Dear Diaspora
73 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 39 ratingsDear Diaspora exists to host Africa-centered conversations about all things business, culture, and more!
Join host Nduulwa Kowa and special guests as we ask the big questions, challenge narratives surrounding Africa, learn and unlearn — and explore what a more connected and engaged African Diaspora can look like.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
23. Ashley Akunna on Creating The Grapevine, Staying Consistent and Lessons She’s Learned as a Creative Entrepreneur
February 02, 2020 06:05 - 27 minutes - 38.2 MBThanks for tuning into episode 23 of Dear Diaspora! For today’s episode, I had a lovely conversation with Ashley Akunna, creator of The Grapevine! Frustrated about how millennials were stereotyped and portrayed in the media, Ashley brainstormed ideas to change the narrative and find a way to amplify the voices of millennials. In came The Grapevine. Picking fresh views from fresh minds, The Grapevine is a fresh and innovative take on the panel style discussion. With over 15 million collec...
22. Africa's Business Revolution: How to Succeed in the World's Next Big Growth Market – Book Review
January 26, 2020 08:55 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MBThanks for tuning in to episode 22—doing something a little different this episode and reviewing a phenomenal book: Africa’s Business Revolution: How to Succeed in the World’s Next Big Growth Market. So happy I finally got my hands on this book over the holidays. As soon as I started reading it, I immediately knew that it would be worth sharing with you all. If you have an interest in doing business in Africa—this book was created for you. Africa’s Business Revolution is co-authored by Ach...
21. How You Can Get Better with Money in 2020 with Journey to Launch’s Jamila Souffrant
January 19, 2020 06:01 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBThinking about how you can get better with money in 2020? You’re in luck because for today’s episode, I had a wonderful chat with Jamila Souffrant, money expert and creator of the Journey To Launch podcast and blog! Jamila is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), savvy budgeter, and launched Journey to Launch to teach what she’s learned over the years about all things personal finance. Jamila was born in Jamaica and grew up in Brooklyn, where she learned the concept of har...
20. Goodbye 2019 + 10 Lessons I Learned in the Last Decade
December 29, 2019 07:25 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MBThank you for tuning in to episode 20 of Dear Diaspora! For today’s episode, I felt super nostalgic and wanted to take some time to reflect on the first season of the podcast. If you haven’t listened to episodes 1-19, be sure to check them out and visit: https://deardiasporashow.com/episodes/to learn more about the guests/their work. To support the work of the phenomenal guests that were on the show: buy their products, subscribe to their podcasts, download their apps and getting the...
19. For Us by Us – Reflections on African Leadership, Development and a Special Spotlight Andela with BOA54's Hauwa Aguillard
December 22, 2019 06:28 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MBThanks for tuning into episode 19 of Dear Diaspora! For today’s episode, I had an interesting discussion with Hauwa Aguillard, the creator of BOA54! BOA54 is a media platform created to represent Africa positively and have fun educating viewers about our uniquely blessed continent. I always get so excited when I meet content creators focused on Africa and so I invited Hauwa to the show to have a conversation about African leadership, development with a special spotlight on Andela. If you h...
18. Dayo Akinrinade on Building Africlick, a Dating and Networking App for African and Caribbean Professionals and Creatives
December 15, 2019 05:00 - 56 minutes - 78.2 MBIn this episode of Dear Diaspora, I had a wonderful conversation with Dayo Akinrade, founder of Africlick! Dayo spent a few years working for consulting firms that required extensive travel, sometimes having to spend up to 6 months in a hotel at a time. As she navigated balancing work, travel and trying to meet new people, something dawned on her. Dating and meeting new people was hard, especially when looking to connect with people from similar cultural backgrounds. After continuously s...
17. CannaGo Founder Victor Nwadike on Teaching Himself to Code and Starting a Cannabis Technology Company
December 01, 2019 07:36 - 50 minutes - 69 MBI had the pleasure of interviewing CannaGo founder Victor Nwadike! The son of Nigerian and Jamaican immigrants, Victor grew up homeschooled and became a self-taught developer by age 15. By 17, he developed and launched three applications that ranked 191, 293 and 322 on Apple's iTunes App Store. Now, he’s the founder of CannaGo, a company providing a standard, transparent and safe way for consumers to receive their medicinal or recreational cannabis products by way of on-demand delivery....
16. Solo Episode! What's Next for Dear Diaspora and Reflecting on How I Secured the Bag this Year
November 24, 2019 08:07 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MBSwitched things up this week and recorded a solo episode! I have so many things to share, a couple of announcements – so I figured why not put it all into one episode. Tune in to hear: What’s in store for Dear Diaspora in 2020 How you can chime in and give the show some feedback (survey link below) Reflections on 2019 (how I secured the bag and got the exact job I wanted) What one of my favorite songs is right now, and how excited I am to read @mindaharts book “The Memo: What Women of...
