Third Culture Africans

Michelle De Klerk is the founder of The Women’s Chapter, a movement for women in business to connect, inspire, and thrive. An entrepreneur herself, she’s also built careers as a journalist, marketing director, and business development consultant. 

Listen to Michelle discuss her inspiration and reason for founding The Women’s Chapter. She covers the validation for the work and the need for women in high-impact careers to support each other.

Michelle De Klerk talks about how her various career roles influenced the entrepreneur she is today. Michelle touch on what it’s like being a parent, managing a career, and starting a business. She discusses how parenthood enhances the entrepreneurial service mindset.

In this episode, we talk about:

• 00:00 - Introducing guest Michelle De Klerk
• 1:15 - How Zeze and Michelle first met
• 3:06 - The history behind The Women’s Chapter, a platform for supporting and showcasing women-led businesses
• 8:09 - How Michelle saw the need for a women’s platform and figuring out how to scale in a way that made sense
• 11:27 - What is validation for her Women’s Chapter work
• 15:01 - The challenges behind supporting women in business
• 19:12 - Michelle’s early career in journalism, marketing, and business development
• 20:04 - The influence of her Mom and Dad’s work ethic
• 23:33 - Back to the evolution of her career, the SARS epidemic impact, landing in commodities, and circling around journalism
• 27:34 - Discussion on how entrepreneur have a service mindset
• 29:11 - The demands of running a business and motherhood
• 31:57- Facing work discrimination as a new mother
• 33:57 - How becoming a mother enhances career aspirations, not detracts, and the role entrepreneur plays in finding a system that works
• 35:59 - Meeting Mother Teresa
• 37:05 - Circling back around to Michelle’s professional evolution
• 40:02-42:30: Thoughts about fear being a good thing and tackling fears first
• 42:31 - The recent “aha” moment
• 44:33 - Name pronunciation segment
• 46:07 - How to find Michelle and the Women’s Chapter online

Mentioned Resources

• The Women’s Chapter
• Malée

Ifeanyi Oganwu is the founder of Expand Design Ltd, a London-based studio with a unique take on architecture and furniture design. His work fuses craftsmanship and digital technology inspired by the world around him.

Now celebrating ten years, Ifeanyi Oganwu offers insights into his design process. They cover his background, influences, and unique approach to materials. While we view his work aesthetically, Ifeanyi has a more mathematical and formal way of discussing his work. He sees himself as separate from what he produces.

Learn where Ifeanyi has been and where the next ten years will take him!

In this episode, we talk about:

• 00:00: Welcome and introductions to Ifeanyi Oganwu
• 1:27: Discussing why Ifeanyi started Expand Design, his futurist creations, and celebrating craftsmanship
• 5:24: Ifeanyi’s thought process behind designing and sustainability
• 10:23: Having a “hands off” approach in his work
• 12:43: How long the process takes and working through roadblocks
• 13:45: Separating himself from the work and its accolades
• 16:24: What Expand Design means and the influences of his travels
• 18:56: Ifeanyi’s background, moving from Nigeria to Chicago for university
• 21:45: Being experimental in his childhood
• 23:47: Early artistic influences from Benin
• 26:17: The “maths” in life; how mathematics plays a role in design
• 27:31: Not really caring about who’s bought his work and a pinch-me moment
• 29:57: Making the decision to start his business and what’s next
• 32:53: Advice for those considering exploring materials and design
• 33:56: Where to find Ifeanyi Oganwu’s work in the real world and digitally
• 37:40: The correct pronunciation of his name
• 39:19: Thanks and wrap-up

Mentioned Resources

• Malée
• Expand Design

Winifred Awa is the CEO and Founder of Antidote Street, a global beauty marketplace for multi-cultural women. She talks to Zeze about the relationship women of color have with their hair. Along the way, she dives into her personal history and discovering her natural hair. Winifred discusses how Antidote Street is bringing the salon experience for women of color into the modern era.

Winnie didn’t start in the beauty industry. She originally was an analyst with IBM Business Consulting Services. She stepped into the industry working with Net-a-Porter as a Strategic Program Manager. Winifred Awa discusses the pivot and the need for the work of her hands to have a real impact. Learn about the beginnings of Antidote Street and advocating for her business.

