Efosa Obano: Transforming African innovation

Nkechi: 00:00:02

Great day, amazing human. Welcome to the Empowered in my Skin podcast, where our mission is to help 1 billion people in this world think in more empowering ways.

Empowered humans empower humans. So you are in the right spot to become a lead domino for empowerment today. My name is Inkechi.

I'm not only your host, but I am a vibrant optimist to bring you empowering content.

With each episode, we will be bringing you content, alternating between longer episodes with feature guests and shorter episodes called Empowering Bites, where I'll be joined by my co host, Gabby Mamone. So if you're ready, let the show begin. Great day, amazing humans. Yes, welcome to the next episode of empowered my skin.

And hi, youtubers, because I see them first.

So you all get to see as I introduce our next guest who is and started manages the Black Founders Network, which supports black entrepreneurs across Canada with capital, community and capacity building. They also started and lead the African Impact Initiative, which invests in early african innovators across the continent.

They have experience in creating scalable economic impact from marginalized communities using technology and capital. For this work, they have been recognized by the United nations, the Ontario minister's award of Excellence, and empaths. I'm going to spell that out.

Most influential people of african descent.

Yes, this work, their work is driven by passion to dismantle barriers for those they serve, fostering an inclusive ecosystem where they can access resources, mentorship and capital to grow their ventures. I am so excited for this discussion, which is going to center around leadership, entrepreneurship and community empowerment.

So please join me in a gigantic, massive welcome to e Fosa Obano.

Efosa Obano: 00:02:06

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You're too kind. Thank you.

Nkechi: 00:02:09

This is true. I am kind. I'm so excited. I'm so excited. So we're going to dive right in because I want to eat up all the time I have with you. So first question.

It is the signature starting question on this podcast. What has been your empowering thought, your most empowering thought you've had of the day so far?

Efosa Obano: 00:02:30

Oh, wow. For you guys, like today, just today. That's a good question.

Nkechi: 00:02:37

We don't think about it. Right. But trust me, you did some stuff today. And so somewhere there was a thought that empowered you to do it.

Efosa Obano: 00:02:43

Yes. Yes. Honestly, I would say just like gratitude for my. Because, yeah, I do a lot of things and I wear a lot of hats.

And today we're having actually, right now, a wellness day for our entrepreneurs. They're a few rooms away from here and there's been a whole lot of things planned. And thankfully, I have an amazing team who pulled it off.

Like, I just kind of showed up and so everything goes well. So I remember just feeling so grateful for the fact that there's so much going on that's beyond my own direct view.

I would say the empowering thought is gratitude for my team for just making everything that you shared at the beginning actually happen.

Nkechi: 00:03:32

Yeah. And I have to say, I truly do believe what you reflect you project.

So there's some, like, if your team sort of came up with that, curated that, and has launched it and executed it, it comes from leadership. Right.

And so, you know, kudos to you and your team for, and I love that as someone who is, like, intoxicated in, like, wellness habits, I really love that.

And so definitely not part of the interview, but would love because I understand that this is something new that you've actually invited into your cohorts. So is this the first cohort that's experiencing that and what is that like?

Can you talk a little bit about what the offering is and, and how it came about?

Efosa Obano: 00:04:13

Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes. It's something that we just piloted this year.

So we like to practice what we preach when we support entrepreneurs, where it's like, talk to your users, understand their pain points as you're providing solutions.

So when we were doing our last, like after year two, we're doing our review and we're getting feedback from the founders who supported, we learned that.

And this in terms of numbers, is over 94% of them that were interviewed, kind of post program expressed the need to have more kind of personal wellness support.

And actually, the things we did in the last cycle that were like, most valuable were the things that were not necessarily like, the business thing was like the movie nights and the sports things that we did together. So people really expressed a strong want to see more of that.

So this year we're like, how about we actually try and see, is there a correlation between founder performance, founder success and their wellness, especially with black entrepreneurs and longer data behind this? But the short answer is, yes, there is.

And so our program, our wellness pillar this year, in partnership with one of our startups called Safenex Movement, has pillars that basically help us prioritize when each founder comes into the program apart from their business goals and all the things they want to do to change the world on a personal level, what are some of the health goals they have and how can we also work with them through the program to actually meet these goals? So for some people, it's getting more sleep, it's eating better. It's the weight. It's, you know, very different. Everyone. So we collect all that data.

We use that to sort of create the program for them. During the cohorts. And in this group, there was a lot of people who wanted to play sports, so we did soccer every Mondays.

A lot of people wanted to run, so we did running every Tuesdays.

And then there was trekking, there was dancing, but then there was also, like, many groups of people that were tracking, like, you know, different metrics with their health and keeping themselves accountable. So, yeah, it's been eye opening for me. And this is kind of the.

Today is the day that it's wrapping up in terms of the wellness day, because we're all co working together from our co working space, doing a whole bunch of different activities.

And I think it's something we definitely will continue because we've seen the impact on founder performance, but also on the bond of the cohort themselves.

Nkechi: 00:06:45

You know, I, like, I am so impressed. I just have to. When. I'm just gonna give you your flowers, probably many times through this interview, but I'm gonna tell you why.

And it's so interesting because I have so, throughout my career, I've had a lot of opportunity where I've had to travel.

And it's interesting because, fundamentally, what came up for me is one of the practices I've always said is, it's not because I'm now taking on business travel, which for a lot of people, they just, oh, my God, business travel. I'm gonna put on weight. And this, that, and the other. And they're scientifically, they do. There are numbers.

Like, even with COVID like, there were numbers that were put out that this is the average amount of weight that people who travel for business gain over the course of a year. And so I was like, oh, that's not gonna be me. That's not gonna be me. And so what I actually do is I have all my food.

It's prepared, it's shrink wrapped, and I pack it in my suitcase, but then they're like, oh, but then you have to check in a bag. And I'm like, you know what? I'd rather wait ten minutes at a carousel then have to try to take off ten pounds of fat, you know?

