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Black Genius
Black Genius episodes
- Seni Sulyman: Building Exemplary Global Businesses
The Harambe 10×10 series continues with Lolade Siyonbola interviewing Seni Sulyman, owner and managing partner at Rincon, a firm partnering with CEOs and executives to build world-class businesses and high performance teams through a focus on strategy, people, culture, operations and executions. Sulyman inspired the Harambeans 10×10 series with his prescient writings on the breaking point to which Nigeria was heading, just prior to the EndSARS movement. Before Rincon, Seni was a Vice President of global operations at Andela, where he "contributed tremendously to lighting the spark for an entire generation of technologists", growing the company 400% and earning it the status best place to work in Nigeria and Africa.
Seni joined Andela two years after completing his MBA at Harvard, having previously built a new business jet airline in Nigeria for Bristow Group in a record 12 months. His prior career spans across roles at Bain & Company in Chicago where he helped a CPG company identify half a billion dollars in cost savings, and Hewlett-Packard in Silicon Valley, where he developed strategies to grow the billion-dollar technology services division.
Black Genius is hosted by Lolade Siyonbola, Founder of NOIR Labs, noirpress and NOIR FEST. Lolade is a Gates Scholar and Harambean pursuing a PhD in Sociology at Cambridge University
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Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on Youtube, IG, Twitter and Facebook to see how we are normalizing the Glory of Blackness. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list at noirpress.org.
1 hr 13 min - Iyinoluwa Aboyeji: Building The Future In Africa
Happy Black History Month! We're thrilled to invite Iyinoluwa Aboyeji to sit in the genius chair for our first episode of Black Genius, season 2. Aboyeji's interview opens the Harambeans 10×10 series through which we'd be highlighting the stories of 10 Harambeans building Africa's future through visionary, market-creating, global enterprises. Aboyeji says: "personal success cannot insulate from the failures of your society. I don't see entrepreneurship as a way to personally enrich myself but as a tool for social change. It must be done not just for profit or personal interest but most importantly as a service in the public interest." The first Black Genius to be featured in the Harambe series, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, made history when the startup he co-founded, Andela, received a $24 Million investment from Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan’s CZI fund for African Engineers. Zuckerberg’s surprise visit to Lagos in 2016 sent shockwaves across the African tech community, and awakened those unaware of the exploding African tech economy. The Andela-CZI partnership spurned a new era in African entrepreneurship catalyzing billions of dollars in investment interest in African startups, with investments surpassing $1 billion in both 2019 and 2020.
Aboyeji has since gone on to found two more startups–Flutterwave and Future Africa–and invested in many impact-focused enterprises. Future Africa returned $3.7M to investors at the end of 2020, experiencing explosive growth across their portfolio in the midst of the pandemic. Aboyeji regularly writes and speaks on the urgency of inclusive African development, and the need for African elites to do more for the plight of the common man.
Black Genius is hosted by Lolade Siyonbola, Founder of NOIR Labs, noirpress and NOIR FEST. Lolade is a Gates Scholar and Harambean pursuing a PhD in Sociology at Cambridge University
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Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on Youtube, IG, Twitter and Facebook to see how we are normalizing the Glory of Blackness. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list at noirpress.org.
1 hr 2 min - Christian Epps: Integrating Hollywood and African Media
On this episode of Black Genius, we're visited by Christian Epps, Founder & CEO of Lights, Camera, Diaspora (LCD!), a Los Angeles social based enterprise bridging the gap between Africa and African-Diaspora entertainment Industries. LCD! has secured African talent for projects such as Beyonce's Black is King and Netflix's Queen Sono on both of which Christian was the Chief Lightening Designer. He's also worked on Lovecraft Country(HBO), Slyvie's Love(Amazon) and the award-winning Selma, featuring David Oyelewo and Oprah Winfrey (lenses by director of photography Bradford Young) and many others.
Black Genius is hosted by Lolade Siyonbola, Founder of NOIR Labs, noirpress and NOIR FEST. Lolade is a Gates Scholar and Harambean pursuing a PhD in Sociology at Cambridge University
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Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on Youtube, IG, Twitter and Facebook to see how we are normalizing the Glory of Blackness. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list at noirpress.org.
56 min - Lanre Aina: Digital Storytelling for Global Brands
Lanre Aina is Co-founder of Content Garage, a Lagos-based video production company that has developed digital commercials for Samsung, MTN, Google, Facebook, Nestle, Wikipedia, Access Bank and Diageo - helping these businesses actualize new ways of engaging with their customers through compelling digital storytelling. Before Content Garage, Lanre led Brand Activations at Google, supporting large brands in Nigerian and Kenyan markets to develop integrated experiential marketing. In his earlier days at Google, he launched and grew YouTube’s content partnerships in Nigeria, supporting the online publisher community. Today, he is focusing his attention on sports-media, using his experience at Google and Content Garage to build an African-focused sports entertainment venture, ATHLST.
