African Business Stories

On this weeks episode, I chat with Dr. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the United Africa Group, a privately owned multi-billion-dollar business conglomerate in Namibia that has been in operation since 1992.We talked about the enduring impact her late father has had on her both in life and in business. She shared his 4 guiding principles which she continues to live by and also her own business lessons having built and sustained multiple successful businesses over the past 29 years.Martha obtained an MBA in Finance from the University of California Berkley, USA; an MBA from the University of California, Santa Clara, California, USA and Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management from St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville Virginia, USA. In November 2015, Martha was conferred with a Doctorate Degree Honoris Causa in Business Administration from the University of Namibia, as a tribute to her contribution to the economy of Namibia and thereafter she founded the Dr. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun foundation aimed at nurturing the African Girl Child to be a key architect of society and a cradle of hope.   AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:  www.africanbusinessstories.com AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/ AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks episode, I chat Zainab Ashadu, Founder and Creative Director of  Zashadu a leading sustainable luxury brand that specializes in handcrafted leather pieces all designed and manufactured in Lagos Nigeria.We talk about starting her career as an actor, how a chance meeting with an old acquaintance helped her connect with her passion and begin the journey to what is today Zashadu. Zainab is one a few bag makers who still utilizes  ancient artisanry  techniques and it was interesting to learn about the craft and the leather industry in Nigeria.Zainab  has a BA  in English and Modern Drama Studies from Brunel University and studied Fashion/Apparel Design at London College of Fashion .  All Zashadu products are available for global shipping on their website- https://zashadu.com/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE: www.africanbusinessstories.com AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/ AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks episode, I chat with Ambassador Dr. Kema Chikwe,  a dynamic politician, distinguished public administrator, educationist, gender and social engineer and activist, writer and diplomat.   She is the Founder and Chairperson of the Women Leadership Institute (WLI) - WLI  is an international leadership development organization focused on developing the leadership capacity of women across Africa. Dr. Chikwe shared memories from her childhood and insights into her approach to parenting. She reflected on her career accomplishments, the gap she identified in governance  and the work she is doing through WLI to close that gap- raising a critical mass of women who are leadership conscious and equipping them with the skills they need. Dr. Chikwe studied French at the Advanced Teachers' College Owerri and obtained a further degree in French from Queens College, City University of New York. She has a doctorate in Curriculum Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.Dr. Chikwe is a renowned writer; her books are included in both the Nigerian and American curriculum. The books include Kema Chikwe: Across Borders, Women of My Era, Village Boys, First School Day for Adaeze, Kame Chameleon tours the garden, My Precious Book and other publications.  She served as Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland from 2008-2011, a former  Nigerian Federal Minister of Transportation and Federal Minister of Aviation. The first woman to hold either position in Nigeria. AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE: www.africanbusinessstories.com AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/ AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks episode, I chat with management consultant and author Chigozirim Otefe-Edebi, Co-Founder Gracehill Behavioral Health Services providers of comprehensive mental health and wellness solutions in Lagos Nigeria.We talked about her 12 year career in telecoms, experiencing burnout and quitting suddenly. Her drive as a side hustler and what led her to write her first book - The Side Hustle Workbook and now dedicating her time to building a legacy business with her husband - Providing jobs for medical professionals, enhancing the quality of healthcare and building a world class mental health practice in Lagos, Nigeria.Chigo studied Biochemistry at University of Benin, Nigeria. She is currently pursuing an MBA in Leadership and Management at York St John University in the UK. She is a certified counsellor, an advocate for Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and authored two books: ‘The Side Hustle Workbook and Strategies for coping in a toxic environment – lessons from the animal kingdom’.AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE: www.africanbusinessstories.com AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/ AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks episode, I chat with lawyer, dancer, actress and choreographer, Bunmi Olunloyo the Founder & Creative director Bailamos Dance Company a professional dance training fitness and wellness centre in Lagos Nigeria. She is also the creative and managing director for FIT BY BUNMI an active and Athleisure clothing line.We talk about how her passion for dance led her away from a career in law. How she has dealt with and overcome the stereotypes associated with professional dancing in Nigeria, going from being body shamed to being a body confidence coach and her new venture Fit By Bunmi.Bunmi holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) from the Faculty of Law University of Lagos, Nigeria and is also a qualified lawyer in Nigeria. She is currently an Associate member and certified teacher and judge under the International Dance Teachers Association UK. With over 17 years experience she has produced, choreographed and directed various showcases. She performs and plays Lead in the Internationally acclaimed theatre production FELA AND THE KALAKUTA QUEENS produced by BAP PRODUCTIONS and is a judge in WORLD OF DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES for the West Africa Region. AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE: www.africanbusinessstories.com AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/ AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks episode, I chat with award winning Mountaineer, philanthropist and Executive Coach Saray Khumalo. Saray is the Founder of Summits With a Purpose an initiative that has raised funds and built physical and digital libraries in disadvantaged African schools. She believes that literacy and education have the power to change the narrative for the next generation. She is also the Founder and  Host of the Podcast, Because It's There.On May 16, 2019, on her fourth attempt, Saray summited Mount Everest, becoming the first Black African woman to summit Mount Everest. We talked about how suffering personal loss caused her to lean into a life of service and purpose. What it means to discover ones why, failing forward and the fact that we are all extraordinary and being ordinary is a choice we make. Saray is also a fully certified Executive Coach. She uses lessons from her mountaineering triumphs to help businesses and individuals explore and unleash