Episodes

In the first of two special reflection episodes mid-season, host Lola Soyebo Harris explores the powerful theme of "Breaking Free from Expected Paths" through insights gained from conversations with three remarkable women featured in Season 2: Ukonwa Ojo, Ayesha Chidolue, and Joy Aboderin. Each left successful corporate careers to pursue entrepreneurial ventures aligned with their deeper purpose. Lola shares her personal reflections on their journeys, highlighting common threads including the p...

Joy Aboderin shares her purpose-driven journey from a 13-year accounting career to founding Potential U, a successful global styling business. After hearing God's call in 2003, Joy eventually took the leap in 2008, selling her house to start her business. Now celebrating 17 years, Joy reveals how she's transformed her styling consultancy into a global enterprise, pivoted during COVID, and is launching the Potential U Style Academy to mentor the next generation. Her story demonstrates how alignin...

Lola sits down with Remi Roy, a Nigerian author, entrepreneur, and host of The Driven Introvert podcast. Raised by a single mother after losing her father before birth, Remi shares her remarkable journey from being a painfully shy introvert to becoming a confident public speaker, published author, and founder of ShePact, a platform empowering introverts to find their voice. She opens up about unexpected childhood discoveries, fertility struggles, career pivots from microbiology to creative entre...

Ayesha Chidolue's journey from corporate attorney to founder of a Top 10 law firm on the Inc. 5000 list is a masterclass in purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Born in Texas but raised in Nigeria until age 17, she credits her Nigerian upbringing for instilling the grit and ambition that propelled her success. After years in corporate law and even a stint as a wedding photographer, Ayesha found her calling in immigration law where she could create a meaningful impact while building a business that n...

Irish-Ghanaian boxing champion Lesley Sackey shares her remarkable journey from avoiding PE class to winning EU gold medals, and ultimately founding Fight Forward and Pillow.AI. After surviving a seven-year abusive relationship, Lesley transformed her trauma into purpose, creating innovative organizations that use boxing as a therapeutic tool for domestic abuse survivors. She details how physical movement releases "calcified energy" stored in the body, helping women reclaim their power and voice...

For Podcasthon 2025, Nigerian-born pharmacist Dr. Nnenna Onosode shares her journey from experiencing childhood sexual abuse to founding Anadel Speaks Foundation, a nonprofit organization protecting African children through sexual abuse prevention education. After building a successful healthcare career in America, Nnenna responded to a divine calling that began after motherhood. She reveals how she overcame fears to launch her child protection nonprofit, developed educational programs remotely...

Former Amazon Prime CMO, Ukonwa Ojo shares her journey from Nigerian schoolgirl to global marketing executive and finally to purpose-driven entrepreneur. After 27 years in corporate America, including roles as CMO for MAC Cosmetics and SVP for Cover Girl, Ukonwa made the brave decision to walk away from the "golden handcuffs" to pursue her God-given purpose. Her story reveals important lessons about authenticity, faith, and finding true fulfillment. You will learn: How to leverage your uniquene...

We are back with new conversations with more women of African descent! Our new season starts on Tuesday, March 11 so be sure you have your notifications on. About The Podcast The Kádàrá Woman Podcast is dedicated to amplifying the often-overlooked impact-driven stories of remarkable African women (and women of the diaspora) who pivoted into their purpose and became barrier breakers, status quo challengers and change makers around the world. This podcast spotlights the journeys of purpose-driven...

Ever wondered what happens when you gather 12 incredible African women, add a dash of Mount Everest adventure, sprinkle in some entrepreneurial magic, and let their stories inspire people from Finland to Qatar? The season finale of Kadara Woman podcast wraps up exactly that kind of amazing journey, with host Lola Soyebo Harris reflecting on three months of powerful storytelling. With listeners tuning in from 17 countries and 22 US states, and downloads climbing by 37% weekly, these stories of tr...

Tech executive turned leadership expert Foluso Gbadamosi shares her transformative journey from feeling restless in a successful tech career to discovering her true purpose. As an award-winning business leader and Gallup Strengths coach, Foluso reveals how embracing your authentic self can lead to extraordinary impact. Whether you're feeling stuck in your career, questioning your path, or searching for your purpose, this conversation offers practical insights on self-discovery, leveraging natura...

Former corporate finance expert, Kemi Lawson shares her inspiring journey becoming a trailblazer in the world of interior design and cultural representation. Kemi's story is one of transformation, creativity, and purpose as she navigated her way from the corporate world to co-founding The Cornrow and creating Cottage Noir. Her experiences offer valuable insights for women looking to pivot their careers, embrace their cultural heritage, and make a meaningful impact in their chosen field. You wil...

