Dee Poku - Photos and Interview

Mother Stories

Meet Dee Poku, CEO of WIE Network and Brooklyn-Based Mama

Written by Erin Feher

Photography by Dina Kantor

Sep 24, 2019

It’s not hard to imagine Dee Poku as a power player in Hollywood—she’s confident, whip smart, and has a million-dollar smile. But it was during her years as an industry executive working on blockbusters including No Country for Old Men, Brokeback Mountain, and Lost in Translation that she also got an insiders’ look at the shameful lack of diversity at the top. As a black woman in that world, she felt firsthand the pitfalls of having no internal support network or mentors to draw on. So, she built her own. She left Hollywood and launched WIE (Women, Inspiration, & Enterprise), an influential leadership network and platform for women. Today the organization is comprised of several brands, all designed to advance and connect women in the workplace—the WIE Network, The Other Festival, A Dinner For Ladies, and Black Women Raise. Her professional shift accompanied a geographical one—she now makes her home in Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband and son in a classic brownstone. But she still crisscrosses the country (and the world) spreading her message of strength in numbers and attending to her growing company. And we are thrilled her next stop will be at our very own In Good Company conference this Friday in San Francisco. She’s given us a peek into her work and life right here, but if you’re in the Bay Area, don’t miss the chance to hear Dee (along with nearly 20 other brilliant women leaders) tell her full story in person (tickets are available here!) In the meantime, click through the slideshow below to read more about how Dee went from movie set to female-focused startup, and get a glimpse into her sunny, stylish home.

: "We moved to Brooklyn Heights a couple of years ago and love it here. Great for schools and parks and a really warm community. We found our cute little home through a friend and it’s perfect for our needs."

: "Light-filled, cozy, and unpretentious."

: Dee wears a La Ligne dress. Sebastian wears Maisonette.

: "We try to keep it corralled. I already feel overwhelmed by kid mess so I try to limit it as much as possible!"

: "There’s so much open to them. Everything is within reach, from museums to enrichment classes. And New York is a take-no-prisoners city—kids grow up with real street smarts. Nothing phases them."

: "I’ve lived in a few different countries and love to shake things up so, yes, for sure. Maybe Rome next!"

: Mom also knows how to have fun.

: "Dumbo House is a staple. We love walking along the river. Diane T is my favorite clothing store. River Cafe is a great local restaurant."

: "It’s a deep, fulfilling, selfless love like no other. It’s exciting to watch this little human evolve and grow. To see his personality emerge and assert itself."

: "Messing it all up. I’m only human, with all the flaws and uncertainty that comes with. I do my best, and so far so good, but you never really know what the thing is that might cause them damage. I also worry about him in the big wide world, too—he’s a very kind sweet sensitive soul. I hope the world doesn’t harden him."

: "I thought I wanted a girl, especially given my line of work. I was planning to raise a little feminist. But having a boy has been incredible. We are very bonded. And I’m still raising a little feminist!"

: "Yes, I did."

: "I’m an entrepreneur and work for myself, so although I didn’t go to the office for a while, I worked from home on a reduced schedule. I’m lucky I got to set my own schedule—so many mothers don’t. And don’t get me started about the lack of paid parental leave in this country!"

: "I love us all. We are doing the best we can with the resources we have. Mothers are amazing."

: "Firm, fair, and fun and a stickler for good manners."

: "I’m raising a black boy in America, so I’m very conscious of the world he will have to navigate."

: "Get all the support you need. There are no brownie points for struggling through it alone."

: "I run a platform and community for women creators and leaders called WIE. Our focus is on helping women reach leadership positions and founders build great businesses. We provide peer-to-peer mentorship and professional development and our members use their collective experience and expertise to help one another continue to advance and succeed. We’re about to open up our invite-only membership to the public, which I’m excited about. Applicants can sign up via our website wienetwork.org."