Lanre is also passionate about social enterprise. He served as a founding member of Harambeans - an African entrepreneur alliance founded by Okendo Lewis-Gayle. In his spare time, he volunteers his skills supporting peer mentorship and youth-focused career advisory programs in Lagos.
He is a graduate of Computer Engineering, with an advanced degree in Telecoms Systems Management from Northeastern University, Boston. Lanre is happily married to his best friend, Tele, and they live in Lagos with their two sons, Akinolu and Tamilore.
Black Genius is hosted by Lolade Siyonbola, Founder of NOIR Labs, noirpress and NOIR FEST. Lolade is a Gates Scholar and Harambean pursuing a PhD in Sociology at Cambridge University
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Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on Youtube, IG, Twitter and Facebook to see how we are normalizing the Glory of Blackness. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list at noirpress.org.
1 hr 11 min - Tiffany Norwood: Human Science of Success
This week’s Black Genius has done something that no other entrepreneur has done since–she raised over $670 million dollars to fund a start-up: WorldSpace. That money was used to build the first-ever global digital radio platform; launch three satellites into space, including XM Radio; support the development of MP3/MP4 technologies; and, invest in a new generation of digital radio receivers.
Tiffany Norwood is the Founder and CEO of Tribetan, where she teaches the human science of success, how to turn imagination into reality through entrepreneurial literacy.
She led some of the first-ever digital content licensing deals, including Bloomberg News and CNN International, and was an early collaborator with the Fraunhofer Institute on their MPEG technologies.
Tiffany has an MBA from Harvard and a Bachelor’s in Economics with a concentration in statistics and electrical engineering from Cornell University. Her dream is that the science of turning imagination into reality becomes as commonplace as reading, writing, and math. And then with these skills, we reimagine everything.
Black Genius is hosted by Lolade Siyonbola, Founder of NOIR Labs, noirpress and NOIR FEST. Lolade is a Gates Scholar and Harambean pursuing a PhD in Sociology at Cambridge University
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Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on Youtube, IG, Twitter and Facebook to see how we are normalizing the Glory of Blackness. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list at noirpress.org.
1 hr 22 min - Uzomaka Obiocha: Spiritual Technology in Enterprise
This week on Black Genius, Lolade is in conversation with NOIR Labs Co-Founder, Uzomaka Obiocha. They discussed Spiritual Technology in Enterprise, growing up Nigerian, Kanye West, and all the radical things that go through their heads.
Described as a “human catalyst to everything she touches,” Uzomaka Obiocha recently joined NOIR Labs as Co-Founder and Acting COO, where she is living out her passion: creating a beautiful world through business, design and fashion. Prior to NOIR Labs, Uzo spent nearly a decade as Co-Founder of Koncept Consulting Group and Non-Profit, MD as a Brand, Business, and Financial Strategist. As a Strategic Alchemist, she has supported entrepreneurs, creatives, and humanitarians in developing and growing their enterprises in ways that resonate with their spirit, harmonize with their beliefs, and fulfill their mission, vision, and purpose. Uzomaka has supported brands in entertainment, design, food, health care, fashion and non-profits, including Timothy Oulton, Girls Inc., Homestories, and PUKU Children’s Literature Foundation. She holds a BA in Finance from Georgia State University.
Black Genius is hosted by Lolade Siyonbola, Founder of NOIR Labs, noirpress and NOIR FEST. Lolade is a Gates Scholar and Harambean pursuing a PhD in Sociology at Cambridge University.
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Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on Youtube, IG, Twitter and Facebook to see how we are normalizing the Glory of Blackness. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list at noirpress.org.
1 hr 5 min - Michelle Nyangereka: Mental Health & Liberation
This week on Black Genius, join us for a conversation about liberation through mental health with Counseling Psychologist, Dr. Michelle Nyangereka.
An unapologetic people watcher, Dr. Michelle Nyangereka is a storytelling psychologist. Having previously worked in Diversity for the BBC and later in radio and television research, Michelle is now a filmmaker and Counseling Psychologist. Since researching the intergenerational transmission of trauma in Ugandans for her doctoral thesis, Michelle has developed a personal and professional interest in the ongoing trauma of racism for Black people - in particular, the embodiment of intergenerational trauma and the importance of taking an Afro-centric approach to therapy for Black people. As the world starts to awaken to, and dismantle white supremacy, Michelle’s commitment to helping Black people complete intergenerational cycles and find their soul’s purpose is more relevant than ever.
