hello everyone I need you all to be very honest with me how many of you all if
honest with me how many of you all if
honest with me how many of you all if you came home with a 30% on an exam you
you came home with a 30% on an exam you
you came home with a 30% on an exam you know in primary school or secondary
know in primary school or secondary
know in primary school or secondary school how many of you all would have
school how many of you all would have
school how many of you all would have received one hot slap from your parents
received one hot slap from your parents
received one hot slap from your parents raise your hands everybody you know and
raise your hands everybody you know and
raise your hands everybody you know and some of you all are the parents who were
some of you all are the parents who were
some of you all are the parents who were doing the slapping so you all are also
doing the slapping so you all are also
doing the slapping so you all are also part of it all right so of course we’re
part of it all right so of course we’re
part of it all right so of course we’re not talking about mistreatment of any
not talking about mistreatment of any
not talking about mistreatment of any children not at all right but some of
children not at all right but some of
children not at all right but some of you all would have been finished because
you all would have been finished because
you all would have been finished because to bring such a poor score home in
to bring such a poor score home in
to bring such a poor score home in African home would have been
African home would have been
African home would have been unacceptable
unacceptable
unacceptable now perhaps your parents were on the
now perhaps your parents were on the
now perhaps your parents were on the other side they were the ones who would
other side they were the ones who would
other side they were the ones who would give a lecture and it wasn’t just any
give a lecture and it wasn’t just any
give a lecture and it wasn’t just any regular type of lecture it’s the type of
regular type of lecture it’s the type of
regular type of lecture it’s the type of lecture where they talk about how they
lecture where they talk about how they
lecture where they talk about how they moved to this country to give you a
moved to this country to give you a
moved to this country to give you a better life how they had to walk ten
better life how they had to walk ten
better life how they had to walk ten kilometres and jump over a crocodile to
kilometres and jump over a crocodile to
kilometres and jump over a crocodile to get to school how one time a goat ate
get to school how one time a goat ate
get to school how one time a goat ate their final exam and they had to rewrite
their final exam and they had to rewrite
their final exam and they had to rewrite it in two hours
it in two hours
it in two hours all right one of those kind of lectures
all right one of those kind of lectures
all right one of those kind of lectures and it doesn’t just stay in the house
and it doesn’t just stay in the house
and it doesn’t just stay in the house right you know it goes from your room to
right you know it goes from your room to
right you know it goes from your room to the kitchen to the car to that family
the kitchen to the car to that family
the kitchen to the car to that family gathering where they talk about how your
gathering where they talk about how your
gathering where they talk about how your unserious child and you’re wasting their
unserious child and you’re wasting their
unserious child and you’re wasting their school fees back into the car into the
school fees back into the car into the
school fees back into the car into the house and then family prayers that night
house and then family prayers that night
house and then family prayers that night all right one of those kind of things
all right one of those kind of things
all right one of those kind of things needless to say our parents did not play
needless to say our parents did not play
needless to say our parents did not play when it came to standards and excellence
when it came to standards and excellence
when it came to standards and excellence in education so what if instead of the
in education so what if instead of the
in education so what if instead of the thirty out of a hundred you know it was
thirty out of a hundred you know it was
thirty out of a hundred you know it was 30 out of 52
30 out of 52
30 out of 52 I know some people are very relieved
I know some people are very relieved
I know some people are very relieved because you can feel that pressure from
because you can feel that pressure from
because you can feel that pressure from your parents even here right so 30 out
your parents even here right so 30 out
your parents even here right so 30 out of 52 we get you a 58% it’s much better
of 52 we get you a 58% it’s much better
of 52 we get you a 58% it’s much better than before but you’re still failing and
than before but you’re still failing and
than before but you’re still failing and we all know that an F is not something
we all know that an F is not something
we all know that an F is not something that we want to aspire to but in that
that we want to aspire to but in that
that we want to aspire to but in that case right if
case right if
case right if a 30 out of 52 isn’t good why is it that
a 30 out of 52 isn’t good why is it that
a 30 out of 52 isn’t good why is it that we’ve accepted 30% as some kind of
we’ve accepted 30% as some kind of
we’ve accepted 30% as some kind of target or status quo as to where we
target or status quo as to where we
