FATHOM with Anysie

In this episode I sit down with creative entrepreneur Malik Shafi, founder of the Kigali based agency 63 Inc, for a conversation that does not fit into neat career boxes. Malik shares how growing up in Nyamirambo shaped his identity and drive, how he got an unexpected break at Nike Foundation’s Girl Effect despite an unconventional résumé, and how he has moved from nonprofit brand work to tech and business operations by staying curious, agile and ready to learn.

We talk about what it means to bet on yourself, how to balance purpose with financial growth, why it matters to expose yourself and your children to wide possibilities, and how we can keep cultural authenticity alive even as cities modernize. It is an honest and energizing reflection on building a fulfilling and self defined career while staying rooted in where we come from.

In this conversation, I sit down with Thomas Njeru, co-founder and CEO of Pula Advisors, to unpack his inspiring journey from growing up on a farm in rural Kenya to becoming an actuary, rising to director at Deloitte, and ultimately walking away from the corporate world to build for impact.

We discuss his journey of  co-founding Pula, a company with a mission of providing agricultural insurance for smallholder farmers to protect them against increasing climate shocks. Pula has successfully to 18 countries ranging from Kenya, Mexico, and Pakistan and they have reached over 20 million farmers. Thomas shares lessons on building a resilient global teams, navigating expansion across continents.

We also discuss the recent experience of raising a $20 million Series B round in a tough fundraising climate. Thomas pursued actuarial science at the University of Nairobi and later earned an MBA from Strathmore Business School. Before founding Pula, he held senior roles at UAP-Old Mutual and Deloitte South Africa, where he honed his expertise in risk and insurance. In 2023, he was first runner-up in the Africa's Business Heroes competition, and in 2024, he was featured on the TIME100 Next list. 

In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and visionary leader Fred Swaniker. He takes us through his remarkable journey from growing up in Botswana to founding eight institutions that operate at both continental and global scale. We explore the experiences that shaped his path, what he has learned from building mission-driven organizations, how to build meaningful relationships, and why your reputation is one of your greatest assets. Fred also shares honest, practical advice to African entrepreneurs and reflects on what it takes to build ventures that last on the continent. Fred Swaniker is the Founder and CEO of Sand Technologies, a company helping businesses and governments solve complex problems using AI and data solutions. He also founded the Africa Leadership Group, which includes Africa Leadership Academy, Africa Leadership University, and ALX, organizations working to transform the continent by developing 3 million ethical and entrepreneurial leaders. Fred has been recognized globally: from being named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People” to receiving the TIME100 Impact Award. He has also been a TED Fellow, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and an Aspen Institute Fellow. He holds honorary doctorates from Macalester College, Middlebury College, and Nelson Mandela University, and sits on the boards of the Rhodes Trust and the University of Waterloo’s International Advisory Board. Fred began his career at McKinsey & Company and holds an MBA from Stanford.

In this episode, I sit down with Tesh Mbaabu, a serial technology entrepreneur dedicated to blending commerce and technology. We discuss the experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial journey, the highs and lows of building businesses, navigating failure, and finding the resilience to start again.

Tesh is the Co-founder and CEO of Chpter, an AI-powered conversational commerce platform that helps businesses sell more on social platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram by automating conversations, marketing, and payments.

Before Chpter, he co-founded and led MarketForce, a B2B commerce marketplace that enabled informal merchants in Africa to source, order, and pay for inventory while accessing financing. Under his leadership, MarketForce expanded across five Sub-Saharan African markets, serving over 270,000 merchants and 100 consumer brands.

Beyond his founder roles, Tesh is a Partner at Mesozi, an early-stage investor focused on Africa’s next generation of high-growth technology entrepreneurs.

His work has earned him recognition as a Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 honoree, a Choiseul 100 Africa Laureate, and a Business Daily Top 40 Under 40 Men Kenya. He has also been named among CIO Africa's Top 45 Most Influential Men in Digital Transformation and the Top 10 Africa Business Heroes. Additionally, he is a Harambean, as well as a fellow of Schmidt Futures, Westerwelle, Alibaba, and the UN.

