Third Culture Africans

Third Culture Africans Podcast is back. We have an exciting season 2 ahead of us, and can't wait to hear our amazing guests and the invaluable experiences they are willing to share with us.

The first season of Third Culture Africans introduced us to the change makers putting the African continent on the map. We’ve heard from some incredible professionals, entrepreneurs, and artists about how they define and create success in their respective fields. These trailblazers have a few traits in common. Today we reflect on a few lessons we’ve learned from our guests: the value of being true to yourself, following your passion, and investing in what you care about.

Fashion-preneur Fisayo Longe reflects on how being open to sharing her journey is core to where she is at today. She speaks to how being herself is key to the growth of her business.

Guest Tiwa Works founded the Atlanta Greek Picnic, the largest event in the United States for black fraternities and sororities. Now drawing thousands to city each year, the event came about from Tiwa following his passion for business and entertainment. In this segment, he touches on losses, learning, and never giving up.

The U.N. recognized Efe as one of the Most Influential African People. His entrepreneurial journey has been able tackling the big problems, and he’s had some major successes along the way. During his interview, Efe discusses a time he was involved in something he realized he didn’t truly care about and the lesson learned.

Serial entrepreneur Charles Sekwalor has plenty of experience solving problems through business. Through MoveMeBack, he has set an ambitious goal to bring 500 million jobs to Africa. Here, he unpacks his approach to problem-solving.

Arese is on a mission to help women take control of their financial independence. In her episode, she talks about how one thing led to another: small articles created a following, leading to workshops, and eventually the book idea.

Misan has captured photos of the royal family, film icons, and supermodels. Now Misan Harriman is the first black photographer to photo a cover for Vogue. He talks in Third Culture Africans about his obsessions with photography.

Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao attended Grenoble Ecole De Management where she received a Master’s in International Business. She also holds a Bsc (Hons) in Informatics. She is mother, an international and entrepreneurial leader. The Founder and Managing director of Malée Natural Science; Africa’s 1st global luxury fragrance and body care brand operating across two continents with products available in 9 countries in wholesale, B2B, Hospitality, E-commerce and travel retail. An advisory board member and Program director at INNOCOS, the world beauty innovations summit as well as a consultant and international speaker and beauty industry expert on the luxury beauty and cosmetics industry, sustainability practices, innovation, disruption, trends and brand heritage.

Featured in international TV and Media publications such as CNN, The Telegraph, Grazia, ELLE Magazine, Glamour, Oprah Magazine and Atlanta Post. She is a pioneer of Female owned luxury business in Africa and is passionate about innovation. Zeze is the host of the pioneering podcast Third Culture Africans. She shares entrepreneurial tips and more on her personal website Zezeonline.com

Tiwa Works’ positivity has buoyed him into becoming a world-class entrepreneur and leader. An entrepreneur, real estate agent, and motivator, he founded Tiwaworks International, which annually hosts the United States’ largest black Greek letter event, the Atlanta Greek Picnic. It draws over 25,000 people to Atlanta with a $7.5-million impact.

Nigerian-British born Tiwa Williams, known better as Tiwa Works, was raised in a family of entrepreneurs. Tiwa makes friends everywhere he goes; his infectious optimism is at the root of his multiple successful business ventures. The most notable is the Atlanta Greek Picnic. Hear how this multi-million-dollar event came about and its legacy.

Tiwa covers a lot of ground in this podcast, with insights on everything from the power of black fraternities and sororities to having the American experience. He speaks about systemic racism, the riots in Atlanta, and fostering the necessary change. He touches on his influences: his parents, Jim Rohn, and others. Learn why you always need to be looking for opportunities and the importance of networking to grow your business.

Highlights of the episode:

• 5:03: What it was like adjusting to the different cultures; some “Coming to America” moments
• 18:52: Getting into fraternity life and how it created the foundation for Tiwa Works
• 35:38: The seed for Atlanta Greek Picnic
• 45:21: Why he started in real estate ahead of the Great Recession of 2007; seizing the opportunity
• 50:30: What entrepreneurship looks like for Tiwa Works
• 57:49: Witnessing the frustration of people after George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement in Atlanta
• 1:02:13: About how the Greek Picnic was already a voice of protest; the implications of the BLM and George Floyd at next year’s event
• 1:04:27: What else can be done to combat racism as African-led brands build and grow across the globe?

