Outlier Coach | Movement Leader | Experiential Learning Pioneer | Entrepreneur
Welcome to Rise Urban Nation, hosted by Taryell Simmons. In this dynamic episode, Taryell sits down with Niiamah Ashong, an entrepreneur, coach, and speaker dedicated to empowering visionary leaders. Together, they explore the transformative power of authentic identity, the critical distinction between collaboration and co-creation, and why true inclusion begins when we celebrate what makes us different.
Niiamah breaks down the cultural lineage of his Ghanaian name and explains why reclaiming it after twenty years of using a nickname marked a pivotal turning point.
The profound insight that true inclusion does not mean blending in, but actively celebrating and valuing individual differences.
A powerful mentor intervention that prompted Niiamah to stop hiding behind pleasant masks and step fully into his authentic identity.
Redefining partnerships by contrasting standard collaboration with radical co-creation, where unique experiences combine to build something unprecedented.
Niiamah shares how transitioning from corporate actuarial consulting to entrepreneurship required embracing experiential learning and decisive action.
Cultural Identity: Exploring the deep generational meaning behind names, shedding protective nicknames, and embracing cultural heritage with confidence.
True Inclusion: Moving beyond surface-level commonalities to cultivate environments where unique perspectives, backgrounds, and talents are actively appreciated.
Radical Co-Creation: Distinguishing transactional collaboration from true co-creation where partners bring their full selves to build something unprecedented.
The Platinum Rule: Shifting from treating others how you want to be treated to honoring how they uniquely need to be seen, supported, and valued.
Career Transformation: Transitioning from conventional corporate career paths into purpose-driven entrepreneurship by taking immediate action and gaining real-world experience.
Stop diluting your uniqueness to fit into rooms; step into your authentic power and let your true value be recognized.
Focus on co-creation rather than mere collaboration by recognizing that you are already enough when entering any partnership or room.
Practice the Platinum Rule in leadership and community by learning what makes others distinct and celebrating those differences.
If you want to become something new, start doing the work immediately rather than waiting for external permission or credentials.
Niiamah Ashong is an entrepreneur, executive coach, and founder of an experiential learning company dedicated to championing high-performing outlier leaders who are shaping the future of humanity. Formerly a retirement actuarial consultant and corporate learning development leader, he hosts the Outliers Edge podcast and leads transformative leadership programs including the Trailblazer Oasis. Connect with Niiamah and access exclusive resources at https://niiamah.com/rise.
Taryell Simmons: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to another episode of Rise Urban Nation. I have a really special guest today. We have been vibing and working through some technical hurdles to bring you an authentic conversation. Welcome to the show, brother. How are you today?
Niiamah Ashong: I am doing really well. There is a whole story in the journey of my name. I only reclaimed my name as Niiamah three years ago after spending twenty years going by the nickname Nemo. My parents are from Ghana, West Africa, and there has been quite a journey to be here with you.
Taryell Simmons: We definitely have to talk about the story of your name, Niiamah. My Nigerian given name is Adekunle, which means wealth surrounds you. I was only given this name about three years ago at my sister's wedding when my family decided it was time to officially give me my Nigerian name. Tell me the meaning and the journey behind your name.
Niiamah Ashong: My full name is Niiamah Kweku Ashong. The prefix Nii is given to males and functions similarly to Mr. In my family, if you say Nii, several cousins will look up at once. Ama is a generational name from my mother's clan. I am named after my grandfather, who was the firstborn male of his generation, and I was the firstborn male of mine. In our tradition, names cycle every two generations based on birth order. Kweku is a day name meaning I was born on a Wednesday and destined for fame and fortune. That was the creed given to me at birth, and who am I to go against that?
Taryell Simmons: You certainly look built for fame and fortune with your gold shirt today.
Niiamah Ashong: Thank you. Yellow is my color, and I am in San Diego fully embracing it. It took me a long time to get here because for most of my life, I felt like I did not fit in. When I was placed in the gifted program in elementary school, I was one of the few Black students in that environment. I realized I could not fit in, so I chose the path of standing out. For years, I played the class clown and wore the loudest colors possible.
Niiamah Ashong: I wore loud shirts whenever I wanted to be seen. One day, while wearing a bright yellow shirt in a room of accomplished peers, someone gave me honest feedback: when I wore that shirt, people did not see me; they only saw the shirt. That started a journey to understand how to remain vibrant without hiding behind external items, ensuring my presence shines rather than being overshadowed.
Taryell Simmons: I love that. I also used humor and conformity at times before learning to stand out with intention. We intentionally chose bold colors like yellow and purple for Rise Urban Nation to amplify Pan-African voices. Who are you at your core?