Tesh holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Nairobi.

In the next episode, I sit down with Clare Akamanzi, the CEO of NBA Africa and former CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Clare’s leadership is an inspiration to many and her impact is felt across across Rwanda and the continent.

During her six and a half years at RDB, she spearheaded Rwanda's economic transformation by driving private sector growth and implementing significant business reforms. Under her leadership, Rwanda secured strategic partnerships with global brands like Arsenal FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC, FC Bayern Munich, and TIME Magazine.

Now, as CEO of NBA Africa, Clare leads the NBA’s business and basketball development efforts across the continent, focusing on grassroots basketball, media distribution, corporate partnerships, and social responsibility programs that uplift African youth and communities.

Clare holds an honorary LLD from Concordia University and a master’s degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where she earned three prestigious academic and community leadership awards. She also serves on several boards, including the WHO Foundation and ECOBANK Rwanda, and was named one of Forbes Africa’s Top 50 Powerful Women in 2020.

In this conversation, I sit down with Lydia K.M., a wellness and lifestyle content creator, award-winning podcaster, entrepreneur, and dedicated mental health advocate. With a background in law and extensive experience as a content creator, she combines practical insights with genuine empathy to guide audiences on their journey to well-being. Her content spans mindful living tips, mental health discussions, and lifestyle hacks, offering a curated space for fostering a balanced and joyful life.

Driven by a mission to make wellness a lifestyle accessible to all, Lydia founded Kagi Wellness, a company that provides products and services promoting mindfulness and holistic living. Her inspiring tagline, "We feel, we deal, we heal, we move," embodies her philosophy of transformation and personal growth.

In this episode, I sit down with creator extraordinaire Julia Gaitho, a podcaster, producer, digital content creator, and marketing professional. During her career in corporate Kenya, Julia discovered a passion for storytelling, which led to the creation of an award-winning YouTube channel that opened numerous doors for her.

Julia is the producer behind two well-known podcasts in the region, So This Is Loveand It's Related, I Promise. She is also the founder of Over25, a popular Kenyan YouTube channel and brand that featured four women engaging in candid conversations on topics such as relationships, careers, and personal growth. The channel garnered a significant following for its relatable content and authenticity.

In addition to her creative ventures, Julia dedicates her talents to addressing social issues affecting girls and women. She describes her work as an evolutionary process of storytelling that deepens curiosity about and understanding of the human condition.

Hello everyone,

We are back!

I am excited to introduce my next guest, Huguette Umutoni, a skilled partnership facilitator with experience at prestigious institutions such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.

As Champion Lead for the Global Partnership for Education, Huguette advises Heads of State and celebrities on advocating for education policy and securing financing, with a particular focus on ensuring equitable access to education for girls. She also co-founded a consulting firm specializing in high-level government relations, social impact initiatives, and connecting Africa’s creative industries to the global stage.

In addition to her work in education, Huguette is a passionate advocate for women’s health, supporting projects aimed at ending Period Poverty and empowering young women in STEAMED fields. She is also deeply involved in promoting African fashion, collaborating with designers and serving on boards that support the industry.

With a master's in International Negotiations and a bachelor’s in International Relations, Huguette is committed to driving meaningful change on both local and global levels.

In this conversation, we cover:

You can follow Huguette’s work here:

Instagram: @huguitoni
LinkedIn: Huguette Umutoni Bitega

In this episode, I sit down with one of my all time favorite artists, Bien Aimé Baraza also known as Bien, an internationally acclaimed Afro-pop artist hailing from Kenya and a former lead singer of a band that we all know and love, Sauti Sol. Bien is now successful solo artist who is making waves with his voice and art across the globe. 

Bien and the Sauti Sol quartet released several albums that became international hits such as Sol Filosofia,  Live and Die in Afrika, and a personal favorite Midnight Train. Sauti Sol received local and international accolades and nominations, including at the Kisima Music Awards, the Channel O Music Video Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards, and the BET Awards.

