PERSPECTIVES CHAT

As first-generation Nigerian Americans, John Imah and his three siblings grew up with one common goal: to become doctors or lawyers. However, at the early age of six, John had a very different plan. Instead, he chose to follow his passion for technology and gaming. With the work ethic his parents instilled in him, he stayed true to his word, and by the time he was sixteen, John had started and sold two businesses.

With a journey filled with working for tech industry leaders such as Samsung, Snapchat, and more, John will share his lessons learned — From starting a business from the ground up to growing your business through creative partnerships and the importance of recruiting more people of color to enter the tech industry.

In this Perspectives Chat on March 7 at 12 pm EST, come away with insights from John’s personal and career perspectives including:

• Diversity Advocacy in Tech: John emphasizes the importance of recruiting more people of color and fostering creative partnerships for business growth.
• Following Passion Over Tradition: The importance of pursuing one’s passion even if it diverges from traditional expectations.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit and Work Ethic: Learning from John’s experience of starting and selling businesses at a young age.

John Imah Chief Executive Officer, at Stealth Startup

John Imah is a multifaceted and accomplished executive leader with an extensive background in the technology and media industries. John sold his first company at age 15, and has led massive global teams at scale at some of the world's biggest tech companies, including Facebook/Instagram, Snapchat, Amazon, and Twitch, where he worked with top brands, agencies, celebrities, and influencers. John is a tech advisor for start-ups and many of Hollywood's A-list celebrities, in addition to serving on multiple boards.

Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer at Skillsoft

As Chief Marketing Officer, Michelle Boockoff-Bajdek (BB) leads a global marketing organization focused on helping companies unlock the hidden value inside their greatest asset — their people. In her role, Michelle is responsible for the company’s marketing strategy to drive growth, generate awareness, and drive demand for Skillsoft solutions among learners, customers, and partners. She oversees all key marketing functions. Most importantly, she serves as the company’s brand evangelist, helping to build a vibrant community of passionate learners. Prior to Skillsoft, Michelle held several executive roles in the high-tech sector, most notably as the CMO of IBM Watson. Michelle also served as the global head of marketing for The Weather Company, an IBM Business, where she helped companies understand how to anticipate, plan for, and ultimately make better decisions — with greater confidence — in the face of weather.

With more than 25 years of marketing, branding, and strategy experience, Michelle has made it her personal mission to support the advancement of women in business. Prior to Skillsoft, she served as Chief Marketing Officer of IBM Watson, where she was instrumental in developing the first “Women Leaders in AI” program, which honors women who put AI to work across industries and around the globe. She also served as the global head of marketing for The Weather Company, an IBM Business, helping companies understand how to anticipate, plan for, and ultimately make better decisions – with greater confidence – in the face of weather.

Michelle is a prolific speaker on a range of topics, including the war for talent, digital transformation, and marketing in a post-pandemic world. She covers these topics and more as the host of Skillsoft's podcast, The Edge, now in its second season. She has authored countless papers covering a range of business and marketing topics, was at the center of Skillsoft’s leadership role in DEI through free “Leadercamps,” and has taught two Percipio courses on the Pink Pandemic and Public Speaking.

Michelle is also a founding member of CMO Huddles, a group dedicated to bringing together and empowering highly effective B2B CMOs to share, care, and dare each other to greatness. Michelle holds a Master’s degree from Simmons University and sits on the pro side of the Oxford comma debate.