And so what you said to me, to me, that's the edge. We're not just human doings. We're actually at the core, human beings.

And I think that's probably why you have seen that was what people, as much as there's the work that they need to do and all this any other when we're in our state, like, when we are feeling great internally, that drives everything else. Like, I like it organically drives it. So kudos to you. One of the.

I'm going to just share as a tip, as part of a wellness intro to your wellness program for next core. Maybe you could trademark it in k two, but maybe encourage them to write a to be list before they write their to do list.

So oftentimes we put things on our calendar that we want to do, do, do, and we forget to put the sins on our calendar on who we want to become, become, become, become, become.

And so, like, if you want to become somebody whom is more connected then on your to do list, then you need to have moments of creating those pockets of connection, like networking and all this and the other. And you feel less exhausted by the end of the week, because by the end of the week, you're like, oh, my gosh, I've grown as a human being.

And you realize it's because you did things that, you know, your inner desire. Yeah, that's brilliant.

Efosa Obano: 00:09:10

We definitely will. We'll give you your credit for that.

Nkechi: 00:09:14

Your to be list. Yeah, I do it every week. I have. It's. It's. You'll see it every week. I write my. Who I want.

Who I want to be or become this week, or focus on being this week, and then I make sure that in my to do list that I'm actually. Either that's how I'm showing up for in my experiences, or there are actions that I have on my to do list that are helping me drive that.

Efosa Obano: 00:09:38

That's amazing. I have to shout out the team. So, as much as I appreciate the credit, it's not me. Kimberly, Faiza, malika.

The people who really lifted the beat, Erica, just in case they're watching this.

Nkechi: 00:09:51

Yeah, they are. They're not. Just in case you're gonna have a team sit down. It's gonna be a watch party, and they're all gonna be there. High five. Let's envision that.

They're just gonna be like, yeah, that's gonna happen. It's gonna happen. Yeah. So let me now get into. Let's now get into the interview. Yeah. So you happen to call out that a year, too. So I just.

You know, for all the listeners and watchers, I think this is pretty phenomenal, because tomorrow is the tomorrow, which, when this airs. So, October 4 is the three year anniversary of BFN Black Founders network. To say it again and the African is. It's african impact. Yep.

Is turned six years on September 27. So that just passed. So congratulations. That's incredible. Incredible.

And so let's just now without, like, to get to where we are on today, where you're actually going to be celebrating, where you celebrated and celebrating tomorrow. There's a backstory. So, you know, can you share with us? Like, my question to you is, you know, what was a pivotal moment?

What are some key influences? But what led you to starting? Let's just start with BFN, and then maybe you can then grow into all the other work.

Efosa Obano: 00:11:10

Yeah, absolutely. So for BFN specifically, a few things. One, my loved experience as a black entrepreneur.

So because I had started african impact before that, that was my first foray into, like, real entrepreneurship, starting something as a black founder. So in a lot of ways, and I faced a lot of what, I guess BFN is solving for other black founders.

And then the other thing, I guess, was maybe you call it timing. And almost like everything I did before BFN prepared me for BFN.

And because even prior to working with BFN and starting african impact, I had also worked in the technology space with Dell technologies, and my portfolio was very focused on startups. I used to help startups to scale and sort of digitally transform. So I fell in love with startups since then.

So those are some of the factors, but the real reason behind everything, and this is a safe space, so I'll be transparent, is really my faith. So gone. Yes, gone.

Nkechi: 00:12:21

Let's just go. Showed up. I love it. Eleven minutes in, he was there from the beginning, but he's just like, when are you gonna call out my name? Okay, okay.

Go on, go on your face. Go ahead.

Efosa Obano: 00:12:37

Yes. And actually, fun fact, like a fosa, my name actually means God's wealth.

Nkechi: 00:12:41

Oh, nice. Mine's God's gift.

Efosa Obano: 00:12:44

Yeah, I know.

Nkechi: 00:12:44

Like.

Efosa Obano: 00:12:48

So, you know, I think there's something about names, right? Like, just the significance of them.

And for me, like, over time, you know, definitely God has revealed to me more and more that, you know, mining is my purpose. So that's also been a key factor. But I couldn't tell you that I knew that this was what I was going to be doing was Adele, even before then.

So this little short answer is that, like, he kind of revealed things to me over time with some experiences that drew me closer to him that I had years ago. And it's still, even as we're turning three and six, it's still sort of like, I have no idea what he has planned.

Nkechi: 00:13:32

Big plans for you, my friend, big.

Efosa Obano: 00:13:36

I've learned to sort of look too far ahead. Like, he's in the driving seat, and it's like, okay, this is what he has for us this year, and we execute on it.

And so when I'm in board meetings or all these very official things, and they're like, oh, what's your five year plan or ten year plan? Like, I don't have one. Because, like, he's taught me that if I can conceive it and plan it, it's too small. That's not his plan. I can't what he has.

So, yeah, that's the sort of real answer behind it, and it's been a great ride. Like I said, the team has been amazing. He's really blessed me with amazing people to help sort of carry the vision forward.

We've had also some really amazing partners, too.

Nkechi: 00:14:17

I love it. And just, I want to. I'm so happy that you went there because, you know, talking about faith is so key and imperative to me.

So really, really happy for those that are listening and that can really get it.

Like, so, for me, I know that the big plan that God has in my life that was instilled in my heart is to help a billion people think in ways that are empowering.

I have absolutely no idea what that's gonna look like, and it's really, truly none of my business, but when I figured that out, when I understood it in my name, you're right. God's gift. Every time people call me, it's like, am I gift? Am I a gift to that experience I'm having with them? You know?

And so I've put it on my human to say that every experience I come in contact with must be better simply because it passed by me. Right?