target or status quo as to where we should be when it comes to women’s
should be when it comes to women’s
should be when it comes to women’s involvement in business and technology
involvement in business and technology
involvement in business and technology all right in in the corporate world we
all right in in the corporate world we
all right in in the corporate world we say 30% women on boards right when we
say 30% women on boards right when we
say 30% women on boards right when we have public events and speakers and
have public events and speakers and
have public events and speakers and panels we say that there should just be
panels we say that there should just be
panels we say that there should just be one woman at least on every panel and
one woman at least on every panel and
one woman at least on every panel and when you think about it you’re like only
when you think about it you’re like only
when you think about it you’re like only one woman out of five or six speakers
one woman out of five or six speakers
one woman out of five or six speakers that’s such a low target to aspire to
that’s such a low target to aspire to
that’s such a low target to aspire to and as we know that we don’t grow up
and as we know that we don’t grow up
and as we know that we don’t grow up with these low targets and these low
with these low targets and these low
with these low targets and these low aspirations we’ve always been taught to
aspirations we’ve always been taught to
aspirations we’ve always been taught to reach high and to be the best so why are
reach high and to be the best so why are
reach high and to be the best so why are we accepting it when it comes to
we accepting it when it comes to
we accepting it when it comes to business and technology so let’s take a
business and technology so let’s take a
business and technology so let’s take a step back in 2013 I was a first graduate
step back in 2013 I was a first graduate
step back in 2013 I was a first graduate from business school and I’d moved to
from business school and I’d moved to
from business school and I’d moved to Lagos Nigeria back then life was sweet
Lagos Nigeria back then life was sweet
Lagos Nigeria back then life was sweet the exchange rate was $1 to 116 era so I
the exchange rate was $1 to 116 era so I
the exchange rate was $1 to 116 era so I was a baller right it was fantastic it’s
was a baller right it was fantastic it’s
was a baller right it was fantastic it’s fantastic now many of my friends in
fantastic now many of my friends in
fantastic now many of my friends in business school were interested in
business school were interested in
business school were interested in finance and they really inspired me and
finance and they really inspired me and
finance and they really inspired me and encouraged me to start looking at
encouraged me to start looking at
encouraged me to start looking at investing in startups so that’s what I
investing in startups so that’s what I
investing in startups so that’s what I did I started going to tech meetups
did I started going to tech meetups
did I started going to tech meetups networking events pitch competitions
networking events pitch competitions
networking events pitch competitions meeting people learning people in
meeting people learning people in
meeting people learning people in understanding the ecosystem after a
understanding the ecosystem after a
understanding the ecosystem after a couple of months I started to notice a
couple of months I started to notice a
couple of months I started to notice a pattern
pattern
pattern the men were upfront center stage and
the men were upfront center stage and
the men were upfront center stage and there were very very very few women that
there were very very very few women that
there were very very very few women that were at the events there were always
were at the events there were always
were at the events there were always those couple of people that you’d see
those couple of people that you’d see
those couple of people that you’d see every single time and those are the
every single time and those are the
every single time and those are the names that you would see on every single
names that you would see on every single
names that you would see on every single list who are always there but besides
list who are always there but besides
list who are always there but besides those few women the rest we either
those few women the rest we either
those few women the rest we either assistants in the back or they were
assistants in the back or they were
assistants in the back or they were doing check-ins at the table now at that
doing check-ins at the table now at that
doing check-ins at the table now at that point I didn’t jump to any conclusions
point I didn’t jump to any conclusions
point I didn’t jump to any conclusions right I am a scientist a political
right I am a scientist a political
right I am a scientist a political scientist but scientist is still in
scientist but scientist is still in
scientist but scientist is still in there or my diploma right
there or my diploma right
there or my diploma right so I took the time to listen to learn to
so I took the time to listen to learn to
so I took the time to listen to learn to understand the data after a couple of
understand the data after a couple of
understand the data after a couple of more months I went and I asked one of
more months I went and I asked one of
more months I went and I asked one of the main organizers and I asked him why
the main organizers and I asked him why
the main organizers and I asked him why aren’t there more women on stage or why
aren’t there more women on stage or why
