Boardroom Banter

What does it take to climb life’s highest mountains—both literal and figurative? In this second episode of the Unstoppable Campaign, we sit down with Julius Mbura, a lawyer, poet, car reviewer, and mountaineer who has defied the odds time and time again. Losing his eyesight twice—first as a child and then again just before completing law school—Julius has faced adversity with unparalleled determin...

In this powerful episode, we are joined by DJ Wiwa, an international DJ, fashion enthusiast, gender-based violence advocate, and passionate supporter of women with disabilities. Born with cerebral palsy, DJ Wiwa’s voice is slightly affected, so she’s joined by her sister and caregiver, Pauline, who helps amplify her words and shares her unique perspective as both a support system and best friend....

Today, we celebrate 3 years of Boardroom Banter! To mark this special occasion, we're bringing you an inspiring conversation with Anthony Mabonga, the Managing Director of Bboxx Kenya—a leader whose organization has revolutionized energy access for over 500,000 Kenyans, providing clean, reliable, and affordable electricity to homes, communities, and businesses that had never experienced it before....

In today’s episode, we’re joined by two visionary entrepreneurs, Niels and Wendy, who are behind an innovative solution called thnx—a digital label that helps you track and recover lost items effortlessly. They take us on a journey through their entrepreneurial story, from how they first crossed paths to how being their most genuine and authentic selves allowed them to forge a strong working relat...

In today's episode, we sit down with Mike Warner, a true pioneer in the music industry with over 20 years of experience, to dive deep into his incredible journey.  From being an artist himself to becoming a key figure in empowering musicians through technology, Mike has lived and breathed every aspect of the music industry. Mike's passion for helping artists get their music heard has drive...

In this week’s compelling episode, we welcome Shermin Kruse, a stoic empathy specialist dedicated to helping individuals and companies evolve through thought-provoking dialogue. Growing up in Iran during a time of conflict, Shermin found refuge in her home, where her parents encouraged a love for reading and the pursuit of knowledge. This nurturing environment taught her that the true nature of a...

In today’s episode, we step into the world of Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the Regional Director for Africa at the World Health Organization. With roots in South Africa and a childhood shaped by the rich cultural landscapes of Botswana and Eswatini, Dr. Moeti's diverse cultural background has profoundly influenced her life's mission of improving health equity and justice across the African contin...

In today’s episode, we dive into the heartbeat of the Kenyan music industry as we sit down with the incredible Bilha Ngaruiya, Country Manager of ONErpm for Kenya, to uncover how distribution companies are revolutionizing the industry. Bilha spends her time helping artists across Kenya access essential music services through ONErpm to advance their brand and careers.  Her early experiences gave he...

Our guest this episode, Gina Din- Kariuki, is a powerful voice in the world of brand storytelling. Raised in an environment that championed reaching for dreams amidst a backdrop of a changing Africa, Gina witnessed firsthand the continent's resilience during a pivotal time where political, cultural, and technological shifts were shaping the world. This dynamic upbringing ignited a lifelong pas...

From captivating photography to inspiring videos, Jonathan spends his time crafting narratives that bridge hearts and minds. In this episode, we discover how he transforms empathy and compassion into powerful tools for creative expression, in both his personal life as an artist as well as guiding businesses to authentically connect with their audiences. His childhood challenges shaped his deep-sea...

Our guest today is committed to enhancing people's lives by empowering them to recognize their inherent greatness. Mark Paulson is the President of People First Operations Inc., helping leaders understand their people's strengths, motivations, and goals, and then aligning them with processes that fit their needs and abilities. From an early age, Mark has always had an insatiable curiosity,...

As a highly accomplished technologist and social impact advocate, Maria is actually most proud of the fact that she’s indeed, a super mom! From automating her workflow to learning new ways to engage her children, Maria describes how her work as Chile and Argentina’s national technology officer at Microsoft has created a new love and appreciation for tech in our lives. In this episode, we unpack Ma...

