Highlighting Innovative Female Leaders: Ayoade (Joy) Ademuyewo

In an age where technology reshapes industries at an unprecedented pace, the healthcare sector often lags, hindered by outdated practices and a lack of accessible tools. Dr. Ayoade (Joy) Ademuyewo, a nurse anesthetist and entrepreneur, embodies the dynamic shift toward innovation in the advanced practice and physician  realm. Joy has created a first-in class, innovative direct-to provider marketplace solution for Locum Tenens anesthesiology professionals, Lokum, which is backed by Techstars  J.P. Morgan and accelerated by Google. Joy is not just a Founder & CEO ; she’s a trailblazer, addressing the gaps in healthcare staffing and job placement through technology, all while inspiring future generations of female leaders. 

Joy’s Background and Path to Entrepreneurship

Joy’s journey began far from the tech landscape. Originally from Nigeria, she moved to the United States as a teenager, navigating life and culture in a new environment. She grew up in the Dallas area and pursued her education in Houston, ultimately graduating with a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a specialty focus in anesthesiology in 2018. With experience in healthcare as a bedside nurse and nurse anesthesiologist, Joy’s foray into technology was born from her frustration navigating the convoluted job market as a clinician due to the lack of resources available for advanced practice providers like herself. Joy found the medical field stuck in outdated practices and was tired of unethical third-party recruitment agencies that often took advantage of her inexperience. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, many of Joy’s colleagues faced job loss as elective surgeries were canceled. Many colleagues fell into numerous  traps due to a lack of understanding of the Locum Tenens world. Recognizing a chance to make a significant impact, she reflected, “I got a lot of requests for help… It felt like something worth doing, and I sort of became obsessed because it’s a huge problem.” Her entrepreneurial spirit motivated her to seek a solution, drawing inspiration from the convenience of apps like Uber and Airbnb to develop Lokum.

Introducing Lokum: Bridging the Gap Between Talent And Opportunity in Healthcare Staffing

Out of Joy’s relentless pursuit for a solution, Lokum was born—a matchmaking engine specifically designed for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) jobs. “Our mission is to help people who hire medical specialists find them in a way that’s easy and affordable,” Joy explained, emphasizing the dual focus on streamlining the hiring process for organizations and improving the work-finding experience for medical providers.

The app seeks to revolutionize the job search and placement process that has remained stagnant for decades. “A lot of industries have figured this out, and for some reason, in healthcare, we’re always 10 to 15 years behind everyone else,” Joy stated. Her solution is not another job board; it’s a comprehensive direct-to provider vendor management system designed to meet the needs of both employers and job seekers in the medical field, and giving clinicians their agency back.

Using Technology to Solve Urgent Problems in Healthcare

At the heart of Joy’s work is a commitment to solving critical problems in healthcare recruitment. “Streamlining the recruitment and onboarding process for advanced practice professionals… there’s an urgency there to solve it,” she emphasized. The stakes are high, as lengthy onboarding processes can have significant implications for patient care. “In a world where it takes three to six months to onboard one person… think about the patient care implications of that.” This speaks to the broader impact of technology not just on efficiency, but on patient outcomes and the economic viability of healthcare systems.

Her vision is clear: “I think the point where anyone in a specialty field in healthcare can find a job and onboard as easily as they can call an Uber will be a major milestone.” This goal reflects her ambition to elevate and modernize the recruitment process and improve outcomes for healthcare professionals and patients alike.

Aspiring Female Leaders

For women looking to make their mark in technology or entrepreneurship, Joy offered valuable advice: “Investigate why things exist the way they exist and do not be afraid to pitch your solution.” She encourages aspiring leaders to build out loud and seek community, emphasizing that feedback can lead to unexpected support and opportunities.

By challenging the status quo and advocating for their ideas, women can build their confidence and expand their networks. As Joy shared, “by seeking mentorship, asking questions, and building out loud, I’ve found people who have raised their hand up to help,” illustrating that the act of reaching out can unlock pathways to support and success. Female leaders should embrace their unique perspectives, engage in continuous learning, and foster strong relationships that can propel them—and those they mentor—towards greater achievements.

For those aspiring to leadership roles, Joy provided straightforward advice: “a closed mouth does not get fed.”