Black Genius is hosted by Lolade Siyonbola, Founder of NOIR Labs, noirpress and NOIR FEST. Lolade is a Gates Scholar and Harambean pursuing a PhD in Sociology at Cambridge University.
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Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on Youtube, IG, Twitter and Facebook to see how we are normalizing the Glory of Blackness. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list at noirpress.org.
1 hr 5 min - Oluwaseye Olusa: Documenting Cultural Production
This week on Black Genius, we'll have Oluwaseye Olusa in the Genus Chair! Oluwaseye is a Hip Hop and Afrobeats visual documentarian and celebrity photographer, who has captured some of the most important moments in Black cultural production over the last 20 years. While working on set with Hype Williams, Def Jam and others on some of the most iconic music videos in Hip Hop history, he found a love for photography that enabled him to capture the power, essence and beauty of Black subjects in the music industry and creative world. He’s photographed Jay Z, Common, Yvonne Orji, Jidenna and every last one of your faves; as well as shot visual campaigns for Nike, Adidas, and And One.
Through his consistent documentation of African Diaspora events, artists and cultural producers over the last 20 years, he’s amassed the most notable intersectional collection of Black entertainment photography.Black Genius is hosted by Lolade Siyonbola, Founder of NOIR Labs, noirpress and NOIR FEST. Lolade is a Gates Scholar and Harambean pursuing a PhD in Sociology at Cambridge University.
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Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on IG, Twitter and Facebook to see how we are normalizing the Glory of Blackness. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list at noirpress.org.
1 hr 10 min - Tokini Peterside: Catalyzing African Creativity
This week, we're speaking with art mogul Tokini Peterside! Tokini is the Founder & CEO of ART X Collective, through which she launched ART X Lagos, West Africa’s pre-eminent art fair (and its first) in 2016.
Christened “one of the most important figures in the world of contemporary African art” by Lola Ogunnaike, Tokini emerged from a Victoria Island upbringing in which she yearned to be a creator, to ultimately study law at the London School of Economics. She earned her M.B.A. at INSEAD, in Paris, where she formulated her business plan for Art X, leading a handful of classmates.Prior to launching Art X, Peterside spent more than a decade working as a marketing-and-strategy consultant in the Nigerian luxury sector, advising Moët Hennessy, boutique owners (she helped launch Alara, Africa’s answer to 10 Corso Como), and fashion labels such as Maki Oh, a Michelle Obama favorite.She was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company USA in 2019, and in 2018 she was featured as a Quartz Africa Innovator–a list of the continent’s Top 30 pioneers. Her work has been featured in the Financial Times, the New York Times, CNN, Le Monde and Vogue, among other notable publications.***
Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on IG, Twitter and Facebook to see how we are normalizing the Glory of Blackness. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list.
1 hr 6 min - Okendo Lewis-Gayle: Building Africa's Future
On Episode 5 of Black Genius, we're excited to have in the Genius Chair, Okendo Lewis-Gayle. Lewis-Gayle is the author of Harambeans: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, in which he chronicles the struggles and triumphs of Diaspora returnees building scalable ventures in Africa. He is also founding partner of Harambeans Prosperity Fund and Founder and Chairman of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance.
Harambe is an ecosystem of over 300 young African leaders (Harambeans) which has spawned a series of tech-enabled ventures such as Andela, Yoco and Flutterwave. Collectively Harambeans have generated over 3000 jobs, and raised over $500m from Google Ventures, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and Alibaba.A global citizen in the truest sense, Okendo was born in Costa Rica, raised in Italy and educated in Taiwan and the US. He speaks and reads Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, French and Greek. A friend to many global leaders, Okendo was once responsible for introducing then Senator Barack Obama to his graduating class with a speech that, Obama remarked, made him grateful that such a leader and orator would not be running for president just yet.
Okendo is a graduate of Harvard University, the Inaugural Entrepreneur in Residence at Schwarzman College in Beijing and has served as Africa Advisor to the Vatican, Rhodes Trust, and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Follow him on Twitter and follow the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance here. Believe you have what it takes to become a Harambean? Apply here.***
Black Geniuses are changing the world, from policy to culture to tech to art. Are you a Black Genius? Send us your story/profile at [email protected]
Join the noirpress movement on IG, Twitter and Facebook. For our newsletter curating the best in Black news and films, join our mailing list.
54 min
About Black Genius
From the publisher's feed
Black Genius is the only place where you get to connect deeply with the Black intelligentsia, those pushing the world forward from a deep sense of purpose.
Here you’ll get to hear the life stories of geniuses from every corner of the globe, from Oakland to Lagos to Tokyo. And find out how you too can tap into your highest sense of purpose to deliver the world we all want to live in.