SS02 Ep008 - From Cancer Research to West Africa Fashion and Entrepreneurship with Ifeoma Ubby

For the eighth episode of Italian Village - The Podcast, we are excited to welcome Ifeoma Ubby, an inspiring Italian entrepreneur with Nigerian roots who has forged a unique path blending science, creativity, and business. After earning a PhD in biology in Singapore, Ifeoma took a bold step away from academia to pursue her passion for fashion and cultural heritage.https://youtu.be/SPgtLxpj2pwIn this episode, Ifeoma shares her journey of launching an online store that celebrates African-inspired clothing, featuring vibrant, bold designs and modest, yet strikingly stylish pieces. Her story highlights the courage it takes to embrace change, the challenges of building a business from the ground up, and the deep connection between cultural expression and entrepreneurship.We’ll also explore Ifeoma’s creative process, her vision for redefining the global perception of African fashion, and the importance of infusing heritage into modern business ventures. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a fashion enthusiast, or simply love inspiring stories of innovation and resilience, this episode is sure to captivate and inspire you.0:05 Podcast Introduction and Ifi Ubbi 0:46 Ifi's Arrival and Time in Singapore 2:00 Moving to Singapore for Cancer Research 2:33 Ifi's Academic Background 4:27 Starting the Fashion Brand Oliv Vanca 5:24 Passion for Science and Family Influence 6:42 Fashion as a Break from Research 8:51 Motivation for Career Change 9:51 Cultural Inspiration from Nigeria 12:12 Initial Curiosity and Wedding Inspiration 18:15 Building the Business and Finding a Seamstress 22:43 Home as Warehouse and Showroom 39:10 Pivoting to Masks During COVID-19 47:52 Challenges of a Solo Founder 51:35 Future Plans and Business Direction An idea of: Omar Bassalti 👉 / https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarbassalti/Follow us on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/45kNUaSApple Podcast: https://apple.co/3VDVWZeAmazon Music: https://amzn.to/3Rrch17Host: Omar Bassalti 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarbassalti/Co-Host: Monica Vecchi 👉 https://sg.linkedin.com/in/monica-vecchi-490a5631Guest: Ifeoma Ubby 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ifeoma-ubby-ph-d-77189b62/Executive Producer: Italian Village - The Podcast | https://italianvillage.itArt Director: Italian Village - The Podcast | https://italianvillage.itAudio and Video Post-Production: Orchard Road Studios | https://www.orchardroad.studio/Intro and Animations: Orchard Road Studios | https://www.orchardroad.studio/ via https://www.canva.com/Graphics: Orchard Road Studios | https://www.orchardroad.studio/ via https://www.canva.com/Video Equipment: Orchard Road Studios | https://www.orchardroad.studio/Lighting Equipment: Orchard Road Studios | https://www.orchardroad.studio/Social Media Manager: DLVRContact: [email protected]:400 Orchard Road#06-10 Orchard TowersSingapore 238875https://maps.app.goo.gl/mkkA4t8p1S9k6FES8