Kudzi Zhanje's story from processing avocado oil in her kitchen to building a brand, Wangu Organics, that's reshaping perceptions of African beauty products is filled with valuable lessons. Whether you're dreaming of launching your own venture or simply seeking inspiration, Kudzi's experience offers practical insights. Here's how you can apply some of Kudzi's wisdom to your own entrepreneurial journey. You will learn: How to turn local resources into a successful African beauty brand, using ind...

Multi-award winning Flavilla Fongang's journey to becoming a tech powerhouse in London is nothing short of inspiring. Founder of Black Rise, 3 Colours Rule and non-profit GT Black Women in Tech, her story is a testament to the power of resilience, intentionality, and community-building. But what makes Flavilla's insights truly valuable is how applicable they are to our own lives and careers. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a professional looking to make a pivot, or someone searching for...

Leine Marie Akanza's journey from passionate educator to published author is a testament to the power of perseverance and importance of representation. Her story offers valuable insights for anyone looking to share their voice and make an impact through storytelling. Whether you're an aspiring writer or simply seeking inspiration, Leine's experiences provide inspiration for turning your dreams into reality. Here's what you'll learn from our conversation: You will learn: How to balance a day job...

Joy Ekuta's journey from MIT graduate to accidental social justice warrior is a testament to the power of embracing life's unexpected turns. Her story of pivoting from medical school rejections to sparking a corporate revolution around Juneteenth is filled with valuable lessons for African women navigating their own career paths. Whether you're facing setbacks, considering a career change, or looking to make a meaningful impact, Joy's experiences offer a blueprint for success. Here are five key ...

Ola Erogbogbo-Oyeniyi’s journey as a Nigerian entrepreneur offers valuable insights for women looking to make their mark in business and social impact. Her story of expanding a family jewelry business and launching a global non-profit during a pandemic is filled with practical wisdom. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, Ola's experiences provide a roadmap for success. Here are five key takeaways from our conversation: You will learn: How to leverage family legacy...

Meet another trailblazing African woman! Irene Asare's career is a compelling story of cross-continental transitions and adaptability. Born and raised in London to Ghanaian parents, Irene leveraged her multicultural background to build a successful HR career with multinational companies like Vodafone, working across the UK and Africa. In a bold move, she launched her own HR consultancy, Carvin Clay, in Ghana during the challenging times of a global pandemic. Irene's journey came full circle when...

In this episode, life coach Sade Curry shares her remarkable journey from self-doubt to empowerment. Her story of overcoming cultural expectations, navigating divorce, and finding her true calling offers valuable insights for African women seeking personal and professional growth. Sade's experiences provide a roadmap for transforming adversity into opportunity and embracing one's authentic self. You will learn: How to redefine success as an African woman beyond traditional career paths How to ...

Rashida Abdulai shares her journey from corporate law to founding Strand Sahara, a legal firm empowering African-owned businesses. Her story is filled with valuable insights for African women looking to make bold career moves or start their own ventures. Whether you're considering a career transition, launching a business, or seeking personal growth, Rashida's experience offers practical wisdom. Here are five key takeaways from our conversation: In this episode, you will learn: How to trust you...

Lola sits down with Saray Khumalo to discuss her extraordinary journey of becoming the first Black African woman to summit Mount Everest. Saray shares her inspiring story of perseverance through multiple attempts, the challenges she faced, and how she's using her mountaineering achievements to promote education and literacy in Africa. In this episode, you will learn: How to turn personal setbacks into motivation How to persist in the face of failure How to balance ambition with responsibility...

For the premier episode of the Kadara Woman podcast, Lola sits down with purposeful personal branding coach Yetunde Shorters to learn how she found her radical purpose and how you can also unlock the power of purposeful living. This is a two-part conversation. In the 1st part of this episode, you will learn: How to connect your past experiences and skills to discover your true purpose How to recognize and respond to burnout signals How to master your thoughts and overcome negative self-talk ...

For the premier 2-part episode of the Kadara Woman podcast, Lola sits down with personal branding coach Yetunde Shorters to learn how she found her radical purpose and how you can also unlock the power of purposeful living. This is a two-part conversation. In the 2nd part of this episode, you will learn: How to differentiate between purpose and passion How to reframe your perspective on personal branding using the "spotlight analogy" How to approach your multi-passionate nature How to simpli...

The Kadara Woman podcast spotlights the journeys of purpose-driven African women who are reshaping their lives through intentional living and powerful mindset shifts. About The Podcast The Kádàrá Woman Podcast is dedicated to amplifying the often-overlooked impact-driven stories of remarkable African women (and women of the diaspora) who pivoted into their purpose and became barrier breakers, status quo challengers and change makers around the world. This podcast spotlights the journeys of purp...