Efosa Obano: 00:15:06

Well said. Well said. Like I said, I've been a big fan from even one of the inspirations to be confident enough to be vocal. Like, I follow her on Instagram.

I have room to see, and I'm like, how is this, like, senior leader in sort of a corporate western society, this confidence about speaking and being, like, our true self about this? So that was a big inspiration behind my confidence and even doing that, too. You obviously wouldn't know this. So thank you. Thank you for.

Nkechi: 00:15:40

No problem. I appreciate that.

But I do truly believe in the work that you're doing is that you are also opening up what God has placed in others that they just can't see for themselves. And you happen to be the vessel that's helping them either accelerate that or even just start to give and shed light on it. Right. Just.

So kudos to you. So just a question is, for a lot of people, it's hard for them. There's so much noise and there's so much, like, is that God? Is that.

Efosa Obano: 00:16:14

Yep.

Nkechi: 00:16:15

So maybe you could talk about. Maybe you could talk about, like, how do you know? Like, how do you know when it is. It is sort of what's been. You know, what's on the path for you.

How do you know that?

Efosa Obano: 00:16:31

A great question. It's a great question. And I almost like. I would liken it to, like, um, learning a new language.

Um, like, what I mean is, like, liking in it, like, my. Or our relationship with him, you know, like, sort of how we steward that and grow that. It's like learning a new language or making a new friend.

It's like you have to put in time and consistency, and it gets better over time.

So at the very beginning, for me, when he first reached out to me, I was going through, like, probably the most difficult moments of my life at the time. Believe it or not, when I was in high school, I was not the most. Who you see today is not who I was. Let's put it like that.

I saw my expulsion letter three times because I was breaking all the rules.

I've always loved food, so I was in a boarding school where, in Nigeria, where I grew up, where we're not allowed to bring contraband food, and I didn't like the food we had in school, so I figured out a way to get contraband food. And even beyond that, I figured out a way to get other people to bring money, which wasn't allowed in school to school to buy the food from me.

Nkechi: 00:17:46

So you're an entrepreneur celebrating.

Efosa Obano: 00:17:52

I made a ton of money from this, but I got in a ton of trouble because I was breaking all the rules and from all these experiences.

So when I was almost, like, about to get expelled the last time, this was, like, two weeks before graduation, I had to turn to God for the first time in my life because all my other tricks and sort of things off my sleeves weren't working because I would always get out of trouble each time. But this time, it's like the administration was like, no. And hindsight. This is God teaching me a lesson about discipline and following instructions.

So I turn to him, then I pray. I cry like everyone's getting ready for prom, but I'm so sad that I'm about to waste my parents six years of paying my school fees.

I had gotten into University of Toronto. But this admission was conditional on me graduating from high school. So everything was on the line.

And he sort of showed me so much grace and mercy in that I was able to get everything overturned. I still missed my graduation ceremony and prom ceremony as punishment, but I got my diploma.

So this time he spoke to me or kind of, and how he made it clear, because literally, as soon as I finished praying the last day, and I'm like, you know, God, if you do this for me, like, I will take you seriously, I will devote my life to you, blah, blah.

And I come out of the chapel, and the person who basically helped me figure out how to get out of the situation was just coming from the principal's office, and he's like, oh, like, I was just looking for you.

Like, something told me to find you and, you know, go talk to the principal, because blah, blah, blah, everything he said I did and I did it, and that's how everything worked. But I come to Canada and I'm like, at U of T, and it's cold, and everything's difficulty is really hard.

So maybe the first year, I'm, like, trying my best to be a good boy, but then after the stress of adjusting, and that's a whole different topic, just like, culturally adjusting to a new country, weather, the food, you know, things were really difficult.

reak in my situation. This is: 2016

He spoke to me in a more clear way this time, because in this week, I had failed some course that I really needed to pass to graduate. I had also gotten the person who I was dating at the time. We had broken up, and then I had lost a lot of money.

This happened, like, in the space of, like, two days. Like, my whole world is crumbling. And so it's the most pain I've felt since my graduation situation.

And of course I remember, okay, everything else is gone. My girlfriend, I would typically write to her or whatnot. I can talk to her because we're not together. So I'm like, okay, God, I remember you again.

I'm sorry that I'm back there and put me all this together, but this time, I wasn't even sure if he was real because, you know, you come to a new country and you hear all these things, and part of my cry was like, are you even real? Like, if you're real, you know, please show me that you're real.

And there's a verse in Jeremiah that says, like, if you seek me, I seek me with all your heart, you will.

So even when I tell friends and people who have, like, questions, like, if the desire to know is really genuine, whatever race or faith or whatever you believe, and you just ask him with, like, you know, that true heart of really wanting to know the truth, he will reveal it to you. Because that's what I did then. But that was also, like, even catalyzed by all the pain I was feeling at the same time I did that.

And, like, I made that prayer. Like, someday, the next day, I go do some very stupid things kind of to get my mind away from.

And then the day after that, my mom calls me, and my mom tells me, so she has a cousin who was a pastor. And she tells me the cousin just randomly called her today and letting her know that God spoke to him and had a message for me.

She doesn't know what the message means. He doesn't know either.

But the message that he heard my prayer two days ago and wants me to know that he did and he's real, but that he wants me to seek him more and that he saw what I did yesterday.

Nkechi: 00:22:41

Wow.

Efosa Obano: 00:22:42

And he, you know, was upset about that and doesn't want me to keep doing that.

Nkechi: 00:22:46

Wow.

Efosa Obano: 00:22:47

That shook me to my core.

Nkechi: 00:22:51

That's like, oh, my lord, what is going on right now?

Efosa Obano: 00:22:55

And I'm like, wow, okay. So because before then, I thought he's up there all here, and I didn't know it was a personal thing, you know?

So anyways, long story short, after that, I'm like, okay, what does it mean to see God? I go google it, and it says, like, oh, the word of God, the Bible. So I'm like, okay, well, let me read the Bible.

