Our sixth annual Bay Street Bull 30X30 guide showcases a group of incredible individuals who are redefining the way we do business, championing their communities, and cultivating entirely new industries. From tech and environmental pioneers to cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and media trailblazers, each of this year’s inductees is challenging Canadians to think (and work) differently for a brighter future.

In our series of one-on-one interviews, get to know each honouree a little better: their values, mission, lessons learned, and best advice. 

Reni Odetoyinbo

Social Media Entrepreneur; Reni, the Resource

What is your elevator pitch to the world?

Reni Odetoyinbo: I’m Reni the Resource and I make complex topics simple. Let’s face it, the world isn’t fair, and some people have more privilege than others. I level the playing field by providing information to all in an easily accessible manner that anyone can understand. My core focuses are financial literacy and career development, and I share this content on YouTube, Instagram, and Tik Tok.

What excites you most about the work that you are doing?

Reni Odetoyinbo: What excites me most about my work is the real change that is occurring. I am seeing the foundation for generational wealth being built before my eyes. Every time someone tells me they have started investing because of me, negotiated their salary because of me, or have been able to get out of debt with my tips, it makes me so happy!

Where do you think you have made the most impact in your community?

Reni Odetoyinbo: I believe I have made the most impact in my community simply by being a point of representation for Black and Brown folks, as well as women. Representation is very important. In the financial literacy space, we often aren’t represented and this leads many to believe that building wealth is not for them. Being a young, Black woman in this space allows me to be a point of reference for people who look like me so that they know that they can do this too. This space is for them too.

What is missing in the current discourse around personal finance, especially for millennials and Gen Z?

Reni Odetoyinbo: I believe that often, personal finance discussions ignore the realities that Gen Z and millennials face. There is no nuance in these discussions. People give advice like “stop purchasing avocado toast and you’ll be able to buy a home” without recognizing the raging inflation, absurd cost of living, mental health crisis, housing crisis, and much more that is going on. Personal finance discourse nowadays lacks intersectionality and empathy.

How do you think the dialogue around personal finance is different for people of colour or those from minority groups, if any? 

Reni Odetoyinbo: The personal finance discourse is different for Black people and other people of colour because there are privileges that we do not have that other groups have. When speaking about finance, we have to acknowledge the privileges and barriers that impact each group based on their identity. 

What is one lesson that you hope people will learn or walk away from your work?

Reni Odetoyinbo: After watching my content or hearing me speak, I hope that people will walk away encouraged. I hope they will walk away with the assurance and confidence that building wealth is possible for them, no matter what their situation is right now.

What has been your proudest moment as an entrepreneur? Your biggest milestone?

Reni Odetoyinbo: My proudest moment as an entrepreneur is when I took the leap of faith to leave my full-time job to pursue entrepreneurship full time. It symbolized me betting on myself and trusting myself enough to know that I can do this! My biggest milestone was being accepted into the YouTube Black creator class of 2022, an accelerator program run by Google to develop my channel. I was one of four Canadians chosen and the smallest creator in the program.

Why does your work matter?

Reni Odetoyinbo: My work matters because it is changing the trajectory of people’s lives. Through my work people are learning how to make their money work for them and will be able to create generational wealth as a result. Lives are changed by my work.

What have you learned about yourself as you’ve built your company and raised your voice?

Reni Odetoyinbo: I’ve learned two things. First, that I am capable of achieving anything that I put my mind to. I quit my job to pursue this with a plan to help others and it has been working out just like I thought it would. Next, I’ve learned the true value of my voice. 

What is a major career goal that you have set your sights on and hope to accomplish in 2022? 

Reni Odetoyinbo: I hope to build a community of 50,000 across all my platforms by the end of 2022. We are growing rapidly, getting stronger day by day so I think it is achievable.

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Feeling inspired? Meet the rest of Bay Street Bull’s 30X30