(So) How's Business?

Zanelle Wanja just wanted somewhere to go that didn't revolve around alcohol. What she built instead was one of Nairobi's most talked-about social movements.Nani's Cafe Party started as a free pop-up. 150 unexpected guests showed up. Now it's 11 sold-out editions, major brand sponsors, and a community that keeps growing.But behind the branding is a founder who hit rock bottom, lost herself, and had to start over. In this episode she gets honest about the kitchen floor moments, the napkin contract, and what it really takes to bet on yourself after you've already failed.For the builders. The creatives. The ones going against the grain.

Bonni Mulinge was 6 years old when she decided she was going to fly. By 28 she was a commericial airline captain. By 37, a seizure with no known cause ended her career overnight.  In this conversation, Bonnie talks about what it felt like to go from commanding a Boeing 777 to standing still and figuring out what comes next. She talks about the financial hit, the identity loss, the bender, the pivot, and how Jipe Apparel came out of a conversation over Jaba Juice with a friend. This is a story about grief and reinvention. About a woman who flew theworld and came home to build something that is entirely hers.  So...how's business?

Akoth Aluoch is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and the founder of Triple A Dispute Resolution (Triple ADR) and AkothAluoch Media. She left a stable law firm career to build a boutique ADR practice full-time and a media platform dedicated to humanising law.In this conversation, she gets into what it really looks like to be in a building season, the businesses she ran on the side while employed, having her first child in third year of university, and why she walked away from a clear path to partnership to build something entirely her own.We also unpack the world of Alternative Dispute Resolution: what it is, why there is real money in it, and why Akoth believes it is the smarter, faster future of conflict resolution in business.Honest, grounded, and full of practical insight. This one is for anyone sitting with a big dream and a very present reality.So... how's business?

Dija White is a multidisciplinary creative director and founder of The Block Studio, a brand design, strategy and experiential design company dedicated to spotlighting African talent. She is also part of the team running Village Creative, one of Nairobi's most interesting creative ecosystems.This conversation goes deep. We talk about what it actually costs to build a creative business, from the 3 million shilling mistake that took three years to pay back, to the client who paid two thirds and disappeared, to the friendships lost over work that went sideways.Dija is honest about the evolution from artist first to business first, why creatives struggle to pitch themselves in corporate rooms, and what it took to stop being the person who let everyone have a piece and start knowing her worth.If you are a creative trying to figure out how to take your work seriously as a business, or a founder who has ever felt personally offended by a budget negotiation, this one is for you.Tune in every week for honest, unfiltered conversations with African women building businesses on their own terms.

Yasmin started selling cupcakes at 50 bob each from her mother's kitchen at 25, with no formal training, no business plan, and no nozzle. Today, she runs Cake Hearts, one of Kenya's only internationally accredited culinary and hospitality schools, in partnership with BHMS Switzerland.In this episode, she opens up about building from scratch, navigating a market that doesn't take young women seriously, why she teaches entrepreneurship inside a culinary school, and what it really takes to bring international standards to the Kenyan market.If you believe that education should transform you, not just certify you, this conversation will hit home.

Dr. Becky Omodho shares the unfiltered journey of building joojoostores.com , a Pan-African e-commerce platform connecting African artisans to the world.From getting conned twice to taking six years to break even, Becky opens up about resilience, systems thinking, privilege, male bias, and motherhood.This episode challenges the idea of “small business” and explores what it really takes to build big in Africa.

In this episode of So, How’s Business?, Alma Mabachi speaks with certified master coach Wangoy Mongai about why procrastination, self-sabotage, and playing small are often trauma responses, not character flaws.They explore how fear of being seen, identity shifts, and survival mode shape our behaviour, especially for women in business navigating confidence, visibility, and growth. This conversation breaks down why discipline isn’t the solution, how identity-based habits create consistency, and what it actually takes to break the loop.If you’ve been delaying the things that matter most, this episode will help you understand why and how to move forward with clarity and self-trust.Topics include: procrastination, self-sabotage, trauma, survival mode, fear of being seen, identity shifts, imposter syndrome, women in business.🎧 Listen, reflect, and break the loop.

How do you build a scalable, African-born brand in the middle of a pandemic?In this episode of "So How’s Business," we sit down with Nanzia, the founder of Roro's, Nairobi’s go-to fast-casual healthy food brand. Nanzia gets incredibly real about her journey, from launching her first salad shop in Dar es Salaam to securing prime real estate in Nairobi’s top malls.This isn't just about food; it’s a masterclass in resilience, systems thinking, and the "unfiltered" side of scaling a business in an oversaturated market. If you’re a founder, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a working mom, this episode is your blueprint.CONNECT WITH US:Instagram: https://shorturl.at/TElffTikTok: https://shorturl.at/8MwGhLinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/GW5WuDon't forget to follow the show and leave us a review if you enjoyed this episode!#NairobiBusiness #AfricanStartups #FemaleFounders #RorosNairobi #RestaurantBusiness #ScalingUp

What really causes businesses to fail , lack of funding, or poor systems?In this episode of So, How’s Business?, Lucy, founder of a Kenyan manufacturing brand built around purple tea, shares an unfiltered look at the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.We talk about scaling too fast, cash flow traps in retail, the realities of manufacturing in Kenya, and why fundraising can actually make problems worse if done at the wrong time. Lucy also reflects on how a major health crisis reshaped her approach to business, leadership, and growth.This conversation is for founders navigating growth, burnout, funding decisions, and the pressure to “scale fast”, especially women building businesses in Africa.New episodes weekly. Follow So, How’s Business? for real founder stories and practical insights.