Bien, who is now doing his solo career, has already released several hits including Mbwe Mbwe, Inauma, Wahala (his latest single) and he recently released a full album with 16 songs called ‘Alusa Why Are You Topless’. I am convinced he is on his way to winning a Grammy and it is an honor to experience his ascension to even greater things! 

You can find Bien's Music and Work Below:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BienOfficial
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dLJL31
Instagram: @bienaimesol
X: @bienaimesol
TikToK: @bienaimesol

In the next episode, I have one of the best conversations I have had so far on the podcast with Kenyan entrepreneur extraordinaire, Tonee Ndungu. We discussing his recent experience of pitching his EdTech company, Kytabu, to Bill Gates and the journey that has led him to share his story on global stages. 

Tonee is the founder of Kytabu, an innovative education technology company dedicated to transforming the way students, educators, and schools access and engage with educational content. Tonee is also an avid tech-preneur with a good number of companies under his belt including Nailab KE.

As a dyslexic student who worked twice as hard to be half as good as his classmates, creating an education application that levels the learning field while changing the dynamic of learning, was a given. Fascinated by the opportunity technology brings to the continent and as a dyslexic learner himself, he is an advocate for special education needs and disability education friendly curricula. 

Tonee is also the mind behind Tribbe™, a company that  helps you manage money between you and your family, friends and social circles without the awkwardness that comes with it. He is determined to make this an African fintech unicorn. 

On a personal note, I really like the way Tonee’s mind works and how he sees life. He is a walking Kenyan philosopher and his content is thought-provoking.

You can find more details on Tonee below:

Website: toneendungu.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/toneendungu/

X:x.com/toneendungu?lang=en

TikTok:www.tiktok.com/@toneendungu

In my next conversation I sit down with the graceful and brilliant business woman, Vimbai Masiyiwa. She is the executive director of Batoka Hospitality, the first black, female-owned safari lodge group in Africa, a company she co-founded with her mother Tsitsi Masiyiwa.

Their project, Zambezi Sands River Lodge, a safari lodge nestled on the western end of the Zambezi National Park and about an hour from Victoria Falls is a luxurious testament to community-led initiatives centered about women empowerment. Batoka Hospitality is a luxury eco-tourism and community development group.

Beyond her business endeavors, Vimbai openly shares about her journey fighting cancer in her early twenties and we discuss her now commitment to destigmatize mental health challenges.

Vimbai holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from US Bryant University, as well as a Masters in Entrepreneurship & Entrepreneurship Studies from University College London.

In the next episode, I have a heartfelt and inspiring conversation with Israel Bimpe about his unconventional and eclectic career path. Israel is the CEO of Irembo, a Rwandan technology company specializing in Govtech and Fintech products. IremboGov, Irembo’s flagship product, serves as Rwanda's main government services portal, digitizing over 100 government services. Before becoming CEO, Israel served on Irembo's Board of Directors.

Prior to his role at Irembo, Israel was the Director of Africa Go-To-Market at Zipline, where he spearheaded the expansion of Zipline's services across the continent. He also made history as the first African President of the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation since its founding in 1949, representing 350,000 pharmacy students and recent graduates in over 100 countries.

Israel is actively involved in several esteemed organizations, including the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and the International Pharmacists Federation. Despite his impressive background, what I admire most about Israel is his grounded nature and his dedication to service, discipline, and contribution.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

In this next episode, I sit down with Georgie Ndirangu, a global moderator and a curator of the brand Georgie Ndirangu. With a stellar career spanning the BBC, CNBC Africa, and Forbes Africa, Georgie has earned accolades such as the Rwandan Journalist of the Year award.

His remarkable journey includes captivating interviews with global business leaders and heads of states. In the agency sector, he has been part of the team driving transformative projects for renowned clients like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Evercare, and TPG, across diverse regions—Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the UK. More recently, he served as the Head (Pan-African Communications), Mastercard Foundation.

In this conversation, we cover Georgie's upbringing and how it shaped who he is today. We discuss his relocation to Rwanda after college, a pivotal chapter in his life. We also cover his insights on building a captivating brand that has opened doors for him.

In Georgie's style, the conversation is marked with banter and profound lessons.