: "I grew up between London and Accra (Ghana). I studied math at university, but somehow ended up in Hollywood as a movie industry executive. I love movies. I believe in the power of content to uplift, educate, and serve as a call to action. I moved to the U.S. from London 18 years ago and never left!"

: Dee wears a La Ligne dress. Sebastian wears Maisonette.

: "I spent the majority of my career in the movie industry. I had an amazing career and worked with some incredible filmmakers, but the film biz isn’t exactly known for diversity in the executive ranks. Corporate culture as a whole is tough and I didn’t really have an internal support network or mentors to draw on to help me navigate. WIE was inspired by my desire to create what I wished I’d had—a community of women working together to help one another succeed."

: "It’s a tough juggle for sure. As a startup you want to be able to devote all the time you can to your company, but as a mother it’s simply not possible. There’s a trade-off for sure. But I’m O.K. with it. Motherhood helps grounds my decisions in values instead of just growth and profits. What is the world I want to leave behind for my children?"

: "My path was a bit more impulsive and organic, but I would certainly suggest they do their research and start with a solid business plan. If they’re already in a job, a very sound approach would be to do all the legwork in their spare time while they’re still drawing a salary. And then make the leap."

Espadrilles are by Sea Star Beachwear.

The best seat in the house.

"I’m lucky in that respect. I have my family—parents, sisters, and husband. But I also benefit from a great community of women who have my back. I strongly believe that the key to any woman’s success is in the power of her network."

"I’m a Virgo so I like to compartmentalize, create itineraries, and set boundaries and priorities. It ensures at least the most important things don’t get left behind. But above all, remember that you can’t do everything well all of the time, so please, just forgive yourself."

"I feel it when I travel or when I’m trying to work from home and my son wants my attention. And I especially feel it in relation to screens. I don’t feel I set a particularly good example in that regard."

"It’s vital. We can say all we want and set endless ground rules, but at the end of the day, what they emulate is our behavior. And for me, that’s one way I allay any mom guilt. I’m modeling a woman who works, who contributes equally to the household, who’s strong and self sufficient. And ultimately, if I want to raise a man who respects women and treats them equally, he needs to see that in his life day to day."

"Classic, feminine, unfussy. A lot of dresses. Never been much of a jeans person."

Dee wears a La Ligne dress. Sebastian wears Maisonette.

"A few more jumpsuits—they are perfect practical workwear. Also, less high fashion and more emphasis on timeless quality. I want clothes that stand the test of time. And besides, fast fashion is just not good for the environment."

"Pencil skirts, blazers, great T-shirts, pretty floral dresses and skirts, and jumpsuits. Some of my favorite designers are Mara Hoffman, Victoria Beckham, Ulla Johnson, La Ligne, and Cushnie. I like to support female-owned brands and these ones in particular make me feel strong, capable, and completely myself."

I have a simple routine comprised of clean beauty. I use Acure, Juice Beauty, and Mychelle, which you can get from Whole Foods. I only use natural oils on my body and my son’s, too. Our favorites are Everyday Shea shea butter and coconut oil.

"I haven’t been great at workouts post kid, but I walk everywhere and take the stairs, and that works pretty well for me. I’m a pescatarian and eat very healthily—no bad sugars, lots of fruit, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fish."

Brooklyn stoop hangs.

Dee wears a Theory suit and a Hatch x JCrew CMO T-shirt. Sebastian wears Maisonette.

"He just turned 7! I can't believe it."

"I'm still working on that one."

"I’m very excited about the launch of our new expanded community. Women are multifaceted. Take me, I’m an entrepreneur, a mother, a woman of color, an activist, and I tap into different communities to satisfy each of those elements. That’s where the new WIE platform is different—we are a united community of creative, successful women, but we also provide the space and opportunities to form micro communities and connect around shared goals, needs, and interests."

For more on Dee, be sure to follow her on Instagram, or check her out IRL this Friday at the In Good Company conference in San Francisco!