MERI PODCAST

Join us for this conversation with Professor Panos Hatziandreas. He is the Co-Founder, Head of School and General Manager/Country Representative of Lebawi International Academy. Professor Panos has over 30 years of experience in psychology, leadership and education. He is a leading voice in human-centered and culturally grounded education in Ethiopia. Professor Panos grew up in Addis Ababa. His wo...

Join us for this episode with Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa. Whether at Reuters, Disney, or Facebook, Jocelyne has consistently proven that success and kindness go hand-in-hand in the media industry. In this conversation, we explore her strategic blueprint for exploding streaming adoption across the continent and trace her professional evolution from CELS...

Join us for this episode with Nuredin Hassen, Founder & CEO of Nurha Business Group, Nuredin Hassen Strawberry Farm and Raha Strawberry Jam, known for developing ventures connected to farming and product manufacturing. In this conversation: how he built his business, what it takes to turn agricultural output into market-ready products, the discipline behind scaling a local company, and his out...

Join us for this episode with ZEWDINEH BEYENE HAILE (PhD, JSD), Co-founder & Managing Partner, ALG LLP (USA); Founder & Principal, Law Office of Dr. Zewdineh Beyene Haile (ZEELAWS) (Ethiopia). With expertise across oil, gas, mining, and construction disputes, he advises African governments and multinational firms. In this conversation: his JSD from UC Berkeley and PhD journey, landmark cas...

Join us for this episode with Zelalem Merawi, visionary behind Zelalem Tour, Ker Ezhi Leather Manufacturing, and Avocado Luxury Spa & Bistro, pioneering excellence across Ethiopia's tourism, manufacturing, and lifestyle sectors. Zelalem combines a fearless, risk-taking mindset and deep brand-building expertise with a passion for local value addition, developing world-class Ethiopian produc...

Learn more about Stanford seed https://stanfordseed.co/epodcastIn this advertorial episode, brought to you in collaboration with Stanford Seed, our host Kenean Assefa Dukamo sat down with Seed alumni and experienced business leaders:• Menna Selamu Bekele, Founder and CEO of Prime Integrated Services• Tibebeselassie Awetahegn, Founder and CEO of Timex Trading PLCThey discussed the importance of the...

Join us for this episode with Solomon Tedla, visionary founder of Abramba Technologies PLC, advancing solar lighting and LED technology to transform lives in energy-poor communities. Solomon combines global business insight and private equity expertise with a passion for sustainable energy, manufacturing high-quality LEDs and solar systems locally in Ethiopia. In this conversation: Solomon’s early...

Join us for this episode with Robel Tsegaye, Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation. Robel is a seasoned construction executive with global experience and a passion for advancing Ethiopia’s public infrastructure. In this conversation: Robel’s early life and values, his civil engineering education at Arba Minch University, his 12-year journey in the Middle East work...

Join us for this episode with Berhanu Zergaw tech entrepreneur and co-founder of ZERGAW Cloud, CAMS Engineering, Nuna Coworking Space, and BEDEBO Ethiopia. Berihanu is a pioneering ICT leader driving Ethiopia's digital transformation through innovative cloud, internet, and agri-tech solutions. In this conversation: Berhanu's journey founding ZERGAW in 2019 after years of preparation, overc...

Join us for this episode with Mulualem Ferede, Managing Director of Leed Building Technology & Trading. Mulualem is an entrepreneur and engineering solutions provider leading a company supplying specialized construction technologies and building materials in Ethiopia. In this conversation: Mulualem’s origins and early experiences, his time abroad and returning to Ethiopia, and the process of b...

Join us for this episode with Amare Beshah, CEO of Afri Investment PLC. Leading a diversified enterprise spanning sanitary supply solutions, real estate development, dolomite mining, and food fortification, Amare has firsthand experience building and managing complex businesses across multiple sectors in Ethiopia. In this conversation: Amare’s defining career moments and the experiences that prepa...

Join us for this episode with Hana Tehelku, Director General of the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority. Over the past two years, she has been at the center of shaping Ethiopia’s emerging capital market environment, leading the regulatory foundation of the country’s new capital market ecosystem. In this conversation: Hana’s defining career moments and the experiences that prepared her for public le...

