In this episode, Victoria Odekomaya sits down with powerhouse construction leader Akilah Darden, President of The Darden Group. Akilah shares her incredible journey from breaking into a male-dominated industry to building skyscrapers in Washington DC by age 24, and later moving to Indianapolis to launch her own company.
She opens up about the adversity she faced — from sexism and racism to the pressures of being a Black woman in leadership — and how she turned challenges into opportunities that created jobs, empowered subcontractors, and built community impact projects like the Cook Medical facility and a grocery store in a food desert.
Whether you’re a woman entrepreneur, leader in STEM, or simply chasing your next big opportunity, Akilah’s story will inspire you to embrace confidence, turn every “no” into a “yes,” and focus on legacy.
👉 Don’t miss her insights on confidence, preparation, and building people while you build businesses.
🔗 Learn more about Akilah Darden and her work:
🌐 Website: https://akilahdarden.com/
🎓 Courses by The Darden Group: https://courses.dardengroupllc.com/
📖 Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mom-Construction-Manager-Akilah-Darden/dp/B09YWXPWR8
📚 Book on Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-mom-is-a-construction-manager-akilah-w-darden/1141393884
ABOUT
Victoria Odekomaya is a Nigerian American entrepreneur, speaker, and content marketing strategist on a mission to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through the power of storytelling and strategic content marketing.
She’s the founder of LiMStudios, a full-service creative agency and state-of-the-art content studio in Indianapolis where strategy and storytelling come together through high-quality content production and marketing implementation. She’s also the creator of Boss Ladies Magazine and host of The Own Your Brand Show, a video podcast to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through strategic content marketing and authentic conversations about the entrepreneurial journey.
Each week, Victoria breaks down practical content marketing strategies in her solo “Own Your Brand” episodes and sits down with entrepreneurs in her Behind the Brand series to uncover the stories, struggles, and systems behind their success. Because when we get real about the wins AND the struggles, we realize we're not alone and that's when real transformation happens.
Follow her journey through LiMStudios, Boss Ladies Magazine, and The Own Your Brand Show and join the movement to amplify voices, build legacy, and make impact.
📩 For sponsorship or business inquiries:
mtr.bio/limstudios | hello@thelimstudios.com | Text 260-777-7211