their full potential and achieve set goals. Saray's African Business Story is about being deliberate in breaking the shackles of convention. It is about triumph.To learn more about Saray and the work she does - https://saraykhumalo.com/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks episode, I chat with serial entrepreneur Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho Founder & CEO Futuresoft Nigeria  a leading digital & technology solutions company, Co-Founder SkillupAfrica focused on training and helping Africans launch their tech careers and Co-Founder of Alwaysme a children's clothing and lifestyle brand.We talk about how she went from bio technology to providing digital solutions, how entrepreneurs can leverage personal branding, the need to close the digital skills gap in Africa and how she manages serial entrepreneurship in multiple sectors. Nkem also shared her expert opinion on the marketing and communication trends she sees in 2021. Here is a LINK to the full article on the trends.Nkem is recognized as an Obama African Leader, Forbes’s Top Ten Female Tech Founders in Africa, Global Digital Women top 10 Most Inspiring Women in Africa, Lionesses of Africa top 100 Women and Ventures Africa 42 most Innovative Africans.  She serves on the board of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC as well as the board of the Society for Corporate Governance in Nigeria where she chairs the Digital and Innovation Committee. She also serves in the leadership of the NESG Digital Economy Thematic group; is a member of The Nigerian National IT Software Committee and the Nigerian Electronic Voting Think Tank where she actively contributes to the advancement of digitalization and shaping policy to support its inclusive delivery. Nkem's African Business Story is dedicated to impact. AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks episode,  I chat  with award winning entrepreneur, Jumoke Dada the Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Taeillo a tech enabled business that leverages mixed reality to sell furniture in Nigeria.  We talk about how her love for the creative process led her away from architecture to furniture design. How she has distinguished herself in the market using technology  and the path to building a direct to customer online furniture retail business in Nigeria.Jumoke  graduated with a first class in architecture from University of Lagos, Nigeria, She was part of the Fall 2020 Nasdaq Milestone Maker. She is a Tony Elumelu Foundation Awardee, a Diamond Bank Building Entrepreneur Awardee and a She Leads Africa Accelerator Awardee. She was featured on Elle Decoration South Africa, BBC World News and listed in 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria.Jumoke's African Business Story is dedicated to creating  a brand Africans all around the world can be proud of and ensuring all Africans have access to affordable furniture. AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks's episode, I chat with Hetty Boachie-Yiadom, an award winning entrepreneur and Co-Founder of P&H Boutique, South Africa's largest African print retail brand.While working for a leading South African bank, Hetty and her husband Papa started a fashion retail business. They would eventually leave their day jobs and scale P&H Boutique from their home to 7 stores across South Africa.Hetty is also the Lead Coach at Hetty The Entrepreneur, where she guides entrepreneurs to achieve their goals through results-based mentorship. She has set an ambitious goal to produce 300 African-led businesses who will earn in multiple currencies through digital products. Hetty graduated from University of Pretoria with a major in Political Science and a minor in English. She was named a Top 200 Young South African by Mail & Guardian in 2019, Top 50 Thriving Female Founders, and ranked number 1 on Vusi Thembekwayo's Top 40 mentorship programme. Hetty's African Business Story is dedicated to empowering African led businesses and helping them thrive.AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks's episode, I chat with Fatmata Binta - popularly known as  Chef Binta.  She was born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to Fulani parents of Guinean descent. Binta is the Founder of Fulani Kitchen -  the first African nomadic pop-up dining experience in Ghana. A dining experience that is both a culinary and cultural journey. Chef Binta describes herself as a modern nomadic chef.  Her culinary style combines her nomadic Fulani roots, classical training at the Kenyan Culinary Institute and love for rural life and nature. Her passion to share African cuisine is based on her experiences as a child growing up during the darkest period of Sierra Leone’s history, the civil war. She experienced first hand how food  can  break down barriers and bring people together. She continues to do this today by organizing dinners to broker peace between Fulani's and local communities in Ghana.Chef Binta's African Business Story is dedicated to using her culinary art to preserve her culture, build bridges and connect people.AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this weeks's episode, I chat with Emalohi Iruobe Founder of Tribe XX Lab the first and only co-working, wellness and incubator space exclusively dedicated to female entrepreneurs and female led startups and companies in Lagos - a place where women are able to present a professional front for their business as well as network, get training, access to funding opportunities and help each other.In response to the BBC Sex for Grades documentary, Emalohi started the I GO TALK project. It is a social justice and empowerment movement focused on exterminating the silence surrounding gender based violence especially among female students in Nigerian universities. This project is fully funded by VOICE GLOBAL on behalf of the government of Netherlands. Emalohi is also the Founder of Aimanosi Lingerie; a dynamic brand focused on promoting body positivity and self love in African women. She has a Bsc. in Finance and Banking from Lincoln University, PA and a Juris Doctor from Villanova University. Before delving into full time entrepreneurship she practiced law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey working in Commercial litigation, as well as working as the Manager of Project Implementation in the Kwara State Public Private Partnership office. Emalohi's African Business Story is dedicated to social impact, championing marginalized groups and creating safe spaces for women.AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this week's episode, I chat with Lucia Bakulumpaji-Wamala Founder & CEO Bakulu Power a renewable energy company in Uganda. Born in Kenya to Ugandan parents who fled during the Luwero War, she grew up mostly in Canada. The idea for her company first emerged during a trip to visit family in Uganda.Lucia was named in Forbes Afrique, Forbes Magazine as one of the 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa (2017) and by Institute Choiseul as one of the 100 African Economic Leaders for Tomorrow (2018 and 2019). She holds an honors degree in Public Administration, with a specialization in Community Intervention from the University of Ottawa and is a graduate of the Prince of Wales Business and Sustainability Programme at the University of Cambridge. Lucia's African Business Story is one of collaboration, evidenced through her commitment to continually engaging the communities she works for, from project initiation through to implementation and maintenance.AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

