Alex Okosi is the current managing director of EMEA, emerging markets at YouTube.
He joined YouTube in 2020.
Okosi spent 22 years at ViacomCBS, now Paramount Global, prior to joining YouTube.
He was the executive vice president and MD of Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMNA), formerly MTV Networks Africa.
He also led the BET International brand and ViacomCBS's global events business.
He has been responsible for building and driving the growth of a multimedia portfolio of VIMN brands in Africa.
These include MTV, VH1 Classic, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and BET.
Okosi is credited with launching MTV's first TV channel in Africa, MTV Base.
He was also among the first producers of the MTV Shuga show that starred Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o.
Okosi engaged in some quick-fire questions and this is what he had to say.
Favourite book………. Beloved by Toni Morrison
Favourite food………..Egusi with pounded yam or jollof rice….. Ufff!! I don’t know
Favourite podcast…….. It’s related, I promise
Favourite YouTube channel…….. I can’t say. It’s going to be hard to say because then people will think I’m biased. I like them all (laughs).
Favourite movie……. My latest favourite is Wakanda Forever. Every time I see Lupita Nyong’o up there, I am still very inspired.
Did you know she got her acting start on MTV? Yeah, not many people know that.
Favourite cartoon…….. My favourite one now is Blaze and the Monster Machines because of the toddler we have in the house. That’s what we watch. Oh if he was here, he would be happy daddy said Blaze.
In another life, who would you want to be?…….. I think I would want to be Barack Obama but with a Senate that supported me (laughs)
Three motivating words that you always tell yourself……… Be accountable, Be accessible, and Be respectful.
What are your two icks?………… I don’t like lazy people and I don’t like negative people. I love being around happy people, negative energy sucks me.
What scares you the most?…………. The loss of family really scares me.
What legacy would you want to leave behind?………… I want to inspire people to be better than me. I have worked with people, I have been mentored by people and I want to be that person that builds people.