aren’t there more women on stage or why aren’t there more women at these events
aren’t there more women at these events
aren’t there more women at these events and his answer was very simple he said
and his answer was very simple he said
and his answer was very simple he said we just can’t find any now at that point
we just can’t find any now at that point
we just can’t find any now at that point my response was similar to what your
my response was similar to what your
my response was similar to what your response would be if you brought that
response would be if you brought that
response would be if you brought that 30% test back to your mother
30% test back to your mother
30% test back to your mother right I was like excuse me what’s like
right I was like excuse me what’s like
right I was like excuse me what’s like what do you mean we can’t find any right
what do you mean we can’t find any right
what do you mean we can’t find any right are women interested in business hiding
are women interested in business hiding
are women interested in business hiding like a leprechaun are they a fable like
like a leprechaun are they a fable like
like a leprechaun are they a fable like Anansi the spider are they missing in
Anansi the spider are they missing in
Anansi the spider are they missing in action like my future husband
action like my future husband
action like my future husband right right for my Mother’s sake we hope
right right for my Mother’s sake we hope
right right for my Mother’s sake we hope not okay we hope not
not okay we hope not
not okay we hope not now I knew and I really believed that
now I knew and I really believed that
now I knew and I really believed that there had to be other young women who
there had to be other young women who
there had to be other young women who were interested in this kind of stuff I
were interested in this kind of stuff I
were interested in this kind of stuff I was there I had friends so instead of
was there I had friends so instead of
was there I had friends so instead of turning to Twitter you know giving my
turning to Twitter you know giving my
turning to Twitter you know giving my Twitter fingers and start to you know
Twitter fingers and start to you know
Twitter fingers and start to you know bless people out I instead wanted to do
bless people out I instead wanted to do
bless people out I instead wanted to do something about it I pulled together a
something about it I pulled together a
something about it I pulled together a team I found a co-founder and we started
team I found a co-founder and we started
team I found a co-founder and we started a pitch competition for women
a pitch competition for women
a pitch competition for women entrepreneurs within six weeks we had
entrepreneurs within six weeks we had
entrepreneurs within six weeks we had more than 400 applications from 25 plus
more than 400 applications from 25 plus
more than 400 applications from 25 plus countries we had women from Morocco to
countries we had women from Morocco to
countries we had women from Morocco to South Africa Rwanda to Senegal who
South Africa Rwanda to Senegal who
South Africa Rwanda to Senegal who raised their hands and said that they
raised their hands and said that they
raised their hands and said that they were interested in these opportunities
were interested in these opportunities
were interested in these opportunities to grow and scale their business they
to grow and scale their business they
to grow and scale their business they weren’t interested in us because we had
weren’t interested in us because we had
weren’t interested in us because we had a brand name they weren’t interested in
a brand name they weren’t interested in
a brand name they weren’t interested in us because we were well-known back then
us because we were well-known back then
us because we were well-known back then they were interested in us because we
they were interested in us because we
they were interested in us because we were being authentic and sincere for the
were being authentic and sincere for the
were being authentic and sincere for the Google Form and a website that I wrote
Google Form and a website that I wrote
Google Form and a website that I wrote died designed myself four years later we
died designed myself four years later we
died designed myself four years later we turned the 400 applications into a
turned the 400 applications into a
turned the 400 applications into a community of 450,000 young women all
community of 450,000 young women all
community of 450,000 young women all across the continent and all across the
across the continent and all across the
across the continent and all across the globe who are smart and ambitious and
globe who are smart and ambitious and
globe who are smart and ambitious and focus
it has been incredible building this
it has been incredible building this community to connect all of these young
community to connect all of these young
community to connect all of these young women as well as this platform to inform
women as well as this platform to inform
women as well as this platform to inform inspire and motivate the next generation
inspire and motivate the next generation
inspire and motivate the next generation of African women business leaders now
of African women business leaders now
of African women business leaders now thankfully I’ve had a chance to learn
thankfully I’ve had a chance to learn
thankfully I’ve had a chance to learn some things about what it means to build
some things about what it means to build
some things about what it means to build a community of women who are active in