Mentioned Resources

• CULTURED.
• PlugATL
• Atlanta Greek Picnic
• Malée

Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao attended Grenoble Ecole De Management where she received a Master’s in International Business. She also holds a BSc (Hons) in Informatics. She is a mother, and an international and entrepreneurial leader. The Founder and Managing director of Malée Natural Science; Africa’s 1st global luxury fragrance and body care brand operating across two continents with products available in 9 countries in wholesale, B2B, Hospitality, E-commerce and travel retail. An advisory board member and Program Director at INNOCOS, the world beauty innovations summit as well as a consultant and international speaker and beauty industry expert on the luxury beauty and cosmetics industry, sustainability practices, innovation, disruption, trends, and brand heritage.

Charles Sekwalor is a serial entrepreneur and advisor on a mission to change and influence lives through small businesses and investment. Notably, he is the CEO and founder of Movemeback, a community that connects professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and influencers with inspiring opportunities in Africa. He’s on a mission to drive economic and social growth through individuals and organizations.

Before big brand names like Uber or Facebook come onto the continent, someone is laying the groundwork. Chale Sekwalor is one of those change-makers. Where ambitious goals and problems turn others away, he embraces the challenge and shows what is possible when we stretch our capacity.

Chale covers a lot of ground, but so has his career. He’s worked for big names like Tesco and McKinsey. He talks about the journey into full-time entrepreneurship and the drive to solve problems. There is some frank talk about financing and the challenges facing businesses. Tune in to learn from Chale’s insights and experiences.

• 3:13: Reflecting on the diaspora experience while growing up in West London; starting the journey to owning all that makes him a world citizen like the name Charlie and speaking Ga
• 14:34: Getting “itchy feet” syndrome and the start of his investing. The confidence to back himself.
• 17:00: Investing big in real estate, and then the market crashed. Taking a huge chance to make it work.
• 20:37: The side project of finding investors for the property and how he started to discover himself and what can be achieved
• 26:13 Jumping into entrepreneurship and speaking about being in the same organization but having different experiences
• 27:33: About starting Project Nights, Minds Meet, and other side businesses
• 32:39: About pivoting to the African continent and solving problems there; the start of Movemeback, setting up the business, and the benefits of talking to people
• 36:01: The challenges entrepreneurs on the African continent face around launching and scaling; part of the reason for Movemeback
• 40:46: The real impact of Movemeback in Africa and where the platform is today
• 43:47: How do you finance the big goals? Speaking on directing funds to solve the right problems.
• 51:08: The paycheck isn’t impressive, but they have built self-sustaining businesses. A frank talk about salaries and reinvesting in the business.
• 56:19: Discussing the obsession businesses have about raising funds as a way to survive and if it is a valid method to operate
• 1:03:18: The need for a unified African business plan and 500 million jobs for Africa’s economic survival

Mentioned Resources

• Movemeback
• The Continent Group
• AgonyApp
• COS Ventures
• Charles Sekwalor
• Callmechale.com
• Malée

Meet Aduke Onafowokan, a lead associate at Inclusivitii and Founder of The Sister Sister Network. She is passionate about corporate social responsibility and teaching others. Professionally, she works to help leading companies develop and retain talented people while creating inclusive, diverse, and effective teams. With The Sister Sister Network, she helps empower women to tap into their natural abilities and become even more effective leaders.

It’s hard to miss the passion in a conversation with Aduke Onafowokan. A lifelong learner and natural educator, she speaks candidly about inclusivity and diversity in the workforce. Learn her approach to tackling diversity and inclusion in the workforce and how she guides corporations toward seizing opportunities.

She touches on how successful people need a village of support.  Aduke Onafowokan is a parent, and she understands the push and pull people feel to juggle their lives. She talks about the importance of emotional education and knowing your worth. Hear what inspired The Sister Sister Network and its growth.

