Power Talks with Ssuna Ronald

Ssuna Ronald

Analyzing business in Technology, Digital Marketing & New Media in Uganda, Africa. A place where thought leaders share background stories behind major moves in tech areas of practice to shape and inspire tomorrow's future of tech enthusiasts, Hosted by Ssuna Ronald.

  1. The Backdoor to Your Dream Job: Moses Maurice Mugerwa's Networking Strategies Beyond Applications

    07/05/2024

    The Backdoor to Your Dream Job: Moses Maurice Mugerwa's Networking Strategies Beyond Applications

    This episode of Power Talks with Suna Ronald features Maurice Mugerwa, a public speaker, growth operations expert, and entrepreneur. Maurice discusses his career journey, including his transitions from Bolt to Chipper Cash and his experience being laid off from Chipper Cash. He also shares his thoughts on faith, trusting the universe, and building a support system. Timestamps to help you navigate the episode: 00:00 - 01:30: Introduction and introductions 01:30 - 03:20: Maurice's background, experience at Bolt, and transition to Chipper Cash 03:20 - 05:33: Similarities and differences between working at Bolt and Chipper Cash 05:33 - 07:17: Maurice's transparency and motivations for sharing his experiences 07:17 - 09:26: Getting laid off from Chipper Cash and the application process 09:26 - 12:00: Maurice's advice on networking and job applications 12:00 - 14:11: Power Talks social media and finding talent through pitches 14:11 - 16:32: Signs of a layoff and Maurice's experience being laid off from Chipper Cash 16:32 - 21:09: Maurice's faith, trusting the universe, and support systems 21:09 - 23:37: The importance of the spiritual side of life 23:37 - 24:00: Closing remarks Production Credits Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard Script Writer: Chinwendu Opara Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang Powered By: (No Sponsor/Self funded) Connect via: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ For Inquiries: ⁠⁠emailpowertalks@gmail.com

    55 min
  2. Transformative Tech: Highlights from Kigali's Africa Week

    07/05/2024

    Transformative Tech: Highlights from Kigali's Africa Week

    Join host Ssuna Ronald as he explores the vibrant startup ecosystem at the Africa Week Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. This episode features insights from industry leaders and innovators making a difference in Africa. 
 Timestamps: ​00:00:00 - 00:03:20: Introduction to the Africa Week Conference. ​00:03:21 - 00:08:48: Harry Ocheng from Innovate Now on assistive technologies for disabilities.​00:08:49 - 00:11:39: Innovate Now's seed funding and examples of supported startups.​00:11:40 - 00:14:55: Keynote insights from President Paul Kagame on investment in Africa.​00:14:56 - 00:18:30: The role of Norrsken House in Kigali's startup scene.​00:18:31 - 00:22:50: Luzana Costa on Norrsken's strategic initiatives across Africa.​00:22:51 - 00:24:32: Emeka from SendStack on the Norrsken accelerator program.​00:24:33 - 00:25:40: Reflections on profitability vs. unicorn status.​00:25:41 - 00:29:20: Kellen Eilert from Viamo on building strong partnerships.​00:29:21 - 00:32:45: Challenges and strategies for scaling in 22 African markets.​00:32:46 - 00:35:40: Success stories from Viamo's operations in Rwanda.​00:35:41 - 00:39:12: Future plans for VMO, incorporating advanced AI capabilities.
Tune in to hear these engaging conversations and learn about the innovations driving change in Africa! 
 Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard Script Writer: Chinwendu Opara Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang Powered By: Paul Atwine with Norrsken House Kigali 
 Connect via: LinkedIn & Instagram For Inquiries: emailpowertalks@gmail.com Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this interview are their own and do not represent the official position or policies of their employer, companies, customers, or other entities. The guest is speaking in a personal capacity.

    41 min
  3. 07/05/2024

    Securing Startup Success: Paul Kirungi’s Story with Zofi Cash

    In this episode of Power Talks Podcast with Ssuna Ronald, we dive into the remarkable journey of Paul Kirungi, the visionary behind Zofi Cash, a groundbreaking fintech startup in Uganda. Recorded remotely, this conversation brings you insights from Paul, who shares his experiences in securing $1 million in funding, building a startup, and empowering local investors through innovative financial solutions. Paul discusses how Zofi Cash is transforming the financial landscape in Uganda by providing access to credit and enabling local investments through their new product, Zof Tech. Join us to learn from Paul's story, understand the challenges and triumphs of building a startup in Uganda, and get inspired by his dedication to fostering financial inclusion. Timestamps and Key Moments 00:00:00 - Introduction by Ssuna Ronald, highlighting the value built by Zofi Cash, estimated between $6 million to $10 million USD. 00:00:36 - Ssuna Ronald introduces the podcast and the episode's guest, Paul Kirungi, discussing the importance of digital and media business conversations. 00:01:45 - Paul Kirungi shares the inspiration behind founding Zofi Cash and the company's mission to provide access to credit and investment opportunities in Uganda. 00:10:00 - Discussion on Zofi Cash's recent $1 million funding acquisition and its impact on the company’s growth and development. 00:20:00 - Paul explains the concept of Zof Tech, a product designed to enable local investments and combat inflation. 00:30:00 - Insights into the challenges and successes of building a startup in Uganda, particularly in the fintech sector. 00:40:00 - Advice from Paul Kirungi on attracting investors and building a sustainable, impactful business. Production Credits Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard Script Writer: Chinwendu Opara Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang Powered By: Paul Atwine with Norrsken House Kigali Connect via: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ & ⁠Instagram⁠ For Inquiries: ⁠emailpowertalks@gmail.com