a community of women who are active in
a community of women who are active in business and technology and I have a lot
business and technology and I have a lot
business and technology and I have a lot of friends who in the ecosystem who send
of friends who in the ecosystem who send
of friends who in the ecosystem who send me a whatsapp like do you know good
me a whatsapp like do you know good
me a whatsapp like do you know good candidate for this job or can you send
candidate for this job or can you send
candidate for this job or can you send out this email listing and I always send
out this email listing and I always send
out this email listing and I always send them my price list they never pay me but
them my price list they never pay me but
them my price list they never pay me but you know I wanted to share some ideas
you know I wanted to share some ideas
you know I wanted to share some ideas because instead of thinking about it
because instead of thinking about it
because instead of thinking about it from just a one-off approach how can we
from just a one-off approach how can we
from just a one-off approach how can we make sure we are enacting systemic
make sure we are enacting systemic
make sure we are enacting systemic change and we’re thinking about it from
change and we’re thinking about it from
change and we’re thinking about it from a strategic point of view so first it is
a strategic point of view so first it is
a strategic point of view so first it is definitely you not them right young
definitely you not them right young
definitely you not them right young African women are not some exotic zebra
African women are not some exotic zebra
African women are not some exotic zebra that’s bedazzled and has
that’s bedazzled and has
that’s bedazzled and has lactose-intolerant right we’re not that
lactose-intolerant right we’re not that
lactose-intolerant right we’re not that special
special
special where’s fantastic but we’re not that
where’s fantastic but we’re not that
where’s fantastic but we’re not that different right so if you find that your
different right so if you find that your
different right so if you find that your program is not getting a lot of
program is not getting a lot of
program is not getting a lot of applications if women aren’t seeing your
applications if women aren’t seeing your
applications if women aren’t seeing your tech hub as a destination of choice it’s
tech hub as a destination of choice it’s
tech hub as a destination of choice it’s probably because your program isn’t
probably because your program isn’t
probably because your program isn’t designed with them in mind right so I
designed with them in mind right so I
designed with them in mind right so I have a dog he’s fantastic he has an
have a dog he’s fantastic he has an
have a dog he’s fantastic he has an Instagram page please follow him lucky
Instagram page please follow him lucky
Instagram page please follow him lucky in Lagos okay right and if I had to
in Lagos okay right and if I had to
in Lagos okay right and if I had to leave him for three months I would be
leave him for three months I would be
leave him for three months I would be devastated
devastated
devastated who’s going to rub him with coconut oil
who’s going to rub him with coconut oil
who’s going to rub him with coconut oil who’s gonna update his page right I
who’s gonna update his page right I
who’s gonna update his page right I don’t know who would do that
don’t know who would do that
don’t know who would do that and I imagine that if I had a child I
and I imagine that if I had a child I
and I imagine that if I had a child I probably would feel the same way right
probably would feel the same way right
probably would feel the same way right so can you imagine what it would feel
so can you imagine what it would feel
so can you imagine what it would feel like to go apply to an accelerator
like to go apply to an accelerator
like to go apply to an accelerator program that’s in a random City very far
program that’s in a random City very far
program that’s in a random City very far away far away from my personal
away far away from my personal
away far away from my personal responsibility responsibilities and my
responsibility responsibilities and my
responsibility responsibilities and my friends and family it’s unlikely that I
friends and family it’s unlikely that I
friends and family it’s unlikely that I would want to do that and it’s because
would want to do that and it’s because
would want to do that and it’s because we’ve taken startup examples from other
we’ve taken startup examples from other
we’ve taken startup examples from other places and we’ve brought them here when
places and we’ve brought them here when
places and we’ve brought them here when they don’t really apply to the
they don’t really apply to the
they don’t really apply to the demographics and the communities that
demographics and the communities that
demographics and the communities that we’re working with and if we thought
we’re working with and if we thought
we’re working with and if we thought more about flexible and
more about flexible and
more about flexible and Digital training and learning
Digital training and learning
Digital training and learning opportunities that would allow us not
opportunities that would allow us not
opportunities that would allow us not only to connect with more young women
only to connect with more young women
only to connect with more young women but perhaps those who live in rural
but perhaps those who live in rural
but perhaps those who live in rural areas those who don’t have the financial
