The Power of Being in the Right Room: Why BFUTR Conference Could Change Your Career (And How App Night Gets You There)
The Truth About Networks and Opportunity; Your Network Directly Impacts Your Net Worth—Be intentional about the company you keep. Get Into the Right Rooms.
Here's something I know to be true: Your network impacts your net worth. Period.
It doesn't matter if you're in a boardroom or a coffee shop, at a conference or a casual dinner, in a Zoom call or a group chat—the people you're connected to influence what opportunities come your way, what knowledge you gain access to, and ultimately, what becomes possible in your career and business.
Your network is always working for you. Or against you. There's no neutral.
But here's the strategic part: If your network matters regardless of where you are, imagine the exponential impact when you're intentional about getting into the RIGHT rooms.
Rooms where opportunities are concentrated. Where hiring managers are present. Where leaders are sharing wisdom. Where the connections that change trajectories are actively being made.
This is especially critical for underserved communities. For Black youth exploring career paths. For recent graduates trying to break into industries. For professionals navigating a landscape that wasn't designed with us in mind. For newcomers to Canada building networks from scratch. For returnees re-entering the workforce after time away.
You have what it takes. The question is: Are you strategically positioning yourself in rooms where your talents can be seen, your potential can be recognized, and your opportunities can multiply exponentially?
This is why I'm so passionate about telling you about the BFUTR Conference—and about the opportunity to win free tickets by attending App Night on October 28th.
I've heard it said that "your network is your net worth," but I'd add this: your network is only as powerful as the rooms you're in.
You can be talented, educated, experienced, and driven—but if you're not in rooms where opportunities are being discussed, where hiring managers are present, where leaders are sharing wisdom, and where connections that change trajectories are being made—you're building in isolation.
This is especially true for underserved communities. For Black youth exploring career paths. For recent graduates trying to break into industries. For professionals navigating a landscape that wasn't designed with us in mind. For newcomers to Canada building networks from scratch. For returnees re-entering the workforce after time away.
The question isn't whether you have what it takes. The question is: Are you in rooms where your talents can be seen, your potential can be recognized, and your opportunities can multiply?
This is why I'm so passionate about telling you about the BFUTR Conference—and about the opportunity to win free tickets by attending App Night on October 28th.
One Visionary Saw the Gap and Built the Bridge
Before we talk about the conference, you need to know about the man who carried the vision behind this ver powerful room.
Lekan Olawoye didn't just see a problem—he built the solution.
As the founder and CEO of Obsidi, North America's largest network of Black tech professionals and allies, Lekan is literally redefining the future of work. He's leveraging AI and digital innovation to bridge opportunity gaps, eliminate hiring bias, and create a thriving talent ecosystem that actually works for underserved communities.
This isn't just rhetoric. This is measurable impact:
EY Entrepreneur of The Year 2024 finalist
Canada's Top 40 Under 40 (2021)
Featured thought leader in Globe and Mail, TechCrunch, Toronto Star, CP24, and CIO.com
Sought-after speaker on leadership, workforce strategy, and digital transformation
But here's what matters most: Under Olawoye's leadership, Obsidi has evolved into a game-changing ecosystem for career acceleration, executive leadership development, and workforce innovation.
He didn't just create an app. He didn't just organize a conference. He created the room—the space where Black youth, graduates, professionals, newcomers, and returnees can access opportunities that have historically been out of reach.
Why Obsidi and BFUTR Exist: Closing the Opportunity Gap
Lekan Olawoye understands something fundamental: talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.
The tech industry—and many industries—have opportunity gaps that aren't about qualifications or capability. They're about access. About who knows whom. About who gets invited into rooms where decisions are made. About who gets introduced to hiring managers. About whose resume actually gets seen by human eyes.
Traditional networking doesn't work the same way for everyone. When you don't have family connections in the industry, when you don't have alumni networks opening doors, when you don't "fit the profile" that unconscious bias favours—you need different infrastructure.
That's what Obsidi provides.
The Obsidi app is North America's largest network of Black tech professionals and allies—a digital space where community, opportunity, and advancement converge. It's where professionals connect, where companies find diverse talent, and where careers accelerate.
