Name: Ofo Ezeugwu
Profession: CEO of WhoseYourLandlord, Actor & Model
Age: 23
I have contributed/changed the advertising and marketing industry by: Being unapologetically true to ourselves. We named our company WhoseYourLandlord, deliberately. To many, they initially think we made a typo, we didn’t. We use the possessive form of the word ‘who’ in order to stress that we were giving renters’ ownership of their living situation by putting housing in their hands. We knew our path would be unconventional and so we’ve hired unconventional people and partnered with creative, unique businesses.
Ofo Ezeugwu had an idea. What if there was a way to give renters ownership of their living situation. At the time, Ezeugwu was a normal Temple University student living off campus as he pursued his degree in entrepreneurship. Like most students he was renting, and experienced mice and cockroaches in is city dwelling space. The mice and cockroaches were bad, but what would have been worse was a landlord unwilling to clean up the infestation.
Ezeugwu was running for vice president of the student body during his junior year and floated a platform idea during a campaign strategy session: “What if students would rate their landlords? That way, those coming in after them would know what to expect before signing a lease.”
The student body was enamored with the idea, Ezeugwu won the election and WhoseYourLandlord was born. Today the site is growing rapidly and boasts 1,000’s of rating for renters to view.
Grass roots marketing and advertising efforts has led to WhoseYourLandlord amassing over 70k users while really beginning to build roots in the fabric of US cities. “I love to work, to challenge myself, and to still be myself throughout the process,” Ezeugwu tells Be Modern Man. “I love it even more when people feel inspired to work because of witnessing my work ethic.” Never taking himself too seriously, Ezeugwu loves people and human interaction. “If I’m unable to connect with the person I’m engaging with, beyond flat, small talk, I want no parts of it.”
Engagement and getting the word out is at the heart of any advertising campaign. To broaden the site’s scope, Ezeugwu has used relationships with other organizations to spread the word about his business. One grassroots advertising campaign in particular coupled WhoseYourLandlord with Maryland-based nonprofit Just Heart Help run by Ezeugwu’s parent. For every rating posted on WhoseYourLandlord.com during a specified time period 10 cents was donated to Just Heart Help. Most recently the #TakeOwnership advertising campaign has
really helped to expose the site. “We interviewed many super successful millennials in NYC and Philadelphia highlighting that the same ownership these individuals take by grabbing life by the horns is the same way people should look to protect their homes,” says Ezeugwu. “You can’t understate how important peace of mind is and these folks experience a higher level of that every day because they’re doing something they’re passionate about.”Read more on page 2…
Ready to make an impact Ezeugwu is constantly growing and immersing himself in new, and productive things. “Nowadays with social media, it’s easier than ever to build your personal brand and promote your business,” Ezeugwu tells BE Modern Man. “If people consistently see you putting in work, achieving new personal feats, and receiving validation from already long standing establishments they tend to listen closely when you speak.”
Although social media provides a consumer base to tap into and validation from trustworthy sources is great, there is still much work to be done. “The most challenging thing I’ve faced is in trying to corral funding for our business WhoseYourLandlord,” Ezeugwu tells BE Modern Man. “We’ve been able to show a clear path to revenue, grow a strong user base, and put together a great
team and yet, it’s still been a struggle getting investors to take a chance on us.” Last year, less than 1% of companies funded were black led and that is a issue minorities continue to face in the tech space. As these companies continue to be closed out of technological advances, no matter how great the advertising and marketing plans are viable companies will be left behind. “Tech moves faster than any other industry. We can’t reward innovation for one kind of people and close the door to opportunity in the faces of others.”As these doors close, the minds of many young, talented future innovators may never open because they do not see people who look like them in positions they one day hope to fill. “It’s important for us to have a presence so that kids at home see that whatever they put their mind to is attainable. In order for kids to formulate their thoughts on what they aspire to be in the future, they must know the opportunity exist. That’s what BE Modern Man is doing. Showing people anything is possible with hard, smart work and dedication.”
As traditional advertising mediums like TV, radio, or SEO continue to dominate Ezeugwu believes there is opportunity in
other places. “While those outlets work, I think they are oversaturated and can be very expensive. I’m all for the random messages around a city, cool videos that go viral, or pop up shops/shows that capture the attention of the masses. I want to see more marketers take real chances in how advertising is executed on.”On a recent trip to San Francisco Ezeugwu was asked four times in a three day period if he played in the NBA. Flattering to some, but not to Ezeugwu. “I was thought of as a physical specimen first, before anyone asked about what I’ve built with my brain,’ says Ezeugwu. Debunking the preconceived notions and stereotypes is what BE Modern Man is all about. “A BE Modern Man means appreciation to me. It means that young black brothers who are out here working their tails off are being recognized and applauded.”
The BlackEnterprise.com team congratulates Ofo Ezeugwu for his will and determination to build a niche business from the ground up. We are honored to call him a BE Modern Man and look forward to seeing WhoseYourLandlord growing its user base throughout the country.
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