From her childhood split between Accra and Manhattan, to a creative youth shaped by her dressmaker mother, Mimi explains how she chose economics over early dreams of computer science or law, landed on Credit Suisse’s trading floor, led strategy projects across investment banks, joined Meta during lockdown, and ultimately leapt into a fintech startup building a Coinbase-style platform for the continent.

Nearly three years into the new company, she discusses the early struggles of crypto adoption, Ghana’s new regulatory framework, and why digital assets can tackle Africa’s currency instability, high remittance costs, and cross-border challenges.

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She worked as a senior consultant for McKinsey & Company, where she advised clients in Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, and South Africa in the consumer goods and banking industry. But in 2016, she decided to start her own company, which she called Africa Foresight Group, which focused on Africa and consultancy. In 2020, the company raised $700,000 in seed funding from investors.

Check out more about the business here: Africaforesight.com

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Before becoming COO of Bamboo, Yanmo worked at the Ministry of Power in Nigeria and then worked at an infrastructure investment firm. After struggling to purchase stocks and other assets from Nigeria, she and her co-founder decided to try and fix that problem.

In 2019, they launched Bamboo, and in 2022, raised $17 million in their Series A round.

Learn more about the company here: investbamboo.com

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As a former startup executive, she launched an online platform for the first African-based technology group unicorn, Jumia Group

Akua has had the opportunity to live and work in the U.S., Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa and has consulted in and visited over 30 countries worldwide. She now partners with multinational organizations and high-growth startups to design and implement leadership experiences and immersions virtually and in person worldwide. 

Outside of her coaching and corporate speaking engagements, she is a regular mentor, coach, and judge for various entrepreneurship-focused organizations, including Stanford Seed, Google for Startups, Arlan's Academy, Founders Institute, Seedstars, African Business Heroes, FemGems, and The Women's Impact Alliance (formerly The Coaching Fellowship). 

Open Door Conversations Podcast Link: https://www.akuanm.com/podcast

PeopleBeforeStrategy Roundtable: https://www.akuanm.com/roundtable

Prefered Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akuanm/

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Jorge founded Kumasi Hive after his university studies which brought in people who had an interest in engineering and making hardware.

Later on, with a passion for creating net zero projects, he founded an EV company called Solar Taxi, which manufactures and assembles electric vehicles in Ghana. The company is currently on a path to build EV vehicles locally with the acquisition of a license from the government to assemble vehicles locally in Ghana.

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Sylvia started her entrepreneurial journey when she was part of the management team that ran Africa’s first accelerator program, 88mph. The program invested in 45 companies from 2011-2015 across Nairobi and Cape Town, and in Lagos as 440NG, a JV with L5 Labs. 

She then started to start her own company called AHOY, a concierge flight booking app that empowered frequent travelers with DIY tools and 24/7 support for flight management. She ran the business from 2015 to 2021.

She then started pawaPass after AHOY had to be shut down because of COVID. The company is working with brands and companies, helping to increase the number of people who can access opportunities such as remote jobs, online trade, and financial services.

Learn more about the company here: pawaPass.com

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She raised $4 million from Venture Capitalists in 2023 and is currently on a mission to make digital currencies for multiple countries a reality.

Learn more about EMTECH on their website and their mission: emtech.com

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Brand new episodes of What's Your Story will be debuting in March. So stay tuned.

Also, please subscribe to our other podcast show, the "Labari Media" podcast where we do interviews with different folks from different sectors in Ghana and Africa.

Check out all our shows here: techlabari.com/podcasts

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Elizabeth was born in Nigeria and started practicing law after she passed the Nigerian bar. She eventually met and married her future husband who happened to be Ghanaian. She eventually made up her mind to move to Ghana and practice law in the country. She studied and passed the Ghana Bar Exam and eventually set up her Purple and Ashes law firm.

The law firm currently helps clients deal with market entry strategies and regulatory compliance.

Website: Purple and Ashes

Bonus: Our new show, the Labari Media Podcast will premiere on Wednesday 13th September. Subscribe here: Labari Media Podcast • A podcast on Spotify for Podcasters

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It was when she returned to Ghana in 2010 that she realized that there was a need for a support group for Ghanaian returnees. So with twelve other Ghanaian returnees, they help formed the Ahaspora group in 2011 as a listserv. Currently, the group has 1800 members.