Georgie Ndirangu recently launched a masterclass that covers everything he has learned in his 10 year career in media and communication. You will learn public speaking, event moderation, stage presence- all from someone who has done it the African context and beyond. You can learn more here: www.georgiendirangu.com

In this conversation I sit down with Just Ivy Africa, an award-winning marketer, content creator, digital entrepreneur, and investor. We discuss the experience that have shaped her life and career to date, and the decision she made to fully bet on herself- a decision that is already paying dividends.

Just Ivy is the founder of Movers' Society- a community that enables people to access financial literacy without spending too much money and a platform for people to hold each other accountable to achieve their financial goals. Ivy has recently established investment club and in less than a year, the club has amassed over 400,000 USD in Assets Under Management.

Ivy has over 15 years of experience in digital and experiential brand building; she is an emerging pan-African voice in money matters, an adept conversation moderator, and a skillful experience curator. Her social media platforms are turning into dynamic online learning centers for women and youth across Africa.

In 2022, she was awarded Kenya's most innovative influencer and was previously the Samsung Consumer Electronics Brand Ambassador for East Africa in 2020 - 2023. Join her vibrant community, 'The Movers Society,' and prepare to embark on a journey of financial enlightenment, personal growth and a ton of fun!

Find Ivy's page:

https://www.instagram.com/just_ivy_africa_/?hl=en

The movers' society:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_movers_society_/

In this conversation I sit with the one and only, Charlot Magayi who is the Founder of Mukuru Clean Stoves- a clean cooking company that repurposes locally sourced waste metal to manufacture improved, efficient, and reliable cookstoves. In this episode, we discuss her childhood experiences growing up in one of the largest slum in Kenya, losing both her parents by the age of 10, and her experience of becoming a teen mom at 16.

Despite facing incredible setbacks early on in life, Charlot has gone on to accomplish the unthinkable including winning the Earthshot prize in 2022 an award started by Prince William and David Attenborough and a cash prize of 1 Million Pounds. In this conversation, we discuss the power of asking persistently and being comfortable with rejection. We discuss how to never let success make you complacent as there will always be more work to do and greater heights to reach.

Charlot has been recognized and awarded by Global Citizen, World Bank, and United Nations. She was among the 100 most influential Young Africans in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Her company, Mukuru Clean Stoves, has manufactured and distributed over 400,000 cookstoves, impacting the lives of 2,000,000 Kenyans living in poverty. Charlot is currently building a 300,000 square foot sustainable energy campus in Kenya and developing a malaria fighting fuel.

Charlot is an Echoing Green Fellow, an Africa Business Hero, a Global Good Fund Fellow, a Stanford Global Energy Hero, a Forbes under 30 lister and a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst and she sits on the board of three international funds. 

This is a gem packed episode and I hope you enjoy and learn from it.

Follow the work of Mukuru Clean Stoves below:

Website: https://mukurustoves.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mukurucleanstoves/

Follow Charlot:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlotmagayi/

Happy New Year, FATHOM friends!

In this conversation, I sit with a sister and friend of mine, Pelumi Nubi, who is a purpose-driven travel content creator and connector who thrives on exploring less commonly visited countries, currently living in Dubai. Calling both the UK and Nigeria home, while having ventured to 80 countries across 6 continents, her engaging content inspires her community to embrace life with fearlessness and embody true freedom. She is committed to showing that travel can be safe, easy, and achievable, particularly for Black women who want to travel solo.

In this conversation, we speak about her goal of traveling to every country in the world and the experiences she has had from those she has been to so far. We discuss how she prioritizes her time and finances to be able to travel to the extent that she does.

She shares her journey of quitting her PhD in cancer research to become a full-time entrepreneur and travel blogger. We discuss her diagnosis with dyslexia and her determination to not be limited by it. We discuss identity, life choices, and living life under your own terms.

Pelumi will be embarking on another big expedition to drive from London to Lagos, Nigeria starting this January, a journey that will take her through 17 countries and take two months. She continues to explore uncharted territories- an inspiring feat for women and men everywhere.

I hope you enjoy this one as I did recording it!