I started reading the Bible, and that summer, he changed everything around very quickly from, like, zero to 100 in a way that, like, because of timing, I'm going to details here. But, like, yeah, he turned everything around.

And since then, my relationship with him, I would say, had started developing more closely because then it's like, when I say, learn a new language, then I started learning that he actually wants to convene with each of us, like, you know? And so I started sort of building that muscle and spending time with him more in the work required time.

So, yeah, like, he basically, he can be as involved as we want him to be in our lives, but it takes a lot of, like, you have to, like, love it so much because you see the fruits of it, and it's almost like your best friend. He's my best friend.

Nkechi: 00:24:03

Yeah. It becomes who you are. Yeah.

I think our names and back to what you'd said originally, I think the benefit of people calling our names is that if we have truly attached meaning to it, then they're also helping to call that forward for us. Every time our name is called, it's just that reminder and that responsibility. But thank you for sharing so vulnerably. I love it.

One of the things I do every day when I pray in the morning, actually, as soon as I finish praying, I say, and now I open up the prayer for the day, because everything I say today, God, whether I'm talking to somebody else, please treat it as prayer to you so that I receive back through that person from you, you know? So it's just, I open up the entire day as a day as open prayer. Right.

And some days I probably close it unintentionally, but for the most part, I don't. I don't have bad days. You know, I have.

I have situations that I feel viscerally, like a change or shift in my demeanor or, you know, something internally more so, like, it connected with something. And so when I'm most alert, I recognize that. Okay. It's just. There's something here to learn. Yeah, exactly.

Efosa Obano: 00:25:31

And that's the beauty of not doing. Like, doing life alone is so hard with God.

Nkechi: 00:25:37

Is everything. Everything. It's everything.

Efosa Obano: 00:25:42

You help us get through the situation. So definitely encourage anyone that has those questions.

Like, it's not a zero to 100, it's taking years, and it's consistency, but at this stage, it's more like the quiet time. And that's the other thing, too, because I have a lot of close christian friends. He speaks to us differently. You know, some people like dreams.

Like, he really talks to them through their dreams, people in their spirits during prayer time. So there's. It's not a one size fits all, in my experience as well. See, if your.

Your heart posture is really genuine, he will sort of reveal himself and establish that close relationship.

Nkechi: 00:26:17

Yeah, one of the most. And then we'll move on here. I should have added at the beginning, I said, we're gonna sit down while we are talking about leadership.

Face based leadership is what I call.

ents I heard that I took into: 2024

There's gift number two. Let me just keep dropping those in kitchen gifts. Anyway, it's not lost on me.

So when I ask this next question, I'm going to ask it more from a north Star. It's not lost on me when you said that, when you're asked about what's the five year plan?

But more so vision, when you start to think about the long term vision that you have for Black Founders Network and the African Impact Initiative, what is that, and how do you see that vision shaping the future of black entrepreneurs and innovators?

Efosa Obano: 00:27:22

Great question. Yes. So I'll kind of start with our vision statements, which I think actually capture pretty well.

So for BFN, really, we envision this world where we have thriving black founders and black led startups from every industry and every stage where it's not so, like, oh, wow, BFN or black fan, like, it's not such a big deal because you don't have a white founders network, for example.

Nkechi: 00:27:48

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Efosa Obano: 00:27:49

When I was growing up, like, ten fingers, like, you know, Max Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, like, before I could get to a black entrepreneur that I even could see as a mentor. And we want a world where no matter how you're counting, like, you're counting black founders, because that's the status quo.

I probably wouldn't have a job anymore because there would be no need for a BFN. But I think that's where we've succeeded. So that's the vision there for the african impact initiative because I kind of wear both ass.

And I think you might be able to relate with this depending on the.

If you grew up here, back home, where, like, you have the identity, of course, being in Canada, a black person, but, like, kind of being born and raised.

For those of us who are back home, an african or nigerian or kenyan, wherever you're from, there are some unique challenges that in that identity we face on the continent.

And even when we immigrate here, african impact initiative was born out of trying to solve those challenges and really with the premise that we are the people, the african youth, african innovators, we are the ones who should solve those challenges for us. We're really trying to create a reality.

Our vision is a reality where it's never too early or too difficult for early young Africans to bring their ideas to life and solve the biggest problems that we're facing as a continent.

And it's kind of the catch 22 of trying to job search and being told that for your first job and being told you need five years of experience before you can get your first job. When I was trying to start african impact, we faced so much difficulty in getting support because I had no experience at the time doing anything.

A lot of my peers and a lot of people who joined us to start it had gone through the same thing. We moved from our different countries and we had all these bright ideas to make things better back home.

But we were just like students and almost taken us seriously.

So we're very big on supporting early innovators who are like us at the time that have these bright ideas, live the experiences with the problems and want to bring solutions to life.

I don't think there's many other organizations that have kind of access to opportunities without the barriers like we do for people that are just because we think talent is evenly distributed, but it's just opportunities that are not. That's the end.

There is to democratize access to opportunities, access to resources and anyone who just has the rights, like desires, there's actually a platform that can help you bring these solutions to life.

Nkechi: 00:30:48

And what are some of the most effective strategies that you have? And so sorry, first, before I get to that question, just for clarification for myself.

So BFN is more so for supporting black founders in North America, in Canada.

Efosa Obano: 00:31:04

Right. Canada today, but ultimately eventually in the diaspora.

Nkechi: 00:31:09

In the diaspora. And then african impact initiative is for building innovation within the continent of Africa and. Correct. And is it open to all blacks or african.

Of african descent?

Efosa Obano: 00:31:23

Of african descent.

Nkechi: 00:31:25

Okay. Okay. Awesome.

Efosa Obano: 00:31:26

Yeah, very good job. People have a hard time usually like.

