Women & Money is a monthly PiggyVest series that explores the relationship between real Nigerian women and money. This series sheds light on money, career and business from a female perspective.
For this month’s episode of Women & Money, we spoke to Nigerian alté scene queen, Ashley Okoli. In this PiggyVest interview, the 26-year-old Lagos-based multi-hyphenate talks about realising her potential, monetising her passions, and an important money lesson she learned on her journey.
How would you describe yourself?
I’m an artist — a creative human being. I can do anything I choose to or want to.
And when did you come to this realisation?
I realised it just by being in Lagos and around other creative people. I didn’t know you could do creative things to earn a living. The only careers I knew were the regular ones: doctor, lawyer, all that stuff.
I was in my first year of studying chemistry. Looking at myself, I didn’t see a career in chemistry. But being so good at chemistry, I was pretty sure I could do other things just as well.
When I dropped out I didn’t tell anybody; one Easter break, I just left school, and I never went back. To be honest, I didn’t even know I was dropping out. In Lagos, I was living creatively. I started my brand, and I enjoyed designing and influencing. I was literally making money from just being myself. People wanted to see more of me and pay me to do more. So, why not? It was a no-brainer, really.
Did you face any resistance from your family when you decided to forfeit school?
It shocked everybody in my family because I liked and enjoyed school, and there was no reason for me to drop out. But again, I’m just the person I am, and I had to do what my heart wanted at the time.
My mother kept threatening to disown me. It felt like I was disappointing her, but I was too in love with what I was doing to think about it. She was stressed, but I just wanted to show her that I could do it. And one thing about my mom is that she catches on fast.
Love that! What was it like financially growing up?
Growing up, I knew that we didn’t have much, but I didn’t really know what that meant. I knew that people had more than we did, but I didn’t really think much about it. Absolutely. In university, I had to live on ₦10,000 every month.
Did this in any way affect your decision to chase your passions?
In university, I did an influencing gig that paid me ₦250k, which in 2017 was a crazy amount. My options were: continue receiving a ₦10,000 allowance from my dad every month plus a little change here and there from my mother or earn up to ₦250k from influencing.
So, I decided to pursue my passions. Obviously, I couldn’t live on 10k after I had tasted the good life. The financial aspect was definitely one of the reasons I dropped out without overthinking it.
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How would you say your financial background informs your money habits today?
Honestly, I don’t even know if that has impacted anything. I just knew we didn’t have much growing up, and today, I have a somewhat anxious attachment to money. I know how to spend, and I’m generous, but when it looks like the money is about to finish, it’s like, “Okay, I need to make more.”
And in terms of making more money, how have you optimised your income streams? What brings most of your income, and what other potential income streams are you working on?
Being an all-rounder and not wanting to be put in a box has advantages and disadvantages. Being creative in Lagos means you don’t really know what’s next or where your next paycheck is coming from, but there are other talents and skills I have that can make money from.
But it’s important that I enjoy everything I do. So my brand — creative direction, films I want to make (I already have one in the works, but it’s not out yet), modelling, collaborations, and even hosting parties — is just an extension of my personality. Love and passion come first, and if there’s a way to make money off them, I will.
But my main income comes from branding and partnerships. I used to have a clothing brand, but that’s on pause right now because it used to drive me mad. There are just not so many resources for the kind of things I want to make. And I feel like I lost my love for it because of the struggle to make it work.
Do you see yourself picking that back up in a couple of years?
Oh, absolutely. My best friends now have their own brands, and they are doing so well. They inspire me to fall back in love with creating clothing. So, I definitely see myself getting back there in a couple of years, but for now, I want to focus on branding, partnerships, and travelling.
So, what has been your biggest challenge or anxiety as a creative?
As I said earlier, my biggest worry, especially early in my career, was not knowing where the next cheque would come from. I’m a stylist and model. But what happens when there are no bookings because people can’t afford my rates? I’m obviously not going to reduce my worth because I want to get a job. So, for a whole month, you may not have anything lined up.
