In this episode I sit down with creative entrepreneur Malik Shafi, founder of the Kigali based agency 63 Inc, for a conversation that does not fit into neat career boxes. Malik shares how growing up in Nyamirambo shaped his identity and drive, how he got an unexpected break at Nike Foundation’s Girl Effect despite an unconventional résumé, and how he has moved from nonprofit brand work to tech and business operations by staying curious, agile and ready to learn.

We talk about what it means to bet on yourself, how to balance purpose with financial growth, why it matters to expose yourself and your children to wide possibilities, and how we can keep cultural authenticity alive even as cities modernize. It is an honest and energizing reflection on building a fulfilling and self defined career while staying rooted in where we come from.

In this conversation, I sit down with Thomas Njeru, co-founder and CEO of Pula Advisors, to unpack his inspiring journey from growing up on a farm in rural Kenya to becoming an actuary, rising to director at Deloitte, and ultimately walking away from the corporate world to build for impact.

We discuss his journey of co-founding Pula, a company with a mission of providing agricultural insurance for smallholder farmers to protect them against increasing climate shocks. Pula has successfully to 18 countries ranging from Kenya, Mexico, and Pakistan and they have reached over 20 million farmers. Thomas shares lessons on building a resilient global teams, navigating expansion across continents.

We also discuss the recent experience of raising a $20 million Series B round in a tough fundraising climate. Thomas pursued actuarial science at the University of Nairobi and later earned an MBA from Strathmore Business School. Before founding Pula, he held senior roles at UAP-Old Mutual and Deloitte South Africa, where he honed his expertise in risk and insurance. In 2023, he was first runner-up in the Africa's Business Heroes competition, and in 2024, he was featured on the TIME100 Next list.

In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and visionary leader Fred Swaniker. He takes us through his remarkable journey from growing up in Botswana to founding eight institutions that operate at both continental and global scale. We explore the experiences that shaped his path, what he has learned from building mission-driven organizations, how to build meaningful relationships, and why your reputation is one of your greatest assets. Fred also shares honest, practical advice to African entrepreneurs and reflects on what it takes to build ventures that last on the continent. Fred Swaniker is the Founder and CEO of Sand Technologies, a company helping businesses and governments solve complex problems using AI and data solutions. He also founded the Africa Leadership Group, which includes Africa Leadership Academy, Africa Leadership University, and ALX, organizations working to transform the continent by developing 3 million ethical and entrepreneurial leaders. Fred has been recognized globally: from being named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People” to receiving the TIME100 Impact Award. He has also been a TED Fellow, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and an Aspen Institute Fellow. He holds honorary doctorates from Macalester College, Middlebury College, and Nelson Mandela University, and sits on the boards of the Rhodes Trust and the University of Waterloo’s International Advisory Board. Fred began his career at McKinsey & Company and holds an MBA from Stanford.