To celebrate International Women's Day , I chat with one of my mentors Temitope Ilyuemi. Tope is Senior Director, Global Government Relations for Africa at Procter and Gamble (P&G), she rose from a graduate entry position to become one of the most senior leaders in P&G in Africa. She champions women, advocating for gender equality and works tirelessly to see SMEs in Africa grow by helping them plug into global value chains. She is highly sought after as a key contributor to development solutions in Africa.We talked about the need to be intentional in building a career or a business, the role of mentors and sponsors, turning contacts into networks, building and leveraging community and what balancing work and family means to her. Ladies, as we celebrate International Women's day, Tope challenges us to give ourselves permission to Shine! #ChooseToChallenge AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this week's episode, I chat with award winning entrepreneur Chidinma Emodi Chukwuemeka, Co-Founder of The Footwear Academy in Nigeria. Chidinma was named Network Start-Up Woman of the Year 2019 and received the Star of Business & Entrepreneurship Award at the YALI West Africa Nigeria Cohort 4. She is currently a YALI RLC Entrepreneurship Mentor and a pioneer member of the administrators of The Young Enterprising Women in Africa network (YEWA), a nonprofit group geared towards empowering and enabling women entrepreneurs in Africa. She learnt shoemaking at Accademia Riaci, Florence, Italy and has since used her work at The Footwear Academy to improve the lives of shoemakers in Aba and Lagos state, Nigeria by enabling them produce export standard footwear products through training, job matching opportunities and access to quality/affordable raw materials. She is pioneering a mastering footwear project that will train 100 young people in Aba, Abia State and 30 youths in Ihiala LGA, Anambra State. The Footwear Academy are the recent winners of the Proudly Made in Aba Hackathon - winning a grant prize of $50,000 from Ford Foundation. They also took 2nd place in 2017 at the Open Mic Africa startup Pitch competition organized by Techpreneur Africa and MIT Legatum. They are proud winners of the March 8th Initiative by Friends of Prof, winning a NGN 1 million grant.Chidinma's African Business Story is dedicated to the creation fo jobs and the empowerment of women and youth.AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

On this week's episode, I chat with award winning chef and restauranteur, Siba Mtongana CEO & Co-Founder of The Siba Co, a food solutions and innovations company in South Africa.From aspiring home cook in the semi-rural Eastern Cape to restaurateur in one of the most prestigious hotel venues on the African continent, Siba has had an amazing culinary career. Through her TV show Siba’s Table on Food Network, Siba became a household name in 135 countries globally, garnering an iconic following. She has gone on to win five U.S. Film and Television Awards and four awards locally. She is the author of two books, Welcome to My Table - which she self published and Siba Let’s Cook - a cook book for children and the whole family. Most recently, she launched Siba The Restaurant, a fine dining restaurant at Cape Town’s most sought after address, the Table Bay Hotel at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE:www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/afribizstories

Welcome to Season 2 of the African Business Stories podcast!African Business Stories is your insight into female innovators and entrepreneurs building and running businesses in Africa. In this new season, we will continue our journey across the continent learning more about the experiences of female founders in different African countries. Another goal for the season is to go beyond the stories and explore solutions to some of the issues identified. We will also hear from those supporting female businesses and SME's in Africa and explore the tools and resources available to help them grow and thrive.My hope is that the podcast will inspire and multiply success not only on the continent but around the world. AFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES WEBSITE: www.africanbusinessstories.comAFRICAN BUSINESS STORIES INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/afribizstories/

This episode is part of a special series recorded to celebrate Father’s Day.For the series I interviewed some friends and mentors. I asked them to reflect on the greatest lessons that shaped the men they have become and also to reflect on how these lessons have influenced them as parents.About my Guest:Ejike Egbuagu is lawyer turned banker. He is the CEO on Moneda Investment Company a financial advisory company in Lagos Nigeria. www.modenainvest.com.Ejike is my brother and this particular conversation is in memory of our incredible parents. Happy Father’s Day!

This episode is part of a special series recorded to celebrate Father’s Day.For the series I interviewed some friends and mentors. I asked them to reflect on the greatest lessons that shaped the men they have become and also to reflect on how these lessons have influenced them as parents.About my Guest:Mohammed N. Mijindadi is the Managing Director of GE Gas Power Systems (GPS) Nigeria & Anglo West Africa, responsible for driving the growth and development of the sub regions power market while working with critical commercial functions to execute transactions and implement power projects.He was inducted into the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI) in October 2011, Institute of Directors in January 2014 and serves on the Board of Directors for GE International Operations Nigeria, Free Trade Zones and the ‘Kid for Kid’ foundation.In his spare time, Mohammed enjoys traveling, watching sports, and spending time with his Wife, Children & Dogs.

This episode is part of a special series recorded to celebrate Father’s Day.For the series I interviews some friends and mentors. I asked them to reflect on the greatest lessons which have shaped the men they have become and also on how these lessons have influenced how they parent or wish to parent.About my Guest:Dr Nuno Alves is a senior energy professional with 19 years of experience at BP. Based in Washington, Nuno works in BP’s representative office where provides strategic operational and business advice on company policies related to energy and climate change issues. He also represents bp with advocacy with Washington-based institutions.

