The NDINI Podcast

"Just do it.  Just start.  You are never ready for this.  So what you just need to do is just start and see how it goes and where it takes you."

Diarra Bousso Niang always knew she wanted to be in fashion. Growing up in Senegal, she loved seeing her mother dressed up in her African fashion.  She also always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur.  But she didn't want to "just" be a fashion designer - she wanted to tell a story. 

Frustrated with hearing the stereotypical narrative about Africa, Diarra decided to create a brand that would tell a different story….the story of luxury from Africa.  Inspired by a beautiful phone case her mother had bought in Senegal, Diarra started a handbag line, which she called 'Bouswari'. The brand name is a combination of her middle name Bousso,  and the name of a small tribe of people call the Bassari, who are primarily found in West Africa. 

The Bouswari line of handbags, which are handmade by artisans in Senegal, are all inspired by Africa and African design.  Having the bags made in Africa is important to Diarra because she passionately believes in supporting the emergence of African design and African brands in the global market. 

Despite being a relatively young brand, Bouswari is already making major waves in the international fashion industry - the handbags have been featured in high-end publicationsincluding Vogue, Glamour and Elle. 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• How the stereotypical narrative of Africa inspired Diarra to start her company
• Why telling the story of African luxury is so important to Diarra
• How Diarra found the money to start her company
• Her big dream and vision for the company
• Where Diarra gets her inspiration for the handbags
• What has been the biggest challenge for Diarra on her entrepreneurial journey
• The advice Diarra would give to anyone who has a dream
• What Diarra's "I am…" is

EPISODE LINKS

Bouswari Website

Bouswari on Instagram

Bouswari on Twitter

Bouswari on Facebook

She's been named CEO of the Year, Insurance CEO of the Year and one of the 50 most influential women in Francophone Africa …. and yet Delphine Traoré Maïdou's first job in the industry was opening mail!

Growing up in Burkina Faso, Delphine never aspired to be an executive in the world's largest insurance company.  In fact, she wanted to be an international translator. But her father convinced her to study business and accounting at university, which she found she really enjoyed. 

When she graduated, Delphine had multiple job offers. Despite knowing nothing about the industry, she chose a job as an insurance underwriter.  Much to her surprise, for the first six months she was assigned to work in the company mailroom opening mail!  She learned later that this was actually a very important job because it helped her understand the different insurance claims coming in, and how to deal with them. 

13 years ago, Delphine took a job in Toronto as an underwriter with Allianz, which is one of the world's largest insurance companies.  Little did she know that this would eventually lead to her coming back to work on the African continent. 

In this very candid interview, Delphine talks about the loneliness and challenges of being one of only a few African female CEOs, what she thinks are some of her greatest achievements, and the big goals she has for the future. 

 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• What Delphine's childhood was like growing up in Burkina Faso as the oldest of four children
• How Delphine survived arriving in the United States not speaking a word of English
• How she literally started from the bottom in the insurance industry…opening mail
• What Delphine sees as her biggest challenges
• What she thinks has been her greatest achievement so far
• Why Delphine sees it as her duty and responsibility to support other women in pursuing their dreams
• The words of wisdom her parents told her that changed the trajectory of her life
• What Delphine thinks is her life purpose
• What she loves most about herself
• The question I asked Delphine that left her stumped!
• The advice Delphine would give to her own children
• What Delphine's "I am…" is

EPISODE LINKS

Delphine on Instagram

Delphine on LinkedIn

Delphine on Twitter

She's an Olympic athlete, who is the former 100m hurdles Nigerian and African Champion.  She's also now an Olympic record holder!  Seun Adigun is the first African to ever compete at both summer and winter Olympic Games.

Seun and her team mates Akuoma Omeoga and Ngozi Onwumere made history at the 2018 winter Olympics in Korea as the first team to ever represent Nigeria at a winter Olympics. This was despite the team having been formed less than two years earlier. 

But before she was bobsledder, she was a 100m Olympic hurdler, who competed at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.  Leading up to the Olympics, Seun was in what she describes as the best shape of her life.  But she developed a stress fracture in her leg shortly before the Olympic games. Doctors advised her against competing, fearing that her leg would break.  But Seun wasn't willing to let her many years of training go to waste, and she competed against her doctor's advice.  But sheer will wasn’t enough - the games ended with her most disappointing competitive performance ever.   

It was while Seun was recovering from her injury and thinking about what to do next that she tried bobsledding for the first time.   

