Steven Okoye is a corporate and healthcare attorney based in New York. He currently serves as Deputy General Counsel, where he leads on issues of compliance, corporate strategy, and risk management. With more than seven years of experience, Steven has helped organizations streamline operations, meet regulatory standards, and create internal systems that support long-term growth.
Outside of work, Steven stays just as busy. He’s involved in mentorship, scholarship programs, and community outreach, all while cheering on his favorite Philadelphia teams. In this interview with SurveyNow, Steven shares how his path took shape, how he defines success, and what keeps him grounded.
How do you define success and how long did it take you to find it?
I used to believe that success was defined by reaching the next goal, finding the next job, achieving the next level of title and then arriving at some destination and finally feeling like you’ve made it. This view propelled me forward but it also had me chasing something constantly. Ultimately, I realized that success isn’t a destination. Success is simply how you show up each day.
I now define success through consistency and balance. Am I showing up for my family and friends? Am I the type of person that others can depend upon? Am I continually striving to be better than I was the day before? Once I began to focus on these aspects of success, everything else began to unfold naturally. My career has become more fulfilling, my friendships have deepened and I have a greater understanding of who I am.
What are the qualities of a good entrepreneur?
While starting something new (whether it’s a business or a career transition) rarely happens the way you envision it, the entrepreneurs who succeed typically share one common characteristic: consistency. Consistency is what differentiates those who continue to push forward from those who ultimately burnout. To illustrate consistency, consider exercising at the gym. On the first day, you do not attempt to lift the heaviest weight or run ten miles. If you do, you will likely exhaust yourself, potentially suffer an injury and dread returning to the gym. People who successfully exercise regularly and eventually achieve their fitness goals arrive at the gym each day and do a manageable amount of work, allowing their efforts to add up over time.
Consistency is what defines successful entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs who are successful do not pursue every opportunity solely due to its perceived excitement. Successful entrepreneurs also do not allow one failure to deter them from pursuing their vision. Instead, they develop habits.
What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning of your journey?
One of the biggest hurdles I needed to cross was developing the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders outside of my area of expertise, i.e., beyond the legal realm. I received the necessary education. I knew how to research and write. However, communicating legal risk to non-legal leaders required practice. I had to determine when to provide detailed explanations and when to provide only the most important information. Developing the mind-set required additional time.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I think the rate at which legal technology is evolving is beneficial. When technology is developed correctly, it frees-up time for legal teams to participate in the strategic direction of companies. For example, at EHE Health, we implemented a contract management system that has allowed us to operate more efficiently. The response from other areas within the organization has been overwhelmingly positive. I think this is the direction in which technology should continue to evolve. Legal technology enables legal professionals to focus on strategic objectives of a company rather than administrative tasks.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Do not rush the process. It is easy to assume that everything needs to occur quickly. Growth takes time. Trust your intuition. I have experienced a number of situations where I questioned myself too much early in my career. Ultimately, I found that most people are navigating the process of figuring things out as they move along. It is not about possessing all the answers. Rather, it is about remaining open-minded, continuing to grow and learning quickly enough to respond to new opportunities and to express yourself confidently.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Blocking time on my schedule has greatly increased my productivity. If something is important, I reserve time for it and focus exclusively on it. This may involve working in the morning or reserving blocks of time prior to meeting schedules. I also attempt to avoid jumping directly into e-mail after waking up. If I can accomplish one focused task prior to receiving a flood of messages from my inbox, the remainder of my day tends to flow smoothly.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I normally take a short break. Depending on my mood, this may mean stepping outside for a brief period or diverting my attention to another topic for a short time. Sports also serve as a form of relaxation for me. Whether it is watching the Sixers play or keeping track of the Eagles’ progress, sports provides me with an opportunity to disengage and regroup without being forced to.
What do you enjoy outside of your professional work?
Aside from my professional life, I remain active in my community via the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (specifically, the Mu Gamma Gamma Chapter). I also assist in leading the scholarship foundation for our fraternity. I am passionate about supporting young people in obtaining a higher education. I coached youth basketball in Winslow for a couple of years and during my time in law school, I was a “Big” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. These experiences have influenced my views on leadership and providing service to others.
Personally, I am a proud supporter of the Philadelphia sports teams. From the Eagles to the Phillies to the Sixers — I cheer for them all regardless of their performance. Loyalty and a sense of camaraderie are part of what I enjoy about rooting for local teams.
During my final year of law school, I even ran for Class President and created a couple of YouTube videos to promote my campaign. That was a creative experience for me and one I may attempt again. I believe there is value in creating content that represents who you are.
Final Takeaway
Steven Okoye embodies a steady and intentional approach to both his work and his volunteerism. He always strives to perform his duties with diligence and purpose, whether he is assisting a large corporation in maintaining compliance or serving as a mentor to a child through a scholarship program. His experiences demonstrate that often, being a successful leader requires being present for others, demonstrating reliability, and remembering where you come from.
Want to read more about Steven Okoye? Visit his website.
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