Women of Softcom

IWD 2022

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Oreoluwa Sofola

How would you describe the work you do at Softcom? And what are you most proud of?

Brands are more than just a product or a service and in a world where the art of storytelling can make or break a product. Brands need (now more than ever) an avenue to connect to their audiences. This is where I come in as the Creative Director of Softcom. My job entails, in a nutshell, creating and executing on Softcom’s storytelling strategies through various forms of art – design, video, photography, and even audio. I ensure that all the content we churn out aligns with the ethos of the company and our ideology. We want to be able to connect and form humanistic relationships with our audiences and storytelling is one of such avenues where we get to do that.

 

One of my proudest moments at Softcom was organising our very first virtual retreat due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of engaging content had to be produced within steep timelines. It was something we had never done before, but the team came together and literally made it work. There were highs and lows and we learnt a whole lot and I believe we are now ready to take it up a notch.

What does choosing to challenge mean personally for you?

As a creative director in a technology company, I’m essentially in two industries dominated by men – media and technology. So, one can see it as a double-edged sword. I literally have no choice but to choose to challenge – to be confident in myself and believe I deserve to be here and that I have whatever it takes to succeed in both industries. It’s been a journey for me. Sometimes I doubt myself, and occasionally I get imposter syndrome (it’s okay, we all do! 🙂

 

For women, we find that we’re constantly asking ourselves – should I really be here? Do I deserve this? Do I even know what I’m doing? And sometimes, it’s hard. But everyday, I make sure that I show up – and that’s the most important thing – you have to constantly show up.

 

At the moment, in a lot of industries, women have to work twice as hard as men to get a seat at the table. It’s the world we live in today; but as we keep advocating for women, the hope is that these milestones wouldn’t have to be celebrated because they would no longer be “milestones” they would just be the norm. We’d have a lot more women in senior tech roles, more female presidents, woman finally getting equal pay, and really, women just demanding their worth. And this is the equality we truly want, we wouldn’t have to “choose to challenge” because we’d have gotten rid of all these challenges we face today.

What would access and inclusion look like for you in the Africa Softcom is trying to build?
One of the coolest things about working in Softcom is being part of a team of truly brilliant people who want to solve the issues of access and inclusion. A world where everyone is given the tools they require to succeed; a world where everyone is given a fair chance to prove themselves. The wealth that resides within our potentials as Africans would truly be unlocked once we stop shutting the doors of opportunity to our people and actually provide an avenue to ensure everyone is catered for and given access.
How did you get into the tech environment?
I actually sort of stumbled into the tech ecosystem 4 years ago and I really don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. I worked for one of the biggest technology startups in Africa with a similar mission to that of Softcom which was to provide opportunities to Africans in technology. I eventually fell in love with the art of humanising the work we do in technology through storytelling. Africans are currently reshaping the tech environment and we need to make sure that the stories of our impact are told.
What do you do for fun?
I love being around people – so I get my doses of fun by being with my friends and family. We could literally be sitting in silence and I’d still consider it fun as long as I have them close. Other than that, a peaceful day at the beach with a period movie (please watch Brooklyn, it’s brilliant!) or some good music is right up my alley. And oh! I’m a shopaholic 🙂
Tell us two truths about yourself and one lie.

– I’ve been to 11 countries so far.

– I’m 5’7.

– I love amala, gbegiri and ewedu.