Building A Diverse Workforce: Omni Circle
Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL
Michael Odupitan, founder and CEO of Omni Circle, is on a mission to strengthen personal and professional development opportunities in Topeka. Applying Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Odupitan said, “ a bottom-up approach to enhance community by providing resources for basic requirements like food and employment and building sustainable communities to help individuals reach their full potential. Our network is about building up self-esteem and confidence through education while striving for whole-life balance.”
Odupitan defines the components for whole-life balance as health, social interaction, workforce development, life planning, relationship building and stewardship. Omni Circle, founded in 2019, recently purchased a 15,000 square-foot building at 1301 SW Topeka Boulevard to create a collaborative co-working space. Once the facility opens in February 2022, the date Odupitan is hoping for, he anticipates establishing a couple of cohorts each year through which participants will receive extensive training to prepare them for entrepreneurship and workplace success.
Omni Circle will offer resume assistance, workplace behavior training and entrepreneurial skill development to determined individuals of all ages eager for mentorship.
“Our goal is to drive people to achieve what they desire in life and step into leadership positions once they find the confidence to contribute,” he said. “We’re bringing people together to make our community more inclusive and address financial and economic disparities. In addition to office space, the Omni Circle property will include creative capabilities for podcasts and other innovative applications.
Odupitan grew up in a rough neighborhood in West Palm Beach, Florida, and moved to Topeka to play football at Washburn University in 2002, a decision that influenced the trajectory of his life. Although Odupitan left Topeka in 2015, he returned in 2019 to implement his vision for Omni Circle, a concept he’d been mulling for several years.
“I left here because I had an opportunity to grow somewhere else, but what drew me back was the belief that I was a better person because of the things I’d experienced while living in Topeka, including the relationships I had with my college friends and business associates,” said Odupitan. “I became a man here and wanted to offer what I have to Topeka since the city saved my life.”
Although implementing Omni Circle in the midst of a pandemic and outrage over George Floyd’s death could have been daunting, Odupitan said the timing “sparked energy and enthusiasm for what we’re trying to build here, a space where we can connect, collaborate and create together.”
Now that his dream is coming to fruition, Odupitan said, “It’s gratifying to be part of something that will break generational poverty and build better families and better communities and to see other people supporting our initiatives.
