Timisola Ogunleye is a force of creativity within the entertainment industry and beyond; she’s a vibrant social media personality, content developer, and entrepreneur.
Balancing her career as a casting and producing, modeling, and digital storytelling artist, Ogunleye has fascinated a diverse audience base across all mediums. From producing projects like the G.P.P. music video for Liana Banks featuring Saweetie to working on Melina Matsoukas’ Family Portraits and the Chika Salty cover story, her portfolio speaks volumes about her creativity and drive.
But Ogunleye is not a one-trick pony in the production world. On TikTok, where she posts relatable comedy skits often featuring her family, she has over 850,000 followers since the launch of her account in March 2020. Among her most popular videos are those in which she tries to convince her dad to get a dog.
Timisola also dabbles in entrepreneurship with her family on their natural beauty line, Dr. O’s All Natural Skin & Hair Care. Notably, her modeling career entails many great works, which also include features in Vogue Italia. The following May will see her turn 30; here, she reflects on her journey, along with the milestones ahead.
Reaching 30: A New Chapter
In an exclusive interview, Ogunleye shared how she views entering her 30s:
“My 20s were such a rollercoaster. I pretty much dedicated a decade to learning myself. It was nearly impossible for me to understand what I wanted from my life professionally without having a clear understanding of who I was, my work ethic, what gave me confidence, what triggered my insecurities, and what made me feel fulfilled. My 30s is all about execution. I tried so many things, explored various career paths, and although they opened different doors for me, I think I struggled with seeing certain goals through. I’m ready to lock in and see the seeds I planted in my 20s blossom. I’m really excited for my 30s!”
Family Business Evolution
Ogunleye took a three-year break from working with her mom on their family beauty line, Dr. O’s All Natural Skin & Hair Care. Reflecting on this time apart, she shared:
“Working with family comes with unique challenges. Solid communication and mutual respect are essential for it to succeed. When I first started working with my mom in 2020, I was in a transitional period in my life, so I didn’t really have much of a career outside of the family business. I think that sent the message that I needed the job more than the job needed me. I ended up overextending myself, and that made it difficult for me to stand on my own.”
She explained how taking a break allowed her to bring more value to the business and achieve better balance:
“Leaving gave me the chance to focus on my career and helped my mom see the value I brought to the business. It also made me appreciate the extra stream of income and structure that came with it. I think we’ve found a better balance now.”
Championing Inclusion in Production
As a creative producer and advocate for inclusion, Ogunleye is passionate about creating opportunities for Black women in the production industry. She identified key obstacles and changes she hopes to see:
“It’s difficult for Black women to thrive in the production space because of affinity bias. This industry isn’t really merit or talent-based as much as it is connection-based. It requires sponsors—people willing to actively hire and recommend you—not just mentors offering advice. Unfortunately, people are far more willing to sponsor those that remind them of themselves. Production is male-dominated, so male executive producers, senior producers, and production company/studio owners are more likely to hire other men to lead projects.”
Ogunleye proposed solutions for addressing these systemic issues:
“I would love to see more men in the industry confront and check their affinity bias. I would also love to see more Black artists being intentional about who is producing their art and prioritizing collaboration with individuals in their community who align with their vision and values. Many artists take a backseat in production decisions, but if more prioritized working with Black female producers, it would create meaningful opportunities and representation in the field.”
Advocacy and Storytelling Through Content Creation
Timisola’s decision to use her TikTok platform for political advocacy during election seasons reflects her commitment to making a difference. Discussing her motivations and approach, she said:
“Being a content creator can feel a little vapid after some time, so I was desperate to use the following I amassed for something I thought was meaningful. The amount of privilege that comes with being a content creator was becoming uncomfortable for me.”
She also elaborated on her method of creating accessible and engaging content:
“I try to make my content extremely digestible and easy for everyone to understand. I think people are tired of being condescended to, so when making content, I pretend like I’m having a conversation with someone that just got to America and wants to understand its history and current political climate. I loved combining storytelling with advocacy and plan to create more educational content moving forward to help demystify complex issues for my audience.”
The Road Ahead
Now, Timisola Ogunleye has her sights set on the future of execution, advocacy, and leaving a dent. Whether in film production, digital content creation, or leading entrepreneurial ventures, she is ready to shape the seeds that grew in her 20s into a flourishing legacy.
“I’m excited for what’s next. This is just the beginning.”
Stay tuned for more from this multi-talented trailblazer as she continues to inspire and create across industries.
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