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22/08/2018 22/08/2018

Evelyne Inès Ntonga on giving HOPE to blood supply in Senegal

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Evelyne Inès Ntonga is a Cameroonian entrepreneur, and a Design Engineer in the telecommunications sector.In 2016, Evelyn created and launched HOPE, the first digital platform in Senegal that allows blood banks and other healthcare facilities to manage blood stocks, communicate permanently and interactively with blood donors, and raise awareness about the importance of blood donation.Evelyne recently received the Observatory Award for eHealth in the countries of the South awarded by the Pierre Fabre Foundation.

What is it like to be a female engineer in Cameroon?

"In many parts of Cameroon, women are still considered as the property of men. Due to the lack of education and the weight of traditions/customs, they undergo certain situations and sometimes are not consulted for certain decisions involving themselves or their families.We observe that times have changed and the skills acquired by women who have braved the engineering curriculum, are not questioned. Moreover, we notice that responsible positions are entrusted to them and they carry out their missions properly.I can quote as an example, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications of Cameroon who is a woman, as well as the Chief Executive Officer of the Aeronautical Authority."

Tell us about your project HOPE, and what inspired this.

"The project HOPE was created in Senegal and is the fruit of a collaboration with a friend, Jean Luc Francisco Semedo.During our 4^th academic year in 2015, and regarding the blood shortage faced by the National Blood Transfusion Center in Dakar, we decided to bring a solution to this problem thanks to the use of Information Technologies and Communication, but especially by taking into account realities of the country.Indeed, according to the World Health Organization, every minute in the world, a woman dies while giving birth for causes related to lack of blood. Furthermore in Senegal (2015), only 0.45 % of the population gave blood, which is very insufficient to meet the needs for blood products and reach a self-sufficiency as advocated by WHO. Nevertheless, we live in a world of connected people, with a mobile penetration rate that has exceeded 100 % in Senegal and in many African countries.The solution we have found is to create a blood donor’s network, interconnected via mobile and on which blood banks should lean on to improve their communication with populations, to raise awareness and boost the number of voluntary blood donations to save lives.

"HOPE is the first digital platform in Senegal that allows blood banks to manage their structure and increase their blood supply, thanks to a permanent and interactive communication with blood donors. This is done by sending SMS to thank the donor after a blood donation, sending donation reminders 3 or 4 months later, sending emergency alert SMS and vocal calls in local languages, and providing a mobile application for blood donors while having a strong presence on social media."

We officially launched the project in 2016, with a pilot phase of 7 months at the National Blood Transfusion Center in Dakar. During this period, we succeeded in tripling the blood donations in the center. Approximately 10,900 SMS were sent to blood donors and about 30,000 people were reached across our different platforms.Through our work, we have received national and international recognitions including:- Winner of the Digital Innovation Award in Dakar, in 2015 (by NGO Reach for Change and Tigo)- Winner of Falling Walls Lab Dakar in 2016 (by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation)- Winner of the Global South E-health Observatory Award (by Pierre Fabre Foundation).This year, we have launched a second pilot, with the blood bank of the regional hospital of Thies, a region of Senegal which struggles to meet the high demand of blood products. The results of this pilot are already very satisfactory, and we have great hope to achieve our objectives."

Are there enough blood centres in Cameroon as compared to Senegal?

"The National Blood Transfusion policy in Cameroon is still young and in full implementation. The construction of a National Blood Transfusion Center in Yaounde has been announced, which will include several regional centers, a blood treatment establishment, and the application of a national strategic plan of blood transfusion over the period 2015-2020.Many hospitals have their own blood banks to meet the clinical needs of patients. Currently, about 84,000 blood bags are perceived per year, and the gap between the supply and demand of blood products is still very important in Cameroon. However, concrete actions are being taken to boost the blood transfusion activity of the country and guarantee the safety of blood products for patients.In Senegal, however, there is a National Blood Transfusion Center in Dakar, responsible for the supply of secure blood products to hospitals. To support its action, there are nearly 20 regional centers throughout the country. Thanks to this, approximately 95,000 blood bags are collected annually."