This episode is part of a special series recorded to celebrate Father’s Day.For the series I interviewed some friends and mentors. I asked them to reflect on the greatest lessons that shaped the men they have become and also to reflect on how these lessons have influenced them as parents.About my Guest:Gori is the MD/Chief Investment Officer at Ascension Asset Management – a private equity firm with investments in UK commercial and residential real estate.He’s a Private Sector Infrastructure Financing Specialist with over 15 years experience in commercial and financial due diligence, policy and contract management, PPP/PFI policy, capacity building and transaction advisory services, and private sector development policy and advisory services.In 2007, he was a member of the team that helped raise £80bn for transport improvements in London ahead of the 2012 Olympic games.

This episode is part of a special series recorded to celebrate Father’s Day.For the series I interviewed some friends and mentors. I asked them to reflect on the greatest lessons that shaped the men they have become and also to reflect on how these lessons have influenced them as parents.About my Guest:Henry Kasonde Musoma’s roots are in Zambia, Southern Africa. He spread his wings as a young adult, moving to the United States, to work on his higher education.Dr. Musoma has dedicated his professional career to education. Serving as an educator in a traditional collegiate classroom and beyond the classroom through speaking at events and facilitating trainings for a variety of organizations. He believes education is a transformational experience.Henry teaches and lives his life to serve and his actions reflect this by how he treats the people in his life, whether it is a life-long relationship or the person in line at the grocery store. Henry believes and lives kindness, compassion and honesty. He has been called the Professor of Kindness.www.henrymusoma.com

This episode is part of a special series recorded to celebrate Father’s Day.For the series I interviewed some friends and mentors. I asked them to reflect on the greatest lessons that shaped the men they have become and also to reflect on how these lessons have influenced them as parents.About my Guest:Gyude Moore is a senior policy fellow at the Center for Global Development. He previously served as Liberia’s Minister of Public Works with oversight over the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure from December 2014 to January 2018.Prior to that role, Gyude served as Deputy Chief of Staff to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Head of the President’s Delivery Unit (PDU). As Head of the PDU, his team monitored progress and drove delivery of the Public Sector Investment Program of Liberia—a program of over $1 billion in road, power, port infrastructure, and social programs in Liberia after the civil war. As one of the President’s trusted advisors, he also played a crucial role in supporting President Sirleaf as Liberia responded to the West Africa Ebola outbreak and shaped its post-Ebola outlook.Hosts & GuestsAkaego OkoyeGyude MooreSenior Policy Fellow Center For Global Development

This episode is part of a special series recorded to celebrate Father’s Day.For the series I interviewed some friends and mentors. I asked them to reflect on the greatest lessons that shaped the men they have become and also to reflect on how these lessons have influenced them as parents.About my Guest:Daniel Ngwepe is a Senior Director at Visa, and looks after the company’s relations with governments in 44 Sub-Saharan African countries. An accomplished government relations professional with a record of achievement in public policy and regulation, he has been a public affairs practitioner for over 25 years. Over this period, Daniel has worked in the public and private sectors, managing diverse issues and leading teams across various fields including government, mining and payments technology both in South Africa and abroad. He was in the South African foreign service for thirteen years, ten of which he held various positions at the country’s Embassy in Washington DC until 2005. He subsequently became Executive Director for Public Affairs at Anglo American South Africa, and served on the company’s board of directors before joining Visa in 2011.Daniel dedicates time to supporting social causes and is a volunteering trustee of the Get-On Foundation, a board member of the Boys and Girls Club South Africa, the Moshal Scholarship and Good Governance Africa.

This episode is part of a special series recorded to celebrate Father’s Day.For the series I interviewed some friends and mentors. I asked them to reflect on the greatest lessons that shaped the men they have become and also to reflect on how these lessons have influenced them as parents.About my Guest:Gbenga Oyebode is a co-founder and the chairman of the Nigerian law firm Aluko & Oyebode, where he advises corporations on matters relating to energy and natural resources, telecommunications, project finance, and aviation.Mr. Oyebode is passionate about education and the arts. He serves on the Global Advisory Council of the African Leadership Academy and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a director of Teach for All, and the chairman of Teach for Nigeria. He also sits on the boards of Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Africa Philanthropy Forum, and he is a member of the Cleveland Museum of Arts International Collectors Council.

This episode is part of a special series recorded to celebrate Father’s Day.For the series I interviewed some friends and mentors. I asked them to reflect on the greatest lessons that shaped the men they have become and also to reflect on how these lessons have influenced them as parents.About my Guest:Dr. Kingsley Moghalu is the President and CEO of Sogato Strategies LLC, a global risk advisory firm in Washington DC. He served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank on Nigeria from 2009-2014 and was subsequently appointed Professor of International Business and Public policy a the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Boston. He previously worked for the United Nations for nearly 17 years.

We made it to the end of season 1! Yay!!!In Season 1, i interviewed 20 incredible female entrepreneurs from 10 different African Countries and in this final episode i reflect on my 3 main takeaways: why women start businesses, building a legacy business and the challenge of access to finance. I also reference some episodes to highlight my points. In addition, i talk about the special series we ran in honor of Fathers Day - Lessons and Legacy which is available on our website www.africanbusinessstories.com and coming soon to all podcast platforms.As we embark on curating season 2, we are committed to a Pan-African approach and are looking to interview at least 1 woman from all of the 54 African Countries. While we wait for season 2, be sure to catch up on any episodes you may have missed and re-listen to your favorites. Thank you so much for your support and i wish you a wonderful holiday season.