areas those who don’t have the financial
areas those who don’t have the financial resources to move but overall a more
resources to move but overall a more
resources to move but overall a more strategic and more inclusive type of
strategic and more inclusive type of
strategic and more inclusive type of startup and accelerate our ecosystem
startup and accelerate our ecosystem
startup and accelerate our ecosystem secondly you can stay away from pink I
secondly you can stay away from pink I
secondly you can stay away from pink I know we’ve all seen those razer
know we’ve all seen those razer
know we’ve all seen those razer commercials with the young woman who’s
commercials with the young woman who’s
commercials with the young woman who’s spinning in the garden her hands are up
spinning in the garden her hands are up
spinning in the garden her hands are up there’s a wind machine she’s very
there’s a wind machine she’s very
there’s a wind machine she’s very excited but at the end of the commercial
excited but at the end of the commercial
excited but at the end of the commercial you actually don’t even know that it’s
you actually don’t even know that it’s
you actually don’t even know that it’s really for razors or what they’re
really for razors or what they’re
really for razors or what they’re selling
selling
selling whereas when they’re selling men’s
whereas when they’re selling men’s
whereas when they’re selling men’s razors it’s all about performance and
razors it’s all about performance and
razors it’s all about performance and power and bah-bah-bah and you’re like
power and bah-bah-bah and you’re like
power and bah-bah-bah and you’re like yes that razor is really going to cut my
yes that razor is really going to cut my
yes that razor is really going to cut my face it’s the same product right
face it’s the same product right
face it’s the same product right it’s blades it’s rubbers but one we’re
it’s blades it’s rubbers but one we’re
it’s blades it’s rubbers but one we’re marketing to women for some reason we
marketing to women for some reason we
marketing to women for some reason we have to have flowers and roses and and I
have to have flowers and roses and and I
have to have flowers and roses and and I don’t know what it is that we need to
don’t know what it is that we need to
don’t know what it is that we need to have but we’re doing something there
have but we’re doing something there
have but we’re doing something there unfortunately we often times take the
unfortunately we often times take the
unfortunately we often times take the same approach when it comes to marketing
same approach when it comes to marketing
same approach when it comes to marketing our startup programs to women all right
our startup programs to women all right
our startup programs to women all right something must be fam it must have girl
something must be fam it must have girl
something must be fam it must have girl geek it must be pink and instead of
geek it must be pink and instead of
geek it must be pink and instead of focusing on the attributes of the
focusing on the attributes of the
focusing on the attributes of the program how it’s going to help someone
program how it’s going to help someone
program how it’s going to help someone reach their goals about the success
reach their goals about the success
reach their goals about the success stories we choose to just take a very
stories we choose to just take a very
stories we choose to just take a very low impact approach that’s not really
low impact approach that’s not really
low impact approach that’s not really that thoughtful or authentic when it
that thoughtful or authentic when it
that thoughtful or authentic when it comes to marketing right so I think the
comes to marketing right so I think the
comes to marketing right so I think the way that we communicate these
way that we communicate these
way that we communicate these opportunities also can play a big role
opportunities also can play a big role
opportunities also can play a big role in how we demonstrate they were actually
in how we demonstrate they were actually
in how we demonstrate they were actually focused on this demographic finally we
focused on this demographic finally we
focused on this demographic finally we should listen and we should learn if you
should listen and we should learn if you
should listen and we should learn if you need someone to build your rocket ship
need someone to build your rocket ship
need someone to build your rocket ship don’t call me if you want someone to
don’t call me if you want someone to
don’t call me if you want someone to cook you jollof rice still don’t call me
cook you jollof rice still don’t call me
cook you jollof rice still don’t call me if you want someone to write a very
if you want someone to write a very
if you want someone to write a very creative self-deprecating Instagram
creative self-deprecating Instagram
creative self-deprecating Instagram caption I’m your girl right because we
caption I’m your girl right because we
caption I’m your girl right because we all know what we’re good at so if you
all know what we’re good at so if you
all know what we’re good at so if you find yourself as a creator as an
find yourself as a creator as an
find yourself as a creator as an innovator and you’re saying actually
innovator and you’re saying actually
innovator and you’re saying actually don’t know how to position my product or
don’t know how to position my product or
don’t know how to position my product or service or how to get more women
service or how to get more women
service or how to get more women involved there are so many groups in
