Abi Ishola

Ayodeji is an Emmy award-winning producer, brand builder, journalist, and storyteller.

She has contributed articles and productions to various platforms including ELLE.com, PBS, Ebony.com, CUNY TV, and more. Her debut novel, Patience is a Subtle Thief, was named one of BuzzFeed’s best books of May 2022. During her 18 year-long career, she’s covered extraordinary people, communities, and events in New York City, DC, London, Paris, Nigeria, Ghana, and beyond.

In 2017, Essence Magazine named her among its Woke 100 Women for launching Beyond Classically Beautiful, an acclaimed media platform and lifestyle brand that celebrates Black women and challenges society’s beauty standards.

As a first generation Nigerian American, she grew up in Miami Gardens Florida, but treasures her brief stint in secondary school in Lagos. She moved to New York City in 2001 to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology and received a BA in Advertising and Marketing Communications. Later she received a Master of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism with a concentration in arts and culture from the Newmark Graduate School, CUNY’s school of journalism.