What is the next step for HOPE?

"After two very successful pilot phases at the National Blood Transfusion Center in Dakar and the regional hospital of Thies in Senegal, the next step for HOPE is the official deployment of the solution in all blood banks in Senegal and in many African countries that face the same difficulties to reach self-sufficiency with blood products. Particularly in Cameroon, Mali, Mauritania, Togo, etc.This important step for HOPE depends on the lifting of the constraints that we encountered during the last pilot phases, mainly the appropriation of the platform by the Ministry of Health which is the guardianship of the health structures that we want to help.In addition, we are looking for partners to support us in the implementation of our action plan on the continental and international scale, so that no more patients die because of the lack of blood."

What do you see yourself doing in the next 10 years?

"HOPE is an innovation that could certainly reach many people and demographics. For this to happen, it will be necessary:- to have the appropriation of the platform by the Ministries of Health of different countries- to build innovative and strategic partnerships- to have material and financial resources to expand the blood donors network through the effective animation of this platform by a dynamic and creative teamWe believe in the high potential of our project to fight against mortality rates due to the lack of blood supply. We also believe in the achievement of self-sufficiency with blood products in many countries."[/spb_text_block]

10/08/2018 10/08/2018

Levers in Heels in the Canary Islands

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Our Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Larisa Bowen-Dodoo, was invited to the II Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Development Conference in Gran Canaria, where she sat with Cristina Manzano, Director & Editor-in-Chief at esglobal and Canarian women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), to talk about Levers in Heels, and its mission to inspire the next generation of African female STEM leaders.This conference was part of a Fulbright Specialist Program on entrepreneurship and innovation put together by the Canarian Association of Startups, Technology-Based Companies and Angel Investors (EMERGE), in partnership with Casa África - which forms part of the Canary Islands' government's foreign policy as a public and economic diplomacy tool.

"We discussed the role and visibility of women in STEM and entrepreneurship, the significance of inter-generational mentorship, and the need for women, particularly in STEM, to be more present and vocal now, more than ever. As we continue on this journey, I am more than hopeful that Levers in Heels' mission is not in vain."

Levers in Heels is working to build a bridge between African and Canarian women in STEM, to exchange synergies. Find out more about Levers in Heels, and how you can support here.[/spb_text_block]

24/07/2018 24/07/2018

Dr. Selina Ama Saah, a Chemistry Lecturer Engaged in Groundbreaking Research

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Dr. Selina Ama Saah is a lecturer at the Chemistry Department at the University of Energy and Natural Resources. Her research in substituting silicon in solar cells with lead chalcogenide semiconductors to reduce their cost and size, has the potential to change how solar energy can be accessed and harnessed in Africa. I caught up with her for an interview concerning her views on STEM and her research in particular:

What is your general opinion on STEM education in Ghana?

"In Ghana, the sciences have been left for the guys with the idea that it is difficult and a woman cannot pursue it. So you find most women in the arts, with very few in the sciences. We need to encourage them. We also need to tell them it is doable. Because when you get to the lab, you realise that the females are more careful."

She adds that women actually practice science at home whether they know it or not:

"Cooking...putting salt into food. Salt is sodium chloride. It is all science. But because we don’t know, we think it is difficult. More vigorous advocacy would go a long way."

How do you suggest we get more females involved in STEM?

"With a little funding, we can start boot camps with the aim to encourage women to pursue the sciences."

Dr. Selina Saah spoke of how accomplished women in academia could serve as mentors to the young and growing ones in their departments, by first identifying their interests and persistently encouraging them. She explained the need to feed them with information on numerous donor agencies supporting women to further their studies in higher education.

"Most women don’t continue because of financial difficulties. They say to themselves, "if there is no money, why don’t I go and marry?" But once they get to know there are agencies out there that are ready to support them, I am sure they will consider these options."

