In this episode, I sat down with Pretty Kubyane, a multi-award-winning tech entrepreneur and co-founder of eFama, an app revolutionising Africa’s agricultural supply chain. From humble beginnings in a South African village to leading a pan-African tech movement, Pretty shares how growing up with impact-driven parents shaped her conviction to build businesses that serve both community and innovation.

A self-proclaimed introvert, Pretty opens up about navigating the tech world as a woman of colour, facing underestimation in boardrooms, and how compassion—not bitterness—fuels her leadership. You’ll hear how her hatred of poverty, deep spiritual grounding, and fierce belief in dignity over hustle gave her the courage to speak up, stay consistent, and lead with vision.

In this episode, we explore:

• What Pretty learned about leadership and purpose from her father’s woodcutting business
  
• How eFama started as a response to systemic barriers for small producers
  
• The 3 C’s of entrepreneurial growth: Conviction, Consistency, and Clarity
  
• Cultural intelligence in working across African communities
  
• The power of social fasting to protect your energy and mental health
  
• Why introverts should build on their strengths, not chase extroverted norms
  
• How faith and vision sustain Pretty’s entrepreneurial mission
  
  

This episode is a masterclass in quiet conviction, community-focused innovation, and redefining what leadership can look like when it’s grounded in both substance and soul.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about eFama and their work with African farmers:https://efama.africa

• Follow Pretty Kubyane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prettykubyane/

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This episode was edited by Aura House Productions

In this episode of The Quiet Warrior Podcast, I sit down with Cathy Derksen — Founder of Inspired Tenacity, speaker, and 19-times #1 best-selling author — whose mission is to amplify women's voices through the power of collaborative books.

Cathy didn’t start out in publishing. Her career began in medical genetics, followed by a decade in financial planning, before she answered a deeper calling: to help women transform their lives through storytelling. What began as a single contribution to a multi-author book has now grown into a thriving publishing platform that gives women around the world a safe space to share their wisdom, elevate their visibility, and expand their impact.

We talk about what holds introverts back from being visible, how collaborative books open unexpected doors, and why sharing your story might be the most generous and healing act you ever do—for yourself and others.

💡 In This Episode, We Explore:

• Cathy’s journey from science to finance to soulful storytelling
  
  
• Why introverts don’t need to be flashy to be influential
  
  
• How collaborative books help you build confidence, grow your network, and attract new clients
  
  
• The mindset shifts that happen when you call yourself an “author”
  
  
• What it means to lead quietly — and courageously
  
  
• How visibility becomes meaningful when it’s rooted in purpose

Whether you’re an aspiring author, an introverted entrepreneur, or someone with a story waiting to be told, this episode will help you see new possibilities for your voice, your message, and your mission.

🔗 Connect with Cathy:
🌐 Website:inspiredtenacity.com
💼 LinkedIn:Cathy Derksen on LinkedIn
📚 Explore Cathy’s collaborative book series or get involved in an upcoming project.

📘 Bonus Resource – Download my free eBook: The Introvert Toolkit

• Learn how to support and advocate for yourself at work as an introvert.
• Understand how your introverted child or co-worker experiences the world differently - and how you can better support them.
  
  👉 https://mailchi.mp/87cf08f92464/the-introvert-toolkit

💬 Loved this episode?
Subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favourite podcast app. It helps The Quiet Warrior Podcast reach more introverts and quiet achievers around the world—so they can rise with clarity, purpose, and power.

This episode was edited by Aura House Productions

In this episode, I speak with Sarah Cannata, creator of Storytelling for the Soul, embodied processing practitioner, and long-time introvert who believes in the healing power of writing. Sarah helps women in midlife and beyond reconnect with themselves through a unique blend of body-based trauma-informed support and embodied journaling.

We explore how writing can be more than self-expression—it can be a path home to ourselves. Sarah shares how trauma lives in the body, why safety is the foundation of healing, and how introverts can use journaling to process difficult emotions, navigate tricky conversations, and feel more seen and heard—without having to perform or pretend.

If you've ever struggled to speak your truth, or felt that your quiet nature holds you back, this conversation will affirm your worth, your voice, and your way of being.

Key Talking Points:

• What embodied processing is—and how it supports healing at a nervous system level
  
  
• Why journaling is a powerful tool for introverts, especially during midlife transitions
  
  
• How to begin journaling in a trauma-informed way (hint: don’t start with your hardest memory)
  
  
• The importance of attunement, presence, and holding safe space in client work
  
  
• How introverts can honour their energy while still showing up visibly and courageously
  
  
• The surprising role of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in Sarah’s quiet warrior journey
  
  
• Why being visible isn’t about being loud—it’s about being authentic and aligned
  
  

Resources & Links:

Learn more about Sarah’s work: www.sarahcannata.com
Follow Sarah on socials: @storytellingforthesoul on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

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• If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Quiet Warrior Podcast for more inspiring insights and leave us a 5-star rating on your podcast app to help introverts and quiet achievers worldwide find their voice.
  
  
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This episode was edited by Aura House Productions