Glocal Citizens Florence Adu

Greetings Glocal Citizens!


This week we’re going full circle with Zimbabwean-American, Vimbo Watson. Born in Zimbabwe, Vimbo’s family relocated to the US before she spoke her first words. Nonethless, her mother tongue has remained in her heart and has been a foundational part of fullfilling a life-long passion to uplift people and especially those in need back home. After a career in education as a teacher and principal, she’s now applying her administrative talents as the Director of Development for Kuda Vana Partnership an American-Zimbabwean non-profit operating a children's home and school in Zimbabwe. A passionate speaker and professional development provider she often translates her enthusiasm for learning and education into teaching others how to make time for wellness and self-care in their daily lives.


Where to find Vimbo?
[vimbowatson.com](link https://vimbowatson.com/)
On LinkedIn
On Instragram
On Facebook
On Youtube


What’s Vimbo reading?
Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--and Keep--Friends by Marisa G. Franco PhD
[Atomic Habits](lin https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits ) by James Clear
Drowning and other books by T.J. Newman
Books by Brené Brown
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi


Other topics of interest:
Mutare, Zimbabwe
Clans and Totems in Zimbabwean Culture
On Trauma-focused Therapy
Special Guest: Vimbo Watson.

Greetings Glocal Citizens!


The beautiful thing about life is that with care and attention time refines and gives rise to the amazement that is our daily experience. I met this week's guest nearly a decade ago, in the country she currently calls home, as we were both starting our work in the African edutainment industry and as she was making her way back home to Tanzania to do what she prepared for when getting her MBA and BS in International Business and Economics from Overton School of Business in the US--making a difference for African children. Tanzanian born and raised, Doreen Kessy is a Co-founder at STEM Girls Education (SGE), a social enterprise with a mission to help more girls in Africa become innovators. An education and women's champion at heart, Doreen holds the belief that empowering women and girls to drive change is essential in fostering a more sustainable and kinder world for all. Previously Chief Business Officer at Ubongo Learning, she was instrumental in growing the organisation as she led its expansion to 41 countries in Africa reaching over 30 million kids. She was named “Entrepreneur of the Year in Education” by Women In Africa Initiative (WIA), Winner of Next Billion EdTech Prize 2019, is also an Acumen Fellow, Future Elect Fellow, Global Shaper, an initiative of the World Economic Forum and Tedx speaker. Not only is the future bright, our present is brighter with social entreperneurs like Doreen making their mark in markets across Africa!


Where to find Doreen?
On Wikipedia
On LinkedIn
On Twitter


What’s Doreen listening to?
Brook Castillo’s The LIfe Coach School Podcast
How I Built This Podcast
Huberman Lab Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast
This American Life Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The Dairy Of A CEO Podcast


Other topics of interest:
About Njombe’s Iringa Region, Tanzania
Things to do in Rosebank, Gauteng
About Smile 4 Africa
Yo! Haibo!, Sawubona - Sikhona and other South African Expressions
The Life Coach School
What’s Doreen riding?
Microschools in action in Africa

Greetings Glocal Citizens!


This week we're back in East Africa in conversation with Kenyan, Farhan Guled, coming to you in two parts. Farhan takes us with him from his native homeland to Europe and back to East Africa where he is currently Executive Director of Salaam Bank Limited in Kampala, Uganda; he has been instrumental is building the bank's start-up operation in the country. Born and raised in Kenya he began his entreprenuearship journey as founder of Maisha Fitness Center in Nairobi. Wearing many professional hats, Farhan is a "Multipotentialite Creative Thinker" offering an off the shelf business growth consultancy. As a visionary strategist, he helps businesses with the right intuitive and informative strategies that guarantee transformational growth. In his service endeavors, he is a board member of The Young Leaders of Finance (Le Club des Jeunes Dirigeants Financiers), which gathers young and mid-level professionals with various backgrounds who work with or within the financial sector taken in the broad sense. Some highlights of our conversation are Farhan's in depth tutorial on the links between Islamic finance and sustainable development goals as well as his delight with the sites and sounds of Uganda. Like me, I think you'll be ready to book your visit straight away!


Where to find Farhan?
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On X


What’s Farhan Reading?
Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential by Matt Higgins


Other topics of interest:
On Islamic Banking and Finance
Salaam African Bank
Jinja, Uganda
Fort Portal, Uganda and traditions of the Tooro Kingdom
Kabale, Uganda: City of Peace
About Merck HQ Germany
Afrika Kommt
Special Guest: Farhan Guled.

Greetings Glocal Citizens!