Aisha Ayensu is the Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Christie Brown a fashion house based out of Accra, Ghana. An award winning fashion designer, Aisha started Christie Brown in 2008, in her final year of university, naming the company after her grand mother who was a seamstress and her inspiration. Christie Brown has grown to become an internationally recognized fashion brand manufacturing women's apparel and accessories primarily inspired by African art and culture.We talked about how being young and naive helped her at start up, the need to master ones craft, making the most of celebrities wearing ones brand and how she's taking the brand global. We also talk about how she creatively maneuvered the COVID-19 crisis, put on 2 virtual runway shows, expanded e-commerce capabilities and provided much needed jobs for people in the community. Aisha won the Emerging Designer of the year (Arise Fashion Week, South Africa) Award in 2009 and the African Designer of the year (Glitz Style Awards, Ghana) in 2018 and 2019. Christie Brown has participated in exhibitions and runway shows around the world and featured in multiple international magazines.Aisha's African Business Story is dedicated to retelling the African story through fashion and contributing to job creation and empowering of people in Africa.

Barkue is the Founder and CEO of MBL International Group - a boutique International consulting and creative agency. The grand-daughter of the late President Williams V.S Tubman Liberia’s longest serving President, she left Liberia for the United States following a coup. Between 1997 and 2007, Barkue, working in a male dominated industry, set up and ran one of the few female led artist management companies - Miss Boss Lady Entertainment - she managed and worked on the management team of some of the most successful international artists at the time.In 2007 she moved back to Liberia to be closer to family and with the intention of taking over the entertainment industry . The reality of a war-torn country caused her to rethink her plans. Employing her skills to the needs on the ground, she rebranded her company to MBL International Group and went on to build the most sought after events, marketing and PR firm in Liberia specializing in bespoke event production, management, brand architecture, public relations and strategic partnerships. Her clients included, multinational companies, development agencies and the Government of H.E Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first elected female Head of State in Africa. As Liberia’s Tourism Lead from 2015 - 2017 and an African Luxury Enthusiast she was inspired to launched her BeAfricaLuxury Brand, Africa’s Luxury Global Lifestyle Brand focusing on changing the narrative, by promoting premium and Luxury African entrepreneurs and to enhance the way the world sees and engage Africa.She is the UN’s Entrepreneurship Day Ambassador to Liberia and an advocate for young women & Girls through her Miss Boss Lady Effect Organization. She proudly serves on the Board of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Center for Women and Development and also serves as Lead Consultant for Africa for Essence Ventures.Barkue's African Business Story is one of resilience and adaptability. She is committed to impact and the empowerment of black and brown women in Liberia and across the world.

Nokwazi Mzobe is the founder and lead consultant at Matoyana, an entrepreneurship & sustainability focused consulting firm in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is also an author, coach and adjunct lecturer. Her first book, The Small Business Handbook, is a guide created for start-up and early stage businesses. It is available in English and isiZulu. She also creates content for her business blog, as well as other platforms.She has over 8 years work experience with Procter & Gamble and Nokia International, working across the Middle East and Africa in Logistics, Marketing & Finance roles. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal; an Honors Degree from Wits University and an MBA from Hult International Business School. She sits on the Board of Trustees of the National Children and Violence Trust; is a Business Coach to youth social entrepreneurs and through Matoyana – is empowering 22 female business owners, who run play schools in Diepsloot, one of South Africa’s most impoverished communities.Nokwazi's African Business Story is dedicated to making knowledge accessible so people can create their own opportunities and solve their own problems. Some of her goals include the creation of a social innovation fund for survivalist entrepreneur and the localization of business knowledge - making business information available in local languages in South Africa. She lives by the saying “The best way to predict the future, is to create it” ~ Abraham Lincoln.

Ehime started making her own frozen yogurt when she realized most available brands weren’t as healthy as they claimed and created her clean-label recipe which brought about the birth of Sweetkiwi in 2011. This journey took her from Texas to Nigeria, where she opened 3 physical store locations. She has created flavors for and led partnerships with many exciting brands such as Moet & Chandon, Pepsi, Guinness, Baileys to name a few. In 2017, Ehime moved to the DC area and was accepted into the Union Kitchen food accelerator to launch her delicious Whipped Greek Yogurt in grocery stores, most recently she launched in Whole Foods Market. Ehime is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women scholar and holds a degree in Business Information Technology and International Studies from London Metropolitan University. She also completed the Entrepreneur Management program at the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan African University, Lagos. She has certifications for Cultured Dairy and Ice cream production from Penn State University. She is an OXFAM 'Work in Progress' award recipient and a Visa & IFund Women Black Woman Owned Business Grant Recipient, a British Council Alumni Awards Finalist, an inspirational speaker, a contributor for Nigeria's Business Day ‘The Spark’ magazine. and was named one of Nigeria’s 100 most inspiring women.Ehime's African Business Story is dedicated to creating healthy, low calorie treats using ingredients that inspire her from around the world. In addition she is passionate about investing in the turn around experience of women in her community by offering training and creating jobs.

