17. Follow Your Intellectual Curiosity

06/14/19 • 36 min

Today I chat to the incredibly accomplished Linda Nkechinyelu Oramasionwu-Leverette. Linda is the Founder and CEO of Kupanda Capital, a private equity firm that focuses on investing in Pan African companies across all sectors. She's invested in some really cool companies, including Mavin Records, Don Jazzy’s record label. Linda is VERY passionate about development on the continent, and is also very down to earth despite her huge success. Linda grew up in Manitoba Canada, but was firmly grounded in Igbo culture. She joined the Umunna Igbo Association as a child and learned to celebrate the culture, even though she grew up outside Nigeria. As a child of first generation immigrants, Linda learned from her parents a level of entrepreneurship and resilience that served her very well. Linda moved to the U.S a decade ago and fell in love with the "Audacity of the American Dream." Every day is different for Linda and in her words there is “No Dulling” We talk about the importance of following good people and how people matter in business and in life. Listen to this episode to discover what Linda means, when she says to be audacious and to follow your intellectual curiosity.

Linda recommends the following books:

1. Americanah - Chimamanda Adichie

2. Speak no evil - Uzodinma Iweala

3. David and Goliath - Malcolm Gladwell

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Linda recommends the following books:

1. Americanah - Chimamanda Adichie

2. Speak no evil - Uzodinma Iweala

3. David and Goliath - Malcolm Gladwell

>>>Subscribe on APPLE PODCASTS | STITCHER | GOOGLE PLAY

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16. Telling Our Own Health Stories

Today we sit down with Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola, another awe inspiring tenacious woman.

Nnenna is the founder and editor-in-chief of Radiant Health Magazine.

Her lifelong commitment to improving health outcomes for Africans began with her work as a pharmacist.

She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from Texas Tech University and her Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University.

Radiant Health is a bi-annual print and digital magazine dedicated to the African woman and her journey to wellness through health, beauty and culture.

The magazine’s mission in their own words is to tell our own health stories and inspire African women to live out their healthiest and most fulfilled life.

Nnenna has been featured in How We Made It in Africa, Voice of America, YNaija’s Leading Ladies Africa, She Leads Africa and was recently named one of 41 Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs Putting the Country on the Global Business Map by Lionesses of Africa. She was also a media panel speaker at the 24th Annual Wharton Africa Business Forum at The Wharton School.

In today’s episode we discuss the impact that her Mother had on her life, as her number one cheerleader. We talk about her fond memories of Christmas in her village of Abiriba. We also talk about the challenges of running a magazine and what keeps her going, when things get tough.

Nnenna quotes Marie Forleo, who says that "Everything is figure-out-able."

Finally we talk about the next issue of the magazine, which will be available in June.

For more information about Radiant Health Magazine, and to purchase a copy please visit the website at: http://www.radianthealthmag.com.

Instagram - @radianthealthmag

Facebook - @radianthealthmag

Twitter - @RadiantHealthNG

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18. The Importance of a Sponsor

In today’s episode we have an incredible discussion with Dr. Adaeze Enekwechi, former White House Associate Director of Health Programs.

Adaeze was born in New Jersey and went to elementary School in Nigeria.

Adaeze has experienced a highly successful career in a relatively short time. She started her career at the Congressional Budget Office, where she analyzed the federal budget and wrote about setting priorities for our future. A bit over a decade later, she went on to lead health programs at the White House Office of Management and Budget under President Obama, and worked across the entire federal health landscape.

Today she is the President of Impaq International and its subsidiaries. In addition she is a research associate professor at a University in Washington D.C.

In today’s discussion we cover a number of valuable nuggets. Adaeze talks about the importance of a sponsor. She talks about not allowing fear to dictate the direction that you take, and provides interesting insight about not being grateful in the workplace. Adaeze encourages us to figure out what makes us happy and focus on that. She believes that failure is a necessary part of success and speaks about going for it.

Adaeze recommends the following books:

1. Daring Greatly - Brene Brown

2. The Gifts of Imperfection - Brene Brown

3. Year of Yes - Shonda Rhimes

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