Ochuko Akpovbovbo, adidas / as seen on

💭 Thoughts on throwing dinner parties, making space for deep thought, and the balance between privacy & visibility online.

Ochuko is a writer and brand marketer based in Germany. By day, she writes as seen on, a newsletter about business, culture, and youth trends. Also by day, she is a Global Membership Manager at adidas. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Ochuko has spent the last 10 years living in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S. She’s a lot less online than you’d think; usually she’s somewhere reading a book.

🎯 Current focus

I’m always excited about building my newsletter. I’ve been doing this for a few months now, so I’m a lot more confident in my voice and in understanding what my readers want from me. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been developing some new content pillars that I’m looking forward to launching (probably in the new year)—hopefully, they’ll allow me to have more of the conversations I’m already having, but in different formats. It’s going to be fun!

🔏 The balance between privacy & visibility online

I’ve been thinking a lot about the balance between privacy and visibility when you’re creating online. I’m deeply fascinated by people who exist at the fringes of visibility—people who are only somewhat visible but entirely private. In a world where everything and everyone seems so overexposed, I think that’s pretty cool. It’s a skill, in fact.

📺 Virgin River on Netflix

I’ve been really enjoying watching Virgin River on Netflix. I used to love watching soap operas with my mom when I was younger—I loved the drama and the scandal! And then a few years ago, I totally binged Hart of Dixie instead of writing my thesis. I enjoy shows that make life seem slow and soft. Something about watching people in small communities face everyday (and not-so-everyday) problems is deeply soothing to me.

❄️ Understanding life as a series of seasons

“To everything there is a season.” I really, truly believe this, even though some seasons suck more than others. Understanding my life as a series of seasons has helped me appreciate each one more. It’s been the ultimate gratitude unlock.

🍴 Throwing dinner parties

I’m planning a big dinner party later this month I’m really excited about. I started throwing them this year because I wanted to be the kind of person who threw dinner parties. Honestly the first two times I hosted in that way I was stressed and anxious the entire time. But I think I’ve gotten a hang of it now and my goal is to relax and enjoy!

🧠 Making space for deep thought

I’m probably a little biased, but I love newsletters. I worry about the possibility of becoming someone who can’t hold nuanced thoughts in their mind, especially because I think this is something a lot of people lose when they stop formal education. We’re also so busy all the time, and it can seem like the most efficient way to get information is through social media. But that doesn’t allow for nuance or deep thought, so I’m always trying to engage with content that forces me to stop and think. A lot of the newsletters I subscribe to do that.

📚 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

One thing I can’t live without is probably a good book, like any good book. I recently read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and I feel like it changed my life. I’ve always been a reader, but there was a period of about five years in college and right after when I wasn’t reading at all, and honestly, I can’t imagine that ever happening now. I love my life but am also enamored with the idea of having parallel lives going at every moment—one mine, and one through whatever book is in my hands.

Follow Ochuko on Linkedin and check out her Substack here.

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