Highlights of the episode:

• 9:43: How she ended up with a law degree and discovering it wasn’t her passion; pursuing a PhD in corporate social responsibility
• 13:39: Meeting her husband, deciding to take a break from school, discovering she liked contracting on project management
• 19:05: About the Sister Sister Network, its inspiration, and how it grew from a small, once-a-year event to forums across the country.
• 24:01: Re-evaluating her priorities with contracting and parenthood. Finding opportunities to speak about diversity and help other organizations become more inclusive.
• 29:28: Moving into learning and development consulting around diversity and inclusion, how you can be a multilayered person.
• 36:43: Why we need our village to be successful and battling our innate vulnerability
• 42:51: What her work in diversity and inclusivity does for companies
• 46:12: Helping identify the challenges and opportunities for inclusivity and diversity
• 56:14: You need to be your own sponsor and know your worth

Mentioned Resources

• Inclusivitii
• The Sister Sister Network
• Aduke Onafowokan
• Malée

Tara Gbolade makes ordinary places extraordinary. Founder of Gbolade Design Studios, she focuses on the community when designing her spaces. As a result, she’s a 2018 RIBA Rising Star Winner and has been tapped to work on council housing projects.

Zeze and Tara Gbolade discuss her journey from Nigeria to the UK and her boarding school experiences. Hear about her early career in architecture and what inspired her to start her business. Surrounding herself with the right people spurred her growth.

Her Nigerian roots influence how she views UK spaces. Tara believes in the importance of place-making and the sense of identity that comes with a home. She explains why she thinks about creating social connections when designing spaces. Lastly, she talks about overcoming challenges in launching a new business venture.

In this episode, we talk about:

• 00:00-2:28: Introduction and welcome of Tara Gbolade, a 2018 RIBA Rising Star Winner and founder Gbolade Design Studios
• 2:28-4:12: How they met and correct name pronunciation
• 4:12-6:00 Knowing early on what career she wanted and African parent expectations
• 6:01-7:02: Getting real advice before starting a business
• 7:02-11:44: Early career in architecture and the impetus to launch her business
• 12:02-15:21: Experiences in independence and boarding school away from home
• 16:14-18:17: Surrounding yourself with people consistently driven to create and grow
• 18:17-19:40: Architecture as place-making and bridging the gap between people
• 20:38-22:02: Differences between the UK and Nigerian lifestyles and design
• 22:02-23:43: What has been most challenging in launching her new business
• 23:43-24:32: Connecting with Tara Gbolade

Mentioned Resources

• Malée
• Gbolade Design Studios
• Mace Group?
• Who moved my cheese? By Dr. Spencer Johnson
• Zaha Hadid

Hanneli Rupert is the trailblazing founder and social impact champion of the sustainable African accessory label Okapi. It’s hailed as a farm-to-fashion concept and works to contribute to rural communities’ development by creating stable, long-lasting jobs. She founded the pioneering Merchants on Long, a store championing authentically made African brands.

Something clear from Hanneli Rupert is her passion for materials and sustainability. She discusses the importance of sustainability sourced materials as a way of investing in communities through jobs and skilled labor. The quality of the craftsmanship always comes to the forefront.

Paired with that is a need to elevate African voices. Hanneli isn’t looking for European heritage products with an African spin; she sources authentically African materials and voices.

Hanneli also touches on building supply chains and logically building markets. Hear her take on the importance of creative ventures in the pandemic world.

Highlights of the episode:

• (3:17) The origins of the Okapi brand and Merchants on Long
• (11:07) Being at the forefront of fashion and art and launching successful entrepreneurs in the African fashion scene.
• (14:02) Her goal is to seek artisans and designers who speak with an authentic African voice
• (20:44) Okapi as a brand empowering as many people as possible through sourcing and skilled labor
• (24:58) Discussing why she chooses to work with skins even as culture has shifted to synthetic materials
• (32:12) The importance of a product’s story for the branding and the nuances in the layers
• (44:02) Speaking about the Social Impact Arts Prize and what’s happening with it

Mentioned Resources

• Okapi
• Merchants on Long
• Malée

Some call Adebola Williams the man who helped elect three African Presidents. As the CEO and co-founder of Red Africa, a portfolio of youth media brands which includes Statecraft Inc and YNaija, Williams is in the business of nation-building.

