Shasha Voices

Welcome back to Shasha Pathways Season 2, the series where we move beyond job titles to explore how people build careers, develop their skills and make decisions along the way.

In this Climate-Resilient Futures episode, we speak with Julian Mashingaidze, a Zimbabwean environmental consultant and agri-food climate technology specialist whose work connects agriculture, food security, climate adaptation and nature.

Julian’s pathway began with his family’s connection to farming and business in Zimbabwe. It later took him to the University of Edinburgh, where he studied Global Agriculture and Food Security, and into professional experiences spanning international development, management consulting, environmental risk and climate technology.

What makes Julian’s journey especially interesting is how it reveals the relationship between food security and the natural systems on which agriculture depends. When forests, land and other ecosystems are damaged, the effects are not only environmental: farmers, food supply chains and businesses become more vulnerable to drought, extreme weather and declining productivity.

In this conversation, we explore how climate-adaptation technologies can support farmers responding to these pressures, how Julian assesses nature-related risks for organisations, and why environmental action must also be understood through financial and business decisions.

His story shows that building more resilient food systems requires people who can connect experiences on the ground with technology, research, policy and organisational decision-making.

Welcome back to Shasha Pathways Season 2, the series where we move beyond job titles to explore how people build careers, develop their skills and make decisions along the way.

In this Climate-Resilient Futures episode, we speak with Sinethemba Nompumelelo Mtshali, a South African social entrepreneur and the founder of Bxrderless.

Sinethemba’s pathway developed through youth leadership, commercial experience, organisational work and a growing commitment to building practical responses to social and environmental challenges.

In this conversation, we explore how she found her way into social entrepreneurship, why climate innovation became part of her work and what it takes to move from an idea to an implementable solution. We also discuss community participation, responsible technology and how young people can begin contributing to a more inclusive green economy.

Welcome to Shasha Pathways Season 2, the series where we move beyond job titles to explore how people build careers, develop their skills and make decisions along the way.

In this Health and Welfare episode, we speak with Takhona Grace Hlatshwako, a public health researcher and PhD student in Health Policy and Management.

Takhona’s journey began in Eswatini and developed through international education, mentorship and early research opportunities that helped her discover where her interests could contribute within public health.

In this conversation, we explore how she found her way into research, the uncertainty of finding your professional place, and why she believes there is room for different people and perspectives within the field. Takhona also reflects on belonging, how moving through different countries and institutions taught her to stop relying entirely on external acceptance and begin cultivating a sense of belonging from within.

Welcome to Shasha Pathways Season 2, the series where we move beyond job titles to explore how people build careers, develop their skills and make decisions along the way.

Today, we are entering our Climate-Resilient Futures cluster with Giulia Marzetti, a chemical engineer and climate-and-sustainability professional whose work has spanned hydrogen systems, European energy policy, batteries, manufacturing and climate advisory services.

What makes Giulia’s journey especially interesting is how she has moved from developing technical solutions to engaging with the wider policies, organisations and investments that determine whether low-carbon technologies can succeed at scale.

In this conversation, we explore how her interest in social and environmental challenges led her towards engineering, how she navigated different roles and countries, and what young people should understand about building careers that connect technology, policy and systems change.

Welcome to Shasha Pathways Season 2, the series where we move beyond job titles to explore how people build careers, develop their skills and make decisions along the way.

Today, we are opening our Culture and Creativity cluster with Dr Niiyin Adejuyigbe, a medical doctor based in Lagos and the creator behind Niiyin and Film, where she shares her analysis and commentary on the films she watches.

What makes Niiyin’s journey especially interesting is that it sits across two worlds we often imagine separately: medicine and creative criticism.

In this conversation, we will explore how her relationship with film became a public creative practice, what thoughtful film analysis actually requires, and how young people can begin developing a creative voice alongside another professional path.

As we close Season 1 of Shasha Pathways, we turn to the person who made this series possible. In this finale episode, Farai Munjoma, Founder & CEO of Shasha Network, reflects on how design can be used to build trust, tell stories, and create systems that expand opportunities for young people across Africa. Drawing on his journey across entrepreneurship, education, and innovation, Farai shares why designing pathways is ultimately about helping people believe in their own futures.

Welcome to the Shasha Pathways Series, and this is our Entrepreneurship Edition, where we speak with purpose-driven founders across Africa and the diaspora who are building bold, impactful ventures.

Today, I’m joined by Ifeanyichukwu Ezinmadu, an EdTech entrepreneur, creative innovator, and musician who’s bringing music, artificial intelligence, and education together in exciting ways.

Ifeanyi is the Founder and CEO of SymphoMe, a music-learning platform that uses AI and Music Information Retrieval (MIR) to transform the way people practise and perform music. He’s also a former Mastercard Foundation Scholar, a pianist with experience across the UK and Nigeria, and someone who’s worked in everything from private equity to business accelerators,all while building his own company.

His story reminds us that creativity, technology, and purpose don’t have to be separate paths and I’m so excited to learn more about how he’s building the future of music education.

Welcome to the Agriculture Pathways series, part of Shasha Network’s commitment to spotlighting purpose-driven professionals across key industries from education to energy, design to agriculture, and helping young people across Africa explore real, relatable career journeys.

Today, I’m so excited to be joined by Rejoice, who is a passionate, globally-minded changemaker and proud Zimbabwean dedicating her career to building a more just, sustainable, and food-secure future for Africa and the world.

Rejoice holds a degree in agronomy from the prestigious EARTH University, and her work sits at the powerful intersection of climate justice, sustainable agriculture, and policy advocacy. She is now a research scholar in Precision Agriculture at the University of Florida. She’s deeply committed to advancing innovation that supports smallholder farmers, and dreams of becoming a leading voice shaping evidence-based solutions for climate-resilient food systems

Welcome to the Healthcare edition of Shasha Pathways! I’m Shirley, and today we’re joined by Dr. Monica Madzvamuse, a medical doctor with clinical experience across pediatrics, obstetrics, internal medicine, and surgery. She’s currently working in Zambia and enhancing her leadership skills by studying project management.

In this conversation, we’ll explore Monica’s journey from high school in Zimbabwe to medical school in China, and how she’s now integrating healthcare and innovation to make a meaningful impact. Let’s dive in!

Welcome to the Education Pathways series! I’m Shirley, and in today’s conversation, we’re diving into the evolving world of career development, educational equity, and youth empowerment.

I’m thrilled to be joined by Dean Mazhawidza, a passionate change agent and the founder of Future Pathways Consultants, where he’s leading some of the most innovative work in career guidance,like AI-powered career identity tools and game-based learning through the RIASEC Board Game. Dean is also currently a Post School Success Associate Manager at Nova Pioneer and a PhD candidate in Industrial and Organisational Psychology at Stellenbosch University.

From shaping policy to helping Grade 6 to 13 learners reimagine their career futures, Dean is on a mission to make career support more accessible, relatable, and data-driven.