15. Clout Enterprises Co-Founder Luper Akough on Partnering with Amazon, Running a Business With His Wife and Being a Real Estate Investor
November 17, 2019 07:30 - 50 minutes - 69.4 MBFor episode 15 of Dear Diaspora, I had the pleasure of interviewing Luper Akough, co-founder of Clout Enterprises, a logistics company that delivers packages for Amazon Logistics. After a successful career in the insurance industry, Luper was ready for a new challenge and responded to a call for Amazon delivery partners. After a few rounds of interviews, he was selected and became an official Amazon Delivery Service Partner. Within 30 days, Clout Enterprises had 35 employees, and ran 1...
14. How to Start a Cosmetics Line with Lady Beverly Co-Founder Beverly Luma
November 10, 2019 05:01 - 45 minutes - 62.2 MBFor episode 14, I had the pleasure of interviewing Beverly Luma, co-founder of Lady Beverly, a cosmetics line offering affordable makeup and beauty products/services. Lady Beverly was started in 2016 while Beverly and her sister were mere college students. After trying product after product, the sisters were unable to find a line of makeup that worked for their sensitive skin. Their frustration led them to experiment and ultimately launch Lady Beverly, a cosmetics company offering vegan, ...
13. African Tech Roundup’s Andile Masuku on the first ‘Made in Africa’ Smartphone and How to Do Business on the Continent the Right Way
November 03, 2019 14:21 - 1 hour - 107 MBIn this episode of Dear Diaspora, I had the pleasure of interviewing Andile Masuku, co-founder of African Tech Roundup. African Tech Roundup is a Johannesburg-based media and insights organization which tracks the progress of Africa’s emerging digital, tech and innovation industries. African Tech Roundup produces podcasts, syndicated op-eds, omnichannel media projects, live events, and in-depth fringe insights coverage of leading conferences. I’ve been listening to African Tech Roundup...
12. Bonus Episode – Why is Self-Care So Hard? Self-Care Chat with My Bestfriend Jasmine
October 27, 2019 05:55 - 1 hour - 95.1 MBEpisode 12 is a bonus episode and the episode topic is: self-care! I had a conversation with Jasmine Lessley all about self-care. Jasmine is a nationally qualified fitness competitor, lifestyle and fitness blogger, student and one of my best friends! We chat through some of the biggest lessons she learned in the military, her fitness journey, and her tips for prioritizing self-care and making it less of a chore. You can follow her on Instagram at @jasmineraechelle to follow her...
11. How Balkissa Mahamane Founded a School in Rural Niger While Working Full-Time and Running a Consulting Business
October 20, 2019 04:01 - 59 minutes - 81.3 MBIn episode 11, I had a wonderful conversation with change-maker Balkissa Mahamane. When she’s not at her corporate job working as a Business Transformations Analyst, she consults businesses and entrepreneurs through Excellence Insights, LLC. She currently serves on the board of directors for Agaji, a nonprofit organization connecting active global citizens in the USA and Africa. Balkissa also serves as the Executive Director of La Grande Académie in Niger, West Africa. A successful entrepr...
10. Serial Tech Entrepreneur Nana Prempeh on Building a Platform for 500 Million African Christians
October 13, 2019 04:01 - 41 minutes - 56.8 MBIn episode 10 of Dear Diaspora, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nana Prempeh, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Asoriba. Asoriba is tech startup aiming to provide technology to half a billion Africans. It is designed to help churches effectively and digitally run their administration, while seamlessly engaging with members through content sharing and enabling easy donation via mobile money and cards. During the episode, we dive into his upbringing in Ghana, going through The Mel...
9. Journalist and Founder of TanTV Studios Adedayo Fashanu on Storytelling and Spotlighting Global Youth Change-Makers
October 06, 2019 04:05 - 52 minutes - 71.5 MBIn this episode of Dear Diaspora, I had a great conversation with International Journalist and Founder of TanTV Studios Adedayo Fashanu. As a regular contributor to Huffington Post and Forbes, Adedayo is passionate about using storytelling to amplify the work of young change-makers across the globe. During the episode, we dive into how working as a mental health professional inspired her successful career in journalism. Adedayo covered the Obama White House on its global development ar...
8. Paradise Sun Snacks Founder Jedu Armar on Sun Cooking, Why He Returned to Ghana, and His Hopes for Africa's Future
September 29, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 83.6 MBIn this episode of Dear Diaspora, I had a wonderful conversation with Jedu Armar, founder of Paradise Sun Snacks. Paradise Sun Snacks are naturally lit snacks, cooked using just the energy of direct sunlight. How dope is that?? Jedu is a proud British-Ghanaian, and was inspired to start Paradise Sun Snacks after having several fascinating conversations with his grandfather about sun cooking, life, and Africa's bountiful natural resources. During the episode, we chat about his experien...
