Efua Akumanyi on Knowing What Your Business Needs from the Tech World
Release Date: 11/29/2021
Wealth Creation, Media, and Empowering Women in Africa with Arese Ugwu and Nkiru Balonwu
Third Culture Africans
In this episode of Third Culture Africans, Arese Ugwu and Nkiru Balonwu join Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao to discuss financial literacy, storytelling, and African soft power. Discover the unexpected journey of two powerful African women as they share their stories of frustration, vulnerability, and success. From bestselling books to groundbreaking apps, their fearless pursuit of empowerment will inspire and challenge you. Join us as we unravel the untold chapters of their lives and explore the power of African storytelling. Are you ready to be captivated by their remarkable narratives and gain valuable...
info_outline
The Making of Mahogany: How Sola Oyebade Created One of Africa's Top Modelling Agencies
Third Culture Africans
In this episode of the Third Culture Africans podcast, Sola Oyebade, also known as Mr. Mahogany, shares his remarkable journey from model to founder of Mahogany Productions and Events, one of Africa's largest model agencies. Sola's early interest in the fashion industry began during his secondary school days, where he organized fashion shows as part of literary and debating societies. His entrepreneurial resilience and commitment to diversity in the fashion and events industry are truly inspiring. He faced challenges and overcame societal stigmas to establish businesses that showcase...
info_outline
Unveiling Success: How Tania Omotayo Navigated Fame, Fashion, and Authorship
Third Culture Africans
In this episode of the Third Culture Africans podcast, host Zeze Oriaikhi-Sao delves into a captivating conversation with Tania Omotayo, an influential figure known for her multifaceted journey through TV, entrepreneurship, and authorship. Tania's unique blend of Austrian and Nigerian heritage, along with her experiences of culture shock and navigating different societies, offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals with multicultural backgrounds. Through her rebellious nature and determination to carve her own path, Tania emphasizes the importance of...
info_outline
The Business of Fashion: Navigating Entrepreneurship as a Nigerian Designer with Banke Kuku
Third Culture Africans
In this episode of the Third Culture Africans podcast, Banke Kuku, a renowned fashion designer and founder of the brand Banké Cuku, shares her journey in the fashion industry, discussing challenges, growth strategies, and the future of Nigerian fashion. Banke's experience working with the Designers Guild and her focus on sustainability and collaboration provide valuable insights for fashion entrepreneurs in Nigeria. She emphasizes the importance of industry experience, scalability, and adapting to local markets. From her reflections on the challenges of the lockdown period to her commitment...
info_outline
Empowering Africa's Future in STEM and AI with Adora Nwodo
Third Culture Africans
In this episode of Third Culture Africans, Zeze engages in a conversation with Adora Nwodo, a dynamic woman in the tech world. Her career seamlessly blends the corporate nine-to-five routine with entrepreneurial pursuits, driven by her passion for engineering, STEM, and the captivating world of software development. This episode kicks off by diving into the essential realms of STEM and AI. Unfamiliar with STEM? It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math—encompassing diverse fields like mathematics, physics, aerospace engineering, and medicine. Now, let's delve into...
info_outline
Challenging Established Paradigms in The World of Museology with Seun Oduwole
Third Culture Africans
In this episode of Third Culture Africans, Zeze engages in a captivating conversation with Seun Oduwole, the Principal Architect at SI.SA. (Studio Imagine Simple Architecture), renowned for their innovative architectural designs. Together, they explore Seun's inspiring journey and his transformative project, the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, which transcends conventional architecture to celebrate the rich influences shaping Yoruba culture. This ongoing urban regeneration initiative in Onikan, Lagos, plays a pivotal role in transforming the Marina and Onikan region into a...
info_outline
Ayo Akinwolere Exclusive: Reshaping the Narrative Around Black Representation in British Media
Third Culture Africans
In this episode of Third Culture Africans, Zeze engages in a deep conversation with Ayo Akinwolere, a prominent figure in the UK's media landscape, touching on his versatile career, personal journey, and cultural perspectives on success. They explore the Nigerian concept of achievement, driven by a higher power, in contrast to societies valuing individual effort. Ayo's late realization of self-celebration, his transformative role as the first black Blue Peter presenter, and his two world records exemplify his unique journey. The conversation extends to Milk First Productions' mission to...