Nkechi: 00:31:30

Well, I think I listen, I really. I like to say I'm a good listener, but that's what I think I just understood was the distinction. Awesome. So what have you seen?

And maybe in both cases, because there's a phrase that's going to be the quote of this, because it just passed by and you said opportunity. You said talent is not.

Efosa Obano: 00:31:56

Talent is evenly distributed, but opportunities are not.

Nkechi: 00:32:00

Right. So I love that that's the quote of this episode. But what are some tactics or strategies that you.

That early starters have really, have you found to be most beneficial and repeatable? Like blueprint?

Efosa Obano: 00:32:17

Yeah, great question. Yes. So I think on both sides. There's a few themes that I've seen.

Really important one, the first theme in general is just a real dedication to community driven solutions. So before both AI and BFN, there was a lot of time spent talking to the people that we were building it for.

. With AII spent two years in: 2016

people, AI,: 5000

So that's the first thing I would say, like, with any building, anything like this, very critical. And I, you have to keep doing it.

It doesn't end even after you launch, because, like, the wellness thing we talked about, that's a new thing that started because we listened.

Nkechi: 00:33:38

Right. Continuous improvements.

Efosa Obano: 00:33:40

Continuous improvement based on feedback. So that's one, two is, as it relates to, like, democratizing access to opportunities for those at the early stages.

Capacity building is critical because we are marginalized. Communities often have been out of the loop compared to other demographics with, like, the right spaces.

Same thing you could even see in the corporate space, too.

So if you want to, it's not just about, yes, provide the resources and sort of, that's very critical, but prepare, you know, us to be able to effectively use the resources. So capacity building, very critical. And in both cases, sometimes that can't be done.

That's not always most effective within the silo of our community. Right. Because you don't know what you don't know.

So we've been very, like, allyship, so critical, just with the right level of engagement, education, and just like, I guess, posture. So we have to really make sure because it's a delicate space. But, yeah, we've been very kind of clear that we can't fight this battle alone.

Give the right allies. But capacity building, once you get the capacity building right and you tailor it to the different stages, that's the other thing.

It's harder to do that because then it becomes very broad.

Like, for BFN, we had to make it sector agnostic and stage agnostic, because when we did the research, we just saw that that's the reality on the ground. But that's harder than doing, like, focus on tech or focus on AI.

Or whatever, because so those were some of the things we did, like early to sort of design the programming to suit the needs and please provide the actual resources. There's so many programs that give, like, free trainings, free this, and don't provide resources. They're great.

But we are, like, over freely trained, over freely mentored. Like, we need resources even in corporate, you know, so I.

Nkechi: 00:35:45

Peers and educated.

Efosa Obano: 00:35:47

Yeah.

Like, I tell my peers when we're having proposal conversations with your government, corporate sponsors don't design a program that doesn't have resources going to the participants. Like, we haven't those. So that's the other thing.

Like, everything we do and compared to, like, if I say 100% of the funds we've raised, like, by God's grace, we've raised over 10 million in both platforms. Like, more than half of that has gone to the pockets of the actual people that we're serving.

That's the only way that we actually see the growth that we want. So I think that's a unique part.

And the last thing I would say is it's important then to try to tackle it from the roots, because young people, again, I think of myself growing up. We need to have the next Nkechi, the next Efosa that's like five years old, ten years old today, see a better potential future for themselves.

We have to celebrate. That's why we celebrate black excellence. That's why we're doing the events, blah, blah, blah.

So that, like, you're planting seeds in their hearts that, like, okay, I don't have to only just be like, I don't know, social worker or whatever I see in front of me today. Like, I can be freaking Bill Gates. I can be whoever the equivalent of that is. So that's the other thing, too.

Like, very intentional doing of, like, showcasing what's possible, focusing on the younger generation. Because if we don't do that, we'll have the same problem.

Basically, all of us today will go away, and then the next generation will come and they will have those same barriers. So we also really try to.

It's not, like, very easy to get funding for stuff that has to do with kids, but we're always trying to, like, as much as we're helping, you know, older people today, the younger generation, like, planting those right seeds and having them engage so that they can kind of increase what they think is possible for them, that's, I think would be critical.

Nkechi: 00:37:42

I think that's great. I love. And, wow. First of all, kudos on the achievements that you've had in both, in both organizations. What was the impact of George Floyd?

Efosa Obano: 00:37:55

Yes. As sad as it is to say, I think there was a big awakening. That's almost why BFN exists.

Like, the timing of when BFN started, for example, and with a lot of the other initiatives, and it really hurts that that's what it took, because prior to that, it was the same stats were there. Like, we just started quoting them after.

Nkechi: 00:38:24

Believe us now.

Efosa Obano: 00:38:25

I know.

Like, and, you know, I worry that, like, the current, I worry that the trend then, how I put this in a politically correct way, I worry that, you know, I hope it doesn't take something else like that to sort of keep the same energy.

Nkechi: 00:38:47

The energies are dying. Yeah. And I think the challenge, what I'm going to say is fatigue. Right.

So I saw it coming in, you know, and I know, I mean, in the circles and the opportunities that I had, I really have to challenge people. Like, this has got to be a long game.

Efosa Obano: 00:39:02

Exactly.

Nkechi: 00:39:03

It's a long game. It took us a long time to get here. It's going to take us a long time to get out. And we're talking about, this is systemic.

It's at a, it's at a systemic level, and. But we need to tackle it from all efforts. And I think what we're experiencing now is some fatigue and the focus has shifted. Yeah, yeah.

Efosa Obano: 00:39:21

But I think what I also think is, like, I think we need to then figure out, how do we not need to have.

Nkechi: 00:39:29

Well, that's it. That's where I think the work is now evolving more. So. Which is. Which is why I still feel we're thriving, which is.

Yeah, so, yeah, so there's still a lot of work to do, which is interesting because I wanted. My next question to you is, typically, I'm going to tackle it from a different way. So typically we talk about, like, what are your challenges?