7. Iveoma Okparaeke on Why She's Relocating to Nigeria, Why Africa is "Hot" Right Now and How You Can Avoid Running Out of Money When Doing Business Abroad
September 22, 2019 05:00 - 39 minutes - 53.7 MBIn this episode, Ndu is joined by Iveoma, your guide to Africa! Iveoma Okparaeke is an attorney, content creator and started her platform “It’s Iveoma” for anyone interested in moving to, traveling to, or building a business in Africa. Her YouTube channeland Facebook groupserve as resources for those seeking accurate and inspiring information about opportunities in Africa. We had such a fun conversation about why Africa is poppin’ right now, what inspired her to move to Nigeria, and what...
6. MIZIZI President and Chief Paakow Essandoh on Creating a Global Movement, Collaborating with Marvel and Disney, and Staying Rooted
September 15, 2019 05:00 - 46 minutes - 63.4 MBIn this episode, Ndu is joined by Paakow Essandoh, President and Chief or MIZIZI, an athleisure and lifestyle brand that embodies the spirit and strength of its African ancestors. MIZIZI was founded in 2015 and is inspired by various cultures revolving around African roots. They have exclusive collections that are consistently designed with connection and representation in mind. Mizizi has created an international movement that’s encouraging members of the Diaspora to stay connected, to s...
5. Away to Africa Founder Tiffanie Anderson on Starting Her Company, Managing a Global Team, and How Her Accent Has Been One of Her Biggest Challenges When Doing Business in Africa
September 08, 2019 05:00 - 39 minutes - 54.3 MBIn this episode of Dear Diaspora, Ndu is joined by Away to Africa founder Tiffanie Anderson to discuss her journey from attorney to entrepreneur. While studying abroad in South Africa in 2006, Tiffanie fell in love with the continent. After coming back to the US and working as an attorney for a few years, she launched Away to Africa, a destination management company dedicated to providing guided, cultural tours throughout select countries in Africa. During the conversation, we delve int...
2. Afromaha Co-Founder Judy Kiagiri - "Find people that will go the distance with you."
September 01, 2019 06:00 - 54 minutes - 74.4 MBIn this episode of Dear Diaspora, Ndu is joined by Afromaha co-founder Judy Kiagiri to discuss living and working in the Midwest, how communities can embrace diversity and be more inclusive, and Afromaha’s upcoming African Culture Festival. Afromaha is committed to bringing people together to celebrate and share African culture. With thousands of Africans living in Nebraska, they have created a platform to connect foster creativity and engage the African diaspora in the local community...
4. Global Health and Sanitation Advocates Bulongo and Muyatwa Sitali on Zambia, Supporting Local Farmers, and Why the Youth Are Key to Africa's Future
September 01, 2019 06:00 - 1 hour - 84.6 MBIn this episode of Dear Diaspora, Ndu is joined by global health advocates Muyatwa Sitali and Bulongo Sitali to discuss growing up in Zambia, supporting small scale farmers, and why young people are key to Africa’s future. Bulongo and Muyatwa Sitali are quite the duo! They also happen to be my aunt and uncle :) Bulongo is currently an MPH student at Rutger’s School of Public Health, and Muyatwa is a WASH Specialist at UNICEF. With over ten years of experience in development, aid and pu...
3. Take Back Africa Summit Founder Fata Acquoi - "Even if you’re not going to go back home, at least support the work being done to create change.”
September 01, 2019 06:00 - 37 minutes - 51.5 MBIn this episode of Dear Diaspora, Ndu is joined by Diaspora Talks host and Take Back Africa Foundation founder Fata Acquoi to discuss immigration, growing up in the US, advocacy and the upcoming Take Back Africa Summit. In 2018, the Take Back Africa Summit was founded by African millennials living in the diaspora with one goal in mind: how can we improve the socio-economic status of the African continent while making it sustainable for future generations? This year’s summit is happenin...
1. Intro Episode - Welcome to Dear Diaspora!
August 13, 2019 21:59 - 11 minutes - 16.3 MBWelcome to Dear Diaspora! Dear Diaspora is a podcast celebrating the African diaspora – its change-makers, innovators and entrepreneurs working to make our world a better one to live in. If you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, social change, professional development, and want to be inspired–then this is the podcast for you! Join us as we celebrate Black excellence around the world, thoughtfully discuss topics impacting our lives, and explore how we can make our world a better place...