Joycee Awosika is the Founder and CEO of ORÍKÌ. In pursuit of purpose, Joycee left her job with Constellation Energy, a Fortune 100 company in New York and moved to Nigeria in 2011. She held a few roles in the power sector including serving as the Technical Adviser on Research, Analysis and Informatics (Performance Monitoring) to the Honorable Minister of Power. Working in the public sector wasn't all she had imagined it to be so she decided to pursue her passion and launch an agro-beauty company. She launched ORÍKÌ in 2015, the first and only all natural farm to skin brand to operate a fast-growing premium product & wellness spa on the Continent. ORÍKÌ has developed 6 spas in four years and distributes products globally. Based on her experience and success, she has set up a new business called SOAR. SOAR is an operations and business process consultancy that works closely with businesses and individuals for sustainability, consistency and standards. Joycee is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper Alumni, a nominee of The Future Awards Prize in Public Service, 2013 & 2016, and selected into the African Leadership Network. She sits on the board of Oxfam's Work in Progress Program and on two other charity organizations and is a Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program Fellow. She was selected as one of Nigeria’s 100 most inspiring women in 2015 and as a 2017 woman of the Year for 'Her Network.' Joycee's African Business Story is dedicated to impacting and supporting SME's to be sustainable and scalable and helping them realize that they form the backbone of any economy.

On the show I interview a mother-daughter duo. Petra and Joseline Kateeba. We talk about executing an effective succession, bouncing back from loss and what scaling means to a second generation Ugandan business.Mrs Petua Kateeba is the Co-founder and a shareholder in Crest Foam Limited. She trained as a midwife and co-founded the company with her late husband in 1984. Following her husband’s death in 1992, she stepped into the leadership role and led Crest Foam from a small market player to a #1/#2 market leader. During her tenure, Crest Foam was named one of the Top 50 Brands in Uganda by Private Sector Foundation in its Proudly Ugandan campaign; she also won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from UWEAL. In 2015, she handed over the reigns to her daughter Joseline.Joseline Kateeba joined Crest Foam Limited in 2014 and in February 2015, she became the Managing Director. Prior to Crest Foam, Joseline worked for nearly four years with global power company Cummins and four years at global strategy consulting firm Bain & Company. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Warwick, an MPHIL in Management Studies from University of Cambridge and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Joseline is a Non-Executive Board Member of Uganda Manufacturers Association, NCBA Bank Uganda Limited, Biyinzika Poultry International Limited and a member of the Advisory Board of Total Uganda Limited.Petua and Joseline's African Business Story is one dedicated to building a legacy brand. Putting structure and systems in place to enable them scale both geographically and product wise.

Flora Mutahi is the Founder & CEO of Melvin March International owners of Kenya's largest flavored tea brand. In 1995, Flora heard about the planned deregulation of the tea industry in Kenya. She saw this as an opportunity and with very little industry knowledge and resources, she decided to go into the tea business. While enjoying a cup of tea one day, she had a light bulb moment and discovered a gap in the market. This led her to create Kenya's first flavored tea brand - Melvins Teas. Today, the product range has expanded to include not only flavored teas but herbal and fruit infusions.Flora has extensive local and international experience in strategic leadership, business development, market penetration and marketing. She also has interests in real estate. While she was at the helm of Kenya Association of Manufactures she spearheaded a new chapter for Women In manufacturing (WIM) aimed at encouraging more women to join the industrial sector. She is currently chairperson of WIM. She has also begun a mentorship program for young women in the manufacturing space under Melvin Marsh International Ltd. She holds an MBA from University of Cape Town and an B.Sc. in Finance and accounts (UK). Flora sits on several boards: Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Agency – Chairperson; Kenya Private Sector Alliance – Board Member; UN Global Compact – Kenya Board Member; UN Global Compact New York – Board Member; SBM Bank – Board Member. She has won several awards for her business and on a personal level during her entrepreneurial journey. Floria's African Business story is one of passion and drive. She is passionately building a world class company and at the same time passionately training and mentoring young entrepreneurs across East Africa.

Yoadan Tilahun is the founder & CEO of Flawless Events. A corporate events company based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Yoadan went to the United States for college and for 15 years did not visit her home country. On a family trip to Addis in 2007, she felt so at home she never went back. A friend knowing she did events as a side business in the United States, asked her to help organize a conference and Flawless Addis Ababa was born!Starting the company with no clear strategy or a business plan, she was successful in organizing events but soon realized that knowing how to run an event does not mean you know how to run a company, or build a legacy brand. Coming to this realization helped her elevate her game and set the company on a path to actual growth.Flawless Events organizes corporate events and conferences throughout the African continent. Her team has hosted events in Ethiopia, Cote D’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Gabon, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mauritius. In 2015, Flawless won the “Event Planner Africa” award at Meetings Magazine’s Women in MICE celebration.Yoadan serves as the president of the Ethiopian Events & Exhibition Organizers Association. She is an enthusiastic advocate for professionalizing the MICE industry in East Africa. She is the recipient of the 2017 MeetingsNet Changemaker award for her trailblazing role in the Ethiopia events industry and the UNDP Seasoned Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 award. She has also been featured on Forbes Afrique and on How We Made It in Africa. She holds an MBA in International Business and is fluent in Amharic, English and French. Along with her husband, they are raising three growing boys.Yoadan’s African Business Story is one dedicated to providing quality service and elevating the corporate event space in Africa by building a brand that can compete on the global stage.