She recounted her own experience:

"I felt like I was dreaming during my first time in Chemistry class, in the university. In secondary school, we had more emphasis on inorganic chemistry and very little study on organic chemistry. So I called my dad, who was my best friend. We talked about everything, and I mentioned my difficulty to him. The following week, he bought me books on organic chemistry."

What is your research on solar cells about?

"Silicon is expensive because of its high demand worldwide. The fact alone that it has to be imported in Ghana means the solar panels in which they are used in are high priced. Also, the solar panels’ bulky nature requires experts for installations."

The main aim of Dr. Saah’s research was to find alternative materials to silicon. She discovered that lead chalcogenide semi conductors serve as viable alternative materials as lead chalcogenide is readily available in the earth’s crust and less expensive. She is 60% through with this research, and has succeeded in determining two major components to these semiconductors; the absorber and the conjugated polymer (which are commercially available). She is yet to complete a solar cell by combining the lead substitute and the conjugated polymer.She also intends to place the solar cells on plastic substrates with an integrated circuit.

"The aim is also to make the solar cell more available in "sticker form". Assuming you have a phone, the cell could be a sticker you could place at the back of your device, charging while you take a walk with an integrated circuit wireless feature."

Dr. Selina Ama Saah is currently seeking collaborators to complete her research, and also commercialise this innovation of solar cells production in Ghana.[/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]

About the author

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03/07/2018 03/07/2018

Lucy Quist; The Journey of a Focused Woman

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Lucy Quist, formerly the CEO of multinational telecom company, AIRTEL GHANA, is the obvious definition of “women empowerment”, while significantly portraying success in an African woman’s profession.She set several records, won numerous awards and was cited amongst Africa’s most influential feminine figures. The tale behind the evolution of this successful woman is the subject of my article, while educating is its prime purpose. Let’s get to know the story of the pragmatic woman.Lucy Quist popularly known for being the first woman CEO in the Ghanaian telecommunication industry, was born in 1974 in London. She spent her early years both in Europe and Africa. She studied in Wesley Girl’s High School in Cape Coast and attended sixth form at Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School, both in Accra, Ghana. She went on to study at the University of East London and graduated with a degree in Electrical and Electronic engineering.She debuted work as an engineer at Ford Motor Company. In an interview in March 2017, she spoke of the obstacles faced while trying to become an engineer. She identified hers as the inability to go as far as she wished at the time she expected it. However, she exudes determination and patience as she depicts how she eventually overcame that.

“Every time an engineer showed up to fix the machine, I thought that should be me.”

At that time she was just a regular factory worker who aspired to become an engineer. She talked about being prepared to grab opportunities. These opportunities eventually lead her to finally become an engineer.She later on joined the Royal Bank of Scotland. She then moved on to work at Millicom and Vodafone. This could be observed as a significant transition from her initial engineering career. However, in that same interview she spoke about wishing to “lead business after becoming a fully-fledged technical engineer”. She also spoke about the evident changes that occurred within her professional prospects, and the way she estimated the scope of that newfound goal.

“When you have an ambition and you cannot immediately picture how you can achieve it, you have to understand or evaluate the steps between where you are and where you want to get to.”

Consequently, she became the CEO of Airtel Ghana and the first woman CEO in the Ghanaian telecommunication industry. By setting this record, she became a pillar on which Ghanaian and African women as a whole can find inspiration and a role model.Following that milestone she laid, she ensued an educational project called “Evolve With STEM”. She intimately believes everything is laid on STEM. Thus, she encourages African youth to pursue an education with solid STEM foundations.She actively campaigns, has educated and is a mentor for a certain number of young Ghanaians wishing to pursue their education. There is necessity to seek a model that is nearer, relatable as well as finding knowledge in her story and hope in her tale. This is because her journey shows us that achieving goals can be certain as long as the driving forces are greater than the resistive ones.[/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]

About the author

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11/06/2018 11/06/2018

How Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings is championing women's and children’s rights through general practice, sanitation and politics in Ghana

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings is a medical doctor, and a member of parliament for the Klottey-Korley constituency in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Conflict, Peace and Security.She has led various initiatives championing women's and children’s rights, and improving sanitation in Ghana – initiatives she is very passionate about.Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings is the eldest daughter of the first President under the 4th Republic of Ghana – Jerry John Rawlings, and former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

When did you realise you had an interest to go into medicine, and why?