You can find her on:

Instagram: @pelumi.nubi

Twitter (X): @Phd_flygirl

TikTok: @pelumi.nubi

In this episode, I sit with Chef extraordinaire, Dieuveil Malonga, to discuss his mission of elevating Afro fusion cuisine on the global scene. Chef Malonga is one of the senior exponents of Afro-fusion cuisine, a subtle mélange of tradition and modernity, a culinary bridge between African flavors and Western cooking. His gastronomy career started at three different prestigious Michelin starred restaurants in Germany—Schote, Life, and Aqua, and now his ambition is to write a new story of gastronomy which has its roots in Africa. 

His work is increasingly receiving global recognition and he is frequently seen being the leading Chef for celebrities’ events including A$AP Rocky & Rick Owens. He was recently was the leading chef for Kamala Harris’s Vice President birthday dinner in October.

He was the honoree chef during UNESCO's Africa Week 2017 in Paris and was one of the 10 global finalists of the Basque Culinary World Prize 2018 for his "contribution to making positive changes to society through gastronomy with Chefs in Africa.
Dieuveil Malonga was on the Forbes 30 under 30 list twice.

He now runs the Meza Malonga Lab, which is more than a restaurant. They are storytellers of the history of the people and lands behind each ingredient. With Maasai, Bantu, Zulu influences and beyond, Dieuveil Malonga’s cuisine reveals the splendor, uniqueness and complementarity of African nations. Their  curated gastronomic experiences are an invitation to a journey without borders throughout Africa.

My personal spin for Dieuveil is that he is someone I have so much respect for, because his level of excellence is out of this world. Yet he is increasingly humble and I really love that he elevates his team and everyone he works with.

In this episode, I sit with coach extraordinaire, Iris Irumva, to discuss her leadership journey that she started at a young age and the packed lessons she carries with her. We discuss the journey of writing her first book titled: Lead Your Way Up, her inspiration, her process, and her hopes for the book. We speak about circumstances that shaped her growing up in her family of origin, being educated in other countries, and how all of that have formed her character and work ethic today.

We delve into the book and she helps us understand why self-leadership is one of the most important forms of leadership and how it is a precursor to any form on real influence on anyone else. We discuss how our listeners how start their path to self leadership by becoming more self aware, and cultivating more self respect among other traits.

Iris is currently the Founder & CEO of ⁠Lead Access Ltd⁠, a consulting firm with a mission to empower leaders at all level through coaching and mentoring. With an MBA from Oklahoma Christian University in the United States, Iris combines her academic knowledge with real-world experience to offer practical and effective solutions as an ICF certified Coach.

I enjoyed this conversation, I hope you do too! Check it out on all platforms!

In this episode, I sit with Wode Maya, the mega YouTube influencer who showcases African people and places through travel. We discuss his journey from growing up in rural Ghana, to being an honor roll aeronautical engineering student in China, and to later becoming the influential YouTuber that he is today.

Wode has had massive impact in reshaping the narrative of the African continent and he has encouraged numerous people to explore the continent and see its people and cultures in a more positive light. We discuss the importance of honoring one's calling and immersing yourself in the life that is calling you. We also discuss his recent ventures in real estate and how he is stretching himself in order to build long lasting wealth.

Wode Maya is a YouTuber and vlogger whose focus is to change the African narrative by capturing people and places in Africa and beyond. He was one of six prominent YouTubers from around the world invited to cover the 2023 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He was also invited to cover the 2023 Munich Security Conference.

Such an inspiring conversation that I cannot wait for you all to listen to.

In this episode, I sit with none other than Theo Baloyi, the founder and owner of Bathu, a sneaker brand that is proudly African. We talk about his experience growing up in one of South Africa's most impoverished townships, Alexandra, and how that experience has shaped his outlook on life and his commitment to give back.

We talk about him achieving his dream of working for PWC, and working for the firm in the middle East, only to quit it when the bigger mission of building Bathu called.

We delve into the journey of building Bathu from the boot of his car, to growing 32 brick and mortar stores, an online store, and more than 300 staff members. We discuss the discipline it takes to build something that is truly bigger than yourself, and how to stay grounded and not let success get to your head.

