Limitless Africa

"Talent is global but opportunity sadly isn't."This week on the Limitless Africa podcast, we look at something young Africans care about:  work! How work is changing, how you can get hired, how you can upskill, and what kind of work is out there - in fact these days more and more jobs can be done remotely, parrticularly in tech. For us, for young Africans, this shift matters. It allows talent from Lagos to Nairobi and Johannesburg (that’s me!) to work for companies based in California or New York or wherever really without leaving home. Andela is an American company doing just that - it’s a talent marketplace that trains and connects technologists from the continent and other emerging markets with leading companies around the world. It means American tech companies are getting high quality tech talent and Africans are sharing in the prosperity of Silicon Valley. We speak to Koffi Kelvin, who trained with Andela, and Nicola Lyons, the company’s talent lead.Plus: How Koffi helped his family🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:28 The Andela mission6:20 Why character matters more than skills10:14 The importance of AI skills14:15 Working remote17:59 Are Africans cheap labour?23:03 How to stand apart💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"I'm able to be present in the lives of the people who matter to me""Price isn't really what Andela competes on with our global North American clients. It's the skills.""I feel like it's a huge plus for the companies which I get to work in to get my perspective as an African"🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?"How do you merge technology with human potential?" - the tech platform helping independent retailers https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-do-you-merge-technology-with-human-potential/“African AI solutions are not being talked about” - Alex Tsado, the AI architect https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/african-homegrown-ai-solutions-are-not-being-talked-about/Can Africa and America win the AI race? https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/why-america-is-africas-best-partner-in-the-ai-race/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about tech in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICALimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"I was able to take my younger brother through university"Young Africans care about work because work is now the clearest route to mobility. In this episode of Limitless Africa, Claude Grunitzky explores how American tech platforms are transforming opportunity across the continent through remote work, AI upskilling, and online networking.Nicola Lyons explains how Andela evolved from a Lagos founded fellowship into an AI native data and services company supporting global enterprises. Koffi Kelvin, an engineer trained through Andela, describes how remote work makes it possible to contribute to companies like GitHub from Nairobi while earning above local market rates. Preston Ideh argues that Africa must not become only a consumer of AI tools and should move earlier in the value chain by building talent and products. Temi Badru closes with practical LinkedIn advice: share value, connect like a human, and stay consistent.Plus: The most annoying habit on LinkedIn🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15 minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interviews with people unlocking Africa’s limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review. It helps more people find the showShare with someone interested in tech in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICALimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"We ultimately are trying to level the playing field for independent brands to be able to sell into big major retailers."On this episode of Limitless Africa, we’re looking at how African businesses can sell to US customers. If you’re a homeware brand in Togo, or a clean beauty maker in South Africa or a jewelry manufacturer in Kenya, how can you get your product to American customers, those consumers shopping on Target, Etsy or Bloomingdale's? And it’s not a one-way street: those American retailers are also looking to stock amazing African homeware, accessories, lotions and potions - they are crying out for high quality products that are unique, and will delight their customers.That’s where amazing entrepreneurs like Ella Pienovich come in. She’s the co-founder behind PoweredByPeople, a multi-channel distribution platform that connects independent brands to over 100 million customers across more than 200 leading online retailers & marketplaces. Ella is opening up huge new markets, and offering digital innovation to African entrepreneurs.Plus: How clean beauty is the next trend.🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:35 Her first business4:13 Tech-powered humans5:52 The power of drop shipping11:51 Building a business in Kenya15:19 How to raise $20m18:49 Transparency and compliance22:55 The trends in retail25:52 The power of thinking big💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"Transparency is part of the conversation, but the real shift I'm seeing is around compliance.""That's my own little secret ambition is to replace mass produced product in the retail market."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Why an African luxury shoe brand is headquartered in the U.S. https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/why-an-african-luxury-shoe-brand-is-headquartered-in-the-u-s/How hip hop can build empires https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-hip-hop-can-build-a-business-empire/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about creativity in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICALimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"I became extremely fascinated with Mansa Musa's story."Why would an African-founded luxury brand choose to build its headquarters in the United States?In this episode of Limitless Africa, host Claude Grunitzky speaks with Armando Cabral, founder of Armando Cabral Footwear, who was born in Guinea-Bissau and now runs his brand from New York. Cabral explains how his African heritage shapes his design philosophy, why he describes himself as a “cultural design activist,” and how the pandemic pushed him to research West African history more deeply, including the Mali Empire and Mansa Musa.Cabral also breaks down the practical business logic behind locating in the U.S. market: access to entrepreneurial energy, stronger retail networks, and an ecosystem that responds to ambition with enthusiasm rather than