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This episode of the Open Door Conversations podcast focuses on the second step in Akua's three-step leadership framework: the importance of engagement. In addition to self-awareness and setting expectations, engagement is a crucial part of becoming a conscious and effective leader in the workplace.

As a business leader, founder, or executive, sometimes your biggest barrier to engaging with your team is staring at you in the mirror. Find out how your own thoughts, emotions, and existing habits c…

"… If you want to actually have equity be something that's a lifestyle, you need to live out to the simple values that you've set, and then continuously do what you've always known to do. Which is to make sure you humanize the people, keeping the big picture, in sight as well as the small picture."

-- Tayo Rockson , Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Thought Leader

A few days ago, I chatted with diversity, equity, and inclusion thought leader Tayo Rockson. We spoke about pay scales, compen…

If you're interested in learning about a framework that can bring your vision, business, or startup to life, you don't want to miss this episode. It is jam-packed with actionable advice from Tomi Davie (T.D.), who was named one of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2021 by New African Magazine. 

Harry ‘Tomi Davies (TD) is Collaborator-in-Chief (CiC)’ at TVC Labs, an entrepreneurship support organization in Lagos, Nigeria which he founded. TD is the co-founder of the Lagos Angel Network (LAN), f…

I think we've all grown new muscles in our empathy toolbox. I think we we've learned to be much more empathetic and open to the experience that sometimes, whether it's emotional, physical, mental, we need to take time off and we need to attend to our own mental health needs.

-- Rachel Kanarowski Founder, Year of Living Better

May is Mental Health Awareness month and to commemorate that, we continued our conversation on workplace and corporate wellness with Lauren ‘LC’ Wells and Rachel Kan…

Pausing and reflecting is something all leaders should prioritize. That's why Akua is using today's episode as a recap of the last several weeks as she's talked about the first step in her leadership framework: cultivating self-awareness. Learn to understand better your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and preferences so you can be the most impactful leader possible.  

Founders, leaders, and managers will benefit from listening to all the episodes around self-awareness, but If you don't have t…

… Leadership can be either bad or good. You can be effective at leading people to certain aims, but we want good leadership. Good leadership is leading people towards a goal that has a common benefit.

– Segun Olagunju,  Social impact educator and Leadership development guide.

A few days ago, I had a very interesting conversation with Segun Olagunju about leadership development across the world, the core elements of successful leadership, building leaders across all levels and ages, and muc…

This episode is for leaders who want to have a big impact - and who doesn’t? This is the last in a series about the first of three steps in Akua’s leadership approach: cultivating self-awareness. 

Despite what some might think, effective leadership is not only about performance and delivery, or what the sports world would call the “outer game .”Conscious leaders know that self-awareness and mindset, or “inner game,” are just as important and really affect every aspect of their leadership and it…

Executive presence is about your ability to inspire confidence. Inspiring confidence in your subordinates that you're leading,...stakeholders,  managing above, managing below, managing across…

-- Kelly Lynn Adams, Executive Business and Life Coach.

A few days ago, I had a very insightful conversation with Kelly Lynn Adams about executive and leadership presence; what it is, why leaders need it, what mistakes leaders make and how to avoid them, and so much more.

[Listen to our entire con…

Overcome your resistance to change as Akua talks to Ghanaian CEO Alex Bram. Akua and Alex talk about the importance of being self-aware and in tune with your team and the climate around you in order to provide products needed to solve problems. They also talk about the need for authenticity and honesty in leading a company and why it's crucial to make bold changes and mini-pivots in this fast-changing world. 

This episode will inspire business leaders as Alex talks about co-founding fintech com…

This week I was joined by former recruiter and Success Career Coach Joel Kojo Abaka Anaman to discuss how to find and secure well-paid opportunities in Africa.

The actionable advice he shared is applicable no matter where you live.

(Listen to the entire conversation here)

Here are three of my favorite moments from our conversation:

1. Joel highlighted the importance of defining 'well-paid' and doing your research. He spoke about how relative the concept of 'well-paid' is and that it is your…