Theo Baloyi has had several accolades over the years including gracing the cover of GQ South Africa, Forbes 30 under 30, and more recently making it to Africa's Business Heroes Top 10.

This conversation was so rich and good for me. I hope you take time to listen to it and extract as much as you can for yourself.

Bathu Website: https://www.bathu.co.za/

Theo Baloyi's Instagram: https://instagram.com/theo_baloyi?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In this episode, I sit with Obinna Ukwuani, a bank executive and multi-sector entrepreneur to discuss his journey to where he is to date. We discuss being a multipotentialite- a trait that has led him to creating many different ventures in different fields ranging from agriculture to education, and to developing interests ranging from engineering to economics. We discuss business topics ranging from raising money, to being a person worthy of being trusted by investors, to managing severed relationships when things go wrong.

We delve into his recent experience as the Chief Digital Officer at Bank of Kigali and his significant role in building the Digital Factory. We discuss what he is excited about in his now fresh role as a leader at one of the largest banks in Africa. Finally, I took note of the lessons that his father instilled in him of always remembering where he comes from and always pursuing his purpose above material incentives.

Beyond previously working for companies such as Paystack, Obinna is the founder of several ventures including Makers Academy Africa which encompasses NESA by Makers, a software development training school and studio in Lagos, and Makers Robotics Academy Rwanda, a comprehensive engineering bootcamp designed to thrust young boys and girls into technology subjects.

Obinna is also the founder of Bruk Oil Mills, a palm oil processing company, and he sits on the board of Kepler and Inkomoko. Obinna has obtained his bachelor’s of science in Economics from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

I truly enjoyed and learned a lot from this conversation, I hope you do too and pass it on to your friends.

In this week's episode, I sit down with entrepreneur extraordinaire, Kevine Kagirimpundu, to discuss her 10 year journey of building UZURI K&Y with her co-founder Ysolde Shimwe.

We discuss the clarity she had to be in fashion early on even though she had scholarships to pursue other more socially acceptable paths. It has always been her mission to employ more women and create opportunities for those who might not naturally have many, and she now gets to live her mission through UZURI K&Y.

UZURI K&Y is an eco-friendly footwear brand in Rwanda that employs 85 people and has physical and online stores and will be soon expanding to Nairobi, Kenya.

Kévine obtained her degree in creative designs & environmental build from the University of Rwanda. She is also a graduate of Stanford Transformation Programme and INSEAD Executive Education.

In 2022, Kévine was one of twelve graduates globally of the Milestone Makers is of the NASDAQ Entrepreneurship Center’s flagship program, providing individualized mentorship and executive coaching, as well as access to the Center’s vast network of industry experts. 

In 2019, she emerged as a Top 10 finalist in the inaugural, Jack Ma Foundation's Africa's Business Heroes prize.

This episode was a crash course in entrepreneurship covering topics such as co-founder relations, investment and expansion decisions, among others.

I truly enjoyed this episode. I hope you do too and pass it on to a friend!

In this week's episode, Sonia Mugabo, a Rwandan fashion entrepreneur sits with me to discuss her 10 year journey of building the Sonia Mugabo fashion house and brand. She shares the not-so-glamorous journey from interning at Teen Vogue, to making her own clothes, to dressing prominent people such as Melinda Gates. One key insight in this part of the conversation is how she named the brand after her self for greater accountability. I thought that was quite cool!

Sonia, a mental health advocate, does not shy away from discussing her challenges with mental health. She sees value in sharing one's story for the greater good and doing her part in breaking the stigma. She courageously narrates what she went through before receiving help, and how she navigates living with her diagnosis to date. Her strong connection to family and healthy friendships have been a great source of healing and support.

Lastly, Sonia talks about her recent joys of marriage and motherhood and how she still strives towards a strong sense of self even as she takes on these new roles.

I truly appreciated her generosity of spirit and I hope you do too!

