"Wholeness is not the absence of struggle; it is the presence of your full self in the midst of it."
In this powerful episode of The Black Business Live Podcast, Tolu Akindunni sits down with Lola Dada-Olley, an attorney, author, and "Hope Multiplier." Born to first-generation immigrant parents, Lola was raised with a focus of excellence that led her to the top of the corporate legal world. But behind the professional accolades was a lived reality that required a different kind of "tactical grit."
Lola shares her journey of caring for her two autistic children. She managed 70 hours of pediatric care per week for four years while also being a lifelong advocate for her younger brother, who is profoundly autistic and intellectually disabled.
We dive into how she transitioned from "performing resilience" to becoming Unapologetically Whole.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
- The Immigrant Blueprint: Shifting from a performance-based identity to a purpose-driven life.
- The Caregiver’s MBA: How decades of navigating neurodiversity and the ADA created a sharper, more empathetic corporate leader.
- The Influence of Storytelling: Using platforms like her podcast, Hulu, TEDx, and new book to move rooms and shape national culture.
- Sustainable Ambition: How Black leaders can set boundaries and seek support without self-erasure.
- Generational Healing: Reclaiming a version of success that honors both high-impact leadership and personal wholeness.
5 Moments to Skip To:
- 02:52 – The Immigrant Blueprint: Growing up in a first-generation household where performance was the metric of success.
- 05:46 – The "Year of the Tear": A raw look at the double autism diagnosis that forced a shift from a "perfect" success story to radical emotional truth.
- 21:46 – The Strategic Pivot: How Lola leveraged "Tactical Grit" to move from the courtroom to the TEDx stage and global leadership.
- 31:57 – The Five-Minute Pocket: A practical tool for busy leaders to find grounding in the midst of professional and personal chaos.
- 44:02 – The Permission to Become: Lola's final mandate on why wholeness must always come before performance.
Featured Guest: Lola Dada-Olley
Lola leads the ADA legal team for a global banking institution and is the host of the Unapologetically Whole podcast. Her forthcoming memoir, "Unapologetically Whole," is a must-have for caregivers and high-achievers looking to redefine success after life-altering events.
Thank You For Listening!
If this episode hit home, leave us a review and share with a leader who is ready to scale.
Help us amplify Black excellence by:
- Sharing on your social media
- Tagging @bblivepodcast
- Inviting a friend to tune in
Connect With Us:
This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business.
