Shaping Africa

Rose Thiga

Welcome to the Shaping Africa podcast. Each week, we highlight an inspiring person that is Shaping Africa so that you can learn how to use your own skills and uniqueness to make real impact on the continent.

  1. 05/12/2022

    EP 21 - Participating in Civic and Political Life as a Returnee w/ Dr. Nathan Wangusi

    On this episode, I am joined by Dr. Nathan Wangusi. Dr. Nathan Wangusi earlier this year was running for political office (Member of Parliament) in Langata Constituency in Nairobi, Kenya. Following our conversation and completion of the Langata nomination process, Nathan has since started an exciting new role was as Water Sustainability Program Manager at Amazon Web Services where he leads global water sustainability initiatives focused on reducing and accounting for water use in data centers, corporate offices, fulfillment centers, and in the communities/watersheds where the firm operates. He previously held various consulting roles focused on delivery of engineering solutions including highway drainage design, complex hydraulic analysis and flood studies for water management districts and road agencies in Florida. He has an interest in using engineering and technology to solve water challenges particularly as it relates to risks to undeserved communities. He has consulted considerably with bilateral partners in the water sector such as the World Bank, USAID and Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation and governments of Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa and the United States. He led the Ease of Doing Business Transformation work in Kenya between 2014-2018 that saw Kenya improve in rank from 137 to 61 and creation of online government services portals such as the business registration service on eCitizen, the Movable Property Collateral Registry, the Land Information Management System, the Integrated Court Management System, iTax with the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Kenya Single Window System for port clearance. In digital water he led a team that created the Water Platform that is used to monitor water supply and assets in rural Kenya. He previously worked with the South East Rural Community Program where he developed programs promoting access to affordable water and wastewater in rural North Carolina. In this Episode, we talk about: - His growing up years and how he ended up in the US including how he ended up being a water resource engineer - His transition to the continent and his advice for networking  - His advice for staying engaged with the continent while abroad - His professional life and how he got involved in civic and political life  To keep in touch with Nathan, follow him on LinkedIn as I am convinced that he will be up to great things in the future: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanwangusi/

  2. 04/14/2022

    EP17 From Farmer's Kid to Growing African Tech Startups w/ Peter Ngunyi

    Peter Ngunyi is the CEO EarlyBird Venture Lab where he leads the EarlyBird group of companies that support a growing portfolio of fast-growing tech startups: EarlyBird Venture Lab provides growth, acquisition and funding strategy for early-stage tech startups. EarlyBird Capital is the first institutional check to fast-growing Pan-African tech startups that meet our team and traction indicators. Peter is a speaker at international events, published writer on growing companies in emerging markets, supporting several accelerators in Africa to help entrepreneurs design the best companies in today's environment. Formerly President of BRCK (2018 TIME magazine top 50 most genius companies).  Peter grew up as a farmer's kid and ended up in the US for his higher education. Upon completing his studies, he discovered the venture capital and tech startup scene in Austin, Texas and never looked back. He is currently working on building the tech startups on the continent with a particular focus on African founders. Peter is also a Harambean and Founder of the Global South Think Tank. In this episode, we talk about: How Peter ended up going to the US and the change in tide in perspectives on leaving the continent for young Kenyans today How he discovered the venture capital and startup world in Austin, Texas How he decided to come back to the continent while still keeping a global outloook through his travel (follow him on instagram @in.and.outofafrica) His hope and belief for the Venture Capital and Tech Startup scene on the continent - how can Africa build for the world? Peter is a visionary and inspiring big picture thinker and was an absolute pleasure to have on the podcast. I hope you enjoy listening to the conversation as much as we did creating it.  You may also follow Peter on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterngunyi/

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Welcome to the Shaping Africa podcast. Each week, we highlight an inspiring person that is Shaping Africa so that you can learn how to use your own skills and uniqueness to make real impact on the continent.