Before the cameras come on, before the microphone is placed in front of a guest, and before the first question is asked, there is a moment of observation.
A journalist is searching.
Not for the most impressive title. Not for the longest list of achievements. Not for the perfectly rehearsed introduction. A journalist is searching for the story. The WHY that makes the founder stand out.
After over 10 years working in broadcasting as a journalist, television host and storyteller behind the Infobanger brand, I have learned that the most memorable conversations are rarely created by simply asking questions.
Known as Infobanger, Adetoke Orekoya transforms information into stories people remember. As a broadcast journalist, TV host and content strategist, she bridges journalism, storytelling and digital communication to make complex ideas engaging, accessible and impactful.
They are created by knowing which questions reveal the person behind the achievement.
Whether I am interviewing experts, entrepreneurs, community leaders or public figures, my goal remains the same: move beyond information and discover meaning.
Because every founder has a company.
But not every founder has a story worth telling.
The Founder Has a Story Before the Startup
The strongest founder stories rarely begin with the launch of a product.
They begin much earlier.
They begin with a frustration they could not ignore, an experience that changed their perspective, or a problem they became determined to solve.
In television, I have seen how audiences respond when guests move beyond prepared answers and share the moments that shaped them. The achievement may attract attention, but the journey creates connection.
People do not only want to know what a founder built.
They want to understand why they felt compelled to build it.
The question that often reveals the most is not, “What does your company do?”
It is:
“Why did this need to exist?”
The Founder Has Experienced the Reality Behind the Vision
A perfect success story rarely makes the most powerful interview.
The most engaging conversations happen when founders are willing to discuss the moments that tested them, the uncertainty, difficult decisions, failures and lessons that shaped their leadership.
As a TV host, I have learned that audiences can sense authenticity. They know when someone is simply presenting a polished version of themselves and when they are sharing something real.
Adetoke Orekoya is a journalist, television presenter, product manager and communications professional working at the intersection of media, technology and storytelling. Whether interviewing leaders, creating digital experiences or producing health communication campaigns, her mission is simple: make information meaningful and impossible to ignore.
The challenges behind a founder’s journey often reveal more about their character than their achievements.
Success tells us where someone arrived.
The journey tells us who they became along the way.
The Founder’s Work Connects to a Bigger Conversation
A founder is not worth interviewing simply because they created a business.
The deeper question is:
Why does this story matter now?
From a journalist’s perspective, relevance is everything. The strongest founder stories connect to something larger, changing industries, solving overlooked problems, creating opportunities or challenging the way things have always been done.
A company may be the headline.
But the impact is the story.
The founders who stand out are not just building businesses. They are contributing to conversations that shape how people think about the future.
The Founder Understands That Communication Is Part of Leadership
A great idea needs more than execution.
It needs a voice.
Years behind microphones, in newsrooms, and hosting conversations across radio and television have taught me that communication is not simply about speaking.
It is about creating understanding.
The founders who leave an impression are those who can translate their vision into language people connect with.
They do not hide behind complicated industry terms. They make ideas accessible. They invite people into their journey.
In today’s digital world, an interview is more than a media appearance.
It becomes a lasting authority asset — a record of expertise, perspective and leadership that can continue influencing how people perceive a founder long after the conversation ends.
The Founder Leaves the Audience With Something Valuable
Sometimes a founder walks into an interview prepared to talk about the company, the product, the milestones, the growth figures and the achievements.
But a journalist's role is not simply to collect facts. It is to uncover the moments behind them.
The right questions do more than gather information; they create space for reflection. They invite founders to revisit the experiences, challenges and convictions that gave birth to the company in the first place.
Because behind every business is a human story.
After years behind microphones, in newsrooms and in front of television cameras, I have learned that the most powerful stories are not always about the loudest voices.
They are about voices with substance.
Because beyond every pitch deck, every product and every business milestone is a human story waiting to be told.
Adetoke Orekoya is a broadcast journalist, television host and strategic storyteller who helps people and brands turn ideas into stories that inform, influence and inspire. Through journalism, digital media and health communication, she believes the right story can shape conversations, build trust and create lasting impact.
