Nigerian disc jockey and philanthropist, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, has shared her personal formula for success while reflecting on her journey from student to global DJ.
She spoke while delivering the commencement address to the graduating Class of 2026 at King’s College London, United Kingdom, where she studied Business Management about 11 years ago.
Cuppy told the graduates that her career path did not turn out as she initially expected after school.
“These days I spend my time DJing around the world. Somewhere along the way, I swapped supply and demand for vibes and mic checks,” she said.
Speaking on challenges and growth, she added, “They say pressure makes diamonds, and I agree. But I believe deeply that pressure also exposes your core self. When all the layers are peeled off, it reveals who you truly are inside. Yes, we come to university to learn, but I believe we pick up something much deeper, a sense of purpose that stays with you for life. King’s College shaped me in ways I never imagined, and that influence stayed with me long after I left.”
Cuppy presented her message using the initials, “I believe I was invited here to give words of encouragement to graduates, both present and future. After overthinking it, I think I have hacked it. The roadmap to success is hidden in the initials KCL.”
Explaining the first letter, she said, “K is for kickstart. Graduates, kickstart your life even if you do not have it figured out. When I graduated, I thought my path after Business Management would be predictable, maybe corporate. Instead, I ended up behind turntables with headphones bigger than my head.”
She urged them not to wait until they feel ready, saying, “Life does not wait for you to feel ready. So please kickstart the idea. Kickstart the dream. Action creates clarity.”
Recounting her early career, she said, “I started in tiny pubs by Waterloo campus, and those tiny steps took me places that I would never imagine.”
On the second letter, she said, “C is for connect. I want you to connect with people, connect with ideas, connect with purpose.”
Highlighting her charity work, Cuppy added, “Eight years ago, I started the Cuppy Foundation and I realised that education can unlock so much potential, especially in my continent, Africa.”
She also stressed the importance of networks, telling the graduates, “Your network is not just your LinkedIn. It is your legacy.”
Cuppy said the final letter, “L,” stands for lift, urging graduates to support others as they progress.
“Lift your classmates, lift your colleagues, lift your community, lift the people standing where you once stood,” she said.
She told the graduates, “Some of you studied across borders, studied across doubt, studied across hard seasons. But all of you are here now. And that means you did not quit.”
Cuppy added, “Congratulations. Time to KCL, kickstart, connect and lift.”