And while she's most known for her athletic pursuits, Seun recently completed her Doctorate of Chiropractic (all while training for the Olympics!), and she's planning on opening an injury prevention and rehabilitation clinic. 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• How Seun went from an Olympic hurdler to an Olympic Bobsledder
• What bobsled is, and how Seun chose the sport
• How Seun convinced her team mates Akuoma and Ngozi to join her in forming Nigeria's first bobsled team
• The roles each team member plays when they're doing a run in their bobsled
• The amazing way the team was able to train for their first bobsled race…without ever setting foot on the ice
• The greatest lesson Seun learnt from her disappointing performance at the 2012 summer Olympics
• Why she's so passionate about the work that she's doing with the Bobsled & Skeleton Federation of Nigeria
• Whether she's planning to compete at the next winter Olympics
• What Seun's biggest dream is
• What her 'I am…" is

EPISODE LINKS

Seun on Instagram

Seun on Facebook

Seun on Twitter

Seun's Website

Bobsled & Skeleton Federation of Nigeria Website

She's an international and space lawyer who's worked for Nigeria's space agency and consulted for Canada's space agency.  Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty is the former executive director of the World Space Week Association (WSWA).  In 2017 she was named 'Young Space Leader' by the International Astronautical Federation.  And yet, as she shares in our interview, as a teenager she didn't see how space was relevant, and in fact found her first trip to the NASA museum 'boring'!

After completing her law degree in Nigeria, Timiebi was assigned to work in the inaugural office of the Nigeria Space Agency as part of her National Youth Service.  At first she was intimidated, especially dealing with some of the more established countries that had advanced space programs.  But Timiebi realized there were many benefits to be had for developing countries, and they had every right to be represented in space programs.  

To bolster her knowledge, Timiebi went  studied for a Masters degree in Space Management from the International Space University, as well as a Masters degree in space law from McGill University.  Her doctoral research at McGill University focused on how all countries could benefit from space.   

Timiebi has become a sought-after expert on international affairs, international relations, global politics, global security, environmental issues, international law….and she'll soon be joining the faculty at the leading university that’s studying innovation and it's impact on society.  

Her greatest passion she says is working to create a level playing field so that developing countries can take advantage of innovations.  Timiebi talks about the reasons space programs should absolutely be included as goals for developing countries.    

In a field where there are so few women, and in particular black woman, Timiebi shares how she's used the lack of representation and low expectations of her as an African to motivate herself to excel.  

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• What is 'space'
• How being in the inaugural department of Nigeria's Space Agency inspired her to want to learn more about space
• The reasons space programs are relevant to developing countries, and why it should be part of their development objectives
• How personal tragedy struck Timiebi while writing her PhD thesis, and how she used it to motivate herself
• Why she's so excited about her next career move
• The best advice Timiebi was ever given 
• The advice she would give to young African women
• What her greatest passion is
• Her greatest fear
• What she is most proud of having achieved so far 
• The women she is inspired by, and who she would most like to meet 
• The impact the Timiebi wants to have in the world
• What her “I am…” is

EPISODE LINKS

Timiebi on Twitter

Timiebi on LinkedIn

Ladies Do Launch Website 

When her business partner's two-year old daughter asked for a peg and pillowcase so she could have long, flowy hair and a pointed nose, they knew they had to do something!  Caroline Hlahla and her business partner Khulile Vilakazi-Ofosu set to work to figure out how they could help young African girls to embrace their natural beauty, and be comfortable in their own skin.  

The two had started Bounce Essential Hair one year earlier, focused on selling 100% natural textured hair extensions for black women.

A little over one year ago, Caroline and Khulile launched Sibahle Collection.  The brand names comes from the Zulu word which means 'we are beautiful'.  They wanted the dolls to represent the beauty of black children.  

The dolls, which are vanilla scented, come in a variety of skin tones and with different textures of hair.  

But the journey has not been easy.  In this episode, Caroline shares some of the challenges they've faced along the way, and the reaction they've received to the dolls since launching the collection (hint - their dolls have sold out multiple times!)

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• What made Caroline and Khulile decide to launch the Sibahle doll collection
• How they went from idea to actually having dolls available 
• What features they wanted the dolls to have, and why this was important
• Why they decided to make the dolls vanilla scented
• The reactions they've received from little girls, as well as their parents
• The biggest challenges they faced on their journey
• Their audacious dream for Sibahle Collection
• What brings Caroline the greatest joy
• What Caroline's greatest fear is
• What Caroline's "I am" is

EPISODE LINKS

https://sibahlecollection.com/pages/about-us 

https://www.instagram.com/sibahlecollection/ 

https://www.facebook.com/sibahlecollection/ 

https://bebouncehair.com/pages/about-us-1 

https://www.instagram.com/bounceessentialhair/ 

https://www.facebook.com/aafricanessentials/ 

At a very young age, Dr Nina Lum was exposed to how life changing a career in medicine could be.  Her mother was a paediatrician in her native Cameroon, and so growing up she was familiar with the late-night knocks on their door from frantic parents with a sick child.  She’d watch as her mother tended to the child, and then marvel when a few days later that child was fully back to health. 