The world as we know it is at a tipping point in this fourth Industrial Revolution, and today’s guest has a front seat in building strategic partnerships in the world of work and technology to move us towards this bright future.  Michael Liley is the Senior Managing Director at Sand Technologies, an organization that is at the core of the tech services market equipped with young,  experienced tale...

When Jason was young, he was enamored with the idea of creating wildly imaginative comics. As an artist and storyteller, he has evolved into a branding and storytelling powerhouse who turns everyday brands into high converting businesses that are “binge-worthy” through narrative design. In this episode we unpack his work at the helm of his agency JHT Design Studios alongside his lifelong passion t...

Are you creating meaningful change, inspiring hope and breathing life into the world through the stories you share? Today's conversation sets sail from the island of Mauritius on a special graduation morning. Our guest, Julie Gichuru, challenges us to think deeply about the "why" behind the stories we tell about ourselves and the communities around us. Julie is an Afro-optimist, moth...

Joining us with a rich tapestry of experience and exposure, this week's guest joins us in the boardroom from the world of strategy consulting and venture capital with a radical view of how Africans can build businesses that make a difference.  Kristin Wilson spent her early professional life studying modern thought & literature, African studies, and neuroscience at leading institutions lik...

Storytelling, when used effectively can be an incredible tool to catapult your career and business through relationships. No one embodies this idea quite like John Hill, who turned a passion for language, ideas and people into a massively successful career and life as a tech evangelist at LinkedIn and now Techstars. The concept of telling the stories, ideas and values of a business to global audie...

Navigating the career space can be a daunting task, especially when you’re a creative charting an unconventional path through life. In today’s episode, we speak with Sam Wells, founder of Tern Heads- a career development platform for emerging creatives looking for their first jobs or clients in the creative industry. Sam has worked in the creative industry for over 16 years, leveraging the power o...

In our first episode of the year, we take a trip to the United Kingdom where Jonathan Chippindale leverages tech and data to shape consumer perception and adoption of our favorite fashion brands. With a fascinating childhood rooted in adventure and curiosity, Johnathan turned a fascination with style and culture into a valuable asset in the world of business that has helped brands like Luis Vuitto...

Jasiel didn’t always know he would find himself in the startup world, but after an early career on Wall Street, he realized the need to rethink how we support and invest in Africa’s most exciting entrepreneurs.  Hailing from Ghana, Jasiel is the Africa Investment Officer at Accion Venture Lab where he leads the growth of a dynamic portfolio of finance technology startups. In this episode, we uncov...

In this week’s episode, we delve into the extraordinary journey of Nicole Glaros, a seasoned entrepreneur and dedicated business mentor.  Nicole's unique perspective is profoundly shaped by her early childhood experiences, which instilled in her strong beliefs about independence, wealth creation, and the essence of entrepreneurship. Her remarkable journey began in college when she founded her...

Armed with a heart for learning and development and an entrepreneurial spirit, Allie Danziger has been shaping the school-to-work transition for thousands of graduates across the USA.  In this episode, we unpack how her unique upbringing and early work experience opened her eyes up to the challenges and opportunities facing young professionals globally and the incredible solutions that she birthed...

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Wendy Mubaiwa moved to the UK in her teens.  After her studies, she embarked on an unconventional career path that eventually led to an exciting journey in the startup world. With entrepreneurial parents as role models, she was drawn into the world of entrepreneurship from a young age. Today, Wendy’s passion and expertise shine as she serves as a Venture Partner at esy...

In this captivating episode, Nanjero takes us on a journey through his career at the crossroads of sports, entertainment, and technology. As a passionate enabler and General Manager at Sol Generation, he shares his mission of nurturing talent within these dynamic industries. Drawing from his diverse educational experiences across different countries and his exposure to varied cultures, Nanjero dis...

With a fundamental belief in people and their ability to do good, Isaac Kwaku takes us on a fascinating journey through his life’s mission to create a prosperous Africa built by us, for us.  At the cutting edge of research, economic development and investment advisory at Botho Emerging Markets Group and Amahoro Coalition, this week's guest shares a remarkable new model to approach how we as Af...