Meet Bukky Ayoade, the Powerhouse Helping Women Embrace the Next Chapter with Confidence.

A Community Spotlight Conversation with Bukky Ayoade, Founder of Vibrant Midlife.

In this warm and engaging conversation, Bukky Ayoade, founder of Vibrant Midlife, shares her journey of rediscovery, empowerment, and purpose. With a professional background rooted in healthcare, Bukky has spent the majority of her career championing women’s well-being. Throughout her professional path, one theme has remained constant - her deep commitment to supporting women’s health and confidence.

TLP:

Hey Bukky, can you tell us a bit about your journey before founding Vibrant Midlife, and what inspired you to start the business?

Bukky:

Of course! I’ve worked in healthcare for most of my life, so I’ve always been passionate about the health and well-being of women.

At one point, I took a little detour and trained as an image consultant. I used to help women revamp their wardrobes, colour analysis, styling, all of that kind of stuff. Again, it was all about empowering women, helping them build their confidence and feel good about themselves.

Just before COVID, in 2019, I had quite a pivotal moment. I’d had a really difficult experience in my last contract, and that was the trigger. I thought, you know what, I need to stop and figure out what I actually want to do with the rest of my life. The contract ended anyway, so it felt like a natural break.

Around that time, one of my ex-colleagues had just left her role as a pharmaceutical medic to become an executive coach. I reached out to her and said, “Can you coach me?” I booked a few sessions with her, and after the second one, everything just crystallised. Her coaching was really powerful. I realised I still wanted to work in healthcare and with women, but I wanted to focus on women of a certain age.

I parked the idea in October 2019 and went back to Lagos for a break. When I came back in early February, COVID hit. It was such a testing time for everyone. I’d cleared my head and was ready to go back to work, but of course, there were no contracts and nothing happening. I remember sitting at home thinking, what am I going to do?

God just jolted me. “All that planning you wrote about,” I heard, “go and pull it out, because that’s what you need to be doing right now.”

And that's how I kick-started Vibrant Midlife in the pandemic.

TLP:

Could tell us what does Vibrant Midlife means to you personally, and how does that vision show up in the work that you do with clients now?

Bukky:

Yeah! In fact, it starts from the naming. I knew that I wanted to capture midlife in what I was going to call the company, but if you Google midlife, the first thing that comes up is midlife crisis. I'm not about the negativity - I'm about positivity, and I wanted to bring my essence to the midlife space. Midlife is a phase of life, it's natural, it happens for everybody, but let's put some energy, fun - some joie de vivre into it! That's what led me to come up with "Vibrant Midlife".

I carry this essence into what I do. I encourage women, the transition can come with its challenges, but let's look for solutions. Acknowledge, okay, this is going on, but let's look for solutions as well.

TLP:

Speaking of joie de vivre, what have been some of the most rewarding moments since you've launched Vibrant Midlife?

Bukky:

At the start, I did a launch event in the pandemic and I had over 100 women turn up. It gave me a bit of confidence. It showed that people were interested in what i was doing, so that was great.

Just seeing changes in women that you work with, making them realise that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I love to see the lightbulb moments that come through for women - that's what I find most rewarding, if I'm honest, and that's what keeps me going!

I can't forget the Menopause Summit aswell! I always build in opportunity for women to connect and do things together as well, and I see that happening, you know, people that have met at our events, they now go ahead and collaborate and do various things, and that's just… it's great to see.

Also, I had been applying for grants for the longest, then one day the beautiful Mayo (Founder of TLP) and I sat down to do an application together and you know how Mayo is - very knowledgeable haha. That sit-down gave me the confidence to go for the "fundhership" grant, as I had done that session with Mayo, and I then used her approach. I just thought, I will just shoot my shot and keep it stepping. So when this woman phoned me, I was… I was shocked. I was so shocked!

TLP:

Speaking about events, you briefly mentioned, the menopause summit that you did earlier this year. We had the absolute pleasure of attending and just seeing how amazing it was, I assume that that was a pretty big moment in Vibrant Midlife as well.

Bukky:

Oh, most definitely! Yes, and it's leading to more - somebody came from up north for that summit, and she said "oh, we must do something like this up north", so now we're collaborating. We're gonna do summit again in London, but we're doing one in Leeds as well, together.

TLP:

You've had so many amazing highlights and so many rewarding moments, but obviously, in the life of any entrepreneur or any founder, you're gonna have some challenges as well. What challenges have you faced as a founder, and how have they shaped the way that you lead or do business today?

Bukky:

My main challenge is I'm "time-poor", because I have to juggle many things.

I'm very strategic, but I have to outsource a lot of stuff, and obviously to outsource costs money. If your business is not bringing in that much, it can turn into a cycle, if that makes sense. But I'm always one to think, okay, this is the challenge, this is the problem, what's the solution?

TLP:

I love that approach! How did you first get involved with TLP, and what actually drew you into the community?

Bukky:

I first met Mayo, the founder of TLP at a programme called Branding 101, when she facilitated a session. I loved her energy and stayed in touch.

A month or so later, I was seeing all these announcements about one of the Dream Big Brunch events. I'm thinking "Dream Brunch, what's my business?" So I didn't even pay attention. I just thought that's for a younger crowd, it's not for me.

I was in the shower one day, and something just said, you see that event, you need to attend. When I get those prompts, I act on them. So, basically, that was how I booked my ticket, and I attended - it was amazing, and from there as I got on the tube, going back from Hammersmith that day, I knew I had to sign up, I didn't even think about it.

But yeah, it's been a blessing, honestly, it really has.

TLP:

Incredible!! In what ways has been part of TLP supported your business journey?

Bukky:

I mean, look, can you not see the brand that we have going on out there haha?!

I'm proud to show off this brand. I've gained so much confident and I've learned so much from you guys, honestly - I've learned so much.

There are people out there, who tell you how they will support you, they will do this and that, but when you need it, the help is nowhere to be found. TLP is the complete opposite! Plus it's fun, fun, fun, fun, fun vibes all the time.

TLP:

And for any of the ladies who might be considering joining TLP, but haven't yet taken that next step, what would you say to them?

Bukky:

Run, don't walk. Honestly.

You know, as a grown-up woman, (and this is who I would encourage especially), women at my phase of life, don't just think that you need to network with your own age! Go and meet young people that are likeminded, they're fearless and we can learn a lot!

I would highly recommend that women plug in, because if you're looking for help, if you're looking for support, you're looking for community - join, because it will definitely support you.

TLP:

My last question for you is, looking ahead, what's next for Vibrant Midlife, and how do you see TLP playing a role in your journey?

Bukky:

So we won this money, so we need to do the work haha!

I've also talked about a podcast - when I can find the support to help me roll that out, that's one of the things that I'll start. I also talked about summits, one up north, one down south. Again, as a result of Branding 101, I met the wonderful Frederick Afrifa. I'm on Frederick's speaking course this month and I'm hoping that that will help my speaking aspirations come to fruition.

I also want to do some global work, and there's a book i'm working on, yeah, there's all sorts, but let's just leave it at that for the moment haha.

In terms of TLP, I've signed up for the year, so I'm going nowhere fast. I can't wait to meet and collaborate with more ladies and receive more opportunities.

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Connect With Bukky:

Instagram: vibrantmidlifemeno

Linkedin: Adebukola (Bukky) Ayoade