Well, that was my fear initially. Right now, if it comes no problem. If it doesn’t, I’ll figure something else out.
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What steps have you taken to ensure your relevance and growth in the creative industry? How do you put yourself out there?
I’m spontaneous. Whether for good or bad, my spontaneity helps me do exactly what I feel I need to do at that moment. And that almost always works for me. I don’t know if it will work for everyone else.
So I think going for what you want when the opportunity presents itself helps. I feel like everything I have done — or do — is meant to happen. And if it wasn’t, I learned from it. So it’s just do what you have to do because if you keep waiting, somebody else will do it.
That’s good advice. So, what would you say has been a highlight of your career?
To be fair, there’s no singular highlight. So aside from all the work I’ve done, I’ll say my new and improved headspace. I see things differently and positively now, and I know how much bigger things are coming.
That makes sense. You’re working on a film, Gemini Confessions. What milestones and outcomes do you hope for after its release?
I want the story to be interpreted as I intended, but I also want people to interpret it how they feel because the film contains many hidden gems. As much as I have a goal in mind, it’s my first film, so I want it to be as authentic as possible.
There’s so much I want to put out in hopes that they highlight the messages I’m trying to pass: there will be an exhibition associated with it, merch sales, a tour, and even a party, because at the end of the day, it’s still my brand and I like to party and end on a good note. So, as far as milestones go, I hope it goes as successfully as I have imagined.
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So, what other career milestones are you looking forward to in the coming years?
Tangible brand partnerships. I have a lot of ventures and activations I’m looking forward to in 2025. The same with film, acting, creative direction, and all my passions. I want to see growth in everything because I’m not very capitalist-driven; I’m love-driven. But I do want to make money because I love to travel. So, I just hope that I’m able to do everything that I love on a larger scale that will obviously bring money.
Speaking of, what are some of your money goals?
I’m still trying to build a relationship with saving and money, so I don’t really have big money goals. I just want enough to give to people and travel the world. I also want to start many projects and ventures that obviously require money.
Otherwise, I’m not that materialistic or greedy for money. I don’t want to be a billionaire or anything. I just want enough to do the things that I like; buy my dream home and car, Wrangler, travel, and launch my passion projects.
Safe to say this is your idea of financial freedom?
Yes. Just living my dream life, bruh.
How would you rate your money habits over 10?
I would say 4.5 out of 10. But it’s not because I’m extravagant; I don’t spend on crazy things. If I know you don’t have money, I’m going to give you money. I know I should have savings, but I don’t know how to save. What do people save for? Everything seems equally important in the moment. For instance, I’m trying to find a place to stay. I guess I should be saving for a place, but every day is a rainy day.
I know I’m not great with money, and I need to learn about investments. It’s not about making money or having money in your account. There are other things that I need to know. So yeah, 4.5 out of 10.
Have you made any money mistakes?
Oh, hell yes, especially with this film. I spent so much money on it because it was my first film, and I didn’t have a financial adviser. I also made the mistake of not budgeting or planning financially the way I planned everything else. I would just keep bringing out money every time I was asked, and before you know it, I’d have spent about $5k on something. It’s crazy.
Another mistake I made was not investing enough this past year, even though I had a lot of money in my account.
Hopefully, that changes this year. On the other hand, what’s your favourite thing to spend money on?
Oh, my gosh! I just started buying presents for my friends, and the excitement just heals me. I’m not going to lie: My favourite way to spend money is on my loved ones. And travel. Yes, travelling is my number one.
What keeps you on track and motivated to keep going?
My successes, mistakes, and lessons show me that I’m actually on the right track. So, I’ve learned to chill and take things as they come. Every decision I’ve made makes me happy, and I’m truly enjoying myself. If I were sad and depressed, then I’d have to rethink my choices. This tells me I’m doing this for the right reasons, and I’m definitely on the right track.
Do you have some advice for people trying to embrace their creative sides or build a creative career?
Just do it. It doesn’t matter if people judge you or not. Just keep going.
