Third Culture Africans

• Empowering Africa's Future in STEM and AI with Adora Nwodo

  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 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on STEM careers. AI, a pivotal part of technology, relies on and empowers STEM professionals. These careers extend beyond AI development, involving customising and utilising AI in various domains like health tech, autonomous vehicles, and aerospace engineering. While STEM skills are highly valued, AI's rise sparks both job redundancy concerns and new opportunities—a conversation you can't miss! Zeze and Adora explore Adora’s journey into tech, strategies for breaking barriers for women in tech and how to connect individuals with opportunities while providing technical guidance. They also discuss exciting trends in the African tech industry.  Nwodo's tech passion ignited in Nigeria at the age of six, guided by her older brothers. She embarked on a lifelong love affair with technology, eventually earning a First-Class Honors degree in computer science from the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Marked by her determination to forge her path and exceed her family's expectations, Adora began a career in the tech industry. During her university years, she took on a role as a software intern at an advertising company, a position she continued even after completing her NYSC service. This phase played a pivotal role in her journey, exposing her to diversity, broadening her perspective, and requiring her to balance multiple responsibilities, including being a working student, managing her shoe brand, and actively participating in tech communities. In her current role, Adora plays a pivotal role in NexaScale, a community group dedicated to facilitating valuable work experience for individuals through a range of projects and programs. When it comes to empowering women in tech, support systems are crucial. It is a cause close to her heart, clearly demonstrated by her active participation in NexaScale for women. Here, she conducts sessions on financial literacy and personal branding, with the aim of uplifting and educating aspiring female tech professionals. Regarding the future of the tech industry in Africa, Adora highlights the immense potential of young Africans, particularly millennials and Gen Z, who are making significant contributions to the global tech landscape. Africa is emerging as an attractive market, with its young creators and engineers gaining recognition worldwide. The creator economy is thriving in Africa, with young content creators dominating platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Additionally, Africa's growing remote workforce is playing a pivotal role in the industry's development. Tune in, this is a MUST-listen! For all those interested in tech careers, especially young Africans aspiring to make their mark in the industry, this is a MUST-listen! You will learn about the thrilling synergy of STEM, AI, and African tech and gain valuable insights into shaping your own tech journey. About Adora Nwodo: Adora Nwodo is a multi-award-winning Software Engineer who currently works at Microsoft building Mixed Reality on the Cloud.  She is also the Vice President of the Nigerian chapter for VRAR Association, a Digital Creator, Founder of NexaScale, has courses online that teaches people about Infrastructure automation, author of a popular book "Cloud Engineering for Beginners" and multiple articles on Software Engineering, Productivity & Career Growth on her blog “AdoraHack” and student of LEAD in the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Adora spends a lot of her time on Twitter and LinkedIn sharing about her experience as a woman in tech. She is extremely passionate about the developer community and is trying to drive inclusion for women in technology. She co-organizes community events for unStack Africa, contributes to Open Source, and speaks at technology conferences worldwide. Topics: 🎙️ Welcome Adora Nwodo to Third Culture Africans!: (00:00) 🔍 What is STEM? (00:02:23)  🚀 AI Era: How does a STEM career expand your horizons? (00:04:29) 💻 Software engineering: Moving into tech (00:07:47)  🎓 Graduating with The First Class Honours (00:14:42)  🚀 How Adora found her way into the tech industry (00:17:40)  🌐 Insights on breaking the barriers as a woman in tech (00:30:44)  💼 Exploring Adora’s current work at NexaScale (00:36:05)  🌍 Exciting and promising trends in the future of tech in Africa (00:43:35)  💡 Advice for young Africans aspiring to pursue a tech career (00:45:21)  💬 Thoughts about remote workforce and remote learning (00:49:38) Mentioned resources: Cloud Engineering For Beginners Beginning Azure DevOps: Planning, Building, Testing, and Releasing Software Applications on Azure ZoneTechPark NestHubAfrica Connect with Adora Nwodo: Linkedin Instagram Web Youtube Twitter NexaScale 

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• Challenging Established Paradigms in The World of Museology with Seun Oduwole

  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 vibrant tourism destination, honouring Yoruba culture throughout history. The architectural design skillfully translates Yoruba values, paying homage to its historical significance. This episode showcases the evolution of a simple concept into a profound cultural landmark challenging museological paradigms – a must-listen!   🌍 Available now at https://thirdcultureafricans.com/ 📲 Get in touch with Zeze: 💬 - https://www.zezeonline.com/ 🙏 Thank you Malée Natural Science for the support: 🌿 - https://maleeonline.com/

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• Navigating Identity, Entrepreneurship, and UN Advocacy as a Third Culture African: Ikena Carreira

  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 Ikena's career journey from academia to media and her founding of StandSeven, a platform championing African craftsmanship and luxury. The conversation also probes the challenges of sustainability-focused entrepreneurship and the complexities of maintaining authenticity in a shifting African business landscape. Ikena shares her transition from entrepreneurship to the UN and imparts valuable insights on fundraising, motherhood, and the profound impact of self-belief. Discover Ikena's inspiring initiative, Train Clinic, and explore diverse experiences woven with themes of innovation, identity, and service. 🌍 Available now at https://thirdcultureafricans.com/ 📲 Get in touch with Zeze: 💬 - https://www.zezeonline.com/ 🙏 Thank you Malée Natural Science for the support: 🌿 - https://maleeonline.com/

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• How to Build an Inclusive and Sustainable Slow Fashion Label with Ngoni Chikwenengere

  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 sustainability through end-of-line fabrics, eco-friendly materials, and a close manufacturing partnership sets it apart. Notably, the brand offers a size range from 6 to 26, showcasing Ngoni's dedication to inclusivity, along with her innovative use of 3D renders that adds a unique dimension to her fashion line. Beyond fashion, Ngoni's lifestyle blogging authenticity fosters trust, while her pragmatic social media strategy involves frequent posting and prioritizing sales. The episode resonates with Ngoni's entrepreneurial drive within the African diaspora, embodying a narrative of visionary sustainability.   🌍 Available now at https://thirdcultureafricans.com/ 📲 Get in touch with Zeze: 💬 - https://www.zezeonline.com/ 🙏 Thank you Malée Natural Science for the support: 🌿 - https://maleeonline.com/

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• How to Raise 10 Million Dollars in Nigeria with Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph

  In this episode of Third Culture Africans, Zeze interviews Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph, a young entrepreneur and CEO of Kippa. They delve into Kennedy's journey, highlighting his passion for creating socio-economic prosperity in Africa and how his background in philosophy and debating has influenced his success. From being a former national debate champion to working with TikTok and Accenture, Kennedy's career path shaped his latest venture, Kippa, a fintech startup based in Nigeria. Kippa raised an impressive $3.2 million in pre-seed funding, making it one of Africa's largest early-stage fund-raises. The conversation covers the challenges of fundraising for startups and the significance of focusing on small businesses in Africa, showcasing Kennedy's dedication to empowering them with efficient financial tools through Kippa. The episode emphasizes knowing your business, understanding investors, and tailoring pitches for success, inspiring young entrepreneurs with a vision for change.  Join Zeze and Kennedy as they explore fintech, entrepreneurship, and the power of a youthful mindset with a vision for change.   🌍 Available now at https://thirdcultureafricans.com/ 📲 Get in touch with Zeze: 💬 - https://www.zezeonline.com/ 🙏 Thank you Malée Natural Science for the support: 🌿 - https://maleeonline.com/

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