    57 min
  4. From Uganda to Global: A Growth Marketer's Journey with AI | Samuel Kamugisha Interview

    07/05/2024

    From Uganda to Global: A Growth Marketer's Journey with AI | Samuel Kamugisha Interview

    This episode of Power Talks dives into the world of AI and personalization with Samuel Kamugisha, a brand and growth marketing strategist with extensive experience working for global agencies. Samuel discusses his role at Team X, a specialized agency created by Omnicom to manage Mercedes-Benz's digital ecosystem across multiple markets. 
 He explains how website and Media Personalisation is used to tailor customer experiences and improve overall customer engagement. 
 The conversation explores the impact of AI on project management and workflows. Samuel shares the specific AI tools he uses for research and content generation, while also acknowledging the limitations of AI use within large corporations. He offers insights on navigating the challenges faced by minorities in the tech industry and shares his career path that led him to his current role. 
 Introduction (00:00 - 01:59) Speaker 00 introduces himself as Samuel Kamugisha, Senior Project Manager at Team X. Ssuna Ronald, the host, welcomes Samuel and acknowledges his past help. Samuel mentions his current work overseeing personalization projects for the Mercedes-Benz website across multiple regions. ​Speaker Introduction (01:59 - 04:17) ​Ssuna formally introduces Samuel and his role at Team X, an Omnicom Group agency focused on Mercedes-Benz's digital ecosystem. ​Samuel explains his daily tasks include managing projects and collaborating with international teams. Personalization and AI (04:17 - 09:57)​Ssuna asks about personalization on the Mercedes-Benz website.​Samuel explains how the website personalizes content based on user behavior (e.g., viewing a C-Class page) to provide a more relevant experience.The discussion moves to AI and its impact on marketing. ​Samuel believes AI can save time for those who know how to use it and disrupt industries over time.​Samuel's AI Tools (09:57 - 11:58)​Ssuna asks about AI tools used in Samuel's workflow. ​Samuel clarifies he doesn't use unauthorized AI tools for work purposes.He shares his personal favorites for research (Perplexity), image generation (Copilot), and text generation (Gemini).​Comparison of AI Tools (11:58 - 14:09)​Ssuna compares Gemini and ChatGPT, noting his preference for ChatGPT.​Samuel highlights Gemini's advantages: The Future of Google and AI (14:09 - 17:42)​Ssuna questions Google's future dominance in AI due to the rise of other players.​Samuel suggests Google may struggle to compete due to:Layoffs and Company Strategy (17:42 - 23:31) ​Ssuna pivots to the topic of layoffs in tech companies.​Samuel attributes layoffs to overhiring and product maturity.He emphasizes the importance of efficient processes and lean teams to avoid layoffs. ​Samuel suggests agency models experience fewer layoffs compared to tech companies.​Samuel's Career Background (23:31 - 24:04)​Briefly discusses his past experience at two other agencies in Malaysia before joining Team X ​
Production Credits​
Executive Producer: Ssuna RonaldSound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard Script Writer: Chinwendu Opara Art Direction: Abdu Latif OkalangPowered By: (No Sponsor/Self funded) 
 Connect via: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ For Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠emailpowertalks@gmail.com 
 Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this interview are their own and do not represent the official position or policies of their employer, companies, customers, or other entities. The guest is speaking in a personal capacity.

