Figuring It Out as She Grows: Mina Okpi, Founder of Black Outdoor Adventurers
09/09/20 • 46 min
Mina Okpi is an electrical engineer-turned outdoor entrepreneur. Through her company Black Outdoor Adventurers, she helps connect people of color to the outdoors. Like a lot of small business owners, Mina didn't plan on starting an adventure tour company, but she followed the demand and she's figuring it out as it grows.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Mina about running a purpose-driven adventure company, get lots of advice for anyone looking to make a career change or launch their own outdoor company, as well as hear about the changes she’d like to see in the outdoor and travel industry.
Featured in this episode: Mina Okpi, Founder of Black Outdoor Adventurers
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus, Betterhelp, & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Black Outdoor Adventurers: Website & Instagram
- Find a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) expert to help make your company more welcoming to people from the BIPOC community via InSolidarityProject.com
- An incredible list of JEDI resources from DiversifyOutdoors.com
- Our two-part podcast series from 2016 on DEI & the Outdoors.
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Oregon State University Ecampus: Head to their website to learn more.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month by heading to Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music by Marie Hines, Josh Hoover, Eric Kinny, Utah via Music Bed.
Mina Okpi is an electrical engineer-turned outdoor entrepreneur. Through her company Black Outdoor Adventurers, she helps connect people of color to the outdoors. Like a lot of small business owners, Mina didn't plan on starting an adventure tour company, but she followed the demand and she's figuring it out as it grows.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Mina about running a purpose-driven adventure company, get lots of advice for anyone looking to make a career change or launch their own outdoor company, as well as hear about the changes she’d like to see in the outdoor and travel industry.
Featured in this episode: Mina Okpi, Founder of Black Outdoor Adventurers
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus, Betterhelp, & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Black Outdoor Adventurers: Website & Instagram
- Find a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) expert to help make your company more welcoming to people from the BIPOC community via InSolidarityProject.com
- An incredible list of JEDI resources from DiversifyOutdoors.com
- Our two-part podcast series from 2016 on DEI & the Outdoors.
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Oregon State University Ecampus: Head to their website to learn more.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month by heading to Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music by Marie Hines, Josh Hoover, Eric Kinny, Utah via Music Bed.
Previous Episode
Sprinkling Seeds: Carrington Kernodle
Carrington Kernodle is a plant-lover and a plant-eater, sprinkling the seeds of what she's learned about growing a more sustainable lifestyle. She believes in spreading the most joy possible, all while causing the least amount of harm. She shares her knowledge on her blog, Parts Homegrown.
We talk about how vegan food powers her hiking, kayaking, and yoga practice, the impact our food choices have on the environment, and the significance of having the freedom to choose to be vegan as a Black woman in America, and more. We also get advice from Carrington about getting started with houseplants.
Featured in this episode: Carrington Kernodle
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Carrington Kernodle: Instagram
- Parts Homegrown: Carrington's blog
- Hiking While Vegan
- Carrington's Juneteenth post on Instagram (mentioned in the episode)
- The Fastest Rising Demographic of Vegans is African-Americans: Washington Post
- Source: Worldwide Biodiversity at Risk
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Oregon State University Ecampus: Head to their website to learn more.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music by Marie Hines, Josh Hoover, Eric Kinny, Utah via Music Bed.
Next Episode
The Art of Thru-Hiking: Alina "Abstract" Drufovka
From the age of 13, Alina Drufovka dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail. She spent years thinking about her next hike, but her long walks haven’t been an escape or a cure-all, they've played a very formative role in her front-country life through her relationships, her identity, and in her burgeoning artistic career.
Alina “Abstract” Drufovka is a Colombian-American painter and illustrator based out of Philadelphia, PA. She has hiked the Appalachian Trail (2015 & 2017), Israel National Trail (2018), and Pacific Crest Trail (2019). She is also an outdoor professional and hopes to inspire more women and people of color to get outside and explore the trails.
Featured in this episode: Alina "Abstract" Drufovka
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by BetterHelp, Danner, & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Follow Alina Drufovka on Instagram: @abstract.hikes & @alina.druf
- Alina's Portfolio Website
- Alina's She-Explores.com Artistry Feature
- Colombian Artist: Fernando Botero
- Hiker Royalty Instagram
- Books mentioned:
- Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis
- Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650 hikers here.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward, Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music by Analog Heart, Stephen Gutheinz, & Utah via Music Bed.
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