Join us for this episode with Yezichalem Kassa, Founder and CEO of TheDay Agro Processing Industry, a pioneer in premium organic fruit jams. With over fifteen years of experience, she has played a key role in shaping Ethiopia’s agro-processing sector. In this conversation: her origin story and career transition, the founding of TheDay, the turning point behind the brand and its signature recipe, b...

Join us for this episode with Habtesilasse GebreKristos, Founder of Habte Garment & Printing Company, a manufacturer of children’s wear, sportswear, and official match kits. With over twelve years of experience, he has contributed to Ethiopia’s garment and textile industry. In this conversation: his background in graphic design, the early story of Habte Garment, starting the Wanaw Sportswear b...

Join us for this episode with Sara Yirga, Founder and Managing Director of YA Coffee Roasters. With over fourteen years of experience, Sara has been a driving force in Ethiopia’s coffee sector, working across roasting services, coffee exporting, consulting, training, and coffee shop establishment. In this conversation: YA Coffee and roasting, competition in the coffee space, building and impacting...

Join us for this episode with Tilahun Girma, Partner at PKF Ethiopia, part of the global PKF network operating in more than 150 countries. With over two decades of experience, he has been closely involved in shaping Ethiopia’s financial sector. In this conversation, we discuss why finance quietly kills good businesses, and the core systems every company must put in place to survive. We dive into f...

Join us for this episode with Abel Tadesse, CEO of the Ethiopian Insurance Corporation (EIC), a seasoned leader who has shaped Ethiopia’s insurance industry for over 20 years. In this conversation, we discuss the evolution of EIC, and the role of reinsurance in managing national risk. We dive into business performance, risk management, market dominance, and the realities of mega projects and prici...

Join us for this episode with Million Kibret, Managing Partner at BDO Ethiopia, who has shaped the nation’s finance and business landscape for over two decades.​In this episode, we explore Ethiopia’s economic transition, the reality of capital markets, and the evolution of banking. We also dive into Million’s challenging perspectives on wealth, entrepreneurship, and the future of skills in Ethiopi...

Join us for this episode with Meskerem Assegued, Curator, Co-founder, and Managing Director of Zoma Museum, one of the largest privately owned art institutions in Ethiopia. In this episode, we explore Meskerem’s journey and ideas around Zoma Museum, choosing an unconventional and often unpopular path, Zoma School, Zoma Village, ongoing projects, and deeply interesting and challenging perspectives...

Join us for this celebratory episode as our hosts sat down with Yasser Bagersh to celebrate the milestone of doing MERI for more than three years and reaching 200K subscribers. We had a fun conversation about Meri and the journey, with Yasser stepping into the host’s place, making it a warm discussion. More from our partners:Dashen BankWebsite: https://dashenbanksc.comTelegram: https://t.me/Dashen...

Join us for this episode with Mayur Kothari, Founder and CEO of the Mohan Group of Companies, a business group driving Ethiopia’s plastics and footwear manufacturing. In this episode, Mayur shares his early days, B2B vs B2C, distribution, footwear manufacturing, the plastic industry, the evolution of the Mohan Group, leadership, forums and accepting advice, and more. More from our partners:Dashen...

Join us for this episode with Zelalem Muluken, Founder and Chairperson of Zebym Trading, the company behind natural and healthy beverages like Melkam Moringa. For the past eight years, he has been shaping Ethiopia’s beverage industry. In this episode, Zelalem walks us through his story, starting from his early life and career to the moment he decided to invent his own formula and enter a market fi...

Join us for this episode with Yemisrach Abera, Founder and CEO of Tapu Foods, a company specializing in ready-to-eat Ethiopian meals, takeaway foods, and packaged traditional items. For seventeen years, she has been leading and shaping Ethiopia’s prepared food industry. In this episode, Yemisrach walks us through her story from being born in prison and her early life, how she came up with the idea...

Join us for this episode with Dawit Lemma, Group Chairman and CEO of Krimson Aviation Holding and Chairperson of the African Business Aviation Association. With over two decades of experience in the aviation sector, Dawit has been at the forefront of shaping and elevating African business aviation, expanding operations from one airport to dozens across the continent. In this episode, Dawit walks u...

Join us for this episode with Andarge Kabtimer, one of Ethiopia’s leading figures in the commercial sector. With over 25 years of experience across the beverage, FMCG, and telecom industries, Andarge has held leadership roles at major African brands including Shell, Diageo, Safaricom, and East African Holdings. In this episode, Andarge shares his remarkable journey from his early days in the oil i...