Founders Connect – Details, episodes & analysis

Is it possible to move from the streets of Benin City to the most prestigious law firms on Wall Street? In this episode of Founders Connect, Peace Itimi sits down with Destiny Ogedegbe, popularly known as "Mr. Possible." This isn't just a career interview; it is a masterclass in the psychology of excellence, the necessity of grit, and the transformative power of imagination. Destiny’s trajectory from being rolled to school in a wheelbarrow to closing high-stakes M&A deals in New York serves as a blueprint for anyone who feels limited by their current environment.Despite the challenges of his upbringing, including hawking food with his mother and working on cassava farms, Destiny maintained a standard of excellence that saw him finish at the top of his class from KG to his final year at the University of Benin (UniBen).In this video, we explore:- The Benin Years: Growing up with an intellectual father who taught Shakespeare and the Periodic Table at home, and the street-gymnastics and football that built his social grit.- The Academic Streak: The discipline required to earn a First Class at UniBen and the Nigerian Law School.- The Harvard Transition: What it feels like to move from a "survivalist" mindset in Nigeria to the intellectual freedom of Harvard Law School.- The Wall Street Reality: The high-energy, high-complexity world of M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) and why speed is the ultimate currency.Connect with Destiny:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundersconnectshow/Connect with us:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundersconnectshow/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersconnect_X: https://www.x.com/thefcshow_

In Nigeria’s thriving tech ecosystem, we often celebrate founders and engineers - the builders, the innovators, the faces on the covers. But behind every viral campaign, every trusted brand, and every startup that broke through the noise, there’s a different kind of builder: the marketer.Unsung is a raw and reflective documentary exploring how marketers shape perception, drive growth, and create culture in Nigeria’s fast-growing tech space. These are the storytellers who translate technology into emotion — who connect founders’ vision with the everyday realities of users.This film dives deep into their world. It’s about the brand strategists, growth marketers, content creators, community managers, designers, and performance leads who make sure the products we talk about actually reach us. From traditional media to digital-first marketing, we trace how storytelling, creativity, and data have evolved to define the Nigerian tech identity.But Unsung doesn’t shy away from the tough parts. It uncovers the struggles marketers face in a product-driven industry - being undervalued, underfunded, and often the first to be let go when budgets shrink. It reveals the fight to prove marketing’s worth beyond vanity metrics and to claim a seat at the table where business strategy is shaped.These voices - from industry veterans to emerging talents - speak honestly about the burnout, blurred roles, and pressure to constantly deliver results. Yet through it all, they remind us why marketing is not just about selling; it’s about storytelling, empathy, and connection.Featured voices include Feranmi Ajetumobi, Joshua Chibueze, Bukayo Ewuoso, Tochy Emereole, Ama Udofa, Izzie Ekong, Tega Gabriel, Grillo Adebiyi, Mojisola Fagbohungbe, and Ore Badmus. Together, they share what it truly takes to build brand love, loyalty, and trust in an ecosystem obsessed with code and capital.This is more than a marketing story. It’s a story about being seen, being valued, and finding meaning in work that often goes unnoticed.Sponsored: Get personal or business loans, invest, earn, lend, or borrow from friends, pay bills, and transfer money in Nigeria. Download the app today: https://sycamore.ng/Timestamp:00:44 - Intro03:06 - What marketing really is and why It matters18:45 - How great marketers actually work40:27 - Do all marketers wear multiple hats?1:02:12 - Seeing Marketing as a cost centre1:07:24 - The urge to quit as a marketer1:11:21 - What success looks like for a Nigerian marketer in 5 years1:23:40 - Outro#Unsung #FoundersConnect #NigeriaTech #MarketingInTech #documentary Consequence - Wonders by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode is a must-watch for content creators, aspiring creators, and entrepreneurs looking to grow their audience and build a sustainable content business. In this episode of Creators Jam, Peace Itimi and Caleb Maru dive into the process of building a loyal audience—sharing their experiences, strategies, and insights on what really works.Don't forget to subscribe, leave a comment and share.

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong shares his journey from his love for science to founding 54gene, a company that set out to revolutionize Africa’s genomics industry. He opens up about the company’s mission, key milestones, impact during COVID-19, and the shocking truth behind the hostile takeover that led to its downfall. Now, he’s building again with Syndicate Bio. This is a founder’s story of grit, resilience,, and lessons every entrepreneur should know.

In this Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, Iyin Aboyeji takes on some of the most pressing questions from attendees at the Builders Summit in Lagos. He dives into topics like navigating government policies, balancing a 9-5 job while building a startup, key considerations when choosing a co-founder, and much more. This session is filled with valuable insights you won't want to miss. If you enjoy the video, be sure to like, leave a comment, subscribe, and share with others.

In this #FoundersConnect Live in London segment with Olugbeminiyi Idowu, Founder and Managing Director of Talking Drum Communications, talks to us about the importance of effective storytelling for your brand. Olugbeminiyi is a technology PR and comms specialist, with vast experience in leading and delivering successful media campaigns for a wide range of companies - from established global players to Africa-focused start-ups.

In this power-packed panel session, Bunmi Akinyemiju of Greenhouse Capital Africa and Lexi Novitske of Norrsken22, share insights on everything founders need to know about securing funding, pitching with confidence, and avoiding costly mistakes. They shared key factors investors look for before writing that check, the red flags that instantly turn investors away (and how to avoid them), strategies to stand out from the crowd and make investors see your potential and many more. Whether you’re gearing up for a seed round, Series A, or just want to sharpen your fundraising skills, this session is packed with invaluable insights to help you secure the capital you need to grow. Knowing what to avoid can be just as powerful as knowing what to do. Listen and learn the do’s AND don’ts of successful fundraising.

In this episode, we sit down with Caleb Maru, the visionary founder of Tech Safari, to uncover how he transformed his media startup into a thriving company generating $49,000 in monthly revenue in just 18months. Caleb shares some of the strategies that fueled Tech Safari's rapid growth. Don’t miss this inspiring story of innovation and determination! Read more about Tech Safari here: https://www.techsafari.io/ 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe to this channel and click the notification bell to catch future episodes of How I

In this episode, Oiza Sadiq shares her inspiring corporate career journey, detailing how she progressed from a local role to a regional position and ultimately a global role at Google, all within just four years. Oiza walks us through the exact steps she took, the strategies that helped her stand out, and the critical skills she had to learn to succeed at each stage. Whether you're early in your career, transitioning between roles, or aiming to go global, there’s a lot to learn from her experiences. Don't forget to like this podcast, leave a comment, share and most importantly, subscribe. Follow How I on Instagram for more updates: https://www.instagram.com/howitheseries

In this latest Founders Connect episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Jessica Hope, the "Queen of African Tech." In this engaging conversation, Jessica shares her personal and professional experiences, from her upbringing in the UK to her entrepreneurial journey with Wimbart. Discover how she transitioned from a temporary role at the Natural History Museum in the UK to leading PR efforts at the Iroko and ultimately co-founding her own agency focused on African tech. Jessica reflects on the challenges of balancing family and business, the importance of celebrating team successes, and the lessons learned along the way. Whether you're interested in PR, entrepreneurship, or the vibrant African tech scene, this video is packed with valuable insights and inspiration!