Zena Edosomwan: A Harvard Graduate Inspiring and Empowering Young People

Zena Edosomwan has always felt a calling to bring communities together and inspire them. “I’ve always been taught through my family how important it was to impact those around you in anything you do.” Edosomwan is an entrepreneur, app creator, speaker, coach and has advised over 60+ companies, start-ups, and individuals. “For me, I’ve always tried to be open-minded and constantly challenge myself. I feel that everything is a learning experience we can grow from. I love to learn.”

He heavily credits the molding of his determined mindset to one particular moment in his freshman year at top Los Angeles prep school Harvard-Westlake. “I started studying Mandarin in 9th grade, really just out of curiosity and seeing China’s global impact in the business world. I was struggling so badly, to the point that I had a meeting with my parents and deans over it.” In the meeting, the deans recommended he change to a less rigorous language course like Spanish to better balance his intense academic schedule, but his mom vehemently rejected it. “I remember my mom saying to my deans, if I couldn’t push through my struggles and perform well; then he should stop playing basketball also.” The declaration by his mother sparked him to persevere through his obstacle.

Edosomwan says it taught him not to simply give up when something is difficult. He credits that moment as the reason why he ended up studying mandarin in college years later, eventually visiting and working in China during his summers at Harvard. He ended up partnering with the W.L.S.A (World Leading Schools Association), a global non-profit league of over 50+ private and public schools bringing together cultures through education. “Working with W.L.S.A was life-changing in that I could literally plan and create conferences, travel the world, and help in guiding these amazing and passionate students…teaching them about college prep, life preparation, mental health, and sports. It’s a blessing to be able to put all my passions in one.”

For Edosomwan, those moments and life-long connections continue to empower his growth today. He has expanded from those conferences to creating apps, while making his presence in the consulting and advising spaces. He’s consulted and advised start-ups from Harvard, MIT, worked with Forbes and Morgan Stanley, while still working with young people on an individual basis. “I love working with people. I enjoy creating and building together. It’s not always about the result for me; it’s about embracing the process and journey behind it all.” Edosomwan wants to continue to resonate with people by just staying true to himself.

“I think people can really sense that more than ever, especially younger generations. When you’re honest about your struggles just as much as your successes, it connects with people even more because it’s authentic. We are humans, and we all go through our ups and downs.  It makes us who we are.” Edosomwan plans to continue expanding his tech and consulting footprint while learning new skills to enable the next generation of young people better.