Minds in Motion with Charles Fatunbi

In this episode of Minds in Motion, I sit down with Kennedy Ezumah — software engineer, co-founder and CTO of My Native Tree, and founder of Nzuko Brand. Kennedy is building at the intersection of technology, media, and cultural preservation in a way that few people are, and this conversation gets into all of it.We talk about how losing his grandmother sparked the idea behind My Native Tree, an AI-powered platform that helps families preserve their lineage and the stories embedded within them before they're gone. We also get into Nzuko Brand, Kennedy's media company telling African stories to global audiences, from board games manufactured in Nigeria to a docu-series sold to Africa Magic and a first feature film.If you've ever thought about your family's history, what gets lost between generations, or what it takes to build something mission-driven from the ground up, this one is for you.Chapters00:00 Kennedy's Journey02:54 Transitioning from Civil Engineering to Software12:59 My Native Tree: Documenting Family Histories21:20 The Importance of Data in Decision Making24:02 Core Features of My Native Tree33:21 User Case Studies33:24 Technical and Creative Challenges38:16 Business Model and Target Demographics41:57 Introducing Nzuko Brand: A Cultural Media Company46:09 The Business Model of Nzuko Brand50:52 Evolving Offerings and Revenue Streams55:21 The Media Landscape in Nigeria01:00:47 Production Challenges and Strategies01:03:35 Balancing Entrepreneurship with a 9-501:06:04 Advice for Aspiring BuildersKennedy Ezumah & His Work🌐 My Native Tree — https://mynativetree.com/📸 My Native Tree (Instagram) — https://www.instagram.com/joinmynativetree/📸 Nzuko Brand (Instagram) — https://www.instagram.com/nzukobrand/📸 Kennedy (Instagram) — https://www.instagram.com/emeka_my_guy/Minds in Motion with Charles Fatunbi📸 Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/mindsinmotionpod/🔗 All Episodes & Platforms — https://beacons.ai/mindsinmotionFollow Charles💻 LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesfatunbi/📸 Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/charlesfatunbi/

In this episode of Minds in Motion, I sit down with Fassa, founder and CEO of Callo, a tech platform designed to give independent creators across film, TV, and other media formats the end-to-end infrastructure they need to operate like real businesses. From finding collaborators to managing projects, Callo is building what the industry left out.We get into:What life inside a major Hollywood studio actually taught her about the gaps in the systemWhy independent creators struggle to get projects off the ground and what's changingThe role of collaboration in a creator economy that often celebrates the solo hustleHow technology is reshaping who gets to tell stories and on what termsWhat the future of independent film and TV actually looks like.If you're a creator, a founder, or someone paying attention to where media and technology are colliding, this conversation may give you a lot to think about.00:00 - Introducing Fassa Sar00:55 - Fassa's Journey in the Entertainment Industry14:26 - The Fulbright Scholarship and Building Callo24:26 - Building a team for Callo29:04 - What is CALLO?38:47 - Revenue Model42:34 - Outlook on the Creator Economy54:32 - Callo's Long-Term Vision and Goals

In this episode of Minds in Motion, I speak with Kofi Dotse (@kofigramm), a Ghana-based travel creator and producer whose work has been featured by BBC, Global Citizen, Volkswagen, and more.We unpack Kofi’s pivot from a conventional STEM trajectory into content marketing and storytelling for some of the world’s largest brands, and what it really takes to survive and thrive as an Africa-based creator operating on a global stage. We also explore the overlooked economic potential of the continent’s young workforce, tourism industry, and creative economy, and how Kofi turned limited opportunity into leverage.Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:48 - Kofi's Journey: From Sciences to Content Creator03:11 - Navigating Education and Career Expectations in Ghana11:30 - The Impact of COVID-19 on Freelancing and Opportunities15:01 - Embracing Public Presence and Storytelling15:27 - Creating Authentic Connections Online16:39 - Navigating Opportunities in International Collaborations20:09 - The Conflict of Migration and National Growth22:16 - Learning from Other Nations29:33 - Tourism in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges33:48 - The Future of African Creatives35:42 - Monetizing Creativity in Africa

In this conversation, Charles Fatunbi interviews Adam Miko, the founder of Echora, a platform designed to protect artists' rights in the age of AI. Adam shares his background in music publishing and art direction, discussing the importance of ownership and consent for creators. The conversation delves into the functionality of Echora, its role in the creative industry, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI. Adam also emphasizes the need for collaboration between AI technologists and artists, aiming to create a future where creators are fairly compensated and respected for their work.A must-listen for creatives, technologists, and anyone curious about the future of art in the AI era.Chapters00:00 Adam Miko's Journey in Entertainment00:52 Transitioning to Art Direction02:37 The Role of an Art Director04:05 Behind the Scenes of Production05:51 The Genesis of Ikora13:44 Understanding AI and Copyright Protection18:10 The Three-Sided Marketplace of AI19:13 Empowering Creators and AI Companies19:50 Navigating Partnerships in the AI Landscape21:54 Adams Technical Background25:55 Building a Diverse and Passionate Team28:06 Advice for Founders on Team Building29:19 Trust and Skepticism in AI Integration32:46 The Ethical Use of AI in Creativity33:11 Legal Challenges in the AI Landscape36:41 The Future Role of Human Creators40:58 Actionable Steps for Emerging Creatives

In this episode of Minds in Motion, Charles sits down with Frank Akinwande Williams, Co-Founder and CEO of Lingawa, a platform using AI to preserve and teach African languages. He discusses cultural identity, his entrepreneurial journey of building Lingawa, and the role technology plays in preserving African languages.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Frank and Lingawa00:32 Frank's Journey: From Medicine to Entrepreneurship04:02 The Role of Language in Identity07:32 The Decline of Native Languages in the Diaspora11:13 Cultural and Practical Benefits of Language Preservation13:55 Learning Languages in an Immersive Environment16:42 Overcoming Shame in Language Learning20:28 What is Lingawa?22:32 The Rebranding Journey of Lingawa24:02 Building Lingawa: From Idea to Execution28:50 The Fundraising Journey34:08 Challenges of Pitching to Investors36:05 Achieving Product-Market Fit37:17 Building a Personalized Learning Experience41:42 Quality Control and Tutor Management46:07 Impactful Customer Success Stories49:32 Unexpected Challenges of Leadership54:56 Vision for the Future of Lingawa58:25 Closing