Name: Ras Asan Olugbenga
Age: 27
Profession: Creative Director / Social Entrepreneur
Social Media: Facebook: Ras Asan Olugbenga | LinkedIn: R.A. Olugbenga | Twitter: @TheGodBreaux | Instagram:@thegodbreaux
One Word That Describes You: Powerful
What are some immediate projects you are working on?
I am a co-founder of BREAUX Capital, the first financial technology company increasing the financial wellness of black male millennials through a software platform fused with a cultural tribe. Our model marries ancient ideas with modern technology. I am also a creative director for Panoramic iDeals, a creative consultancy agency based in Atlanta. We are currently working on a rebranding campaign and broker development series with an Inc. 500 company headquartered in Atlanta.
What does being one of the BEMM 100 Men of Distinction mean to you?
It means that I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with more like-minded individuals.
What are you doing as a BEMM to help support black male achievement now or in the future?
One must be amongst the people to help the people, so I’m learning from those who suffer the most. I teach, and the best teachers are learners. I am able to fully immerse myself in the struggles and perils of everyday living in order to use my skills to craft solutions.
What are some examples of how you turned struggle into success?
Shakespeare wrote, “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” So when faced with challenges, I immediately shift my paradigm from pessimistic to optimistic so I view it accordingly.
What is your “Extraordinary Impact?”
My persistency. Most people don’t lose, they quit. Persistence overcomes resistance. Quitters don’t win and winners don’t quit.
What is an important quality you look for in your relationships with others?
Vision. I seek relationships where we can build together. It’s more important that we can “see” what’s said and not just “hear” what was said, so that we can act in unison, benefiting the collective.
What is the best advice you ever received?
My uncle told me, “count to 10 before you speak.”
What is some advice you have for other men who want to make a difference?
Believe in yourself because there will be times that no one else will. Even some of the ones who started believing in you at the beginning may not be with you at the end.
How do you prep for an important business meeting and/or event?
The right mindset insures focus, so I begin by visualizing my desired objectives and outcomes.
As a busy Modern Man, how do you unwind on vacation?
My best vacations are spent with my elders, gleaning from their wisdom. Recently I just attended a family reunion with the patriarchs and matriarchs of my family. It was one of the best vacation experiences I’ve had because it reminded me of my essence: who and why I am. It emboldened me to walk in my inheritance.
If you could travel and stay anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
It would not be an external journey or vacation. I would go inside my mind to experience that which I will then outwardly express.
Anything else you’d like to say?
I would like to thank my Ancestors, my Uncle, and the women in my life for their wisdom and support. I must shout out my brother and business partner Derrius Quarles for always being “100” and motivating me to stay the course. I’ve also got to thank my BREAUXS at BREAUX Capital for being stand-up dudes who are “bout that action.” Last but not least, I must thank Black Enterprise. Black Enterprise is known to help black people see the greatness that lies within them, and through this reflective interview, I was able to discover more about my own greatness within.
It’s our normal to be extraordinary. Follow @BEModernMan and join the conversation using #BEModernMan.
Come celebrate the BE Modern Man 100 Men of Distinction at the first-ever Black Men XCEL Summit, Aug. 30 – Sept. 3, at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.