And once a year, that digital network becomes physical at BFUTR Conference—the annual gathering where the most important conversations happen, where hiring managers meet candidates face-to-face, where speakers share wisdom that changes perspectives, and where being in the room literally changes lives.
BFUTR Conference: THE Room You Need to Be In
November 6-7, 2025 | 6900 Airport Rd, Mississauga, Greater Toronto Area, ON
This isn't just another professional development conference. This is the room created specifically for underserved communities to access opportunities in tech.
Who This Room Was Built For:
Black Youth Exploring Tech If you're young and wondering what's possible in technology, BFUTR shows you. You'll see people who look like you doing incredible things. You'll discover roles you didn't know existed. You'll learn what pathways are available and how to start your journey—regardless of your current background.
Recent Graduates Breaking Into the Industry You have your degree, your skills, your potential—but breaking into tech without connections is brutal. BFUTR puts you directly in front of companies hiring. No applications disappearing into black holes. Real conversations with real decision-makers.
Professionals Advancing Your Career You're already in tech, but you want to level up. BFUTR connects you with leaders who've navigated the path you're on. You'll gain insights on positioning yourself for advancement, building your personal brand, and accessing opportunities that aren't publicly posted.
Newcomers to Canada Building Networks You brought your skills and experience to Canada, but you're building your professional network from scratch. BFUTR is where you meet people who understand your journey, companies actively seeking diverse talent, and mentors who can guide your Canadian career trajectory.
Returnees Re-Entering the Workforce You took time away—for family, for health, for any number of valid reasons—and now you're ready to return. BFUTR is where you discover how the landscape has changed, update your skills knowledge, and connect with companies that value diverse career paths.
What Happens in This Room:
The Marketplace: Where Jobs and Talent Meet This isn't networking in the abstract. Companies come to BFUTR specifically to hire. Recruiters and hiring managers are there with open roles, ready to have real conversations. You'll:
Meet recruiters face-to-face, not through ATS systems
Discover opportunities you didn't know existed
Have conversations that lead to interviews
Get resume reviews and career coaching on the spot
Make connections that bypass traditional application barriers
The Main Stage: Learn From Those Who've Made It Industry leaders share the insights that took them years to learn. This year's headliner is Bozoma Saint John—yes, THE Boz—one of the most influential voices in marketing and tech. You'll:
Hear from speakers who've navigated the path you're on
Gain perspective on breaking through barriers
Discover trends shaping the future of your field
Learn strategies for positioning yourself for success
Get inspired by people who prove what's possible
The Community: Build Relationships That Last Beyond the formal programming, BFUTR creates space for the conversations that matter. You'll:
Connect with peers at similar career stages
Find mentors who understand your specific challenges
Build accountability partnerships
Join a network that supports your growth beyond the two days
Discover collaborators for future projects
Skills & Development: Close Your Knowledge Gaps Workshops and sessions help you:
Understand what skills are in demand
Assess where you need to develop
Learn about certifications and training programs
Get guidance on positioning your existing skills
Discover pathways for career transitions
Why This Room Matters More Than Ever
In 2025, the tech industry is evolving rapidly. AI is reshaping roles. Remote work is changing hiring. Companies are reevaluating their diversity initiatives. In this landscape, being connected to the right people and the right information is everything.
BFUTR is where you get both.
Lekan Olawoye built this conference because he understands that underserved communities need more than good intentions—we need infrastructure. We need rooms where opportunities are concentrated. We need spaces designed with our advancement in mind.
Regular ticket price: $199
For many people—especially students, recent graduates, or those transitioning careers—that's a significant investment. But the return on that investment? It's incalculable when you consider what one connection, one conversation, one opportunity could mean for your career trajectory.
How App Night Gets You Into This Room (For Free)
This is where my work intersects with Lekan's vision.
I'm hosting App Night on Tuesday, October 28th, and every attendee will be entered to win one of two free BFUTR Conference tickets (valued at $199 each).
But App Night isn't just about the giveaway. It's about preparing you to maximize the BFUTR experience.
App Night Details:
Date: Monday, October 28, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: Los Cabos Cantina & Grill, 1009 Dundas St W, Whitby, ON
Cost: No admission fee (order appetizers as you like)
Why App Night Prepares You for BFUTR
Walking into a conference like BFUTR can be overwhelming if you're not prepared. You'll meet dozens of people, exchange hundreds of pieces of information, and have opportunities to follow up with connections. The professionals who get the most value are the ones who show up with systems.