Inspired by her mother’s example, Nina decided to pursue medicine as a career.  But with only one medical school in the whole country, Nina soon came face to face with crushing disappointment - she was not accepted into the Cameroonian medical school. 

Undeterred, she pursued a Plan B, and then a Plan C, and was contemplating a Plan D when she was finally accepted into medical school in the Caribbean. 

Nina talks about the many challenges, but also triumphs, of her journey to being 'Dr Nina'. She also talks about the big dreams she has for the future. 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• How seeing her mother's work ethic inspired her to follow her dreams
• What inspired Nina to want to pursue a career in medicine
• How she had to go through Plan A, Plan B, Plan C and was thinking of going to a Plan D to pursue her dream of medical school
• What it was like being an immigrant going through medical school
• How Nina keeps balance in her life
• Why she felt it was important to participate in the writing of the book 'The Chronicles of Women in White Coats'
• The greatest lesson she learned from her mother
• The best advice she has ever been given
• How Nina hopes to impact the world
• What her "I am…" is

EPISODE LINKS

Nina on Instagram

Nina on Twitter

Nina’s Website

Dr Nina's Book ‘The Chronicles of Women in White Coats’ website

Six months ago I had an idea.  I had an idea that I wanted to be part of telling a different narrative about Africa, and in particular about African women.  I was tired of people looking at me with pity when I told them I was from Zimbabwe.  I was tired of people making assumptions about what it meant to be an African woman.  But I realized that in part it was not their fault – no one was really showing a different side.  

And so NDINI was created as a platform to share the stories, wisdom, witticism and truth of women of African descent – women who are leading their communities, and shaping the world with their strength, passion and vision.  

I called it NDINI, which means ‘I am’ in my mother tongue Shona.  I so strongly believe in the power of words, and I want NDINI to be a place where African women could affirm their place in the world  - a place to share the extraordinary and untold with pride.  I want it to be a platform for us to tell the world that we are so much more!

I wanted to use this episode to share a speech I gave on International Women’s Day where I talked about two phenomenal women who impacted my life.  

It was the first time that I had ever spoken publicly of the influence my two grandmothers had on my life. Both women never had a chance at an education. But they both dreamed a bigger dream for me than what was possible for themselves. And so it was such an honor to be able to speak my grandmother Chengeto and my grandmother Esther's names on International Women's Day.

I share their story as a way to acknowledge and honour all the unsung heroes in all of our lives.  

This episode is our 25th! And while we are still very young, and have a long way to go and much to learn, I wanted to take a moment to say “THANK YOU”! Thank you for the incredible love and support you have shown to me and the platform so far. 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

The story of my two grandmothers – Chengeto & Esther

The dream they both had for me growing up

How their belief in me inspired me

The question I challenge everyone to ask themselves

The challenge I pose to all of us

How the lyrics from a Michael Jackson song inspire me

EPISODE LINKS

NDINI on Instagram

NDINI on Facebook

NDINI on Twitter

NDINI on LinkedIn

NDINI on YouTube

NDINI’s Website

Sandra on Instagram

Sandra on Twitter

Sandra’s Website 

EPISODE SUMMARY

Catherine Addai is an award-winning designer, and the creative mind behind Kaela Kay.  You've seen her designs worn by celebrities, including Ava DuVernay.  And if you were watching the recent royal wedding, one of her dresses made an appearance there too! 

Catherine describes herself as "bold, fearless and fierce!”, and her personal style as “modern, demure, sexy”.  But it wasn't that long ago that Catherine was working a 'regular day job' in the health sector.  It was out of frustration that she made her first dress – her seamstress hadn’t made a dress she wanted to wear to an event.  Her mother gave her a sewing machine, and encouraged her to start making her own clothes.  Her first piece took her more than a month to make, but she knew she was on to something when people started asking  about her designs.     

Kaela Kay, which was named after Catherine and her oldest daughter Mikaela, was launched in 2012. The brand stands out with it bold prints, and Catherine's fearlessness in mixing  prints and colours. One year after its launch, CNN named Catherine one of 'Africa's Hottest New Fashion Designers". 

