Preparing for Tomorrow: Training the Next Generation of Africa-Focused International Trade Professionals with Marco Forgione

Episode 119 with Rachel Toku-Appiah, who is the Director of Program Advocacy and Communications for Africa at the Gates Foundation, and is at the forefront of advocating for gender equality across the African continent. Her extensive expertise and leadership within the foundation's advocacy efforts position her at the forefront of this critical movement.Before joining the foundation in 2021, she spent more than two decades in key global health and development roles, most recently as director for food security and nutrition at Global Citizen. Earlier, she worked for the Graça Machel Trust, launching the organisation and later working to build up its nutrition programme across the African continent and beyond. As country director in Lesotho for the Clinton Foundation, she oversaw programmes that strengthened all aspects of the country’s health system, from human resources and infrastructure to laboratory services and supply chain management.What We Discuss With RachelHow would you describe the current state of financial access for women entrepreneurs in Africa?What role do you see digital financial services playing in bridging the finance gap for women entrepreneurs in Africa? What are the key challenges you encounter in promoting financial inclusion for women in Africa?How does the foundation navigate the cultural and societal barriers that limit women's access to finances in Africa?Are there any current positive trends or activities in Africa aimed at enhancing women's economic empowerment through improved financial access?Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss The Incredible Story of Happy Coffee's Impact on Nigeria's Coffee Culture and Value Chain? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamuConnect with Rachel on LinkedIn at Rachel Toku-Appiah, and Twitter (X) @GatesAfrica Do you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]

Episode 118 with Princess Adeyinka Tekenah, CEO of Happy Coffee, an indigenous Nigerian coffee brand and coffee solution company that has been actively dedicated to creating awareness about the Nigerian coffee value chain and improving the production and consumption of locally sourced Nigerian coffee since its establishment in 2015. Despite facing challenges common to startups in Nigeria, such as limited funding opportunities, Happy Coffee has thrived through bootstrapping and reinvesting profits. They have actively designed innovative solutions to withstand shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic. Happy Coffee offers a range of coffee products sourced from the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba, in addition to providing services such as mobile café service, coffee catering for indoor and outdoor events, barista training, café setup programmes, and consultancy services.What We Discuss With Princess AdeyinkaWhat specific challenges did you face as a startup in Nigeria's coffee industry?What innovative solutions has Happy Coffee developed to address challenges within the Nigerian coffee value chain?How have you gone about forming relationships with farmers and investing in farms to strengthen the coffee value chain?How does Happy Coffee actively contribute to promoting the consumption of locally sourced Nigerian coffee?What are your thoughts on the belief that Nigerians or Africans in general don’t consume coffee or that there isn’t a coffee culture in Nigeria?Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Discovering, Developing, and Signing Emerging World-Class Football Players From Africa? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamuConnect with Princess Adeyinka on LinkedIn at Princess Adeyinka, and Twitter (X) @YinkaahDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]

Episode 117 with Kingsley Pungong, the Founder and CEO, and James Woods, a Partner and Director of Rainbow Sports Global.Rainbow Sports Global is a leading sports enterprise with a global footprint that has successfully positioned itself as a leading Pan-African sports entity, providing holistic management, marketing, and media solutions for football sports agencies, clubs, and talented African football players. The company controls multi-continent football club relationships and has unique expertise in sourcing and signing emerging world-class football talents from Africa.What We Discuss With Kingsley and JamesWhat inspired Rainbow Sports Global to focus on African football specifically?What are some of the challenges Rainbow Sports Global faces in sourcing and signing emerging football talents from Africa?How does Rainbow Sports Global ensure that its talent identification and recruitment process is effective and ethical?Would it be safe to say that African football stars currently stand out as some of the continent's most valuable exports?What work is being done at the grassroots level to encourage and develop future African football stars?Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Improving the Inefficiencies of Traditional Trade in Africa Through a Technology-Driven Platform? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamu Connect with Kingsley  on LinkedIn at Kingsley Pungong, and Twitter (X) @RainbowSports1 Connect with James  on LinkedIn at James Woods, and Twitter (X) @JamesfwoodsDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]