I actually want to know what has become easier for you.

Efosa Obano: 00:39:54

That's a good. Yeah, like, I was ready for the.

Nkechi: 00:39:58

Yeah, I mean, like, we often don't celebrate the things that are actually.

Efosa Obano: 00:40:02

That is true.

Nkechi: 00:40:03

Five years ago, I would never have been able to have done this. Right. So what's, what's easier?

Efosa Obano: 00:40:08

No, definitely, like, just the compounding effect of the work that we're doing, because now, for example, the entrepreneurs that we support, like, you know, years ago, today, now they're doing so well that they're, like, investing in the younger ones. They're, like, providing office space.

There's so much going on that the network is actually functioning as a network, and it's grown way beyond my own purview. That becomes much easier. So there's almost never an ask that we get from anybody that somebody doesn't have the. Even if it's the actual resources.

Like, literally, a founder in a cohort this year, he needed one hundred k to prevent something from going wrong. I didn't know we could mobilize 100k this quickly. Literally, 100k in the WhatsApp group got mobilized. That's the degree of.

That's what's happening right now. And that wouldn't have been possible years ago. We're seeing some of the fruits of that. So that's one. And then the other is, yeah, I just.

Again, I keep seeing my team, but I've been really blessed with amazing people on both sides, really, with african impact and with BFN. And that's something that I've also seen to be like a gift, if you will. It's like, I've made some bad people decisions in the past.

Like, when I say bad, I mean with my own wisdom, just based on expertise and based on what you think.

But a big lesson that got taught me was, or has taught me is, like, as with everything else, even the people, like, if you ask me for the person, I will send you a person that I kind of prepare for you. And ever since I learned that, like, yeah, he's been blessing me with amazing people. Yeah. That's also become, like, a big lift, because, as you know.

Nkechi: 00:42:12

Oh, my gosh.

Anyway, so, first of all, I didn't even get into, like, some of the technology questions I wanted, but I want to respect the time we're gonna have to have you back on here, for sure. Yeah. But I'm actually really in love with our conversation so far, so I'm gonna take us through some rapid thrivers.

So when you think of someone who empowers you, who comes first to mind and why?

Efosa Obano: 00:42:38

My mom. And that's because she had to do a lot of, like, finite, like, the superwoman stuff. You see the cliche, like, she was that, like, she.

Financial supporter, emotional supporter, everything.

Nkechi: 00:42:53

So, yeah, easily my mom, I love it. A daily habit that helps you stay empowered and thriving.

Efosa Obano: 00:43:00

Definitely quiet time with God.

Nkechi: 00:43:02

Okay. A book that's helped you with your. That helps you. Yeah. Either helps you or has helped you thrive and be empowered.

Efosa Obano: 00:43:13

That's a great question. On the african impact side, it's called the prosperity paradox.

For anybody who's into african innovation, a lot of the principles that we've built african impact on is based on the prosperity products.

Nkechi: 00:43:26

Okay. I love that. I thought you were going to say the Bible.

Efosa Obano: 00:43:29

I'm gonna say that.

Nkechi: 00:43:32

I've had a couple of. I had a couple. I think I've had two guests so far in 200. What are we at, 90 something episodes? Yeah, the Bible.

What is a app that helps you with your thrive.

Efosa Obano: 00:43:49

You have to see the Bible app.

Nkechi: 00:43:51

Yeah, me too. I'm going to have to look you up on it.

Efosa Obano: 00:43:54

Yeah, yeah, I think we have the plans and. Yeah, I love the vibe.

Nkechi: 00:43:58

Can I tell you something? Oh, God.

So I'm such, so I'm a creature of habit, and I love anything where there's a little bit of gamification as well because I'm also very competitive, but mostly competitive with myself. And so with the Bible app, there are two streaks. There is the daily. Just open up the Bible, like using the Bible app streak. And I'm going to it.

I'm going to open it now. And then there's the daily refreshed streak. So as of yesterday, when we're recording this episode the day before.

So I traveled for work this week and I don't know what happened to me yesterday because I was like, what happened? And I went to bed. Like, fully went to bed. I had opened up the app, but I didn't finish the daily. So my app streak. My app.

The app streak is at: 1042

Efosa Obano: 00:44:53

Holy.

Nkechi: 00:44:54

. Whatever thousand.: 1042

And I forgot to open up my app. And so it went back to zero. And then yesterday, this morning, I woke up and I was like, okay, let me go into the.

I opened it up and I was like, the daily refresh streak was at zero. I forgot to finish all three.

Efosa Obano: 00:45:24

No, but that is so I haven't got. I haven't gotten near that far before. Like, I try my best, but, like, the most I've done is like a year.

Nkechi: 00:45:34

Oh, no. I'm like, I'm like, you are not. I was like, I was at 600, and now I can see it. It says best streak, 630 days.

Anyway, I had to literally, the practice of letting it go.

So if Bible app developers are listening to this podcast, I'm gonna ask you something like Duolingo, maybe we could buy streak freezes, but there's got to be a way. Like, it'd be a great way to donate to the app. We can purchase. We could donate, but get a streak. A streak reset ever.

Efosa Obano: 00:46:19

Like, maybe the chance to, like, have one miss.

Nkechi: 00:46:22

One miss, right. Just one. I was like, God don't play. I'm like, God ain't playing. God's like, you're out. You're done. You're back to zero. I'm like, my God.

Anyway, that's hilarious. I love it. And then my final question for you is, as people see you, well, this is my final rapid thriver.

As people see you running BFN and running African Impact initiative, what's one misconception that they have of you?

Efosa Obano: 00:46:55

That's a beautiful question, and, yeah, very well timed. So sorry, it's not going to be a rapid fire answer because that's.

Nkechi: 00:47:02

No, that's okay. That's okay. I'm having fun with you, man.