    55 min
  5. Beyond the Crypto Hype: Educating Africa with MitroPlus Labs' Festo Ivaibi

    07/05/2024

    Beyond the Crypto Hype: Educating Africa with MitroPlus Labs' Festo Ivaibi

    This podcast episode features Festo Ivaibi, a Ugandan entrepreneur and founder of MetroPlus Labs. Festo discusses his journey into the world of cryptocurrency, starting from his early days as a young man meeting government officials to his current work as a professional cryptocurrency trader. The episode also explores the challenges and biases surrounding cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in Africa. Festo talks about the inspiration behind MetroPlus Labs, an educational platform that aims to create mass awareness and adoption of these technologies through free education and entertainment. Here's a breakdown of the conversation by timestamps: (00:00) Introduction of Festo Iwambi and MetroPlus Labs (02:03) Festo's early interest in cryptocurrency and his first investment in Bitcoin (09:16) Festo's diverse business ventures including real estate, farming, and forex trading (15:15) Balancing work and family life as a cryptocurrency trader (18:45) The importance of self-awareness and maintaining a low profile in the cryptocurrency space (19:20) The inspiration behind the name "MetroPlus" and Festo's admiration for tech giants (22:18) The challenges faced by African cryptocurrency traders and the mission of MetroPlus Labs (24:01) Explanation of MetroPlus Labs' goals and its approach to education (27:17) The negative stigma surrounding cryptocurrency and efforts to change the narrative (29:28) The motivation behind starting MetroPlus Labs in Uganda (32:12) MetroPlus Labs' free educational resources and its focus on blockchain literacy Production Credits Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard Script Writer: Chinwendu Opara Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang Powered By: (No Sponsor/Self funded) Connect via: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ For Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠emailpowertalks@gmail.com

    1h 12m
  6. Legal: Avoiding Common Startup Mistakes in Africa with Osita James Uche

    07/05/2024

    Legal: Avoiding Common Startup Mistakes in Africa with Osita James Uche

    This episode of PowerTalks dives into the world of legal and tech within the African startup ecosystem. Osita James Uche, a startup lawyer and founder of Black Crest, joins Suna Ronald to discuss the current trends and challenges faced by founders. Key points covered: The importance of founders prioritizing their well-being alongside their startup's. Common mistakes founders make, such as: Building an MVP without validating customer demand. Hiring a large team too early. Not following a lean approach. Hiring based on emotions or expats in the early stages. Hiring people who don't align with the company vision. Resources for early-stage founders on hiring: "Work Rules! Insights from Inside Google" by Laszlo Block "The Culture of Reinvention" by Netflix The importance of founder involvement in the hiring process, especially for small teams. The ethical implications of hiring practices like Elon Musk's. The high return on investment for attracting and retaining top talent. The need for increased investment in R&D for African companies. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and guest introduction 01:47 Osita James Uche's background and experience 03:35 Current trends and challenges in the African startup ecosystem 08:16 Common mistakes founders make, especially with hiring 15:24 Resources for early-stage founders on hiring 18:51 The importance of founder involvement in the hiring process 22:55 Ethical considerations in hiring practices 23:52 The value of top talent and investment in R&D Production Credits Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard Script Writer: Chinwendu Opara Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang Powered By: (No Sponsor/Self funded) Connect via: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ For Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠emailpowertalks@gmail.com

    1 hr
  7. From Mdundo to Meta: The African Digital Journey of Dennis Wyre

    07/05/2024

    From Mdundo to Meta: The African Digital Journey of Dennis Wyre

    This episode of Power Talks with Suna Ronald features Dennis Wyre, a Strategic Partner Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Meta. Dennis discusses his career journey, from working in social media for a music startup to his current role at Meta. He shares his insights on working in the tech industry, how to get a job at a big tech company, and the future of social media in Africa. Here are the timestamps for the episode: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:39 - Dennis Wairé's introduction and career background 00:03:01 - Discussion about Dennis's love for music and his connection to the artist Wairé 00:04:10 - Clarification on Dennis's current role and Meta 00:06:19 - Challenges and benefits of working remotely for a global company 00:09:25 - Advice on how to get a job at a big tech company like Meta 0:11:50 - The importance of a strong skill set and experience for landing a job in tech 0:12:27 - Working in different company environments and gaining diverse experience 0:13:51 - Disclaimer about Dennis's opinions not representing Meta 0:14:25 - Reasons behind Dennis's role switch after a year at his previous company 0:15:39 - Short break reminding listeners to follow the podcast on social media 0:16:27 - Details about Dennis's role as a Strategic Account Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa 0:18:00 - Structure of the team and collaboration with other departments 0:19:17 - Milestones and achievements in Dennis's career 0:21:33 - Discussion about the "Creators of Tomorrow" campaign by Meta 0:22:57 - What Dennis enjoys most about his role as a Strategic Account Manager 0:23:14 - Conclusion Production Credits Executive Producer: Ssuna Ronald Sound Engineer: Gumisiriza Richard Script Writer: Chinwendu Opara Art Direction: Abdu Latif Okalang Powered By: (No Sponsor/Self funded) Connect via: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ For Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠emailpowertalks@gmail.com

    1h 3m

Trailers

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Analyzing business in Technology, Digital Marketing & New Media in Uganda, Africa. A place where thought leaders share background stories behind major moves in tech areas of practice to shape and inspire tomorrow's future of tech enthusiasts, Hosted by Ssuna Ronald.