"That must have been in primary school. I always had a First Aid Kit. I was always looking for someone who was hurt so I could put a plaster or bandage on their arm or leg. I just always had that interest, and I think it never went away. I liked the idea of people feeling and getting well. Of course, there is the real aspect of that when you get into the job. There are always a few sad stories that you have to deal with all the time. But I'd say the passion for wellness started, I think, when I was quite young in primary school."

Describe a time during your education in medical school that you really enjoyed.

"I'd describe these in two parts. The first part of it would have been when we started our Anatomy course in the dissection room. It got me thinking, "this is actually a real human body and you're actually taking it apart and learning about its different layers". I found that interesting because I literally had to go through the whole human body – from the head down to the toes, but not in that order specifically.The other part I enjoyed a lot was the practical aspect of medicine, especially in surgery. I often joined surgeons in operating theatres, and that for me was another interesting, and humbling experience. You'd have a human body opened up on the table with your gloved hands inside a body cavity. You can feel the person is warm. You know they are alive and you’re thinking, "my goodness, this is someone who's alive on this table, and we are here making a difference." You just hope, having done all you can, the person will wake up again. It is a combination of things where you know that your intervention is making a difference. But you also know that you can't determine whether the person will actually live or die. There's that humbling aspect of it. And personally, it has reinforced my belief in God, because you have to believe in a higher being when you see all the different processes that occur in the human body, and the miracle of how things do not go wrong as often as they could – whether it is from the stage of conception and how the body eventually differentiates into its different parts. Or how if one chemical is not produced at one stage in the embryological development of the foetus, the result is webbed fingers or even how a fault in one small gene results in severe anomalies in development or even in diseases. It is hard to not believe in a Creator when you know everything that could possibly go wrong and the fact that there are 7 billion+ people on this planet who've actually survived conception, gestation and birth."

Why did you decide to go into politics? And what does it feel like to be a Ghanaian woman in politics?

"I suppose it was something that happened out of a desire to just support and empower communities. I grew up in a family that was political. I was born into it. But it was not an incentive.I saw the negative aspect of it. There were times when my siblings and I actually had a lot of issues with a few of our teachers because they had issues with our parents and took it out on us. We also had situations where other students in school just didn't like us. And it wasn't for something that we did or didn't do. It was because of our parents. Whenever we did something, it wasn’t simply about just "us". It was about child of 'so and so'. So I did get to see a lot of the negative aspects of this.Politics wasn't something that I aspired to do. It turned out to be a path I found myself on as I moved into environmental advocacy.The June 3rd 2015 flood disaster in Accra, Ghana, was really the thing that actively got me involved in environmental advocacy. At the time that the disaster occurred, I was actually on my way to a conference in Brussels, where I was to do a presentation on environmental issues in Africa. I thought to myself, "why am I travelling abroad to discuss issues in Africa, when there is a real crisis occurring right here in Ghana?" I decided to stay and help in any way I could. This is how this whole journey started. Not with the intention of necessarily going into politics, but to make a difference.One of my frustrations when I was working in General Practice was the fact that I kept seeing the tail end of problems for which, if some intervention had occurred a bit earlier on (in terms of how people perceive the link between themselves and their environment and health), perhaps the outcomes would have been different. This was another thing that sort of influenced my decision, because it was an opportunity to, perhaps, use my experiences and what I had observed in primary healthcare to help and empower communities.What does it feel like to be a woman in politics in Ghana? It is not easy. We live in a culture where there hasn’t been enough of a paradigm shift with regards to the role of women – which is unfortunate because traditionally, in pre-colonial times, and in many of our communities, the woman's role was very central. In some cases, if you check on the history of some of our ethnic groups, you'd actually find that the leaders in a lot of our communities were the women. During these times, the instinct was to always protect the identities of the real leaders. As colonialism became established, we had a situation where the status quo got turned on its head in some of the communities where the women had a more influential role, because there was this whole concept of "if you can distort the structure of society then you can rule it." I think this played a huge role in where we find ourselves today, and why it is so difficult to be a woman in any field of influence in Ghana. If a man takes a position on something and he's strong and passionate about it, it is good. But if a woman does, she is rude or arrogant. This is not encouraging, but someone has to do it. It is challenging, but it can be rewarding.I would like to believe that I have a slightly different approach. There are certain things I would think about or be better suited to do because I am a woman and a mother. So instinctively when I go into a community, there are certain things I take notice of. Instinctively, there are some things that would just come to me. And this is not a political thing. If you can develop tough skin, and try not to let the negativity break you down, you will be fine.When men take on a position, whether it is in politics or a public role, and they mess up, it is just about their performance in that role. On the other hand, when a woman sets a foot wrong, it becomes about everything but her competence. I think that's a discourse that needs to change. This is something I think the media should play a very crucial role in. For instance, if you have media houses that will not entertain people using certain types of derogatory language or certain ways of talking about women, on their programmes for example, I think it will force people to speak differently with regards to how they refer to people in general. Don't forget, our children are listening and learning from us."