Amal Hassan is the Founder and CEO of Outsource Global. A leading business process outsourcing company based in Nigeria and serving countries in Africa, the United States, UK and Japan. Her passion to unlock Nigeria’s development potential through technology-driven innovation and value addition led her to build, capitalize and restructure a series of technology-related businesses that succeed in developing talents and creating employment for young Nigerians. Over an 8 year period she tried 4 times to start a business processing company in Nigeria, a country not known to be an outsourcing destination. She beat all the odds and today Outsource Global with a staff of over 800 and 3 locations has established Nigeria as a business outsourcing destination on par with India and the Philippines.Amal’s entrepreneurial prowess and business acumen continue to set her apart as a highly regarded emerging business leader in Nigeria. In 2018, Amal was named one of the 16 women business leaders by Fortune-US Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership. She has also been recognized as one of Nigeria’s star by the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria for her outstanding impact to nation-building. Widely regarded as a role model for the girl-child and women especially in northern Nigeria, she has continued to mentor young leaders across her industry. Amal's African Business Story is one dedicated to creating job, empowering her community and contributing to the economic development of her home country Nigeria.

Valerie wanted to do things differently. She told herself she was young, didn’t have the funds and needed more experience. Passion said no! So she quite her job, sold everything she owned raising $10,000. With that seed money she started Niyel, a campaigns and advocacy firm based in Dakar, Senegal. It’s been 12 years since she took that leap and we explore the journey so far. Niyel helps organizations, countries and politicians build meaningful campaigns that influence behavior on the social level and policy on the government level. She is also passionate about increasing the participation of women in politics and strengthening voter participation across Africa. She has a radio show/ podcast titled We Need to Talk. She starts by asking her guests what they are in service of. For Valeria, she is in service of all things Africa. What are you in service of? Valerie's African Business Story is one dedicated to serving the African continent by increasing engagement and participation to improve the social and political landscape. ABOUT VALERIE TRAOREValerie has over fifteen years of professional experience in campaigning and advocacy on a wide range of issues including human rights and rights based programming, development, human security and conflict, politics and international relations. Valerie has led the development and implementation of advocacy and mobilization strategy for over 20 international organizations. Including Amnesty International, Oxfam and Rockefeller Foundation. She has trained over 500 campaigners and over 1500 volunteers and activists across the continent on advocacy and mobilization. She managed the development, structuring and launch of a political party in Tanzania, managed a presidential campaign in Guinea Bissau, participated in a presidential campaign in Burkina Faso, and trained a movement for participation in a municipal election in Senegal. She also serves as a trustee on the Board of Christian Aid.

Monica Musonda is CEO & Founder of Java Foods, a Zambian based food processing company. Java Foods first product was “eeZee Instant Noodles”, which has become Zambia’s leading instant noodle brand. Java Foods also manufactures and distributes eeZee Supa Cereal (a fortified instant cereal/porridge). Her experience working with one of Africa’s most successful entrepreneurs gave her the impetus to start her own business and in 2012, she moved back to Zambia and set up Java Foods. In a country where the landscape is dominated by foreign multinationals, Java Foods is a Zambian business run by a Zambian woman. Monica is one of a few Zambian women involved in manufacturing/agro-processing at a scalable level. Monica currently serves as non-executive director on several boards including Airtel Networks Zambia Plc & Zambia Breweries (where she is chair) She also serves as a judge for the Cartier Women's Initiative. The Cartier Women's Initiative runs an annual international entrepreneurship programme that aims to drive change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs. Founded in 2006, the programme is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact. To learn more and apply for the programme visit https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/about-usMonica's African Business Story is dedicated to building national pride and supporting other female entrepreneurs. By creating good food at affordable prices using local produce, she has built a brand that Zambian are proud of and which is also enjoyed across Southern Africa. She is a champion for nutrition and an advocate for female entrepreneurs across Africa.

Nichole Yembra is the Founder and Managing Director of The Chrysalis Co which houses The Chrysalis Capital, a $15M African tech fund and The Chrysalis Advisors, a financial, investment, and strategy firm. Previously, she was the Chief Financial Officer for a PE Backed $80M fintech holding company and served as Managing Partner of its investment arm. Her vision is to support African tech companies building globally relevant institutions. With her track record in enterprise financial strategy, performance improvement, data driven decisioning, and corporate governance, Nichole has served companies in the financial, aviation, education, manufacturing, health, power, and consumer goods sectors in 25 countries. For the past 4 years, she has focused on transforming Africa through data and payments. Her investments in over 15 early stage companies have doubled in size with the companies going on to raise over $60M. A fierce champion for women in tech, Nichole started GreenHouse Lab, Nigeria’s first female founder-focused tech accelerator. Launched in 2018 in partnership with Google Launchpad, the accelerator was created to close the investment funding gap for women led and gender balanced startups.Nichole's African Business Story is dedicated to increasing diversity in the African tech eco-system, making more funds available to Africa start ups and growing African companies institutions.

The African creative industry includes music, film and fashion and is attracting a lot of attention from investors. My guest, Roberta Annan and I will explore this in the context of her business journey from a pre-med education to a career in development, building and utilizing a solid network to wealth creation. A rich story with a lot of life lessons. Roberta Annan is The United Nation Environment Program (UNEP) Supporter for the Creative Economy. She is the Managing Partner of Annan Capital Partners (ACP), a sector agnostic specialized boutique Investment Company in Sub-Saharan Africa. She is currently working on a portfolio of assets in hospitality called “African Lifestyle Development Group (ALDG)”. The portfolio includes Frallain Group (a sustainable Luxury brand and a provider of risk capital), Avignon Chocolates (a luxury artisanal chocolate brand based in Ghana), Ethos Club (a community of impact focused change makers creating, collaborating, and innovating) and Agoo (A ride hailing company aimed at providing high quality chauffeur services for the corporate and tourism sector in Africa). ACP also has an arm which focuses on advisory and business development.She is also the co-founder and Managing Partner of Impact Fund for African Creatives (IFFAC) - a €100 million impact investment fund based in Luxemburg aimed at supporting the creative and lifestyle industries across Africa. Originating from Ghana, West Africa, Roberta has lived and worked on four continents. Studying at Georgetown University, Annan holds a Master’s degree in Biotechnology.Roberta's African Business Story is one of resilience. One dedicated to leveraging relationships for mutual benefit, building communities of people who want to do good and funding growth and development in Africa.

