Adeseye Omole proves creativity works at Coble Studios

Houston entrepreneur discusses transitioning from technology to media, winning Lenovo’s recognition and empowering underrepresented creators
Adeseye Omole never imagined he would trade computer programming for cameras and creative storytelling. The founder and president of Coble Studios built his Houston-based media company from a single camera setup into a thriving creative ecosystem that recently earned recognition through the Lenovo Evolve Small Award. With over 20 years in technology behind him, Omole now focuses on empowering underrepresented creators while integrating artificial intelligence tools into modern storytelling.
How did your vision for cinema-grade storytelling first come to life?
Just to be transparent and authentic, in 2011, I was going home, and I got to a stop sign, and I heard a voice say, “you are gonna start a TV station.” And I was like, who? Me? My background wasn’t even in TV or production. I’ve been in the technology space for over 20 years. When I came to this country, one of the things that intrigued me was just the computer. I’d not had hands-on experience with computers before.This was a shift for me to go into the creative space. I studied architecture in Nigeria before coming to this country because I loved design. But when I got here, I shifted careers and went into technology. When I was little, I actually had the creativity, but I kind of abandoned it at one point and pursued something else. Now I’m back to creativity.
In the creative space, it can be very expensive when it comes to production, especially if you’re looking for something top quality. In me starting with one camera and getting to this point is to create that space for other underrepresented or marginalized community to actually have access to those tools to be able to make their dreams come alive.
Can you take us back to the early days starting with just one camera?
Starting off with the camera was actually a leap of faith, honestly. Because shifting from technology, I don’t even know anything about cameras, I’m buying a professional camera. It was actually my expression that I believe what I’ve received, the vision I’ve received to do. It took about 9 months before I took a step and said, okay, let’s go in this direction.
The journey has been pretty interesting. A lot of investment here and there, getting to be a co-producer, a producer’s assistant on film projects, and every time I embarked on those journeys, I would say, I want to learn. I was actually paying to learn. I was an executive producer on a few movies.
It transitioned from just being on other people’s projects, understanding the terrain of entertainment, and then getting our own space in 2015, where we actually built out a warehouse that was about 3,000 square feet. We created it as a hub in Houston, and people came to create their content, talk shows, events, and things like that.
How have you balanced creativity with running a business?
I think the word create actually gets me excited. When I meet people that have ideas, it’s like, okay, let’s do it. What do you need to do? Where are the tools? Even when I was programming then, developing applications, it wasn’t really the programming that I was really interested in. It’s actually solving those problems, or turning those ideas to becoming a reality.
Because I studied architecture, we don’t just do design, but we also look for function. An artist can do an abstract design, but it may not really have a function except for an expression. But when it comes to architecture, we’re thinking about the design, we also think about the functionality, we’re thinking about how it integrates into the community.
When it comes to balancing the two, I don’t really see it as a struggle to balance because I already understand that when it comes to creativity, there has to be a function aspect. When we build videos for people, for instance, we want them to have a return on investment. We implement technology in place for them, whether it’s CRM, automation, AI, to actually help them simplify their process and be able to scale up from there.
What was one of the biggest challenges you faced while building Coble Studios?
One of the big parts is capital. The industry I’m in is a very capital-intensive industry, especially trying to build something that is top quality. We have our own originals that we’re working on, feature films, animations, that we’re doing internally.
I’m continually being a creator that, having the background of being behind a computer, I’m finding myself being away from the computer more often now, to be able to be in the right networks and relationships. It was a major shift for me, because even when I had the camera, I was behind the camera instead of being in front of the camera. We have major events, and people are taking pictures and doing all these things, and I look at the pictures, and I’m not in any one of them because I’m behind the scenes trying to make things work.
How has winning the Lenovo Evolve Small Award impacted your business?
I’ll first of all just want to recognize the fact that it was a shock, a surprise when we won the award. I actually wasn’t expecting it. I was in shock when I responded, like, we’re one of them? Really?