In what way has your STEM background enhanced your career in politics?

"I would say the ability to get to the root of problems has helped a lot. As a scientist, you are taught the scientific method, and as a doctor you are thought how to take history from a patient. And the history taking process is really meant to get to the root of a problem so that you are not merely treating symptoms, but actually trying to find out the "why of the why". You either treat it or you manage it. But you need to know the aetiology. And I would say that probably helped me quite a lot in my approach to challenges and problems I’ve encountered to date."

Health care is expensive, and our health systems fall short of meeting desired health outcomes. In your opinion as a member of parliament, how do you think we should reassess the impact of healthcare spending in tandem with public healthcare policies on these desired health outcomes in Ghana?

"By and large, whether it is healthcare or something else, we need to shy away from populist policies. If we really want to progress as a country, we need to have a national vision, and every party's manifesto must be in line with this national vision. This national vision must not be changed simply based on regime change. We may tweak it here and there, but it must not be something that is subjected to somebody’s populist agenda. This is one of the aspects of policy making we keep falling short in.When we come up with different policies, it should be with the clear understanding of the context we live in. If you are going to implement something because it worked in, say Denmark, for example; that's a totally different society, with a totally different system, needs and mindsets. Understanding what our context is helps us to develop the appropriate policies we need. We can't develop policies in isolation, because then nothing ever works. We have all these great ideas but the implementation is always a challenge. Is it an issue because we don't have the people who are well enough trained, or is it because we don’t have everything fitting together properly within the context that we live in in this country?With regards to what we can do, we need to critically analyse our situation and apply a holistic approach that keeps the long term vision at the centre of what we do. We cannot examine the healthcare sector in isolation when developing policies. For far too long as a country, we have compartmentalised our various Ministries, Departments and Agencies so much that we are not integrating to fit into the bigger picture. Healthcare touches on the environment, and it touches on education, security, the economy etc. In other words, how do our policies satisfy the SDGs?If access to good healthcare is on the basis of one's socio-economic level, then we are failing our people. In general, we have so many policies. Implementation tends to be our Achilles heel."

The Ghanaian government – as part of its educational reforms, is to implement policies and programmes to strengthen and upscale the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), especially from the basic level. How feasible do you think this will be to achieve gender equality in the study of STEM, while tackling unconscious biases when it comes to STEM education in Ghana?

"Before we even get into gender equality in STEM; how many children in school can read and write proficiently at the basic level? I think STEM education for both girls and boys is a great thing, but are we approaching it holistically? What is the bigger picture? Are we placing enough emphasis on eco-friendly technology? On guiding more children towards the ecological sciences? Are we sensitising our teachers to make sure they are all aligned with the concept of gender mainstreaming and equality in STEM? Unless we address the cultural biases that we have and actively tackle these in all aspects of education, and at a very early stage with the involvement of parents and guardians, we will struggle to achieve the objective of gender equality in STEM."