One thing clear after listening to Adebola Williams is a deep-rooted passion for uplifting others. Always the kid concerned about other people, he recognized the power of our voice early on. His relentless drive to find ways to share his voice and help others amplify themselves led him across careers.

Hear from Adebola firsthand about why the focus should always be on the people. He has a true passion for reaching young people and speaking to them using different platforms. Through the conversation, he shares the importance of pursuing what you care about with courage and putting yourself where you want to be.

Highlights of the episode:

• Speaking to Adebola’s superpower to bring attention to African causes and lift people out of inequality (3:45)
• About an inborn passion for helping and encouraging others using his voice (16:11)
• How hanging around the media and building a presence led to becoming a TV presenter, and then a producer (27:48)
• His goal to create platforms that reach and convene young people; speaking about the turmoil and march in Abuja in 2010 and motivating the young people to turn out (30:46)
• His advice for young entrepreneurs and people starting out (37:15)
• Talking about his iconic uniform and why he chooses to wear it (41:25)

Mentioned Resources

• StateCraft Inc
• Rubbing Minds
• Ynaija.com
• Beat Corona Africa
• The FutureAfrica.com
• Malée

Adora Mba is the founder and director of The Afropolitan Collector, an art advisory platform specializing in contemporary African art. They work with art organizations and clients to find exceptional pieces and promote the growing African art market.

Adora Mba has a deep love for art. As a child of two cultures, educated in the UK and United States, her travels exposed her to art around the world. In today’s episode, Adora reflects on how her home life inspired her love for art, even if her parents didn’t see it as a career. She talks about working in public relations and journalism and being at forefront of bringing art to the mainstream media.

Along Adora’s journey to founding the Afropolitan Collector, she moved to Ghana. She touches about the country’s rich culture and the role of art in African culture. Adora speaks to new artists and the need to have a story behind the product. She also talks about opportunities that arose from putting herself out there and being willing to take risks.

• Adora Mba started in public relations, which was a great thing for networking and meeting artists starting their careers (5:55)
• Her ARISE Journalism days; she wanted to be behind the scenes learning. The benefits of being a producer. (11:03)
• Pioneering conversations about art in mainstream media (13:57)
• The importance of taking action on your dreams (22:39)
• Art is a snapshot of a time in our culture; we lack institutions that hold a record of our history (26:44)
• Working with Gucci, how it came about and what happened (33:23)
• Adora Mba’s future plans and projects in Accra (46:49)

Mentioned Resources

• Afropolitian Collector
• ARTX
• One 54
• Malée

Wale Davies, also known as Tec, is a creative pioneer and figurehead of the independent music scene in Africa. As a musician entrepreneur, he is a record label owner, a production company owner, video and film director, and talent manager.

Music is not a career most African parents want to see their kids pursuing. That may be why many parents tried to have Wale Davies dissuade their youth from entering the industry. But Wale is the perfect example of living your passion. Music is encoded into his DNA. Through the rap duo Show Dem Camp, this love has become a thriving career.

In Wale Davies’ journey from finance student to musician, you will hear firsthand about hard work, living authentically, and the need to keep learning. He’s added to his skill sets over the years, which has diversified his knowledge base and led to new opportunities.

He will also touch on the advantages of being an independent artist. Learn where he sees the music industry going and how it’s different from when Show Dem Camp started.

Highlights of the episode:

• Music was never Wale Davies’ plan; he didn’t see it as a career (4:52)
• His time at the University of Brighton and university’s ability to expose you to different points of view. (7:21)
• Being raised by a single parent and the foundational lessons he learned from his mother (11:33)
• How he ended up in Nigeria making music (21:39)
• The work behind building a music career; parents asking him to talk their kids out of it and the pushback from peers about choosing music (25:29)
• The source of Wale Davies’ confidence (29:51)
• Deciding to go independent versus signing onto a label; how it increased their skillset and made them more strategic (33:07)
• Comparing how things were before to today’s music industry and streaming distribution; how social media is an amplifier (52:48)
• Wale Davies’ thoughts and hopes on the music industry’s future (1:10:08)

Mentioned Resources

• Show Dem Camp
• Ghost
• Malée
• Tuface Idibida
• Naeto C
• DRB LasGidi
• P-square
• Nneka
• M.I.
• Art X Lagos