info_outline
Navigating Identity, Entrepreneurship, and UN Advocacy as a Third Culture African: Ikena Carreira
Third Culture Africans
In this episode of Third Culture Africans, Zeze engages in a captivating conversation with Ikena Carreira, a social entrepreneur whose remarkable journey encompasses entrepreneurship, UN collaborations, television roles, and transformative career shifts. Ikena's narrative unveils her family's history rooted in Angola's struggle for independence, providing profound insights into the sacrifices and triumphs that shaped her perspective on identity. The dialogue delves into the podcast's mission, emphasising the nuanced nature of African identity and the power of cultural bridges. It explores...
info_outline
The Untold Stories of African Entrepreneurs in Fashion and Cuisine - Live at @SohoHouse
Third Culture Africans
In this live episode of Third Culture Africans, recorded at Soho House, Zeze warmly invites accomplished figures Yvonne Modupe Telford, Rene Macdonald, and William J. M. Chilila to the stage for a lovely and inspiring conversation. These guests share their insights, struggles, and triumphs, offering a glimpse into their journeys in #creativity and business, with a focus on #Africanfashion, #Africancuisine, and entrepreneurship. From Yvonne's aspiration of a flamboyant clothing shop to Rene's Tanzanian upbringing amidst adversity that ignited her fashion passion, and William's culinary journey...
info_outline
How to Build an Inclusive and Sustainable Slow Fashion Label with Ngoni Chikwenengere
Third Culture Africans
In this episode of Third Culture Africans, Zeze interviews Ngoni Chikwenengere, the ingenious force behind We Are Kin, a women's wear size-inclusive slow fashion brand rooted in sustainability. Ngoni's journey unfolds from transitioning to London at 10, overcoming challenges tied to her African heritage, to founding a blog at 16 that evolved into discussing fashion trends and forging connections with like-minded enthusiasts worldwide. The episode delves into Ngoni's leap into fashion entrepreneurship, establishing "We Are Kin" shortly after graduating from university. The brand's commitment to...
info_outlineIn this episode, Zeze interviews Efua Akumanyi, a Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence expert, Co-Founder and CTO of Furnishful, a shopping discovery site for furniture and homewares. She talks about her beginning in the IT world, the choice of her career, and how important it is for her to help other black women to succeed in their business.
Efua Akumanyi found a way to stand out, firstly from her family's career choices and later on as a black woman in the Tech niche. She pursued a career where women, especially black females, were not so popular. She started a path in which women have the opportunity to use technology to improve their businesses and become successful in what they want to.
Furthermore, she understands the need of having solid bases to build a successful business. Tech is a key component to make it easy, no matter if you are selling a product or a service. You need to find a tool that suits the business you have. There is no point in coding if you do not need it. Knowing what you want and what you require is fundamental when hiring someone to develop your website. Plus, doing follow-ups, providing feedback and communicating as often as possible will give you the sense of control and knowledge you need to improve and get what you want to achieve as regards your business goals.
Efua Akumanyi
Efua Akumanyi graduated from Sussex with a degree in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and went on to work as a software developer for 15 years. She has also worked as a contractor in various fields including medical, legal, charity and ecommerce. Currently, she is the Co-Founder & Head of Technology at www.furnishful.co.uk. a website which helps people find items of furniture for their homes. Her passion is to encourage other women into tech, whether it’s finding jobs in the industry or starting their own business. She is a member of several women in tech groups and speaks on subjects ranging from AI to entrepreneurship.
Highlights of the episode:
- 03:25: Efua Akumanyi’s migration to the UK from Ghana at her early age and how it impacted on her career path.
- 5:45: Efua tells Zeze about how and why she selected her career in Computer Science, her passions and her ideas about her professional future.
- 7:15: Efua´s understanding of the impact her career choice would provoke on the Tech world for black women.
- 10:55: She states the Pros and Cons of her career choice in the furniture niche.
- 12:30 : The need of coding against already-built tech tools, both for products and services.
- 13: 55: Efua tells how she started coding for black female businesses.
- 15:55: Her passion about photography and how it is connected to her work in the furniture world.
- 18:00 She speaks about her visibility online, her cofounded business and her resources to build a successful business while helping black women to succeed as well.
- 24:45 : Efua provides some pieces of advice for women entrepreneurs when they need to hire someone to build their website. What to do with a low budget and legal issues to pay attention to.
Mentioned Resources