skepticism. He shares what it took to land major American retail partnerships, including Bloomingdale’s, and how collaborations with brands like Allen Edmonds validated the global appetite for authentic African storytelling paired with uncompromising quality.Finally, the episode confronts a hard question: why not manufacture in Africa today? Cabral offers an unglamorous but important answer about infrastructure, expertise, and the realities of scaling craft at luxury standards, while still articulating a long-term vision of expanding retail presence across the African continent.Plus: Three tips for entrepreneurs🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:12 From model to cultural design activist2:36 Why Mansa Musa inspired a fashion label4:49 Expansion in Africa5:42 U.S. H.Q7:30 The African consumer9:19 Manfacturing in Africa10:52 Getting Bloomingdale's💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"In order to know where you're going, you need to know where you come from.""African heritage is very unique.""It's going to be tough, but eventually you will succeed. "🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15 minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interviews with people unlocking Africa’s limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?"If there is something that Africa can learn from America, it's that abundance mindset." - Olugbenga Ogunbowale https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/if-there-is-something-that-africa-can-learn-from-america-its-that-abundance-mindset/"Sometimes to build Africa, you have to leave Africa" https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/sometimes-to-build-africa-you-have-to-leave-africa/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review. It helps more people find the showShare with someone interested in Africa’s creative industries🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICALimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"One thing that I really was not as aware of as perhaps I should have been, was the deep and abiding Congolese sense of having a long term relationship with the United States."Ambassador Tamlyn has spent much of her career working across Africa, from Sudan and the Central African Republic to Mozambique, Chad, and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The DRC has Africa’s fourth-largest population at around 112 million.  Yet it remains one of its poorest countries and that's despite being the world’s biggest producer of cobalt. Vast mineral wealth has in part fuelled a two-decade-long conflict in the east, one the United States has been trying to end. Could this be a breakthrough for a new foreign policy approach known as 'commercial diplomacy'? I spoke to one of Washington’s most experienced ambassadors.  Plus: Why the US needs to care about Congo🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:2:41 The shared DNA between Congo and the USA4:08 Congo's potential7:44 The American company boosting connectivity in Congo9:10 The competing interests in South Kivu14:07 Can business bring peace?16:06 Battling corruption18:23 The Congolese consumer💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"The Congolese are very proud of the Ali - Foreman fight.""They're consumers of American goods, American services, American education, American sports activities.""Our goal through encouraging better government, governance, transparent governance, accountability is to try to encourage the government to hold all investors, all economic partners, to the same standard, the standards of the laws of the country."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?“Foreign aid has fuelled corruption, dependence, weak governance” Maya Horgan Famodu doesn't hold back https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/foreign-aid-has-fuelled-corruption-dependence-weak-governance/The next generation of mines bringing value to Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/limitless/the-next-generation-of-mines-bringing-value-to-africa/Is venture capital the right choice for African start-ups? https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/is-venture-capital-the-right-choice-for-african-start-ups/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about industry in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICALimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"If we stop mining, we stop our way of life."The Lobito Corridor is more than just a railway; it is a strategic lifeline connecting the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola to the mineral rich Copperbelt in the DRC and Zambia. In this episode, host Claude Grunitzky sits down with explorer and presenter Dwayne Fields and Sam Williams, Head of Communications at Africell, to discuss the revival of this historic infrastructure. We explore why the U.S. government is mobilizing private capital to secure access to critical minerals like copper and rare earths, which are essential for the global economy. From Dwayne’s personal genetic journey back to his ancestral roots in the Copperbelt to Africell’s mission to digitize the corridor, this episode examines the intersection of high stakes geopolitics and the human stories of the communities on the ground. Can large scale mining truly benefit ordinary Africans? We look at the risks of exploitation and environmental damage versus the potential for jobs, connectivity, and local prosperity.Plus: why a telecommunications company is making a documentary🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:2:19 How to be an explorer3:33 Why Africa matters for rare earths3:57 The Lobito Corridor7:01 How it affects the little person11:33 How communities benefit12:33 How a telecommunications company got involved💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"In truth, I benefit from mining.""We're all touched by what happens right there in Africa."