Ahead of this year’s Freedom Fund Gala, I had the opportunity to sit down with Damola Adamolekun–a standout figure in the business world, the youngest CEO in Red Lobster’s history, and the honored guest of the Spokane NAACP on Nov. 15.
What emerged from our conversation was not just a profile in success–but a thoughtful reflection on discipline, self-awareness and the long game of wealth and leadership.
Adamolekun frames much of his ascent through the lens of the Hero’s Journey–a classic narrative arc in which the protagonist leaves the familiar, faces trials, gains wisdom, and returns transformed.
Born in Nigeria and migrating to America with his family, Adamolekun witnessed his father restart his medical career from scratch–re-earning his degree in the U.S. after already practicing as a doctor in Africa. That experience left a lasting impression of what sacrifice and perseverance truly look like.
It showed him that adversity isn’t an obstacle–it’s a call to grow into new seasons.
“You’re not deleting past versions of yourself,” he says. “You’re adding new layers.”
As a teen, Adamolekun didn’t just aim to win a $10,000 scholarship at a debate competition–he used that moment to step into the world of investing. A self-described lover of strategy games, he saw early on how those mental tools could apply to building wealth. That decision–to invest, not spend–was foundational.
“Wealth is freedom,” he states plainly.
He saw it as a path to stability, opportunity, and the ability to open doors for others.
His time as a student-athlete–recruited to play football at Brown University–introduced him to an elite academic environment. There, he had to absorb lessons many of his contemporaries were born into. So he studied. He learned. And he began mastering the business of financial growth.
He’s candid about the early days: he started investing during a recession. It wasn’t glamorous. There was an immediate drawdown. But he learned quickly: fear can be useful–a compass to navigate risk without freezing. Adamolekun emphasizes that economic empowerment is a way forward for communities, and that knowledge is power. His advice to new investors is simple: don’t try to outsmart the stock market. There are experts who understand the intricacies of the market, but the average person doesn’t need to be an expert. Start small. Be consistent. Think in terms of the long game–be patient and watch your money grow.
He believes deeply in curiosity, imagination, and discipline and exhorts that passion gets you out of bed, but discipline gets the work done.
It’s a lesson he learned as a student-athlete and carried into the boardroom. There are no quick fixes. He urges young people to build with time, sacrifice, and integrity.
As a Black CEO, Adamolekun understands the weight and visibility of his position. It’s not just about breaking ceilings–it’s about creating space where others feel seen and empowered. That visibility becomes a catalyst–it makes the dream feel real.
His first example of that? His father.
Adamolekun is clear: knowing your potential and your worth is essential to developing a winner’s mindset. Even if you’re the only one in the room, you have the right to be there. Curiosity challenges doubt. We do not have to shrink because we all have potential.
As the youngest CEO in Red Lobster’s history, what becomes immediately clear in Damola Adamolekun’s story is that success isn’t about sudden leaps. It’s about layers–adding, not erasing, the experiences that shape you.
“My legacy,” he says, “is the impact I have on other people.”