Christabel currently works for the World Bank as a Social Protection Specialist but makes time to help manage the listserv where they schedule happy hour events and other projects to help give back to the local community.

Enjoy the episode which is brought by Paystack. Sign up for a Paystack account at paystack.com/technova and start receiving payments for your website or online business

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Cecil's work has earned him multiple awards, including being named Africa’s Most Promising Entrepreneur in 2013 by Venture Capital for Africa (VC4Africa), winning the Education Startup of the Year award at the Ghana Startup Awards in 2016, and winning the Global Impact Challenge West Africa in Lagos in April 2017.

In this episode, we had an amazing conversation with Cecil to understand his journey as a social entrepreneur, his time at NASA, and how he's leveraging technology to democratize access to education in Ghana.

This episode is sponsored by Paystack. Sign up for a Paystack account at paystack.com/technova and start receiving payments for your website or online business

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Prior information:

Adoma Owusu was the country manager for Visa Ghana. But before she rose to her current position, she started her career in South Africa where she lived as a child. She worked up the corporate ladder at financial institutions like Nedbank before eventually moving to Standard Bank where she worked in different roles for close to six years.

When she heard that the Visa company was looking for a country manager in Ghana, she tossed her name into the hat.  After a long process of interviews, she was finally appointed the role of country manager for Visa Ghana in 2019, a position she held where she was in charge of day-to-day activities.

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Bernard got an early start in his career when he worked for Tigo before he transitioned to a Digital Brand Specialist for Vodafone Ghana. He later became the music manager of the musician Mr Eazi and is one of the people behind the popular name of the annual event "Detty Rave".

In 2021, he was headhunted by a recruiter for Twitter when the company decided to open its first offices in Africa. He later became Senior Partner Manager at Twitter responsible for African partnerships, with a focus on news, sports, entertainment & influential creators. Unfortunately, a year later, when Elon Musk purchased the company, he and his team were laid off.

Bernard now runs a new venture called "Jambo Spaces" which is a co-working and event space for young professionals and creatives.

This episode is brought to you by Paystack. Paystack is a Pan African payments company helping businesses across the continent. Visit paystack.com/technova to get started.

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It was when she returned to Ghana in 2010 that she realized that there was a need for a support group for Ghanaian returnees. So with twelve other Ghanaian returnees, they help formed the Ahaspora group in 2011 as a listserv. Currently, the group has 1800 members.

Christabel currently works for the World Bank as a Social Protection Specialist but makes time to help manage the listserv where they schedule happy hour events and other projects to help give back to the local community.

Enjoy the episode which is brought by Paystack. Sign up for a Paystack account at paystack.com/technova and start receiving payments for your website or online business

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Due to his passion for entrepreneurship, he was inspired to co-found Kora Pay with his colleague, Maomao Hu, with the goal of promoting financial inclusion in emerging markets. Dickson Nsofor is a strong advocate for youth empowerment and believes in creating opportunities that enable young people to maximize their potential.

Linkedin: Dickson Nsofor | LinkedIn

Website : korapay.com

This episode of "What's Your Story" is sponsored by Paystack. Paystack helps you accept payments online from anyone, anywhere in the world. Sign up for a Paystack account at paystack.com/technova and start receiving payments for your website or online business

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Nii is currently the country director at Viamo, leading the charge in bringing digital solutions to communities in need. With his expertise in public health and ICT4D, he's already made a tremendous impact across Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.

But he's not stopping there - fueled by his passion for social entrepreneurship, Nii is determined to continue breaking down barriers and reducing health inequalities through technology.

In this episode we delve into the fascinating story of this visionary leader and learn how he's making a difference, one community at a time.

This episode is sponsored by Paystack. Sign up for a Paystack account at paystack.com/technova and start receiving payments for your website or online business

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Ato's academic credentials are as impressive as his social entrepreneurship feats. He earned his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and his master's degree in Construction and Engineering Management from Stanford University. He has overseen numerous initiatives that have helped to spur the growth of technology communities in Africa, including his work at Google as a program manager, where he spearheaded the development of sustainable tech communities across the continent.