involved there are so many groups in
involved there are so many groups in organizations and platforms and
organizations and platforms and
organizations and platforms and individuals who’ve been doing this work
individuals who’ve been doing this work
individuals who’ve been doing this work for years well very rarely are they
for years well very rarely are they
for years well very rarely are they brought into the car
brought into the car
brought into the car precision and actually asked for their
precision and actually asked for their
precision and actually asked for their input or we design solutions and
input or we design solutions and
input or we design solutions and policies and programs without actually
policies and programs without actually
policies and programs without actually asking young women what it is that they
asking young women what it is that they
asking young women what it is that they want so if you’re looking to turn your
want so if you’re looking to turn your
want so if you’re looking to turn your program from mediocre to excellent you
program from mediocre to excellent you
program from mediocre to excellent you should take the feedback talk to young
should take the feedback talk to young
should take the feedback talk to young women see what it is they need and apply
women see what it is they need and apply
women see what it is they need and apply those lessons and improve I really
those lessons and improve I really
those lessons and improve I really appreciate now that I’m older I really
appreciate now that I’m older I really
appreciate now that I’m older I really appreciate the high standards that our
appreciate the high standards that our
appreciate the high standards that our parents set for us growing up it didn’t
parents set for us growing up it didn’t
parents set for us growing up it didn’t matter who else was in the class where
matter who else was in the class where
matter who else was in the class where they came from or who they were we were
they came from or who they were we were
they came from or who they were we were supposed to be the best so should we
supposed to be the best so should we
supposed to be the best so should we care that the u.s. ecosystem that has
care that the u.s. ecosystem that has
care that the u.s. ecosystem that has the highest number of female founders in
the highest number of female founders in
the highest number of female founders in Chicago at just 30 percent shouldn’t
Chicago at just 30 percent shouldn’t
Chicago at just 30 percent shouldn’t matter that Microsoft only has 26
matter that Microsoft only has 26
matter that Microsoft only has 26 percent of their workforce as women does
percent of their workforce as women does
percent of their workforce as women does it mean anything to us that Y Combinator
it mean anything to us that Y Combinator
it mean anything to us that Y Combinator has only funded 12.5 percent of women
has only funded 12.5 percent of women
has only funded 12.5 percent of women founders any African mom we tell you
founders any African mom we tell you
founders any African mom we tell you that’s not your business right it’s your
that’s not your business right it’s your
that’s not your business right it’s your business to be successful in to reach
business to be successful in to reach
business to be successful in to reach your goals and standards that you know
your goals and standards that you know
your goals and standards that you know that we can reach there’s a start-up
that we can reach there’s a start-up
that we can reach there’s a start-up fund that was really excited because
fund that was really excited because
fund that was really excited because they had 30 women founders they had 30
they had 30 women founders they had 30
they had 30 women founders they had 30 founders that were women out of their
founders that were women out of their
founders that were women out of their portfolio and I was like why are you
portfolio and I was like why are you
portfolio and I was like why are you excited that is such a low target right
excited that is such a low target right
excited that is such a low target right so for all of us who are innovators
so for all of us who are innovators
so for all of us who are innovators creators influencers who are designing
creators influencers who are designing
creators influencers who are designing programs right we should stay away from
programs right we should stay away from
programs right we should stay away from this 30% target we should stay away from
this 30% target we should stay away from
this 30% target we should stay away from this number that we’ve decided it’s good
this number that we’ve decided it’s good
this number that we’ve decided it’s good enough because good enough is not what
enough because good enough is not what
enough because good enough is not what we need we need excellence and I believe
we need we need excellence and I believe
we need we need excellence and I believe that African ecosystems technology
that African ecosystems technology
that African ecosystems technology startup companies can be leaders and can
startup companies can be leaders and can
startup companies can be leaders and can show the globe what it means to create
show the globe what it means to create
show the globe what it means to create inclusive and wonderfully made startup
inclusive and wonderfully made startup
inclusive and wonderfully made startup systems right after all it does not take
systems right after all it does not take
systems right after all it does not take two heads to get this right thank you
”
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