The Okwera Podcast

The Okwera Podcast: Trailer

Welcome to the Okwera Podcast (aka TOP)—your one-stop shop for all things related to entrepreneurship, career and skill development, health and wellness, finance, and more!
Initiated by Okwera Academy—a career accelerator focused on helping individuals build their careers through capacity building, capital provision, community, and coaching—this podcast brings you expert insights, inspiring stories, and actionable advice from community leaders and entrepreneurs who have gone on to achieve amazing things. Whether you’re looking to elevate your career, improve your business, or find inspiration, we’ve got something for you!
Hosted by Justina Kanza, Founder and Executive Director of Okwera Academy.
Tune in for on-demand knowledge from those who have made a difference in their fields and are passing their insights, tips, and wisdom down to you—because if you can see it, you can believe it and be it. Join us on the journey to elevate to the top in every area of your life!

Black Founders Network: A Community for Black Founders in Canada

In this episode, we sit down with Efosa Obano, the founder of the Black Founders Network (BFN) in Canada. Efosa shares his inspiring journey from Nigeria to Canada and his passion for entrepreneurship and innovation. We discussed the importance of community, faith, and diligence in building a successful entrepreneurial venture. Efosa also shares insights into BFN's dedicated programs that support Black entrepreneurs at different stages, and how the ecosystem for Black entrepreneurs in Canada has evolved. Stay tuned to learn about the crucial roles of community and mentorship and gain practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Similar communities for Black Entrepreneurs in Canada:
Black Founders Network
Nobellum
Black Opportunity Fund
Federation of Black Canadians
DMZ Black Innovation Program
Tribe Network
Black Entrepreneurship Alliance
Group 3737
Okwera Academy
Black North Initiative
Foundation For Black Communities
African Impact Initiative

Early Start-up Playbook: How To Go From Concept To Customer

The Okwera Podcast EP2: Navigating Early-Stage Entrepreneurship with Adeyinka Adesesan
 
In this episode, host Justina Kanza is joined by Adeyinka, also known as Yinka, to discuss building minimum viable products (MVP), problem validation, and navigating resource constraints as an early-stage entrepreneur.
Yinka shares his journey from university ventures to his current role at the Black Innovation Programs at DMZ in Canada.
The conversation delves into understanding customer problems, crafting effective solutions, pricing strategies, and the art of pivoting quickly based on market feedback.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with actionable insights and practical advice.
Connect with Yinka on LinkedIn
 
00:00 Introduction to Building Minimal Viable Products (MVPs)
00:23 Welcome to The Okwera Podcast
00:58 Meet Our Guest: Adeyinka's Entrepreneurial Journey
05:35 Understanding the Problem Before Building Solutions
09:30 The Importance of Customer Conversations
16:32 From Problem to Solution: Crafting Your Value Proposition
19:06 Pricing Strategies for Early-Stage Startups
21:55 Vanity Metrics and Early Adopters
22:18 The 10X Rule in Innovation
23:11 Differentiation and Solving Pain Points
24:31 Selling to Early Adopters
26:55 Building a Sales System
28:46 Scaling Your Sales
29:42 Navigating Resource Constraints
36:07 The Importance of Loving the Problem
37:58 The Art of the Pivot
39:43 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Mastering Grant Writing: Expert Tips and Insights with Jillisa Brown

Mastering Grant Writing: Expert Tips and Insights with Jillisa Brown
 
In this episode of The Okwera Podcast, host Justina Kanza dives deep into the essentials of grant writing and social finance with guest Jillisa Brown. Jillisa, an experienced grant writer and supporter of the BIPOC entrepreneur community, shares invaluable insights on identifying and applying for grants, creating compelling proposals, and understanding the Canadian funding landscape.
From bootstrapping and storytelling to building strong partnerships and ensuring investment readiness, this episode is packed with practical advice for entrepreneurs at every stage.
Tune in to learn how to elevate your grant applications and secure funding for your ventures.
00:00 Introduction to Bootstrapping and Grants
00:40 Welcome to The Okwera Podcast
00:54 Grant Writing Workshop and Expert Introduction
01:13 Guest Introduction: Jillisa Brown
03:13 Understanding the Grant Landscape
05:36 Defining and Applying for Grants
07:03 Finding and Evaluating Grants
09:45 Grant Writing Tips and Common Pitfalls
29:19 Investment Readiness and Bootstrapping
34:01 Final Advice and Resources
41:58 Conclusion and Audience Engagement

How to Build with Generative AI: The Future of Innovation for Founders

Unlocking the Power of AI: An Inside Look with One Cliq's Tanika McLeod Join us in this episode of The Okwera Podcast with host Justina Kanza, where we dive into the world of AI and entrepreneurship with Tanika McLeod, co-founder and Head of AI at OneCliq.
We explore the impact, and opportunity, of generative AI on startups, the importance of prompt engineering, and the transformative potential of AI in various sectors.
Tanika shares invaluable insights on building with AI, the future of generative AI, and offers practical advice for founders on how to navigate the fast-evolving tech landscape.
Whether you're an established entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode provides actionable tips and profound knowledge on leveraging AI to scale your business effectively and efficiently.
 
00:00 Welcome to the Okwera Podcast
00:13 The Power of AI for Founders 00:47
Introducing OneCliq with Tanika 03:15 Understanding Generative AI
05:37 Misconceptions and Ethical Considerations
07:59 Evaluating AI for Your Startup 15:26 Building a Gen AI Team
22:09 The Journey to OneCliq
27:56 Customer Discovery and Pivoting
32:45 Effective Customer Research Techniques
33:19 The Importance of Follow-Up Questions
33:39 Learning from Past Experiences
34:37 The Challenge of Pivoting in Startups
35:26 Iterative Product Development
35:51 The Role of Opportunities in Startup Success
36:42 The Necessity of Pivoting
36:59 Building on Past Experiences
37:52 Smart Pivoting Strategies
42:51 The Future of Generative AI
46:10 Building Ventures as Non-Technical Founders
47:54 Ethics in AI Development
49:14 Rapid Fire Questions
53:13 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
57:54 The Importance of Community and Networks
58:55 Conclusion and Social Media Plugs