Ato shares his story with us in this episode, we explored his remarkable journey from PRESEC to MIT, the impact of his work on youth development in Ghana, and his insights into building sustainable technology communities in Africa.

This episode is sponsored by Paystack. Sign up for a Paystack account at paystack.com/technova and start receiving payments for your website or online business

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With over 15 years of experience in the logistics industry, Maureen's passion for tech and STEM was ignited during her high school days, where she was one of the only two female students in an elective science course.

Her admiration for Maersk, one of the largest shipping companies in the world, eventually led her to a role there, before co-founding SEND in 2019.

We delved into Maureen's incredible journey, from her early beginnings to her current role as a visionary leader in logistics, and learn how she's paving the way for a brighter future for Africa's supply chain.

This episode is sponsored by Paystack. Sign up for a Paystack account at paystack.com/technova and start receiving payments for your website or online business

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She's a Brooklyn College alumna who earned certifications in TV/radio communications, public relations, and journalism. Her well-rounded education has prepared her to excel in the dynamic and competitive field of media and communications.

Vanessa has worked in the media industry for over a decade and has hosted several popular TV and radio shows in Ghana. She was the EIB network's representative at the 2016 BET awards, where she interviewed a number of high-profile celebrities, including Eric Benet, Angie Martinez, Karrueche, and Busta Rhymes.

In addition to her media work, Vanessa is also a public speaker, event host, and writer. She has used her platform to advocate for women's rights, mental health awareness, and self-care. Vanessa is also the author of the book, "Clarity is a Gift: And Other Lessons I Learned from 2020," which shares her personal experiences and insights from the year 2020.

Linkedin: Vanessa Gyan | LinkedIn

This episode is sponsored by Paystack. Sign up for a Paystack account at paystack.com/technova and start receiving payments for your website or online business

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Known for her creative unconventional style, Cynthia has worked across all MarComms roles with stints in radio and academia. She is currently the Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs for the insurance group Hollard Ghana. She held leadership roles at top advertising and communications agencies, including Ogilvy, Now Available Africa, and Global Media Alliance. Her colourful portfolio covers projects for multinational clients across West and Central Africa, having worked in the USA & UK.

Cynthia has a Master's degree in Professional Communications from Clemson University and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Linkedin: Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo | LinkedIn

Website: Hollard Ghana

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The CEO of EDEL Technology Consulting was always more of a creative at a young age and that shows with her online presence. She spent most of her university days and early career in the UK before eventually coming back to Ghana where she founded her consulting company. 

Ethel Cofie has always been an advocate for women in tech and she went on to create a membership group called Women In tech which has memberships across 30 countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

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But before he was working Oze with his co-founder Megan McCormick, Dave was working in the Peace Corps and was stationed in Benin, helping a food processing business to get organic certification and export to the US and European markets.

Before long, he met Megan who was also working at the Peace Corps and they both saw a problem where small businesses were manually logging their finances on paper even though they had access to smartphones. They soon launched a non-profit called "Dare To Innovate" which eventually spun out to become Oze.

Linkedin: Dave Emnett | LinkedIn

Website: www.oze.guru

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In 2019, Akosua Hanson launched "Moon Girls", a graphic novel series that follows the adventures of four African women superheroes with varying superpowers who try to save Africa from a diverse range of forces.

Website: moongirls.live/comics

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He decided to not fully pursue a career in football and instead went into business and became a Product Manager after spending time at various digital agencies in London. He also took lead on the development of various products for new startups in the U.K.

Before long, he was back in Ghana co-founding Zuberi to help solve the problem of employees getting early access to their salaries.

Linkedin: Julian Owusu | LinkedIn

Website: Try Zuberi

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In 2017, she embarked on a new project and created "Tech in Ghana" to promote the country’s technological sector. As a result of her commitment to promoting the technology sector in Ghana, Akosua Annobil was ranked in 2018 by the Financial Times as one of the 100 most influential leaders in the UK technology industry.

Linkedin: Akosua Annobil | LinkedIn

Website: Ab2020.com, techinghanaconference.com

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When she heard that the Visa company was looking for a country manager in Ghana, she tossed her name into the hat. After a long process of interviews, she was finally appointed the role of country manager for Visa Ghana in 2019, a position she currently holds where she’s in charge of day-to-day activities.

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