Angelou Ezeilo

Angelou Ezeilo

Founder & CEO


Greening Youth Foundation

Atlanta, GA USA


If you’re going to be a trailblazer, you must be your authentic self. You’ll get lost otherwise.

Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Angelou Ezeilo

Milestones

My road in life has taken me all over.
I was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.
I knew from a young age that I loved the outdoors—I often got the chance to take a break from my urban city and spend summers at my family’s 54-acre plot of land in upstate New York.
I was striving to become a famous actress, but my plans took a turn when my parents decided I needed to move to the South and transfer to Spelman College, an all-women school.
While studying for my bachelor’s degree, I took a family member’s advice and changed my major from drama to English, which I’d be able to apply to many career fields if I wanted to.
I realized I wanted to go into a career field that would allow me to impact the world, so I decided to go to law school.
While practicing corporate law as an attorney for the State of New Jersey, I realized that it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.
I transitioned to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and worked on farmland preservation.
After feeling lonely as one of very few Black women in my field, I started the Greening Youth Foundation, which provides opportunities in conservation and sustainability for underrepresented youth.
Keep following my journey

Career

Founder & CEO

I lead a nonprofit that provides opportunities in conservation for underrepresented youth.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Environment & Nature
Entrepreneurship
Upholding a Cause and Belief

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for everyone

You don't need to be a wildlife biologist or environmental CEO to contribute to sustainability and conservation. There are so many things you can do to contribute. Conserve water, compost, and use a reusable bag. If you do want a career in this field, there's a huge variety to explore. Check out all of the jobs in alternative energy. Or maybe you're interested in something like botany. I recommend exploring all of the different career paths and trying something that feels right to you.

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Society in General:

"You need to pick something and stick to it. Your career path should be linear."

Challenges I Overcame

Financial
Work-Life Balance