Today we’d like to introduce you to Adeola Adeniran.
Hi Adeola, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, my name is Adeola, popularly known as Marie. Entrepreneurship has always been in my DNA. From a fashion business in my college days, to a natural hair care brand towards graduation, I have always been building. Before I moved to the United States, I had a corporate career in the downstream oil and energy sector at one of Africa’s largest energy companies. Alongside that, I ran Etsebox, an online gifting business creating gift curation services for high-network individuals and startups.
I moved to the United States for my MBA at the University of North Carolina, and upon graduation, I took on a product management role at a social commerce tech startup. Once again, I had a drive and motivation to birth an expression. So I asked my life CEO (aka God) for direction, and the nudge I received was to start with what was already in my hands. It was inspired by the story of a widow in 2 Kings 4 who was at the mercy of her creditor. The prophet Elisha asked her, “What do you have in your house?” All she had was a small jar of oil, and that was multiplied to meet all her needs.
In my own case, what I had in my hands was a gift for making moments look either beautiful or attractive, and for capturing things in a way that makes people feel like they were right there. I’ve always been the content creator of the friend group. In my MBA program, I won an exemplary award in my first year for the creative marketing I brought through storytelling to club events. In my friend and travel group, I’m always the one with the camera. I’ve just always done it naturally.
So the question became: instead of doing this just for myself, what if I did it for others? What if I turned this gift into something purposeful, for life moments, milestones, and events worth cherishing and sharing with the right people?
On September 11th, 2026, I officially launched my Instagram page. And what happened next grounded me completely. With less than two hundred followers, within weeks I got a sponsorship to attend Afrotech conference in Houston and create content for a keynote speaker. Every opportunity, every connection, and every open door since then has truly been providential. I have experienced many beautiful moments through the doors that Reeled by Marie has opened, and I am incredibly excited about the privilege of stewarding this gift and growing this vision for visual storytelling.
I would love to take this moment to give a special shoutout to the anonymous person who nominated me for this interview (may your name also be spoken of in rooms that matter), and to the people who have supported me, especially when I started. To my brothers who have invested both their hard-earned money in all my endeavors and believed in my success, to my girlies who always cheer me on, give me perspective, and shower me with love, and to my mentors and amazing clientele. Y’all have been the MVPs, for real, for real, and I could not be more grateful for this journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Absolutely not. I remember my first event. It was a complimentary service, and I drove my friend’s car, had an incident along the way, and spent $300 fixing it (haha). Then there were the late nights at YouTube University and the early mornings joining online classes on storytelling. And then there is the nature of the work itself, which requires you to plan ahead, stand on your feet for long hours, give everything you have on set, and get home spent, with the expectation to start delivering within 24 to 48 hours.
When I started, I also struggled with impostor syndrome, moments of doubt, and internal pressure to build systems and structure overnight. But I have come to realize this is a marathon, not a sprint. It is a journey I have committed to growing carefully, consistently, and with intention. So I have learned to give myself grace, keep showing up, and take it one step at a time despite the ebbs and flows. I have also come to appreciate my craft more, and honestly, the growth speaks for itself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Reeled by Marie is a visual storytelling brand. My commitment is to make you in awe of your life moments, events, and business, and to help you reach the right audience through intentionally captured content. From community events to weddings, to curated lifestyle moments and batch content creation for businesses and entrepreneurs, my work spans the full spectrum of life’s meaningful moments.
What sets me apart is how I show up for my clients. Before I ever pick up any gadget, I have a real conversation. I want to understand what they are trying to do, how they want people to feel, and what they want to convey. That discovery phase is everything. It helps me deliver work that actually moves them, because I am not guessing. I am building from their vision.
On the creative side, I show up with intention. Every frame is purposeful, and it shows in the final results. What I am most proud of is my commitment to constant growth. I keep challenging myself, I keep showing up, and I believe that discipline is what will define this brand long term.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see two big shifts in the next few years.
First, technology is democratizing content creation. There is more output, more demand, and more tools available than ever before. But that also means the bar keeps rising. Brands and businesses need creators who can cut through the noise and actually move the needle for what matters to them.
Second, impact will always win. People are not just looking for pretty anymore. They are asking: does this work? Does this drive results? The creators who understand both the art and the business strategy, who stay loyal to their craft while evolving constantly, are the ones I believe will lead the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reeledbymarie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reeledbymarie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReeledbyMarie
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@reeledbymarie