This week we're back in East Africa in conversation with Kenyan, Farhan Guled, coming to you in two parts. Farhan takes us with him from his native homeland to Europe and back to East Africa where he is currently Executive Director of Salaam Bank Limited in Kampala, Uganda; he has been instrumental is building the bank's start-up operation in the country. Born and raised in Kenya he began his entreprenuearship journey as founder of Maisha Fitness Center in Nairobi. Wearing many professional hats, Farhan is a "Multipotentialite Creative Thinker" offering an off the shelf business growth consultancy. As a visionary strategist, he helps businesses with the right intuitive and informative strategies that guarantee transformational growth. In his service endeavors, he is a board member of The Young Leaders of Finance (Le Club des Jeunes Dirigeants Financiers), which gathers young and mid-level professionals with various backgrounds who work with or within the financial sector taken in the broad sense. Some highlights of our conversation are Farhan's in depth tutorial on the links between Islamic finance and sustainable development goals as well as his delight with the sites and sounds of Uganda. Like me, I think you'll be ready to book your visit straight away!


Where to find Farhan?
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On X


What’s Farhan Reading?
Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential by Matt Higgins


Other topics of interest:
On Islamic Banking and Finance
Salaam African Bank
Jinja, Uganda
Fort Portal, Uganda and traditions of the Tooro Kingdom
Kabale, Uganda: City of Peace
About Merck HQ Germany
Afrika Kommt
Special Guest: Farhan Guled.

Summer Greetings Glocal Citizens!


My guest this week, comes to us via fellow Glocal Citizen, Yana Fleming. Like Yana, Emilly Okello-Juma is a seasoned communications and program management professional. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Emilly’s work has taken her to points near and far across around the world. She has 13 years of experience working in communications roles including on-continent support across all regions in Africa on projects funded by international actors such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, Feed the Future and Prosper Africa. She has demonstrated experience in development communications, including report writing, branding, client and stakeholder relationships, visibility growth, policy engagement, and prodding action towards key outcomes for beneficiaries. Emilly has also served as board member in charge of Communications at SlumChild Foundation.
This week’s conversation is a great compliment or prelude to upcoming episodes featuring conversations from our second The Future of Work Solutionscape and Stretch Salon that took place last weekend in London which centered on agriculture. Curious about what these sessions are about? Check out scenes from our May Day Salon in Brooklyn, New York and stay tuned for opportunities to engage with the Glocal Citizens community worldwide.


Where to find Emily?
On LinkedIn


What’s Emilly listening to?
Ginny Clarke’s Fifth Dimensional Leadership Podcast
The Moth Podcast
The LINK Cast


What’s Emilly reading?
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés


Other topics of interest:
Economic vs. Commercial Diplomacy
Prosper Africa
Vivo Fashion Group
The Nation Media Group
The Malabo Declaration
African Union Agenda 2063
Rwanda’s former Minister of Agriculture Gérardine Mukeshimana
Special Guest: Emilly Okello-Juma.

Greetings Glocal Citizens!


I met Elike Kofi Nkansa, a multifaceted creative with a background in literature and art with a keen interest in fine detailng, one afternoon at a place called the Green Butterfly Market in Accra. He was seated in front of a beautiful portrait tapestry which I eventually purchased after visiting his flagship boutique and seeing a sampling of his portfolio. He trained as an architect and is the designer for his fashion brand, Elike Clothing which has become a household name, particularly in Ghana, and he has clothed many eminent personalites. He is currently costumier for three-time Grammy nominated artiste Rocky Dawuni.
Elike was selected amongst 14 other garment manufacturers in Ghana to spearhead an effort in mass production under AGOA--African Growth and Opportunities Act, through which his enterprise gained the requisite training to engage in mass apparel and textile production. His brand is minimalist afrocentric and heavily inclined in technically and functionally artistic design.
He mentors young artisans in the fashion industry helping to release fresh creativity into the fashion space. Through his art he hopes to forge closer bonds of peace and kinship between peoples wilst empowering women and youth.


Where to find Elike?
www.elikeclothing.com
On Facebook
What’s Elike reading?
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Works by Robert Greene


What’s Elike watching?
Guest Who’s Coming to Dinner
Kramer vs. Kramer


Other topics of interest:
Leklebi Dafor
Coffee and Togo
About the game Chaskele
RIBA - Royal Institute of British Architects
Ghana Institute of Architects
About technical pens
About the Peugot 504
About Ricci Osei and son, Reggie Rockstone
About UT Bank’s Kofi Amoabeng
William Blake’s The Chimney Sweeper
About Ambassador D.K Osei
Special Guest: Elike Nkansa.