Africa has the highest concentration of female entrepreneurs, accounting for almost a third of all businesses on the continent. It’s safe to say we are a continent of strong women! That said, women continue to face enormous institutional and systematic challenges as well as gender violence. Women seem disadvantaged from the jump. In addressing these issue, the burden had rested disproportionately on women. What role do men have to play? The ability to shift entitlement and using privilege for good required intentionality. We discuss these in my upcoming podcast interview with Mrs. Ifeoma I. Idigbe. Mrs. Ifeoma I. Idigbe is a business analyst/consultant (Finance and Human Resource Management) whose educational background includes a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Masters in Human Resource Management (MA HRM). Her professional career started in banking, in corporate finance and development finance (now called SME financing) at International Merchant Bank Limited (IMB). Her career has spanned banking and finance, business restructuring, advisory services and capacity building, working with local and international organizations. Her current focus is on providing financial and business advisory services to indigenous companies to ensure they develop operating systems and practices that will provide the necessary financial and organizational stability to guarantee their future.Ifeoma is passionate about developing people. She is on the Boards of youth and gender based organizations as a founding Trustee (Ovie Brume Foundation, Women in Management, Business and Public Service WimBiz and is a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of WimBiz). She is the Founder & Executive Vice Chairman of boys to MEN Foundation, a Nigerian based non-governmental organization dedicated to ensuring that men become their best selves, and so positively impact the communities in which they live.Ifeoma's African Business Story is one dedicated to a changed world. One where roles are defined by need and circumstance as opposed to gender.

Vivian Nwakah is the Founder and CEO of Medsaf a tech enabled pharmaceutical distribution company based in Lagos, Nigeria. Vivian was born and raised in the United States and as part of her MBA, she moved to Nigeria for an internship in 2013 and never left! Medsaf was set up in 2016 and connects a fragmented supply chain to provide transparency to pharmaceutical companies and provide authentic drugs to hospital, pharmacies and patients. In 2019 Medsaf won the Seedstars Malaria Challenge, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Also in 2019, Vivian won the VivaTech Female Founders Challenge organized by 50inTech.Vivian's African Business Story is one dedicated to creating solutions for the health needs of communities on the Continent. Vivian believes that “quality medication is a fundamental human right.”

Mo Abudu is the Founder and CEO of EbonyLife Media, Africa’s first Global Black Entertainment and Lifestyle network. She is a talk show host, TV producer, human resource management consultant, media personality, entrepreneur, and a philanthropist. The first African to chair the International Emmy Awards Gala, first African to be awarded the Cannes Medallies d'Honneurs and described by Forbes as Africa's Most Successful Woman.Mo's African Business Story is one of firsts! One dedicated to changing the African narrative, creating a global brand and inspiring people to reach higher and further.

Amanda Cotterman is the Founder and Managing Partner at Equalife Group, a Venture Debt company based in Nairobi, Kenya. With a background in finance and after having run two previous businesses in Kenya, she realized there wasn’t enough debt financing in Africa. Using her own money, she started on a journey to build out the venture-debt eco-system in Africa. Amanda’s African Business Story is one dedicated to providing access to finance and helping businesses in Africa scale.

"O" Adeyemi is Head of Global Partnerships & Expansion at Flutterwave, a Fintech company founded in 2016 and focused on making it easier to transact and do business across Africa - users are able to make international payments in their local currencies.The value of strategic partnerships has fueled Flutterwave's growth and success. Most recently in 2020 they raised a $35 million Series B round and announced a partnership with Worldpay FIS for payments in Africa. COVID-19 accelerated their expansion into the e-commerce space with the launch of Flutterwave Stores.Flutterwave's African Business Story is about leveraging partnerships, understanding opportunities and pivoting appropriately. It is clearly a standout in Africa's digital-finance landscape.

This interview was done prior to the COVID-19 global shutdown. Ndidi's story of resilience and grit remains inspiring in these uncertain times. She continues to use her voice and expertise to support businesses and communities on the Continent. You can read an op-ed she wrote recently - https://bit.ly/2Wa5yMHAbout Ndidi NwuneliIn 2000 and at 25, Ndidi became the first CEO of FATE Foundation. In 2002, Ndidi set up LEAP Africa (Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism) to address the leadership gap in Africa by facilitating value based leadership programs for youth, entrepreneurs and teachers. In 2009, she co-founded AACE Food Processing & Distribution, a for profit company dedicated to fighting malnutrition and reduce post-harvest losses in Africa and in 2010 co-founded Sahel Consulting to focus on agriculture specific consulting engagements and ecosystem solutions. More recently, Ndidi has been involved in the establishment of: Nourishing Africa - A tech platform for agripreneurs in Africa to accelerate their work, connect with funders, market, talent, and celebrate their successes on the Continent; and Center for Memories that aims to preserve and promote Igbo culture and values. Ndidi's African Business Story is about a life dedicated to creating change agents in her communities and ensuring Africa can feed itself.

Welcome to African Business Stories a new podcast hosted by Akaego Okoye. The show features the stories of resilient African female entrepreneurs building and running businesses in Africa. Women who against all odds stay winning.