Many people dream of escaping the traditional 9–5 lifestyle to build a life of freedom, purpose and financial independence — but very few take the leap. In this episode of The Immigrant Story, we sit down with Tobi Adekeye — a former Shopify Product Manager, Realtor, and founder/host of Wealth on Your Terms — to uncover how she did it, and how others can do it too.
Who Tobi Was Before the Transformation
Tobi followed the path many high achievers take — school, career, and a stable corporate job. She excelled in tech, working as a Product Manager at Shopify, one of the biggest e-commerce companies in the world. From the outside, everything looked perfect: great company, great paycheck, great title.
But internally, she was unfulfilled. She wanted a life that wasn’t controlled by someone else’s schedule, limited vacation days, or corporate politics. Tobi wanted something more — freedom.
The Challenges Tobi Faced Before Her Breakthrough
Leaving a traditional 9–5 sounds glamorous, but for Tobi it was a battle of fear, identity and expectations:
- What if the money doesn’t come?
- What if entrepreneurship doesn’t work?
- What if people think she failed for leaving a big company?
Beyond external pressure, she battled the mindset many immigrants face — the pressure to “play safe” because so much is at stake. She had to decide between comfort and courage.
The Decision That Changed Everything
The turning point came when Tobi realized that a job can provide income, but it cannot provide freedom. She began shifting her mindset from salary to ownership, and from job security to wealth security.
Instead of asking, “What job should I do next?”
She asked herself, “What life do I want — and what platform will build that life?”
With that clarity, she made the bold decision to leave the 9–5 and build a future on her own terms.
The Steps Tobi Took to Build a Life of Freedom
Tobi didn’t leave her job randomly — she left strategically.
Her transition included:
🔹 Learning How Wealth Works
She studied money, assets, entrepreneurship, and real estate to understand how wealth is built — not just earned.
🔹 Building Wealth Through Real Estate
Tobi invested in real estate and began sharing data-driven strategies that ordinary people can use — not just “experts”.
🔹 Launching Wealth on Your Terms
She built a platform where she teaches wealth creation to everyday people through storytelling, lived experiences and financial literacy.
🔹 Using Her Tech + Finance + Culture Background Together
Instead of choosing one career path, she combined them:
- Tech → systems thinking
- Finance → wealth strategy
- Culture → representation and storytelling
And the combination became her superpower.
Where Tobi Is Today
Today, Tobi is proof that wealth is not defined by job titles — it is defined by freedom, ownership and self-awareness.
Her world now includes:
✨ Real estate investing
✨ Entrepreneurship and brand building
✨ Community education
✨ Hosting the Wealth on Your Terms show
And most importantly:
✨ Living life on her own terms — not according to a corporate calendar
What We Can All Learn From Tobi’s Story
Tobi’s journey shows that success isn’t about quitting your job — it’s about building a life that aligns with who you are.
Her message is simple but powerful:
“You don’t need to be extraordinary to build wealth. You just need strategy, consistency, and control.”
If her story teaches one thing, it is this — there is nothing wrong with a 9–5, but life becomes powerful when you also build something that belongs to you.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe to support more immigrant stories that inspire and empower.
📌 Follow Tobi Adekeye:
Instagram: @Tobi.adekeye
Instagram: @wealthonyourtermshub
Instagram: @tobi.realestate
About The Author