Efosa Obano: 00:47:05

So this is something I'm currently struggling with. And I'm going to probably at the end of the year, like, make a post about it and just ask for help. But, yeah, I'll share it with you soon.

One thing I promised myself at the very beginning of this journey was to be as accessible as possible. Because I remember at the very beginning, like, I used to, like, try to reach out to people to get advice and never hear back.

And so I was like, you know, I'll never be like that. I'm always going to be like.

Nkechi: 00:47:35

Go on, I want to hear where this is going because I might have to learn from you.

Efosa Obano: 00:47:41

So, like, I've tried to practice that. You know, I give everyone my number and, like, yeah, things have obviously now taken off and it's like, oh, and I don't have like an EA or anything.

Like, I read all my messages, like, you know, so, yeah, it's becoming really hard to keep up.

Nkechi: 00:48:03

I'm just laughing because I had. And I still to this day. Anyway, go on, go on, continue because I want to hear what your solution is.

Efosa Obano: 00:48:12

I don't know the solution, but the misconception is, like, because when I meet people, like, I like being very present. So I'm always like, have a great conversation and give you my number and everything. But then the.

So they tend to expect, like, the same energy after ends. Like, you know, they send me the message and, like, trust me, I try my best hours responding.

Like, right now I probably have, like, literally 280 something texts. Like, from 280 something, I'm gonna have to respond.

So anyways, people, it's starting to, like, give the vibe I don't want it to give because, you know, it's like no one sees the full picture. So it's like, oh, you took so long to get back to me.

But we had this great conversation, and you're not like, you know, people say so many good things about you, but took a week to get back, and it's like, so I'm having a hard time managing that. And because, like, of my type of person, it's giving me a lot of stress.

A few friends are like, oh, I just, you know, let people think what they're gonna think, you know, your real motives, blah, blah, blah. But at the same. And I guess maybe that's the solution. I don't know. Yeah. So I don't know the solution, but that's the thing.

Like, I guess just having people understand the capacity or the lack of compared to demand and the messages, all that. And so these days I get anxiety when I go for events because it's.

Nkechi: 00:49:40

Like, you're going to meet people, you're going to meet new people. You want to let them in.

So I'm going to share something with you, and maybe we have an opportunity to stay connected in a meaningful way, to help each other and help others because we're not alone.

First, I'm gonna ask you to give yourself, first thing first, give yourself grace, because I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I think the first thing is you have to pour into yourself. You have finite capacity. That is a very true statement. Okay.

And there's 24 hours in a day, and you are one human and you have finite capacity, and you are not omni presence. Like, you just don't have that God given gift to be everywhere and everything to everybody.

So I think in your quest to do something big and meaningful in this world, then there's also, there's also other sacrifices that come with that. And so it is, it is within your control to start to figure out what, at this next level in life to reset on what, where you can share your capacity.

So as an example, and I've kind of even gone past that, I had to go from I, because, you know how many people I had waiting for mentoring and coaching, and it was like, the anxiety was like, high, and then there would be, and then you would meet the people that are like, oh, you never got back to me. I emailed you, and then, and then I recognized, no, I stopped saying sorry.

I started saying, I'm asking for Grace because I'm now getting to your message. Do you still have this request? Right? Because I'm not sorry. I'm one human being.

And so I think one sharing your story on social media where people follow you and all this is going to be such a.

And I don't know if you wait to the end of the year, I think if the spirit like, prey on it tomorrow, but if the spirit caps you, I think, you know, share very vulnerably because it is, it's part of your healing from, it's part of your grieving from where you're advancing in life. You have to grieve that old, that, that old person who had the capacity to actually use their human to be present for others.

You're not there anymore, but now you can work on other strategies. This is where you start to write a book. This is where you start to have a podcast.

This is where you start to think about how you can give of yourself and your wisdom and the things that people seek you for that now can explode. The blast radius of it is much bigger. So it's within your control to start thinking about that.

Like, I do group calls, you know, not often, but like every quarter I do group calls, people sign up for it and it's just my time to like get a massive amount of people with questions. You know, the podcast was another way. Like, how do I sort of share the things that people want to hear from me? Yeah.

So I became like, I'm a public speaker now. People come to my events, you know, but I still. And even with all of that, I still experience it.

When I go to event now, I can't give my number out like I did. So it's funny because today when you.

Efosa Obano: 00:53:06

Said I was like, but it's only.

Nkechi: 00:53:10

When you said, send me your number.

Efosa Obano: 00:53:12

I was like, well, I was like, this is my best chance.

Nkechi: 00:53:18

But I was like, okay, hold on. I fan this guy. Like, I'm such a fan favorite. I'm like, you know what? Yes. And so I am. I am also very. Because that's my personal space, right?

Like I actually use my technology to shut down to 730 and wake up at eight and then it opens up at eight for the rest of the world. As much as people think I'm an extrovert, I can't do that 24 by seven. I can't be available to everyone for everything. So I do.

And then, so the other one was. And I think that's kind of how we're in b roll is I give myself a certain amount of capacity that I'm giving to others in the year.

Just like you plan your meetings and all this plan your personal capacity. How much time are you going to give to serving? You know, mentoring or coaching? Like, so I do my one and done that's why I'm part of the black wealth.

Black wealth, be it Pwc or Ala now. Yeah. Because it's my chance to have one person, one human who I can give intentional, focused time to.

Like, that's kind of where I've grown to, you know, and then I do one in corporate, you know, because it's just. It's part. I make it part of my. And then everything else is group mentoring, big events, conferences, like, you know. So think about that. Yeah.

Efosa Obano: 00:54:38

So thank you. Thank you. Because, like, I've been. It's been, yeah.

Nkechi: 00:54:42

Just stress up at you. Yeah.