Episode 116 with Deepankar Rustagi, who is a co-founder and CEO of Omniretail, a unified consumer goods distribution platform that improves the inefficiencies of traditional trade through a technology-driven FMCG platform.During Nigeria’s cash crunch in Q1 2023, Omniretail launched an embedded finance platform, OmniPay, which achieved over $100 billion worth of transactions in its first few months of launching. The cash crunch means a decline in output from cash shortages across the economy and resulted in catastrophic outcomes for businesses and small traders being unable to find the cash needed to pay for inputs, costing the Nigerian economy an estimated 20 trillion Naira ($43 billion).What We Discuss With DeepankarWho benefits most from your platform—buyers, suppliers, or consumers?What key features of OmniPay contributed to its swift adoption and remarkable success, marked by over $100 billion in transactions within its initial months?How does the OmniPay platform help alleviate the negative impacts of cash shortages on businesses and small traders in the Nigerian economy?With the exit of global FMCG companies from Nigeria, how does OmniRetail's platform help to fill the gap and strengthen local businesses and supply chains?Only a small percentage of African e-commerce companies are profitable; what specific strategies or approaches have you used that have resulted in profitabilityDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How an Egyptian Startup Became the First African Lab to Acquire US-FDA Accreditation? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamuConnect with Deepankar on LinkedIn at Deepankar Rustagi, and Twitter (X) @rustagidDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]

Episode 115 with Omar Shoukry Sakr, who is the CEO and Founder of Nawah-Scientific. A company on a mission to revolutionise the way people do scientific research in Egypt and beyond. Nawah-Scientific is the go-to place to outsource scientific services online.Nawah is a core hub of high-tech research equipment that provides a multitude of services to the region through an online platform, a world-class calibre of scientists, and a strong logistic network. They serve industries in need of product development and analysis (pharmaceuticals, petroleum, chemicals, agriculture, etc.), as well as academics at universities in disciplines of life sciences (biology, chemistry, pharma, etc.). What We Discuss With OmarHow has being a science company based in Africa affected your ability to grow and attract new customers?How has Nawah Scientific contributed to the advancement of scientific research in Egypt and beyond?Can you discuss the key milestones or achievements that Nawah Scientific has reached since its establishment.What role does collaboration play in Nawah Scientific's strategy for serving its clients and advancing scientific knowledge?How might Nawah Scientific's business model impact the long-term sustainability and growth of scientific research in Africa?Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss How to Build Investment-Worthy Startups: Insights From the Godfather of Angel Investing in Africa? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamuConnect with Oamr on LinkedIn at Omar Shoukry Sakr, and Twitter (X) @NawahScientificDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]

Episode 114 with Harry 'Tomi Davies (TD), who is a Systems Analyst turned Public Speaker and author, Tech Strategy Advisor and Angel Investor, who is also Collaborator-in-Chief at TVC Labs, co-founder of the Lagos Angel Network (LAN) and President of the African Business Angel Network (ABAN).He is also widely regarded as the "godfather of angel investing" in Africa. TD is an active stakeholder and speaker in the African startup ecosystem, and he uses his wealth of experience and network to guide the next generation of innovative African startups that are creating economic value and social impact.What We Discuss With Tomi Davies (TD)Can you give us an overview of your new book, "Investment Worthy Startup," and how it aims to assist startups in Africa?The POEM framework—proposition, organisation, economics, and milestones—is a central aspect of your book. Can you expand on what the POEM framework is?Can you share some insights into the current state of the entrepreneurial landscape in Africa as a whole?What are some success stories or notable achievements from your portfolio of African tech startups as an angel investor focused on economic value and social impact?What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs looking to embark on their startup journey in Africa?Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Scaling in Africa: The Art and Science of Scaling Commercial Ventures in Sub-Saharan Africa with Scott Walker? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamuConnect with Tomi Davies (TD) on LinkedIn at Harry 'Tomi Davies, and Twitter (X) @TomiDeeDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]

Episode 113 with Scott Walker, who is CEO and Founder of Systemic Innovation, which is a systems change innovation practice solving wicked systemic challenges through a collective intelligence model that connects people, ideas, and insights.Scott is also a co-author of the Scaling in Africa report, which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the African scaling ecosystem. Designed as an applied research study (i.e., to identify pragmatic solutions to a set of specific problems rather than a theoretical academic inquiry), the aim of the report is to see actionable results offering answers to key challenges, which can assist various actors in making better, more informed decisions about where to apply the right type of support for improved results at the macro, ecosystemic, and venture levels.What We Discuss With ScottCan you elaborate on the challenges African scale-ups face in expanding across multiple countries?When it comes to scaling ventures, what factors should entrepreneurs consider when deciding between a global, regional, or local approach?What are the expansion challenges that African scale-ups face, and how can they be addressed or even prevented?What role do governments play in enabling or hindering the scaling of commercial ventures in Sub-Saharan Africa ?What do you believe are the most important success factors for scaling ventures in the African market?Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Empowering Tech Talent: Accelerating the Growth of Africa’s Tech and Developer Communities with Sunkanmi Ola? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamuConnect with Scott on LinkedIn at Scott WalkerDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]