The second thing for me is just being in the right circles. Being in the right circles, Goodie Nation being part of the whole program as well, has really helped expand our network. Our mastermind calls that we have weekly also keeps us on track to make sure that we’re doing what we’re meant to do. Also, we have the AI training that is provided through this program, which is one of the things we’re really, really heavily exploring.
Because when the announcement was made, people actually paid attention to what we’re doing as well. Far beyond just the financial aspect, the relationships, access to resources has been phenomenal.
You’ve started integrating AI tools into video production. How do you see technology shaping storytelling’s future?
I’ve been in technology for over 20 years, and so when AI started coming out, the generative AI specifically, I started following it, trying to see what does this look like. We want to know what’s gonna shift? What’s the future of our company based on this?
One of the things I’ve really honed down on is I have to remind myself consistently on this, is to focus on human creativity, where our creativity is number one, but the technology supports or augments what we do. Not the reverse, where AI is replacing human beings. I feel like human beings need to be leading this creative journey as well.
Every one of the team have to be trained on AI. If you don’t want AI to replace you, then you need to know what the position and opportunity is with AI. AI is here, and it’s gonna stay, it’s not going anywhere, but I believe the direction where AI is going is affected by what choices we make.
Coble Studios aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals around gender equity. Why is that important to you?
Recently I got honored to be an ambassador at the UN, and that’s a specific area that I picked, which is the equity, inclusion, and innovation. In order to actually support that SDG goal, I’m using my company also to carry that out. It’s something that is so dear to my heart, and especially the equity inclusion, I have two daughters.
I love them, and I’m the only guy in the house. My wife and the two girls, I’m the only man here. Interesting enough, I find myself in a lot of circles where women are always surrounding me. I feel like I’m here to actually support women. When it comes to a vision for me, personally, it starts with my kids. If I’m able to do that with my kids, I’m also able to do it for other women, whether it’s my sister, a friend, my mother. The women have a lot to offer.
How is Coble Studios using its platform to uplift other Black-owned businesses?
My focus is in the creative space. I’ve partnered with an organization that’s called We Help Creatives, it’s a non-profit entity, and the goal is actually to help the creative community to be empowered and have the tools to actually be able to grow in their business. Most times creatives struggle in that area, because their strength is actually in creative, and they’re like, oh, bring out the business side, like, oh my goodness! Which is why you have starving artists.
Most of the people in the community are actually Blacks. I’m working with the organization. Most of the people on my team are also Blacks. We work together to actually just help each other in this creative space. This morning, I still just sent out a message to everyone about a grant that was available for the community.
For me, it’s whatever I can do. This skin I got, I didn’t get it by mistake. There’s a reason for it, and I want to represent that.
Can you share a story that illustrates storytelling’s power to inspire change?
In 2020, I actually signed up to be a TEDx organizer here locally in Houston, and because we had Coble Studios, we actually were able to produce in the studio. Just hearing the stories of the speakers, the transformation, the experiences, diverse people, is something that I’ve seen.
When you hear the story of someone that was homeless, and they actually stepped out of their way to go help the homeless. In the process of doing that, they started a non-profit and started giving out and helping, even though they were homeless. Those kind of stories actually move you. Just seeing now they’ve transitioned from being homeless to having their own home.
It just shows you that no matter where you are in life, you still have a story to tell. Your story can actually impact someone, and it’s not a permanent situation if you’re able to step up to the plate.
Looking ahead, what’s on the horizon for Coble Studios?
We’re actually coming to Nigeria. I’m looking at creating content and animation content that can instill positive values, and can help them to grow and explore their gifts. That’s something I’m so passionate about. We have something we’re working on right now to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world, so it’s still in the pitch stage.
We’re able to create our own originals. We’re working on some things right now. We’re seeking to understand how we can get into the film industry properly, and get some state grants. We’re preparing for that so that we can get some originals out there when it comes to our own content.
Where can people find Coble Studios?
You can reach us on Instagram, at Coble Studios. Also, on LinkedIn, it’s the same thing, COBLE Studios. Locally here in Houston, Texas, 9353 Center Point Drive, Houston, Texas, 77054, or you can call us 713-936-9806. You can send us an email [email protected].
Photo courtesy of Coble Studios




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