In this episode, I sit with Dr. Cindi Cassady, a clinical psychologist, to discuss childhood trauma, attachment styles, and diverse therapy options that exist for various needs. She has worked for over 35 years as a practitioner and scholar in the field of gender- based violence, child abuse, addiction and trauma. 

She holds a Ph.D. and Masters degree in Clinical Psychology and a Masters in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. She has been living in Rwanda for almost 10 years and is currently a senior clinical psychologist working with trauma and addiction at Centre Icyizere and Ndera Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Kigali. 

She is also a visual artist and the recurring themes of her works focus on women and children, and the important role women play in society and the family.

I enjoyed her input of the ongoing discoveries in the field of psychology and the new developments that exist in treating clinical depression using ketamine and psychedelics.

I hope you enjoy the episode!

In this week's episode I sit with a fave, Dickson Butera.

This conversation is an extension of the many conversations I have had with Dickson about life and more precisely about mental health over the years. In this conversation, we attempt to confront that daunting universe of trauma, addiction, unhappiness, and we eventually land into some useful practices that one can incorporate daily for improved mental health. Dickson is a friend and a therapist at Lighthouse counseling.

He is a Neuroscience graduate from the University of Rochester. He has worked with clients ranging from adolescents, adults, and married couples. His areas of focus include depression, anxiety, marital counseling and addiction. He uses cognitive behavior therapy and play therapy with his client! 

Do yourself a favor and listen to this conversation!

On my latest episode, I sit with Samke Mhlongo, an acclaimed international speaker, award-winning wealth coach, best-selling author, and women's empowerment advocate with extensive experience in personal finance. She is the newly appointed co-founder and CEO of TWAA, an AI-driven women's marketplace and networking platform. Before joining TWAA, Samke founded and led TNC Wealth Partners, a top financial wellness consultancy that served major companies such as Standard Bank and MTN. 

In this conversation, we delve into her new role as the CEO of TWAA and why she is dedicating the next phase of her life on building this Pan African digital platform. We talk about the importance of doing hard things by choice, to avoid doing hard things by force later on. We talk about wealth in its fullness and how having money without the knowledge, power, and influence to use it, does not always translate into wealth. We also discussed about a book she authored called Ringfence that she wrote for women who were navigating financially trying times as a result of the other aspects of their lives not working out. 

 You can find Samke's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Ringfence-Novel-Samke-S-Mhlongo/dp/0620880945

I truly enjoyed this conversation! It was REAL, and full of nothing but facts! 

On our latest episode, I had a pleasure of sitting down with one of my childhood friends and entrepreneur extraordinaire, Christelle Kwizera. She is the founder and Managing Director of Water Access Rwanda, a social enterprise that exists to improve access to clean water for all.

She has been recognized for her work as the Fondation CHANEL 2019 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, a Rainer Arnhold Fellow, a Princess Diana awardee, a Queen point of Light awardee-  all on account of her leadership in addressing social issues. 

Christelle was also awarded the Cisco Youth Leadership Award by Global Citizen in 2020 and came in third place at the inaugural Africa Business Heroes awards by Jack Ma. Our conversation covered a range of topics from building a company with internal and external impact, to navigating carbon markets, and finding love. I found her lessons on building a more resilient company post pandemic particularly insightful.

Christelle graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and is currently pursuing a Master's in Climate Change Finance and Investment at the University of Edinburgh as a Chevening scholar.

The range of topics we covered already speaks to what happens when you sit with a friend who is equally curious yet unhindered in her expression. 

I hope you enjoy the episode!

You can find the work of Water Access Rwanda here: https://www.warwanda.com/

This week in Rwanda, April 7th to April 13th, marks the beginning of 100 days of the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. In this episode, I sit with Céline Uwineza, a survivor, who is also the author of Untamed, a memoir where she recounts her story of survival and her journey towards freedom and healing. On April 10th, 1994, Celine lost her mother, two older sisters, and her siblings, and several other extended family members during the days that followed. She was completely alone and disconnected from anyone she knew for three months until news reached her father and brother that she survived and they reconnected.