What influences your passion as an MP to champion women's and children’s rights in Ghana?

"Who are the ones that are nurturing our children in communities? Mostly, it is the women. How are the women getting empowered to do so? The women are the backbone of our society, therefore to ensure true and sustainable progress and development is to empower the women in all aspects, especially personally and economically. How are we making sure that our children are protected from horrid experiences like child smuggling or being preyed upon by paedophiles. How are we ensuring that our children are properly educated beyond reading and writing? Understanding their civic duty, appreciating the value of critical thinking and patriotism and honest work. We cannot just leave society to be splintered the way it is at present. It is in knowing very well the central role women play in every community, and knowing very well that children are our future, that drives my passion."

Do you have final words or advice for young Africans looking up to you?

"Look in the mirror and see yourself for all God made you to be. We all have something we can contribute towards the elevation of our communities. It does not have to be something so big. It can be small and still make a difference. It does not have to be something that makes a difference to the entire country. It can be something that makes a difference in your neighbourhood. Never look and say someone else can do it. Look in the mirror and say, "what can I also do to make a difference?" In the words of Ghandi, "Be the change you want to see.""[/spb_text_block]

23/05/2018 23/05/2018

10 Minutes with Catherine Lückhoff, Founder and CEO of Nichstreem

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]I was mesmerised from the moment I first heard Catherine Lückhoff speak on stage. An award-winning tech entrepreneur, she defines “local is lekker” with her work ethic, ambition and brilliance. Here, we chat to her about never giving up, finding inspiration in people and using the fact that she is a woman as motivation to work harder and smarter.Born on a missionNicheStreem is Catherine Lückhoff’s third company. In her 4th year at university in 2003, she started her first venture, Mango OMC, which was one of the early pioneers of online PR campaigns in South Africa. In 2011 Catherine joined Bozza, a Google Ventures and Omidyar funded startup that built an app for talent discovery in Africa. And in 2013, Catherine founded HQ Africa, a business development and strategy firm.Between 2013/14, she served on the board of The Silicon Cape Initiative – a community of tech entrepreneurs, developers, creatives, angel investors, and VCs who are passionate about entrepreneurship and the roles they play in the future of South Africa.Catherine has been named one of the Mail & Guardian’s “200 Young South Africans”; was recognised in the Topco Top Women in Business and Government, and included in the first Old Mutual “Do Great Things” start-up guide. She is a nominated member of the African Leadership Network and a judge for the GSMA Glomo Awards 2015 and 2016.She has spoken across the world on a variety of topics, ranging from how content drives the uptake of technology, to African music streaming services, to innovation in Africa. She is passionate about mentoring and does so for programmes such as TechStars, Sw7, Launch Weekend, Innotech and Spark-Up.For those that still don’t know, what is NicheStreem? Tell us about some of your biggest achievements to date.NicheStreem is WordPress for music and audio streaming. We build and power affordable, audience specific audio streams for untapped markets. Our platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and application platform-as-a-service (aPaaS) enable customers (mobile operators, brands, organisations, artists, etc.) to develop, run, and manage streaming services without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure typically associated with developing and launching a music or audio streaming service.NicheStreem was an FNB Innovation Awards Finalist in 2016 and was selected to participate in the world’s first PeaceTech accelerator, backed by Amazon Web Services, in Washington DC in 2017.I am always very grateful for the lists I have been included in, however, I believe my biggest achievement is having recruited and worked with exceptional people. In any company, your most valuable asset is the team, and I have been fortunate to work with some of the best people in the business.Where and when was the idea for NicheStreem born?The inspiration for NicheStreem was sparked by a number of things however the biggest driver is the underlying belief that there must be a way to make music streaming profitable. Looking at my own listening behaviour, I realised that we all tend to listen to the music we love repeatedly. The idea of 40 million tracks doesn’t excite me. What does make me happy is the idea of having unfettered access to all the music I already love and