Changing the Narrative of Disruption Across the Continent

What is disruption? How do you know you’re disrupting? Why should you disrupt?

To disrupt is to impact your environment to make your voice heard and stick around for the response - good or bad or sometimes both - and support and lead people through their own breakthroughs.

Last Friday, at the  Africa Future Summit, the panels and discussions revolved around disrupting and the nexts steps to take after you disrupt. This is the second year I attended this event. The first year, I was an attendee and this year I was a part of the Global Startup Ecosystem team where I helped with the programming and moderated a panel on disruption. Both years, the discussions did not disappoint.

It gave me a new perspective on how to strategize and partner to create a larger impact. I learned that it’s not a one and done type of thing it’s cyclical. At the forefront of every discussion was the reminders to act locally, but think globally. Yomi Jemibewon really drove this point home when he spoke about how his global understanding allows him to provide value to his community and enhances his ability to make investment decisions in his role at CardinalStone in Nigeria.

The panel I had the honor of leading was called “Changing the Narrative - the New Africa Story Pioneers share disruptive changes in business, arts and culture across the continent”. Each panelist is causing a disturbance in their industries. I was honored to share a stage and get to dig a little deeper into their movements. My panelists were Tavonia Evans, Founder of Guap Coin; Florcy Morisset, Manager at Dell, Co-Founder of Tribe Academy and Former International Art Gallery owner; Riana Lynn Founder and CEO of Journey Foods and Atti Worku Founder and CEO of Seeds of Africa. Tavonia is a software engineer by trade and a creative problem solver by heart who brings the art of cryptocurrency to underrepresented communities and local governments. Florcy is a powerhouse who founded, built and scaled an art gallery to a million dollar business and leverages those skills today as a Manager at Dell. Riana is a Food Scientist and Technologist who leverages artificial intelligence to improve the future of nutrition to save the planet from the farming and health perspective. Atti is powered by hope and compassion to change the trajectory of lives. Her organization operates beyond a relief model and provides families on the continent of Africa resources, skills and solutions for the recipients to be self-sustained and rise above poverty. 

The stage was filled with energy as all the panelists sprinkled their magic over the crowd. They shared moments about when they knew they were disrupting. Tavonia disrupts the second she opens her computer. Florcy disrupts when she walks in a room. Riana disrupts when she’s the only minority sitting at tables to discuss nutrition and technology to make real changes. Atti disrupts when she finds herself on paths less traveled. I made it a point to bring out this information to remind everyone in the room, including myself to identify their value and to know when they are disrupting. 

The panels in the evening touched on the result of disrupting and creating in local and international communities. Something that really stuck with me was when Vania Andre reminded us to make real change with our voices and collaborate across the diaspora. She said that Nigeria and Haiti have similar cultures and values, but she doesn’t see much collaboration between. It made me think about how important it is to connect to similar people to make a larger impact. A few of us in the room locked eyes in agreement and spoke about it later. After the panels were over, I had a long conversation about community building and how important it is to know the game plan of the development in your city.   

I walked away from the summit with a greater belief in my ability to bring a disruptive skill set back to my community by applying my skills accordingly and connecting with those on the same mission. If I were to summarize the summit in one quote it would be. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” - African Proverb 

Let me know how you are causing disruption with your powers? Let’s disrupt together. 

Christina L. Glancy is a Marketing Mind and Business Strategist who leverages world view with her professional experience to create inclusive spaces.  She has built a unique perspective which blends project management, marketing, community involvement and data analysis. She is passionate about elevating her clients mindsets to crush their business goals. She has a personal belief of changing the world one conversation at a time.

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