When the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi ended, Céline focused on living and going through her educational and professional pursuits until decades later when her trauma resurfaced and left her with no other choice than confronting it. We discuss her journey of reconciling what her 10 year old self experienced and what her adult self was experiencing. We touch on forgiveness and what ‘Kwibuka Twiyubaka’ means for her. 

Her story is heart wrenching yet filled with hope and redemption. Please listen, reflect, and share with those around you! 

#Kwibuka29 

If you are interested in purchasing Céline's book you can find it on Amazon or Ikirezi Library in Kigali.

My next guest is Dr. Sangu Delle. He is the CEO of CarePoint, a tech forward healthcare system operating across the African continent. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Golden Palm Investments Corporation, an investment holding company that has backed startups such as Andela, mPharma and Flutterwave. Its portfolio companies have raised over $1.2 billion in venture financing.  

Dr. Sangu Delle is a TED fellow, Desmond Tutu Fellow, Eisenhower Fellow, and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. He sits on the board of Ashesi University and he was previously an elected director on the board of Harvard’s Alumni Association. He has a BA from Harvard College, MBA from Harvard Business School, JD from Harvard Law School, Masters from the University of Oxford, and he also obtained his PhD from the University of Birmingham. 

In this conversation, we discuss experiences that have shaped who he is today, pursuing a life of impact on the African continent, and mental wellbeing especially for men. He especially highlights how his childhood upbringing gave him the room he needed to experiment and grow his imagination, and how he was fortunate in that regard. 

I learned a lot from this conversation, I hope you do too. 

My next guest is Wawira Njiru, the Founder and Director of Food for Education, a Kenya based social enterprise that provides subsidized nutritious meals every day to over 100,000 primary school children to improve nutrition education outcomes.

She shares with us how Food for Education went from feeding 25 to 100,000 school going children in Nairobi and its outskirts in the past 10 years, and how she is building systems for the work to continue to scale.

We also delve into her experience as a leader and how she intentionally seeks to grow as a leader so that she builds her capacity to handle even greater work. You will enjoy her calm energy and her focus on delivering results amidst all the shiny accolades that come with doing incredible work.

Wawira is the recipient of the 2018 Global Citizen Youth Leadership award and the Builders of Africa award and she was named the 2021 UN person of the year in Kenya.

In this episode, Jean Michel Habineza, the founder of iDebate Rwanda and Peace and Love Proclaimers shares with us the key moments that have shaped his pursuit for a more meaningful life. We delve into his experience of working with several teenagers over a decade and what he has learned from being in the business of building people. We delve into the process of developing one's character and one's beliefs. 

Jean Michel also shares with us how he is dealing with the loss of his father and the arduous and lengthy process of grief.  You will enjoy his astute mind and his ability to think outside of the box and draw from a breadth of both literature as well as his lived experience.

In this episode, I sit with Wanjuhi Njoroge, and she shares with me her takeaways from attending the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, and her experience of running in and losing the recent Kenyan general elections for the seat of Member of Parliament for Nyeri County.

We talk about the right attitude one should have when they find themselves in places of power so that it paves the way for those coming after. Wanjuhi is Founder of People Planet Africa, an enterprise involved in forest protection & restoration, sustainability and inclusive development that incorporates the perspective of rural communities. She sits on the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Foundation’s Board and the UNDP Kenya Youth Sounding Board.

Her work has further earned her the prestigious Top 40 under 40 Woman Award in Kenya.

In this episode, Erica reflects on her experience growing up in the United States and relocating to Rwanda as an adult. She shares with us the journey to fully embracing who she is- imperfections, quirks, and all. She shares lessons from her father and what marriage and motherhood have taught her. You will also have to listen till the end and discover what she would tell her younger self. Please listen and tell a friend to tell a friend. 

In this conversation Faith shares with me her journey to where she is today, her current experience in the Harvard Business classroom, and her hopes for the future. She shares her experience growing up and going through various education systems in Rwanda and Scotland, her journey from MIT to Silicon Valley, and what she has learned as a leader of a fast growing company. You'll enjoy her brilliant thoughts on both organizational and personal leadership.

In this episode, I introduce myself and I share the vision for the podcast and what I hope we can create this space to be.