discovering music I didn’t yet know I would enjoy. Something akin to picking and paying only for the TV channels that excite you. So I decided to build my own music-streaming platform – one that will offer fans a home for the music they love, at a fraction of the cost while still earning enough revenue to pay artists and make a profit.During a four month sabbatical in 2013, I travelled to the UK, US, Costa Rica and Nigeria to meet music label executives, founders of streaming services and startups, and representatives from social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. I became keenly aware of the wealth of information that is out there, but more importantly how crucial it is that this knowledge is adapted and applied to an African context.I’m Afrikaans, and I also have an innate understanding of how closely Afrikaans culture and music are linked. I realized that the same holds true for lesser-known niches such as “Highlife” (Afro-pop), and the 85 million Christians in Nigeria who listen to “Naija gospel”. There was an opportunity in giving casual music fans a service built with their specific tastes in mind. This was the birth of the idea for NicheStreem – to build a scalable music-streaming platform that can support multiple streams, each branded, curated and promoted to a specific niche audience.Once you have an idea, what is the next step in executing?The hardest part is taking the first step. Once you do though, the rest will fall into place. Remember, an idea is only as good as the execution. Draw up a to-do list and start from the top. First order of business: Go to Shelf Company Warehouse online and buy a pre-registered company. Once acquired, ask your accountant to apply for a name change and submit three possible names for consideration. Make sure that the URLs for those names are available before you submit.What’s your advice to new founders searching for investors and capital?Don’t accept “dumb money”. Startups are only as strong as their ecosystem so make sure you raise partners and not just money.What’s the one thing no one tells you about starting your own business?It’s not that they don’t tell you, it’s that you simply won’t understand how hard it will be until you have experienced the trials and tribulations first hand.How do you think startups can still place emphasis on Marketing, even with a tight budget?Necessity is the mother of invention. As South Africans, we are especially creative. So start by having many ideas, no matter how crazy they may be. Don’t be afraid to think out of the box and use all your available resources online and off. Now read “1000 True Fans” by Kevin Kelly.What’s your attitude to competitors and how do you deal with them?I conform to Peter Thiel’s thinking: “When you’re very competitive, you get good at the thing you’re competing with people on. But it comes at the expense of losing out on many other things,” Thiel says. “If you’re a competitive chess player, you might get very good at chess but neglect to develop other things because you’re focused on beating your competitors, rather than on doing something that’s important or valuable.”What do your responsibilities as business-owner and CEO include?As a startup CEO, I am involved in every aspect of the business from product development to marketing, fund raising to team management and everything in between. My most important role, however, is to guide the vision of the company.What’s next – what are some of your goals for NicheStreem?To be the PaaS music streaming company of choice.What personality traits of yours do you attribute to your success?I don’t give up.Which books or audiobooks do you recommend to any budding entrepreneur?

Blog: https://theheretic.org/
Books: Tools of Titans by Time Ferriss and Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth.
Podcasts: StartUp and Reply All both by Gimlet Media and Girlboss.

What kind of social pressures have you felt being a female entrepreneur in business, and how have you dealt with it?Unfairly, we have more to prove. On the up side it forces us to work harder, be smarter and never take success for granted.What do you think the future holds with regards to women in previously male-dominated industries?The future is female.What impact do you think innovation and evolving technology will have on business in 10 years’ time?Hopefully, we will all be working smarter and not harder.What advice would you give young, aspiring entrepreneurs?Don’t give up.What advice would you give women, who might be wives and mothers, who want to leave their secure jobs to chase their dream of founding a start-up?Everything you want lies on the other side of fear.Who is your inspiration, and why?People with grit and courage. Giving up is easy. To keep on keeping on is the true test of character. You can catch Catherine on stage next at the MEST Africa Summit in Cape Town from 18 – 20 June.[/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]

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