• 00:00: Introduction of Winifred Awa
• 2:13: Winifred’s impetus for starting her business Antidote Street and discovering her natural hair
• 4:43: Women’s relationship with hair, especially as a woman of color
• 7:28: The frustration of having people not knowing what they’re doing, and how understanding allows you to make decisions from a place of power
• 11:01: Bringing the experience for women of color into the 21st century with excellent formulation and packaging
• 14:01: The ritual of hair
• 15:05: How Winifred ended up studying management technology and a career in management consultancy
• 21:15: Pivoting into e-commerce working with brands like Net-a-Porter
• 25:50: Putting out a salon manifesto and putting the fashion industry to task. Inviting people to have a conversation about the industry
• 29:45: About the five-point manifesto and staying accountable
• 31:57: Tapping into our experiences as third culture kids
• 33:24:  Realizing she wanted the work of her hands to have an impact
• 36:22: The beginnings of Antidote Street, the hair lab, and advocating for the right location.
• 40:42: Diving into creating a fashion label andVerv alongside the hair industry; creating black vintage glamour; being at London Fashion Week’s Discovery Lab

• Malée
• Antidote Street
• Net-a-Porter
• ASOS
• LVMH
• andVerv

Misan Harriman, a jack of all trades. Currently gaining attention for his photojournalism, he’s captured images of high-profile celebrities such as Princess Beatrice’s engagement photos. But he’s more complex than an eye behind a lens.

He is a content curator, consultant, social strategist, and more. He’s made waves in digital publishing and social media as the founder of What We Seee, a platform of curated, inspirational stories from an array of voices.

Misan Harriman breaks down his roots, starting with boarding school and dropping out of university. He works through what he learned as a club promoter, his experiences as a headhunter pre-recession, and moving into the digital publishing landscape. Misan discusses the importance of authenticity and how we’ve lost track of the power of the internet.

Misan sees his platform as a way to elevate the promise of the human conditions. He doesn’t shy away from activism or invoking cultural conversations. They briefly touch on the pressures of cultural heritage, the role of privilege, and giving opportunities to others to excel.

• 00:00: Welcome and introduction of Misan Harriman
• 3:03: How Misan and Zeze first met around 2007
• 6:463: Recounting Misan’s early days after dropping out of university running club promo nights
• 9:14: Work as a headhunter before the 2008 recession
• 11:12-12:46: The oil business in Nigeria and time with Nokero
• 12:47: Their parents and the opportunities they had when they moved back to Nigeria
• 14:32: Being sent to boarding school and experiences there
• 18:05: Evolving into the digital publishing landscaping
• 22:13:  Technology’s power, the arrogance of youth, and recognizing privilege
• 25:39: Publishing with empathy and a human algorithm
• 30:28: You never know the impact sharing your story makes
• 32:45: Using What We Seee as a platform for activism and content that matters
• 36:28: Misan’s correct name pronunciation
• 38:00: Misan’s natural icebreaker tendencies and a few dating tricks
• 42:07: Celebrities he’s photographed and his starstruck fanboy moment
• 44:51: Photojournalism around the world and his Saudi Arabia experience
• 46:34: How to find Misan and What We Seee
• 47:29: His experience as a father and how having a child educated him more about women’s issues
• 50:01: Tapping into your empathy engine and living an authentic life
• 55:40: You have to grow and carefully choose what you put into your mind
• 58:27: Episode wrap-up

• What We Seee
• Portrait of a Soul
• Malée

Touria El-Glaoui is the founder of 1-54, the first leading international art fair dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Touria takes us a journey from her Moroccan heritage to a career in finance in the United States, to rediscovering the vibrant African art world.

In creating 1-54, Touria El-Glaoui ’s mission is to give contemporary African art the platform and voice it deserves. She talks about its creation, navigating early obstacles, and important decisions that set 1-54 up for success. 1-54 created a market that wasn’t present at its launch in 2013.

Touria gives advice for emerging African artists and 1-54’s role in inspiring the next generation. She talks about while having a good partner could be helpful, it’s important to know you can do things as an independent woman.