At App Night, I'm teaching you the tech tools that will help you:
Communications Solutions How to follow up with every connection you make without dropping balls or forgetting important details.
Team Management Platforms If you're collaborating with people you meet or managing projects that emerge from connections, these tools keep everything organized.
Content Creation Tools BFUTR will inspire ideas. You'll want to share insights, document learnings, and build your personal brand. I'll show you how to do it efficiently.
Social Media Management Conference networking doesn't end when the event does. I'll teach you how to maintain visibility and continue conversations online.
Podcast & Livestreaming Technology If BFUTR inspires you to share your voice (and it should), you'll know exactly how to start.
Plus, You Could Win Free Tickets
Here's how the giveaway works:
Register for App Night with your name, email, and phone
Attend on October 28th (must be present to win)
Learn the tools that will help you maximize BFUTR
Stay until the end when we draw two names
Two winners receive free BFUTR Conference tickets ($199 value each)
Even if you don't win the tickets, you'll walk away with:
Knowledge of cost-effective tools you can implement immediately
Strategies for improving your professional systems
Connections with other local professionals
Preparation to make the most of any conference you attend
And if you do win? You'll walk into BFUTR ready to maximize every conversation, capture every insight, and follow up on every opportunity—because you'll have the systems to support your networking efforts.
The Right Room Changes Everything
I started finding tech solutions as a church volunteer working from home with a newborn. That led to building digital presence for my doula business. Which evolved into helping startups and small businesses leverage technology for growth.
Every step of that journey happened because I got into rooms where I learned from people further along the path.
Rooms where someone shared a tool that changed how I worked.
Rooms where someone made an introduction that opened a door.
Rooms where someone spoke a truth that shifted my perspective.
Rooms where I met people who became collaborators, mentors, friends.
Being in the right rooms changes everything.
BFUTR Conference is one of those rooms. Lekan Olawoye built it specifically so that Black youth, graduates, professionals, newcomers, and returnees could access the opportunities, connections, and wisdom that accelerate careers and change trajectories.
The marketplace where companies are actively hiring.
The main stage where Bozoma Saint John and other leaders share their insights.
The conversations in hallways and breakout sessions where real connections form.
The community that continues supporting you long after November 7th.
This is the room you need to be in.
Your Path to BFUTR Starts at App Night
Whether you win free tickets or decide to invest in yourself by purchasing them, I want you prepared to make the most of the experience.
App Night on October 28th gives you:
The tools to maximize conference networking
Systems to capture and follow up on opportunities
Technology to build your professional presence
A chance to win free admission to one of the year's most valuable conferences
Connection with other professionals in your area
Don't leave your career advancement to chance. Get intentional about being in the right rooms.
Reserve Your Spot for App Night
Monday, October 28, 2025 | 7:00 PM EST
Los Cabos Cantina & Grill | 1009 Dundas St W, Whitby, ON
Space is limited. Two people will win free BFUTR tickets. Everyone will gain tools that prepare them for career-accelerating opportunities.
Get Your BFUTR Conference Tickets
If you can't attend App Night or want to secure your BFUTR spot now:
November 6-7, 2025 | Mississauga
[Get BFUTR Conference Tickets Here] Get 35% off the price of your ticket with promo code BLESSED
The Question That Matters
You have talent. You have potential. You have something valuable to contribute.
Are you in the rooms where that potential can be seen, recognized, and rewarded?
Lekan Olawoye created Obsidi and BFUTR Conference to ensure that underserved communities have access to those rooms. To eliminate the barriers that keep talented people invisible. To build infrastructure where opportunity isn't about who you know—it's about being in spaces where you can be known.
I'm hosting App Night to help you prepare for those opportunities and to give two people free access to one of the most important rooms of the year.
Your career trajectory can change in a single conversation. Make sure you're in the room where those conversations happen.
See you at App Night on October 28th. And hopefully, at BFUTR Conference on November 6-7.
Questions about App Night or BFUTR Conference? Drop them in the comments or reach out directly. Let's make sure you're in the right rooms.