Efosa Obano: 00:54:44

You know, and how you said it, like, literally thinking about the strategy to still, like, you know, give back, to still serve, but do it more effectively with where things are at. And the part about be how you respond, I find out. Very interesting and cool. Like, the going from, like, I'm sorry, because that's, that's.

I'm like, I'm so sorry. That's how I start all my messages now.

Nkechi: 00:55:09

Very disempowering.

Efosa Obano: 00:55:12

Right. And it's like. But you're still, like, coming across as, like, what's the word I'm using?

Nkechi: 00:55:17

Yeah, I ask for Grace. I just say it all the time. I say, I ask for Grace. I'm now getting to your message first. Is it still, do you still.

Whatever the ask is, like, do you still want to meet or is your ask still relevant? You know, or. You know what I mean? Like, you just. Yeah, and then don't commit again. That's the other key is don't commit again. You know, this is.

If you now created other. Anyway, now we're. Now we're still in interview. Everyone's learning. There's a key. The key of it is you've grown to.

Efosa Obano: 00:55:53

Yeah.

Nkechi: 00:55:54

And that's why I say, first, give yourself grace.

God has put you on a larger platform, and on this larger platform, you have to come up with new strategies and techniques that will continue to enable you to be able to serve the responsibility that God has given you. And in some cases, who you used to be. You can't. You have to move from that person. The other thing, too. Sorry.

Just because maybe this is helping other people with capacity. There's also the element of.

Because when you start to think about people like Bob Proctor or some of the greats, right, they have an institute, and in part of that institute, there are certified coaches that are taking Bob Proctor's messages and proliferating it around the world, and he's long gone. Right. And it's still lifeing you also have to remember you are a finite being also.

And so if your legacy is something that you want to live beyond, then maybe there's a bit of a Fosa institute, the Black wealth institute that you actually need to create and start to train people to carry that. Yeah.

Efosa Obano: 00:57:05

Democratizing that. I could go an hour more. I know, because you're pretty. But, yeah. For anyone listening.

So, like, if you start getting messages from me, starting with, I ask for.

Nkechi: 00:57:22

Live coaching.

Efosa Obano: 00:57:24

Live coaching. That's so brilliant. Thank you. I will pray on it. And like you said, I might even do it early. It's been on my heart for a while.

You're the first person I'm actually sharing it with. Kind of.

Nkechi: 00:57:34

I'm blessed. Yeah.

Efosa Obano: 00:57:36

Thank you for that.

Nkechi: 00:57:37

Yeah. So where do we find more of you, my friend?

Efosa Obano: 00:57:41

Great question. On any social thing with a handle, it's just Albano. LinkedIn is fosa. Albano. So Instagram, Twitter, albano, and in. Just search at Postalbano.

And, yeah, I will do my best to respond to you.

Nkechi: 00:57:58

I always, I always. I, you know, I. Anyway, we will talk offline, but I always tell people, if you.

If you message me on LinkedIn or any of my social platforms, we're not that close. Like. Right. So I'm just nothing. Yeah. If I don't have an EA, I'm not managing those inboxes. Right. There's social. There's social spaces for me.

And I do get to them when I can. But. So I will share all of the links in the show notes. And as a final parting question, this podcast is called empowered in my skin.

I would love to know what that means to you.

Efosa Obano: 00:58:33

Yeah. Honestly, that means the conversation we just had, like, the. Thank you.

I want to thank you for having me, especially for this last piece, because it wasn't even scripted.

Nkechi: 00:58:43

None of it was scripted. Don't let them think that. We practiced this interview. We didn't practice it. None of it was scripted. What I meant to say was, no, I get it. I get it.

Efosa Obano: 00:58:53

So long. It was meant to be, like, a short answer, the essence behind what it stands for.

And I've watched a few before, and I felt that way, but I didn't think I could feel empowered being interviewed about it, if that makes sense. Yeah, that's exactly how I feel right now. Yeah. Please keep doing what you do.

And the way you said it, like, the sorry thing and then the ask for grace thing, literally, you said it, like, that's so unempowering by saying, like, yeah, that is so unempowering so, anyways, like, all that to say, like, that's exactly how I feel now. That's the best way I could describe it.

Nkechi: 00:59:31

I love it. And, you know, I'm gonna say this. I actually love you. I love you unconditionally. And I'm smiling. My cheeks are hurting. I have. I just.

I'm so impressed with what you've done and just incredibly feel honored to have this time to spend and, like, energy with you. Like, this has been a very meaningful moment in my week, and it's going to my gratitude journal today.

I look forward to leaning in more with BFN and AII now that I even understand your initiatives, even more so. And so you're doing really, really great work. And I'm so impressed with what God is doing through you to better this world.

And so I give thanks to God.

And God, I just ask you to continue to just pour into him and put destiny opportunities around him and clear his capacity and clarity of mind so that he can hear you and be obedient, because it matters. It matters to so many people in this world. And I just.

I ask you in this moment to really protect your energy, protect your space, so that you can continue to govern. Okay, thank you.

Efosa Obano: 01:00:49

Thank you. I can't wait to interview and to be smiling as well. Thank you. You have no idea.

Nkechi: 01:00:57

No problem. That might be the first prayer I've ever done. It wasn't even meant to be a prayer. It was like, sort of like giving you a flowers.

And I was like, okay, God, you know? Anyway, I cherish you. I cherish you.

So, to everyone that's listening, I trust that this has actually been one of the most empowering conversations that you've heard of this week so far, and probably maybe this year. Let's just put it out there. And I thank you for listening, but sadly, this is where we have to say we're out. Bye bye. There you have it.

I trust you are feeling more empowered in your skin. As the late doctor Maya Angelou said, when you get, you give. When you learn, you teach.

So it would mean so much for us at Eims if you would share this episode and tag us or teach an insight that you took from today's episode on your socials and tag us. Feel free to leave us a review over at iTunes and follow us on social media at power to my skin. Finally.

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