Maria Tolsa, journalist from Finnish TV YLE flew into Accra to cover a story on young entrepreneurs making strides in their home country. My Y FM homie, J. O. E. L. and I were captured on camera.

The segment we're featured starts at 11:05: http://areena.yle.fi/tv/2197046

Thanks to +Amma Aboagye's timely email last year on Google Africa Connected competition, I was fortunate to share as one of the 20 success stories of young Africans powered by the web. +Funmbi ogunbanwo  & +Dan McCain  flew into Accra to record my story. I shared the video Mama Esi and my sisters they couldn't be more proud :



Google Africa Connected was an opportunity for the camera and crew to meet some amazing entrepreneurs in Accra: illustrators, coding geniuses, marketing gurus, broadcast & film makers. Through strategic collaboration, we get to use the +Mpwr  show as a springboard for #CollaborativeSuccess #AfricaRenaissance

BarCamp Tema 2014 is a free networking forum that brought people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue on Tema, Ghana and beyond. It took place on Saturday March 22, 2014 at the Rotary Centre (Club House) in Tema. The theme is “Building People of Excellence”. This Barcamp was the 29th organized by the GhanaThink Foundation as it builds a network of young change makers, doers and entrepreneurs in Ghana. It’s being organized in conjunction with the Rotaract Club of Tema.

   

Had the opportunity to speed mentor with Horseman Shoes' Tonyi Senayah & Kow Essuman Esq.

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BarCamp Tema focused on sharing and educating on many tips and ways of excellence. Various presentations on this topic by Enyonam Kumahor of ThoughtWorks, as well as Emmanuel Gamor of Global Media Alliance.  As usual, Barcamp Tema will feature multiple user-generated breakout sessions about business, social entrepreneurship, technology and development, alongside topics relevant to the Greater Accra Region and beyond.

Sharing habits, tips and practices: "Excellence isn't a destination, it is a continuous journey that never ends." - Brian Tracy

Video of my presentation here: BarCamp Tema on Google Hangout

Of the many hats I wear, the most important one to me is interacting with young people and sharing our collective challenges and triumphs together. I was blessed to have "adult" conversations with my father at a very young age and my fondest memories of us are the lessons I learnt by spending time with him.
Sesamu Otinibi was a project with the Global Shapers Accra Hub and the Rotaract Club of Adentan's newly commissioned library at the Otinibi Basic School. The entire project was an opportunity to spend a school day (Wednesday March 19th) getting to know and imparting knowledge with the JSS students. It was really rewarding to see the volunteers and mentors at ease with teaching/sharing/admonishing/encouraging the students.

Big thanks you's to Aquatork mineral water, Enda Restaurant, Mpwr Show on Y 107.9 FM Golden Baobab for refreshment, media and resource sponsorships respectively. They responded when many others did not.

Esi asking the dreams and aspirations of the students

Favorite book: Computer Science

Library session

Presentation to the JSS 3 students

JSS 2 Students

JSS 1 Students

Mentors & Volunteers

Even more pictures:

I was vetted & selected into the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers Accra Hub (mouthful, I know) in the middle of last year. The group comprises of 13 other phenomenal young Ghanaian leaders working together on projects to make a positive difference.  One of the projects we've embarked on since January 2014 is the monthly Accra Discourse.

The Accra Discourse is a monthly conversation and networking event where passionate voices in Ghana connect with key drivers within sectors of leadership, business and development to have conversations that contribute to shaping the future of Ghana. Past guests include Young Global Leaders as well as enterpreneurial mavens in the country. I have learnt quite a bit and I look forward to the first Monday of every month discussions at 6:30pm at La Villa Boutique, Osu Accra.

 

The Accra Discourse January:
This is the launch of a series of monthly conversations about change/entrepreneurshipleadership and development in Ghana. January speaker: Ruben Atekpe, Executive Chairman, Merchants Company of West Africa – MECOWA Group, Ghana.

The Accra Discourse February:
This is a series of monthly conversations about change/entrepreneurship>leadership and development in Ghana. February speaker: Kofi Kwakwa is the Founder and CEO of Sagevest Holdings.

The Accra Discourse March:
March panel discussion on women's leadership featuring Estelle Akofio-Sowah the CEO of Google Ghana, Akua Nyame-Mensah, the CEO of Lamudi & Hanna Atiase, Sales Manager of Ghana Home Loans. #TheAccraDiscourse

Besides meeting progressive minded people, The Accra Discourse has been a great opportunity to chart a positive way forward& shape my little corner in the world into a better place.