• 00:00-3:54: The origins and growth of 1-54
• 04:28-7:51: What 1-54 is about and creating a market that wasn’t yet there
• 7:51- 12:33 Touria’s background, being raised as the daughter of two creative people and granddaughter of a Pasha of Marrakesh
• 12:34-15:56: Creating standards for 1-54 and pushing back against expected roles
• 15:57-20:55: Touria’s past career in finance in the United States, and returning to Morrocco as a repatriated African selling infrastructure
• 20:56-22:50: Discovering creativity on the African continent not seen elsewhere
• 22:51-24:16: Working on an ongoing project of her father’s work and how it informed the creation of 1-54
• 24:17-26:35: Our responsibility as African entrepreneurs and providing a platform for its voices
• 26:36-33:40: Overcoming some sponsorship and investment obstacles to grow the brand
• 33:40-35:21: How having great advisors with business experience to guide at the beginning helped her make smart brand choices
• 35:22-37:41: Learning to work and negotiate with vendors
• 37:42-41:02: Earning accolades in Forbes and how to approach media interest
• 41:03-47:18: Touria’s advice for young and emerging artists; using 1-54 as a goal to shoot for
• 47:19-51:44: Fielding questions about family and partnerships, but knowing you can do things independently
• 51:56-53:38: Correct pronunciation of Touria
• 53:38-55:42: Where to connect with Touria and 1-54

Mentioned Resources

• Frieze Art Fair
• 1-54

Meet Eva Sonaike, the person behind the luxury interior design company of the same name. Her home textiles and furnishings have a vibrant West-African aesthetic with high-quality manufacturing and hand-finished designs.

Today she discusses how her early career in fashion journalism helped her gain the confidence to launch her brand. She has long been passionate about African fabrics and design but started in interior design from scratch. Learn why she chose to use her name as the company name and why it’s important to never compromise on your standards.

Eva draws on her background. She was born to Nigerian parents in Germany and adopted by a German family. Embracing different cultures is important to her, and what drew her to the UK. She reflects on breaking barriers and becoming mainstream. The chat ends with a discussion on finding the balance between home and work demands.

In this episode, we talk about:

• 00:00-1:54: Introducing Eva Sonaike
• 1:52-2:31: Correct pronunciation of her name
• 2:32-3:34: How she started in her business; why using her name as the brand name
• 3:34-4:45: Eva’s upbringing in Germany and her Nigerian background
• 4:45-6:15: Learning to work with textiles and creating fabrics
• 6:17-7:26: Early interest in interior design, but taking time to build confidence
• 7:27-10:32 Searching for a multicultural city; making the move to the UK
• 10:32-13:21: Reflections on what has been achieved, breaking barriers and crossing over into the mainstream.
• 13:21-17:49: Being unapologetically African and staying true to her brand standards
• 17:50- 19:47: How she was able to get started with interior design; you need to keep learning to be successful in business
• 19:48- 21:26: Myths about entrepreneurship and finding success
• 21:26-23:45: Balancing sustainability and quality in business choices
• 23:46-24:55: Finding ways to inspire and lift up others
• 24:55-27:37: Attending trade shows and if they are the way going forward
• 27:38- 29:27: The interesting customer demographic and person who likes her work
• 29:27- 32:30: Making tough choices when balancing work and home life; the need for support networks
• 32:31- 33:37 What’s next for Eva’s collection
• 33:38-35:08: How to find Eva and the wrap-up

Mentioned Resources

• Elle
• InStyle
• ICFF
• Selfridges
• Fenwick

Ayo Adeyinka is the founder of TAFETA galleries. Today Ayo is a recognized specialist in modern and contemporary African arts, but he started in the financial world. Dive into Ayo’s early years and influences to hear his journey from accounting to art consulting and founding TAFETA.

The discussion turns to Africa’s rich cultural history as a launching point for contemporary and modern artists. They tackle what it means to be a third culture African and how Africans around the globe are reconnecting with their roots.

Additionally, Ayo and Zeze discuss the work behind growing and running a thriving brand. What does putting the customer first mean in their business? Learn why TAFETA values building communities and relationships.

• What is a Third Culture African? Understanding and appreciating that we have diverse cultures - 7:19
• Creating businesses with a purpose and serving the customer - 11:41
• Ayo’s early life and handling the financial responsibilities of starting a business - 13:35
• Staying mobile for success. Why having a funded business builds confidence with investors and viewing art as an investment - 31:19
• Enjoying the modern era of African art and the documenting of traditional culture; Africans across the globe reconnecting with their roots - 37:26
• Finding leaders that look like you in all fields for inspiration and mentorship - 43:31

Mentioned Resources

• TAFETA
• 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 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

Every Monday starting February 10th, join me as I sit down with culture changers, industry disruptors to learn about their journeys. The challenges and obstacles they have overcome to achieve their success and living with purpose.