change and Building a Thriving Community
Glazia: Tell us briefly about your journey to becoming the woman you are today. How did you get here? What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Mayowa Adegoke: I think somewhere between my childhood days watching cartoons on Channels TV’s children’s belt back at 4 pm back in the day, growing up to see first-hand how media professionals can become influential – which I saw through my father and eventually studying mass communication – my future as a TV professional was cemented. And it wasn’t just to be any TV; I had my eyes set on the country’s leading platform, Channels TV. But before joining the station in 2013, I spent over a year at Flytime Promotions and then freelanced with LagosMums.
My passion for people, storytelling, using influence for social impact, and entrepreneurship has led me to become a woman of many hats, thriving on a career-business template that I have come to embrace as my unique journey. Living life on exciting terms that allow me to explore different expressions including entrepreneurship, leadership, media, speaking and community building.
Living in Dubai as an international journalist, personal branding and public speaking coach, founder of the Success Community Dubai and founder of Archgoke Interactive – a boutique media services company serving clients in the Middle East and Africa – I’m not one to amplify obstacles as I typically see them as opportunities for adventure, growth and innovation. I believe that the biggest thing one must conquer is one’s mental limitations, and I continue to do that through personal challenges, surrounding myself with mentors and coaches.
Glazia: How are you driving innovation and change in your field or community? What impact do you hope to achieve?
M.A.: The biggest change I’ve initiated has been as the founder of Success Community, where we build a network of thriving immigrants in the UAE and bridge the gap between Africans and the larger society through events and webinars. When I arrived in Dubai in 2019, I could hardly find any community for Africans to connect and support one another’s journey as immigrants pursuing professional or business interests. My team and I have changed that. Our vision is to build the largest network of African immigrants in the Middle East and be the plug for economic and social opportunities.
Glazia: The 2025 International Women’s Day theme is “Accelerate Action.” What does this mean to you, and how are you accelerating action towards gender equality in your own life and work?
M.A. In popular Nigerian parlance, it is said, “No time to waste time.” Accelerate Action is a call to urgency, a reminder of how much work we still have to do, not just as women but as a society and humans. I believe every woman should strive for success, influence and power, without which we can’t change much about our present challenges. I’m committed to mentoring more young women, giving them tools, access and ambitious ideas to accomplish more earlier.
Glazia: What advice would you give to young women looking to make an impact in their careers and communities, especially in fields traditionally dominated by men?
M.A.: Two of the biggest success indicators are determination and resilience. If you imbibe these early, there’s no telling what you will accomplish. Understand that there’s always a price to pay for the vision you have, and it’s wise to expect opposition. Prepare for it, strategize, build your tribe and go hard.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your life and career so far?
M.A.: No one has it all figured out, and there is such a thing as failing forward. We are students of our own lives, and we will need to get back in class from time to time.
Who are the women who inspire you, and why?
M.A.: My mom for sure! Bolanle Ogundele. She is the human representation of resilience and being proactive. Patricia Bebia – relocating to Canada to start afresh and build a formidable brand in media and leadership. Amazing! Omawumi Ogbe – a powerhouse – building GLG Comms and Glazia across multiple borders, providing a platform for others to see and be seen.
Rapid-Fire Sentence Finishers
If I could have any superpower, it would be… to time travel.
The worst advice I ever received was… I can’t even remember. I guess my brain deleted it because it was bad advice (hahah).
The most important thing I’ve learned about leadership is... the higher you go, the weightier your words.
The best thing about being a woman is… intuition.
The emoji that best describes me is… the shining teeth emoji. Lol.