Over time, and encouraged by the incredible response to her collections, Catherine gave up the security of her ‘day job’, and threw herself fully into being the Creative Director for Kaela Kay.  And as the saying goes, she hasn't looked back since.  

While the brand is currently based in Toronto, Catherine is looking to expand operations.  She's also looking for ways to work with women in her native Ghana, as well as across the African continent, to help provide them with economic empowerment.   

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• How frustration led Catherine to start what is now a global brand 
• Why her brand is called ‘Kaela Kay’
• What it took for Catherine to make the leap from a ‘regular day job’ in the health sector to becoming a full time designer 
• What goes into the making of a Kaela Kay collection
• How she’s used social media to help grow her business
• The big plans that Catherine has to grow the Kaela kay brand
• Who is Catherine’s biggest inspiration
• What the theme song of Catherine’s life would be
• What her "I am…" is

EPISODE LINKS

Kaela Kay Website

Kaela Kay on Instagram

Kaela Kay on Facebook

Kaela Kay on Twitter

In addition to the Kaela Kay website, you can also find Kaela Kay at the following stores:

• Zandu in Montreal, Canada
• Rent Frock Repeat in Toronto, Canada
• Kutula in Los Angeles, United States
• Zuvaa - Online
• Afrikrea - Online

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi is a fantastic example of never, ever, ever give up on your dreams.  

She was born and raised in Uganda.  While she won awards for plays she wrote while in high school, she didn’t think of creative writing as a career, instead becoming an English teacher.  But Jennifer longed to have an outlet for her writing, and she decided to take the very daring step of leaving her teaching position and going to the UK to do a Masters degree in creative writing.  

In 2003, initially inspired by her own father’s battle with schizophrenia, Jennifer started writing what would become her first published novel ‘Kintu’. She was also intrigued by the way the western world characterizes Africa as a "place of madness”.   

Jennifer approached several publishers with her manuscript, but despite winning major awards, including the Commonwealth prize, none of the international publishers were interested in her book. In fact she was told by one publisher that the books was "too African"!

Jennifer eventually won the Kwani Manuscript Project in 2013, and the book was published in Africa in 2014 by Kwani. In 2018, Jennifer was awarded the Wyndham-Campbell prize, which is considered the richest price in literature.  Following that major award, she was approached by international publishers, who now wanted to publish her book.  

Jennifer is currently doing research for her second novel, currently called ‘The Women.’  Jennifer will also be publishing a book of short stories in 2019.  

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• What inspired Jennifer to become an author
• What her biggest dream for herself is
• Why she's willing to be a poor to follow her dreams
• The impact that she wants her work to have 
• What she is most grateful for
• The advice she would give to any young woman who has aspirations of being an author
• Who the women are who inspire Jennifer 
• What she’s working on next
• Her favourite book
• What her "I am…" is

EPISODE LINKS

Jennifer’s website

Lucia Bakulumpagi-Wamala describes herself as an outlier, a young woman, a local developer a refugee, an entrepreneur, a mother

Lucia is the founder and CEO of Bakulu Power - a Ugandan power company focused on generating renewable energy for under-served rural areas in Uganda.  Forbes Magazine as one of the '30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa'.  

But Lucia never had aspirations of building a power company .  In fact her aspirations were so far removed - she wanted to be in the luxury management.  

But life and circumstances have a funny way of revealing your purpose to you.  After having her daughter, Lucia found herself unemployed and without daycare for you young child.  

Before having her daughter, Lucia had made a trip to Uganda.  While in Uganda, she had seen matoke leaves discarded at local landfills.  Mashed meal from matoke, which is a starchy variety of banana, is the national dish for Uganda and Rwanda.  She found herself thinking about how these discarded leaves could potentially be used productively.  So she started reading and researching to keep herself occupied while looking after her daughter and looking for a job.  

And then it dawned on her….why don't we use this waste for energy! She decided that while she was waiting to find her  dream job, she would start looking into renewable energy solutions for Uganda.  And step by step she started building what is now a renewable energy company working on launching mini-grids to provide clean energy in Uganda.  

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• How not getting her dream job led to her building a power company
• Why energy is the only real conversation we should be having for Africa's development
• What her experience is being a woman in an industry dominated by men
• Why Lucia feels she has always been an outlier
• Her vision for Bakulu Power
• Who inspires Lucia most
• The greatest gift her mother gave her 
• What her favourite quote is
• What her favourite book is 
• Her greatest dream for her daughter Naomi
• What Lucia would pick as the theme song for her life
• What her "I am…" is

EPISODE LINKS

Bakulu Power website

Bakulu Power on Facebook

Bakulu Power on Twitter

Lucia on Twitter