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15 minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interviews with people unlocking Africa’s limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?The next generation of mines bringing value to Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/limitless/the-next-generation-of-mines-bringing-value-to-africa/“Africa has an opportunity to rise as an industrial superpower.” https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/africa-has-an-opportunity-over-the-next-generation-to-rise-as-an-industrial-superpower/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review. It helps more people find the showShare with someone interested in Africa’s industrial future🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICALimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"Ambition is often loud and fast"Limitless Africa host Claude Grunitzky is in the hot seat this episode. Claude has founded, built and sold businesses you will have heard of - he founded Trace, a global hip hop magazine. Trace eventually became the TV channel and he then raised $15million in funding from the investment bank Goldman Sachs in 2003. Now he spends his time as an investor and teaching entrepreneurship in his home country of Togo and across the continent. In this episode Claude will be talking about what Africans can learn from the American mindset - and what he learnt from the American mindset, he built Trace in the US after all.Plus: What permissionless ambition means🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:38 Trace's origin story8:08 From Alicia Keys to Rihanna12:11 Three principles for success17:04 The story of Dick Parsons19:46 The African entrepreneur24:37 Permissionless ambition26:07 Why Africans need to ask for permission less💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:“Failure wasn’t the opposite of success. It was the tuition that I paid.”"It's hard like solving a puzzle and it's hard like lifting weights.""We Africans have very strong values and we have really strong identities, but we do not support each other as much as we should."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?What can African entrepreneurs learn from the American mindset? https://trueafrica.co/article/limitless/what-can-africans-learn-from-the-american-mindset/How the American mindset built Africa's most funded crypto platform https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/i-got-exactly-what-i-wanted-which-was-my-dms-full-of-nigerian-men/"Vision without execution is hallucination" - Adam Grant on the skills that African entrepreneurs need to succeed https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/adam-grant-on-the-skills-that-african-entrepreneurs-need-to-succeed/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about entrepreneurship in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICALimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

"Every Clark Kent can become Superman, every Diana Price can become Wonder Woman."The American mindset has produced some of the greatest entrepreneurs the world has ever seen… from Henry Ford to Oprah Winfrey. What can Africans learn from their success? Our host Claude Grunitzky talks to entrepreneurs from all over the continent.Plus: Why Ubuntu is global🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:3:24 Silicon Valley, Mecca for entrepreneurs4:51 The can-do attitude7:36 The trait Americans and Africans share9:30 Vintani Nafassi presents Tumpete 10:13 Why Francophone Africa is welcoming the USA11:59 Ubuntu is global💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"The U.S. has also attracted some of the best talent globally.""Silicon Valley has the most concentration of people that want to make a difference in the world and have a global impact.""You want to see resilience, go to Nigeria."🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15 minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interviews with people unlocking Africa’s limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?Adam Grant on the skills African entrepreneurs need to succeed https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/adam-grant-on-the-skills-that-african-entrepreneurs-need-to-succeed/How to make money from your creativity in Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-can-african-creatives-make-money-from-their-art/How I made it: the entrepreneur bringing refrigeration to Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/how-i-made-it-the-entrepreneur-bringing-refrigeration-to-africa/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review. It helps more people find the showShare with someone interested in entrepreneurship in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICAVintani Nafassi presents Tumpete https://vintaninafassi.com/Limitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.

“Africa has an opportunity over the next half a generation to really rise as an industrial superpower.”Ben Kincaid spent the first half of his career as a US diplomat. Much of his time was spent in Africa, specializing in national security issues. Today, and that's why we're so keen to speak with him, he's the CEO of ReElement Technologies Africa, One of their missions is to help African nations process their rare minerals on the continent so they don't simply export them. Their project should create more jobs and keep value in Africa. They've just secured a South African investment firm as an anchor investor in their private capital raise worth $150 million dollars. Plus: How the low-chemical, energy-efficient refining technology works🌟 IN THIS EPISODE:1:45 Why rare earth minerals matters4:36 How the tech works12:29 The status-quo15:26 Owning the value chain20:29 From diplomat to entrepreneur26:17 Why the DRC symbolizes hope💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:"The objective is audacious. The objective is historic" "Africa is a great friend to the United States but it's also a neutral party based off of where it sits""Once you're able to process these minerals into manufacturing grade material, you're going to invite more manufacturers to come to Africa"🌍 ABOUT LIMITLESS AFRICAThe podcast that asks how Africans and Americans can work together for shared prosperityEvery Monday: 15-minute episodes that dive into an issue that matters to AfricansEvery Thursday: extended interview with someone unlocking Africa's limitless potential➕ WANT MORE?“Foreign aid has fuelled corruption, dependence, weak governance” Maya Horgan Famodu doesn't hold back https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/foreign-aid-has-fuelled-corruption-dependence-weak-governance/The next generation of mines bringing value to Africa https://trueafrica.co/article/limitless/the-next-generation-of-mines-bringing-value-to-africa/Is venture capital the right choice for African start-ups? https://trueafrica.co/article/podcast/is-venture-capital-the-right-choice-for-african-start-ups/💗 LOVE LIMITLESS AFRICA?Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5⭐ review – it helps get the word outShare with someone passionate about industry in Africa🚀 FOLLOW LIMITLESS AFRICAInstagram: @_trueafricaWebsite: https://trueafrica.co/Substack: https://limitlessafrica.substack.com/🤝 FRIENDS OF LIMITLESS AFRICALimitless Africa is sponsored by the US Department of State and the Seenfire Foundation.