We had the good fortune of connecting with Benny Okoto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Benny, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think risk taking or risk management is apart of life business or no business. I welcome risk at all times because I’m not so much focused on the actual results as I’m focused on the risk process from start to finish. What’s at stake, what’s to gain, what’s to lose? What did we learn? Most importantly. In order to improve on the design each time I think it’s necessary to do this. If you find gems great if not cool we damage control, we readjust, we bounce back etc. When there’s gems take the gems but don’t settle and think they’ll always work no matter what, keep collecting to make an even better total piece of the gems you discovered along the way.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think we are all creators in a way. That feeling where things feel alright, peaceful in chaos, sublime in reality, the gleam of light in the darkness, a clear mind even when you’re on the brink of insanity. That’s what keeps me going I guess to keep finding the peace, the love, the beauty and the joy in things I guess. Nothing is easy really, everything worth doing comes with challenges. Be open to adapting and believing in better solutions for better outcomes I think that would be one of things T$A could stand on

 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh yea easy call if it’s a week we’d have to do museums first the CAM and the NC museum of art and walk around the grounds they always have new installations. We have a beautiful rose garden near downtown good for photo op they also have an outside amphitheater there. Catch a show at the Pour house on like Monday Tuesday night. La Santa, Mojoes, Cookout, Morning Rolls, American Deli, Macaroni Grill, 5Star, 42nd St, Yardhouse, Metro Diner, Morgan Street Foodhall, and last eat out spot would be rooftop vibes at Taverna Agora because none of us are cooking because we outside thorough out the week. We would have a chill night one night on the food an order a pizza from Manchesters grill. Rooftops that are cool as well are the Willard, 10th and Terrace, Level 7. For the partying or the shenanigans if we went that route we’d hit Halycon or Cuya or Watts and Wards more relaxed, Shahrazad for a chill middle eastern lounge vibe they got good tea. Trails and parks are cool around here too so Dorothea park and long walks in nature and others in the area maybe every morning when the suns coming up or when it’s going down. The more niche stuff we could do on another link up because they’ll be back no worries.

 

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
32Studios/Kurt Nana (Owner) @kommonkurtesy

 

Website: tenstepsahead.us

Instagram: Instagram.com/bennyokoto

Twitter: twitter.com/bennyokoto

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@TSAxSTEPS?si=c0MxQIz9hegYNj2R

Image Credits
Martina Gonzalez Bertello, Brandon Kelly, Rory Sullivan, Alexander Rivera, The Free Lords, International Playmakers

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