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 Love and 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