After his dad was tragically killed, a Nigerian teenager made a vow to fulfill his father’s entrepreneurial dreams.
One critical meeting set him on the course to make that a reality.
Today, his Atlanta-based company pulls in $60M/year.
Here’s what happened in that meeting 🧶👇
One critical meeting set him on the course to make that a reality.
Today, his Atlanta-based company pulls in $60M/year.
Here’s what happened in that meeting 🧶👇
1) Tope Awotona was raised by a pharmacist and microbiologist in Lagos, Nigeria, with 3 other brothers.
His mom came from wealth, but his dad grew up poor.
As a parental team they continually reminded the young Awotona brothers to be forever grateful for what they had.
His mom came from wealth, but his dad grew up poor.
As a parental team they continually reminded the young Awotona brothers to be forever grateful for what they had.
2) One day, when Tope was just 12 years old, he saw his father come home being followed by a group of men.
As Tope watched on, the men demanded the keys to the car. As his father threw them the keys, they shot and killed him.
As Tope watched on, the men demanded the keys to the car. As his father threw them the keys, they shot and killed him.
3) His world was shattered. Tope couldn’t eat or sleep for 6 months.
A few years ago, his father had quit his job at Unilever to build his own company. Tope decided he would now take up the torch.
For the time being, he focused his attention back to where he excelled - school.
A few years ago, his father had quit his job at Unilever to build his own company. Tope decided he would now take up the torch.
For the time being, he focused his attention back to where he excelled - school.
4) He received an offer to attend a US college early, at the age of 15. But his mother thought he was too young.
Instead, she moved the whole family from Lagos to Marietta, GA, so he could attend an American high school for 2 years before college.
Instead, she moved the whole family from Lagos to Marietta, GA, so he could attend an American high school for 2 years before college.
5) After graduating from university, Tope explored a few jobs before settling in at Perceptive Software, a growing startup in Kansas City, as a salesperson.
Tope climbed the sales leaderboards, but was still keen on starting his own company when the time was right.
Tope climbed the sales leaderboards, but was still keen on starting his own company when the time was right.
6) One afternoon, Tope attended a staff meeting where Perceptive’s founder, Scott Coons, led the discussion.
Instead of talking about revenue growth, staffing plans, or quarterly roadmaps, Scott did something different.
Instead of talking about revenue growth, staffing plans, or quarterly roadmaps, Scott did something different.
7) He used the meeting to tell the story of Perceptive.
Scott dove into the details of how he came up with the idea for the company.
He even elaborated on the many twists and turns that the company went through, and mistakes he’d made.
Scott dove into the details of how he came up with the idea for the company.
He even elaborated on the many twists and turns that the company went through, and mistakes he’d made.
8) But chiefly, Scott emphasized the team’s persistence.
They had fought through the slumps, learned from their mistakes, and eventually things turned around.
This was the first time Tope realized that companies did not always have a straight path to success.
They had fought through the slumps, learned from their mistakes, and eventually things turned around.
This was the first time Tope realized that companies did not always have a straight path to success.
9) “It made entrepreneurship all of a sudden more attainable. I knew if they could do it, I could too.”
Tope left that meeting thoroughly inspired.
He didn’t need to wait for the perfect time to start a company. His moment was now.
Tope left that meeting thoroughly inspired.
He didn’t need to wait for the perfect time to start a company. His moment was now.
10) But at home, life seemed to have other plans.
Tope’s mother had been diagnosed with cancer, and he moved back to Atlanta to be there for her.
Was now still the right time?
Tope’s mother had been diagnosed with cancer, and he moved back to Atlanta to be there for her.
Was now still the right time?
11) Tope reflected back on the staff meeting with Scott. And in that moment, amidst all the personal hardship on the horizon, he chose to persist.
He quit his sales job and started to build.
He quit his sales job and started to build.
12) Tope’s first three startup ideas failed.
A dating website that never launched. A projector company that had lackluster sales. An outdoor grill brand that he didn’t have a passion for.
But he didn't give up.
A dating website that never launched. A projector company that had lackluster sales. An outdoor grill brand that he didn’t have a passion for.
But he didn't give up.
13) Tope eventually stumbled upon an idea to get rid of the back and forth emails when scheduling a meeting.
Calendly was born.
“I went for broke and put every single dollar I had ever made into it, I literally put everything on the line”
Calendly was born.
“I went for broke and put every single dollar I had ever made into it, I literally put everything on the line”
14) The same year Tope founded Calendly, his mother passed away.
He never told his mother what he had been working on, as she was very risk-averse feared it would have worried her too much.
He never told his mother what he had been working on, as she was very risk-averse feared it would have worried her too much.
15) Through his grieving, Tope again chose to push forward.
And over the next 7 years he built Calendly into an industry leader, with over 20M customers and revenues of $60M+.
And over the next 7 years he built Calendly into an industry leader, with over 20M customers and revenues of $60M+.
16) Tope persisted through personal and professional hardship.
After losing the two most important people in his life, he built something that would have made them both beam with pride.
He achieved his Dream. #MLKDay
“I wish they could see what Calendly is now”
After losing the two most important people in his life, he built something that would have made them both beam with pride.
He achieved his Dream. #MLKDay
“I wish they could see what Calendly is now”
@timigod @kola_aina @ireaderinokun @OdunEweniyi @WimbartHope @JasonNjoku @SimShagaya @skweird
A twitter-friend of mine, @seyitaylor, thought you'd enjoy this thread!
Also please lmk if there are other Nigerian/African meeting stories that should be shared with the world🌍
A twitter-friend of mine, @seyitaylor, thought you'd enjoy this thread!
Also please lmk if there are other Nigerian/African meeting stories that should be shared with the world🌍
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