Ajeh Agbese stands out in a crowd. I first noticed her huge smile a couple of years ago as we bumped fists while kickboxing. We soon became friends and I must tell you she inspires me with her positive outlook, her philosophical views and – of course – her fantastic sense of humor that offers necessary comic relief.
In recent years, Ajeh’s hefty contribution to society has brought one more thing to the forefront: her enormous heart. She took the leap and started an affordable cab service that has consistently helped motivated clients find and keep jobs.
“I never really imagined growing up to be a businesswoman,” shared Agbese. “In fact, I wanted to become a doctor. I majored in biology and volunteered during my free time.”
At one point Ajeh’s volunteering path led to a women’s empowerment group.
“I interacted with women and children and developed close personal connections with them. I enjoyed helping them lead meaningful lives.”
As time went on, Agbese decided that pursuing a path in the medical field was probably not the right choice for her. Her boss and mentor sensed her passion for helping others overcome hardships and encouraged her to pursue social work.
“I remember being so scared to switch majors because I worried that my dad would disapprove. My father is Nigerian and my mother is part Jamaican and Cuban. Immigrant parents tend to have tunnel vision. You know, they want their children to become doctors, engineers and things like that.”
Her mother was very supportive.
“She gave me her blessings and told me I should do what makes me truly happy. My dad didn’t say much, however, when I told him I was never going to make money as a social worker.”
Agbese decided to follow her heart and switched to social work.
“Honestly, it was the best decision I’ve ever made because happiness always trumps money,” she winked. “And besides, my dad can just loan me money when I need it!”
Upon graduation from the University of Northern Iowa, Ajeh Agbese accepted a position at Four Oaks.
“It was my first salaried job. I worked with naughty kids and teenagers whom I mentored. I also worked at the youth shelter and the Mental Health Institute (MHI). I enjoyed building relationships with at-risk youth…
“Social work is a life-long commitment. You can’t really say it is a 9-to-5 sort of deal where clients come and go. I continued to sort of mentor the kids long after they graduated from the community program. Social workers think endlessly about the folks they work with.”
Some of the kids Agbese mentored remained in touch with her.
“They reached out to me on Facebook once they were older,” shared Ajeh. “It didn’t take much for me to notice that they continued to struggle. It was difficult for them to find and keep long-term employment because, amongst other things, transportation was a major issue.”
Agbese realized that the only way for these kids to succeed was to enable them to break the cycle of poverty and self-destruction.
“I thought to myself what if I can provide affordable transportation to these people so they have one less thing to worry about.”
Ajeh shared the possibility on Facebook via a post. I clearly recall the reaction to her status update. Many thought it was just another one of her jokes and played along. Before long, however, word spread.
“It just took off!” exclaimed Agbese. “Prior to my post, people posted all the time about needing rides. I offered my services at an affordable rate and fulfilled their need. And honestly, Facebook has been a great resource in terms of getting the word out far and wide.”
Naturally, Agbese decided to leverage the power of social media and set up a business page on Facebook.
“A lot of my former kids have experienced incarceration which makes it harder for them to find meaningful employment. Once they were released to the halfway house, I knew they had to find a way to pay rent, feed their families, and save for a better home. Keeping these issues in perspective, it is easy to see that after all is said and done, there is very little money left to pay for transportation. A regular cab can easily cost over $20 for a one-way trip to work.”
Many of these kids did not even have a job. They struggled with finding a way to pay for rides to and from job interviews.
“How can you afford to travel to a job interview when you have no money?” asked Ajeh. “Allowing people to pay when they get paid eases the burden on them which, in turn, motivates them to look for work.”
Ajeh’s cab service, as you can see, is very unique. She has heavily interwoven her social work background into the business model which sets her apart from competitors. But just how does she manage to balance the need to earn a profit while trying to accommodate customers of various financial backgrounds? I asked that question and was truly touched by her response.
“I’ve been blessed enough to somehow afford to run my business with my own resources. That being said, there have been times where I struggled with striking that balance. You want to help people but at the same time you have to make sure you’re meeting your bottom-line… I sometimes wonder whether a social worker should really be at the helm of a business because we tend to think with our hearts when really we should be thinking with our heads.”
That being said, Agbese finds an overall feeling of contentment.
“I have met and even exceeded the personal benchmarks I set at the beginning of my business venture. So, yes, I see my hard work is paying off. I work tirelessly to continue to sustain my business. My day typically begins at 4 a.m. and I return to bed at midnight. But I’m not sure if I want to measure success by simply judging my bank account.”
I pressed Ajeh to elaborate.
“It is true that I’ve enabled many to find and keep jobs. I know people who have finally paid off their fines, gotten their license back, saved up for a car, etc. But I also have met people who have lost jobs because they are struggling with issues other than money. I know of people who have returned to jail. I’ve had customers fall back into addiction and pass away. I know of one client who walked right back into an abusive relationship and ended up murdered.
“Long story short, it breaks my heart to see people continue to struggle in one way or another but then I have to remind myself that there are so many who have improved their lives simply due to the fact that my cab service has filled an important gap… and for that, I’m truly thankful.”
Ajeh Agbese has big plans for the future. Despite being a mother to two young kids, she is working tirelessly to grow her business. I’ve seen first-hand how far she’s come since announcing her decision to start her service and I have no doubt she will continue to find great success. After all, a business model based on a sincere desire to help others is a great asset to society. The future, surely, is bright. Ajeh, however, wants to continue to put her family first.
“I would love to grow my business. But I remind myself often that if I have too many customers, my kids will miss out on ‘mommy time.’ I am a single mother. I want to work hard so I can provide for my kids. At the same time, I want my children to enjoy being children. I want them to have as much access to their mother as they need. So, I always try to make sure I look after them, look after myself, and look after my business in the best possible way. It’s a balance that I still teeter with daily.”
To keep up with Ajeh, please like her Facebook page: Ajeh’s C.A.R services
Julie says
What a powerful woman! A woman can do anything she puts her mind to!
Seema Khan says
I totally agree!
Rachael Musser says
Wow! Such a great women! It’s one thing to have a big heart, it’s another to act of what breaks your heart. Thank you so much for sharing this inspiring story!
Seema Khan says
Thank you for your comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed the article.
Leila says
What a great story. Thanks for sharing.
Seema Khan says
You’re very welcome!
1stopmom says
What a great story! Following your heart and being able to help others is a wonderful thing. I think her car service is a such a good idea and very much needed. I wish her continued success.
Seema Khan says
Yes, no one else in town is offering such a service. She’s filled a major gap.
Tabitha Blue says
What a beautiful woman, inside and out!
Seema Khan says
She’s phenomenal, isn’t she?