Unpacked & Empowered Podcast by Marianne Agudo29 Sep 2025

Ep. 15 | From Newcomer Financial Shocks to Restaurant CEO: The ChopsHaven Story with Ajoke Adejumo-Isiuwe

What does it take to navigate a new country's financial system while raising a family and building a business from your passion? In this episode, host Marianne Agudo talks with Ajoke Adejumo-Isiuwe, founder of ChopsHaven Ltd., a new African cuisine restaurant in Saint John, NB. Ajoke shares her powerful journey of moving from Nigeria to Canada, facing unexpected financial hurdles, and the strategies she used to transition from a full-time employee to a full-time restaurant owner. This conversation is packed with wisdom on the importance of a support system, overcoming financial mistakes, and the mindset required to turn a dream into a reality.

About Our Guest: Ajoke Adejumo-Isiuwe is the Founder and CEO of ChopsHaven Ltd.. She moved to Canada from Nigeria in 2014 as a student and has since built a life in Saint John with her husband and daughter. Her passion for cooking, which started as a home-based business during the pandemic, has now blossomed into a full-service restaurant serving the community.

In this episode, we discuss:

Ajoke's immigration journey and the initial culture shock of moving to Canada.
The key differences between Nigeria's cash-based financial system and Canada's credit-based system.
Learning from costly financial mistakes as a newcomer, like an unexpected $700 phone bill from international calls.
How she leveraged word-of-mouth and returning customers to grow her home business during the pandemic.
The critical role her husband and friends played as a support system, helping with everything from deliveries to administrative tasks.
Advice for newcomers and aspiring entrepreneurs on building a business, the power of community, and overcoming imposter syndrome.

Resources Mentioned:

ChopsHaven Ltd.: Saint John's new destination for African cuisine.
DYTO IT Consult: Branding consulting business run by Ajoke's friend in Lethbridge.

Connect with Ajoke & ChopsHaven:

Follow on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/chopshaven/
Website: https://chopshaven.ca/[Insert ChopsHaven Website/Social Media Links]

Connect with your host, Marianne Agudo:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marianneagudo.podcast/
Website: https://marianneagudo.com/home/

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