Episode 112 with Sunkanmi Ola, who is Co-Founder and CEO of Propel, a platform that has built one of the largest ecosystems of tech and developer communities in Africa—over 200 diverse communities with 500,000+ members spread across 22 countries and 3 continents.With its 'Community-as-a-Service' offering, companies can leverage this ecosystem of tech communities, on-demand, to drive a variety of their product and business goals.Over 100 companies have engaged Propel's ecosystem for hiring top talent, beta testing, organising hackathons, user acquisition campaigns, developer relations, market research, and more.What We Discuss With SunkanmiHow does Propel stand out in talent acquisition and pipeline building compared to its competitors?What impact has Propel had on connecting African tech talent with companies globally?Could you elaborate on the unique financial services that Propel aims to provide for tech professionals in emerging markets?You recently managed to successfully raise €2.5 million in seed funding. What has this enabled you to do?What challenges have you encountered while building multi-layered infrastructure for the tech talent economy, and how have you overcome these challenges?Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Training the Next Generation of Africa-Focused International Trade Professionals? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamuConnect with Sunkanmi on LinkedIn at Sunkanmi OlaDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]

Episode 111 with Marco Forgione who is the Director General of The Institute of Export and International Trade, which is a professional membership body representing and supporting the interests of everyone involved in importing, exporting and international trade.The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) recently launched its expansion into Africa with the opening of its first office in Nairobi, Kenya, in July 2023.IOE&IT has developed and delivered training, education, and consulting services for the entire African continent. These services cover the unique and specific aspects of both Africa’s trade with the rest of the world and intra-continental commerce.What We Discuss With Marco ForgioneWhich African markets have you identified as having huge trade opportunities?What strategies do you think can be used to enhance trade relationships between the UK and African nations?What value do you believe the Institute can provide to companies looking to engage with African markets and economies?How do you believe the qualifications and training that you offer prepare businesses for the changing dynamics of international trade, particularly in Africa?How do you believe these resources can better equip and contribute to the development of international trade professionals in Africa?Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss How Government and Healthtech Partnerships Are Digitally Transforming Healthcare Supply Chains in Africa? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at Terser Adamu, and Twitter (X) @TerserAdamuConnect with Marco on LinkedIn at Marco Forgione, and Twitter (X) @marco4gioneDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]

Episode 110 with Yomi Kazeem, from Salient Advisory, which is a healthcare consulting firm that tracks innovations in African health tech, and Jessica Vernon, CEO and Founder of Maisha Meds, which is a company that has created the first and largest network of private pharmacies and clinics in East Africa through a mobile app that delivers subsidised care.Salient Advisory produces comprehensive reports, delving into African health technology trends and facilitating partnerships, aiming for a future where healthcare products are more accessible. Their research has been featured by CNBC, Quartz, Bloomberg, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Devex, the Centre for Global Development, and more.What We Discuss With Yomi Kazeem and Jessica VernonWhat motivated Salient Advisory to focus on innovations in health product distribution in Africa, particularly concerning government partnerships with health tech innovators?Could you provide specific examples from your Market Intelligence Report that highlight the successful impact of government partnerships with health tech platforms in Africa?What were the specific challenges that African health supply chains faced before the introduction of digital solutions and partnerships?The report highlights that government partnerships have facilitated the democratization of digital orders. How has this democratization positively impacted healthcare accessibility in rural areas?The report indicates that many innovators prioritise healthcare supply chain data analytics. How do these analytics improve the efficiency and effectiveness of supply chain processes in Africa?Full show notes and resources can be found here: Unlocking Africa show notesDid you miss my previous episode where I discuss Insuring Africa's Future: Expanding Affordable Insurance Coverage Across Africa with Ted Pantone? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser on LinkedIn at TerserAdamu, and Twitter @TerserAdamuConnect with Yomi  on LinkedIn at Yomi Kazeem, and Twitter Connect with Jessica  on LinkedIn at Jessica Vernon, and Twitter @TheYomiKazeemDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at [email protected]