91调教

Bell Tower | Business and IndustryFebruary 27, 2026

Alum and Athlete Builds a Career Without Limits: Q&A with Chukwukere Ekeh

Written By: Rachel Putman

At 6-foot-9, Chukwukere Ekeh has always been hard to miss.  

On campus, he was a disciplined student-athlete, a dedicated campus leader, and a Dean鈥檚 List marketing major. Today, he moves between worlds with the same ease he had at 91调教, leading brand strategy for a global crypto company, advising early-stage founders, modeling for major fashion houses 鈥� including an international campaign alongside Shaquille O鈥橬eal, and speaking to audiences that range from rural school gyms to executive summits. 

We caught up with Ekeh to talk about what it really takes to build a career and a life with range. 

Rachel Putman: I have to start here: When you were running drills at 91调教, did you have any sense you鈥檇 end up leading brand for a global tech company or modeling with Shaq? 

Chukwukere Ekeh: No idea at all, I had hopes though. I always aimed to believe great and beautiful things were possible for me and not just others. I asked a lot of questions, took many chances, and gave my best effort and I鈥檓 fortunate God blessed some of the results. 

RP: You move easily between boardrooms and photo shoots these days. When did you realize presence is a skill you can train, not just something you鈥檙e born with? 

CE: I thank my great parents, who emphasized growth versus outcomes. The lesson is that as you do things, you learn, and then you鈥檙e able to do even more. Everyone starts as an amateur/beginner but it鈥檚 your choice if you stay that way forever.鈥� 

RP: When you think about the younger version of yourself, what would genuinely surprise him about your life now? 

CE: He would be surprised how much harder and sweeter the journey was than anticipated; that all success doesn鈥檛 feel as good as you imagined; and some surprises are better than you would鈥檝e even known to ask for. 

RP: You鈥檝e stood on stages in South Africa talking about hope, you鈥檝e pitched strategy to rooms full of executives, and you鈥檝e mentored middle schoolers. Which version of you feels most at home? Which crowd is the most intimidating? 

CE: I'm at my best and in my flow state whenever I can share from my heart on my passion areas. I鈥檓 passionate about marketing because it's about unearthing truth and telling stories to people they鈥檙e made for. I love connecting with people because it鈥檚 my life鈥檚 work to serve them and show them how valuable they are. I still get butterflies in all these situations because they deal with things that matter to and impact people, but I鈥檝e slowly but surely grown the courage to do them all authentically to me. 

RP: I鈥檓 curious about the pivot moments. Was there one decision or one leap of faith that you feel changed your trajectory? 

CE: Funny enough, it鈥檚 the small moments when鈥疘 said yes to myself: to try, to go for modeling, to live in a new place with no connections, to reach out to someone I鈥檝e never met and ask for an opportunity, to take on a job in a new industry. 

RP: You鈥檝e worked with massive brands, but you still talk about service. What inspired that in you? 

CE: Faith and mentorship. All the people I admire most serve others well, generously, and with love. No exceptions. I want to be like those people.鈥� 

RP: A lot of students want to 鈥渦nlock their potential,鈥� but that phrase can feel abstract. For you, what did 鈥渦nlocking鈥� require? 

CE: Unlocking for me means taking on a lifelong journey to learn things, adapt as the world is changing, but never lose the heart of who you are and what you鈥檙e here to do. Every person has a unique and meaningful purpose. It鈥檚 simple, not easy. To unlock yourself you have to fight discouragement, the desire to fit in, and the want of comfort. Growth and ease unfortunately do not share an address or even a zip code. 

RP: What鈥檚 still on your bucket list? What鈥檚 up next? 

CE: I鈥檓 a dreamer, so pushing myself to actually increase the bounds. I would love to speak to over a million people in my lifetime and continually uncover the words and stories that help people know they鈥檙e valuable, they matter, and they have a reason for being here. I鈥檇 like to be a CMO of a company and later found my own to work with remarkable minds of all backgrounds. And one day, once I can finally distill all the wisdom, experiences, and learning I鈥檝e gathered, I want to pen it into a book with lessons that can outlive me and serve more people. 

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