Niiamah Ashong: I am Niiamah Kweku Ashong. Period. Full stop. It took a long time to simply be myself without needing to play roles like the best friend, the smartest person in the room, or the class clown. I used to think I was being myself, but I was adopting dominant cultural norms. I am a naturally playful person, but I am also intense, and I bring that intensity to everything I do. I am still on a discovery journey, excited to learn something new about myself every day.
Taryell Simmons: What has been the hardest way for you to learn, and why?
Niiamah Ashong: The hardest way for me to learn is trying to do it entirely on my own or through conventional channels. I consume a vast amount of content through audiobooks at high speed because physical reading became difficult after eye strain. But more than content, learning happens through relational connection. If someone offers generic conventional wisdom that I could easily find online without understanding my specific context, it does not resonate. I value learning through shared experience and thoughtful inquiry rather than unsolicited standard formulas.
Taryell Simmons: That makes complete sense. I had a long-term mentor who came from a very different background, yet took the time to truly learn about me and co-create with me. How do you define the distinction between collaboration and co-creation?
Niiamah Ashong: Collaboration is splitting up one hundred percent of a defined task. Co-creation asks: what can exist given our combined experiences that could never have been created before? When I enter a space from a co-creative mindset, I know that I am already enough. I do not shrink or measure my contribution against someone else's accomplishments; we combine our unique strengths to produce something entirely new.
Taryell Simmons: In a world that is so polarized, how do we create more spaces where people can simply exist and be enough?
Niiamah Ashong: My mission is to build a truly inclusive and empowered world. True inclusion means being seen, celebrated, and valued for who you are. Most people believe inclusion is about finding commonalities, but the true path to inclusion is celebrating and valuing what makes us different. When we actively seek out differences and treat them as assets, we unlock infinite opportunities for innovation and growth.
Taryell Simmons: That aligns with the culinary metaphor of a stew or gumbo. You cannot treat every ingredient the same or dump them all in at once. You must appreciate what the spices, vegetables, and oils each bring to create the dish. True inclusion applies the Platinum Rule: treat others the way they want to be treated based on their unique gifts.
Niiamah Ashong: Exactly. If an ingredient tries to mimic another rather than being fully itself, the entire recipe suffers. When you show up with your distinct flavor—whether you are paprika or something else—people know when to call upon your specific expertise. That clarity allows you to create immense value and live authentically.
Taryell Simmons: If someone does not yet know what grounds them, what advice would you offer?
Niiamah Ashong: First, know that you are not alone. Becoming aware that you are still searching is already a major step forward. Be curious and give yourself grace because personal growth is an ongoing journey with challenging moments. For twenty years, I went by the nickname Nemo. A colleague eventually challenged me by pointing out that Nemo means no one in Latin and asked why I was hiding behind a nickname. Another mentor told me that I was working too hard to make others comfortable and reminded me that it is not my job to keep other people safe at the expense of my own authenticity.
Niiamah Ashong: I realized how much energy I had spent ensuring others felt safe around me. Letting go of the nickname Nemo and showing up fully as Niiamah transformed my impact. Just as Barack Obama’s leadership carried profound weight by honoring his real name, stepping into your authentic identity elevates your power.
Taryell Simmons: Who are three people you look up to, and why?
Niiamah Ashong: First is my father, who immigrated from Ghana to the United States and built a new life without the modern conveniences we take for granted today. Second is Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose courage reminds me to stand firm in my convictions. Third are the Daniels, the filmmaking duo behind Everything Everywhere All at Once, whose creative vision inspires me to create fearlessly outside conventional norms.
Taryell Simmons: Tell us about your career journey and the work you do today.
Niiamah Ashong: I started my career as a retirement actuarial consultant working on large balance-sheet liabilities. While it provided security, it was not aligned with my long-term vision. I transitioned into learning and development at an ad tech company called AppNexus, which opened doors to entrepreneurship. Today, I run an experiential learning company where I champion visionary outlier leaders through coaching, leadership sandboxes, and my podcast, Outliers Edge.
Taryell Simmons: What advice would you give to someone looking to make a career transition or start a business?
Niiamah Ashong: Start by defining the life you actually want to live. Then follow the principle: if you want to be, do. If you want to be a podcaster, start a podcast. Get hands-on experience before waiting for everything to feel perfect.
Taryell Simmons: What current projects are you working on, and where can listeners find you?
Niiamah Ashong: We are running a program called the Trailblazer Oasis, a leadership sandbox designed for high-performing individuals with unconventional backgrounds to practice authenticity and expand their impact. Rise Urban Nation listeners can connect directly and access exclusive materials at https://niiamah.com/rise.
Taryell Simmons: Thank you for sharing your wisdom and gems with us today. We appreciate you and look forward to co-creating together in the future.
Niiamah Ashong: Thank you, Taryell. It has been an absolute honor spending time with you and your audience.
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