How Self-Awareness and EQ Change Everything for Business Leaderswith Vicki KarugaEmotional intelligence isn’t a soft skill, it’s a leadership advantage.In this episode of (So) How’s Business?, host Alma Mabachi speaks with Vicky Karuga, psychometric specialist and EI master trainer, about why self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership and how low emotional intelligence quietly costs businesses through burnout, disengagement, and poor decision-making.Vicki shares her journey from architecture to psychometrics, explains what emotional intelligence really means (beyond buzzwords), and why founders and leaders must do the inner work if they want to build sustainable, high-performing teams, especially in fast-growing African businesses.We discuss:• Emotional intelligence (EQ) and leadership effectiveness• Self-awareness as a core founder skill• Psychometric assessments vs gut instinct in hiring• The real cost of low-EQ leadership• Women in business, invisible labour, and leadership guiltThis episode is for founders, managers, and professionals navigating leadership, growth, and people management.Follow (So) How’s Business?Instagram: https://shorturl.at/TElffTikTok: https://shorturl.at/8MwGhLinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/GW5WuEmotional intelligence podcast, leadership podcast, women in business Africa, African entrepreneurship, founder mindset, EQ leadership, business psychology, people management, leadership development

What happens when you try to build a business in a system that doesn’t always make the rules clear?In this episode of So, How’s Business?, Alma sits down with Eunice Migwi, founder of Her Legacy, for a candid conversation about tax compliance, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to build a sustainable business in Kenya and similar emerging markets.Eunice shares how she turned her expertise in tax, accounting, and finance into a business after closing a previous venture, and why starting over forced her to rethink systems, pricing, partnerships, and long-term vision. From the realities of running a business with a friend, to the importance of building beyond the founder, this episode goes far beyond tax.They unpack why most entrepreneurs don’t actually have a problem with taxes, they have a problem with confusion, poor communication, and lack of education. Eunice explains why compliance is less about fear and more about protection, how systems matter more than capital, and why many businesses struggle not because of taxes, but because of weak foundations.The conversation also dives into motherhood, responsibility, fear, and starting again, highlighting how personal growth and business growth are deeply connected. Finally, Eunice breaks down what business owners and creators need to understand about VAT, turnover tax, withholding tax, record-keeping, and the common mistakes that quietly cost people money.This is an honest, practical episode for founders, freelancers, creators, and anyone building a business in an imperfect system and learning how to do it anyway.Connect with Eunice MigwiInstagram: @herlegacyconsultingListen to more episodes of So, How’s Business?Instagram: @sohowsbusiness

In this grounding and deeply honest conversation, Alma sits down with Debra Ouma-Weya, women’s leadership champion and founder of Positive Circles, a women-centred community built to support growth, connection, and self-advocacy across different seasons of life.The conversation opens with an important discussion on menopause and perimenopause, why these transitions are often misunderstood, how they can affect women physically, mentally, and professionally, and why women need better awareness, language, and support around their health. From there, the conversation widens into leadership, mentorship, community-building, and what it takes to create spaces where women can grow without competition or performance.Debra shares the journey of building Positive Circles from a small gathering into a thriving ecosystem, the realities of running a purpose-driven business, and the lessons she’s learned about resilience, alignment, and sustainability along the way.They explore:Menopause and perimenopause, and why women’s health conversations matter beyond medicineSelf-advocacy and understanding your body at different life stagesThe difference between networking and genuine communityMentorship across generations and supporting younger womenBuilding Positive Circles and the pillars of money, career, business, personal growth, and impactNavigating leadership, identity, and purpose as a womanBalancing impact-driven work with sustainability and alignmentIf you’re a woman navigating change, in your health, career, business, or identity, this episode offers perspective, reassurance, and a reminder that you don’t have to do it alone.New episodes every Tuesday.Nominate yourself or another woman founder to be a guest: ⁠https://shorturl.at/S0zue⁠Follow the show on Instagram & TikTok: @sohowsbusinessSubscribe for more stories amplifying African women in business.

In this grounding and deeply honest conversation, Alma sits down with AnnRita Njiru-Mugo, business strategist, ecosystem builder, and soon-to-be certified coach, whose career has spanned academia, entrepreneurship, climate impact, and supporting African women founders.From lecturing at Strathmore University at just 22, to co-founding an EdTech startup during COVID, to coaching and mentoring founders across Africa, AnnRita breaks down what resilience really looks like for African women in business.They explore:What resilience actually means in entrepreneurshipHow mindset shapes confidence, fundraising, and leadershipBurnout, boundaries, and building systems that protect your wellbeingWhy African women must unlearn suffering and embrace supported successThe tension between motherhood, ambition, and identityWhy resilience sometimes means letting go, not pushing harderHow she’s transitioning into coaching and building a purpose-led careerIf you’re a founder navigating a tough season, a mother balancing multiple roles, or a woman stepping into your next level — this episode will meet you exactly where you are.New episodes every Tuesday.Nominate yourself or another woman founder to be a guest: https://shorturl.at/S0zueFollow the show on Instagram & TikTok: @sohowsbusinessSubscribe for more stories that amplify African women in business.

At just 26, Grace Kimaru swapped her gumboots for grit and walked straight into a male-dominated hardware industry in Dandora, Nairobi — with no experience, no blueprint, and a whole lot of audacity.In this episode of (So) How’s Business?, we unpack the real story behind the viral video where Grace celebrates her first-ever sale, and why that tiny moment meant everything after days of zero customers.Grace and Alma dive into:How a simple WhatsApp status turned into a viral TikTok momentThe emotional rollercoaster of starting a female-led hardware business in AfricaLearning pricing, suppliers, and stock the hard way - including almost getting scammed buying cement onlineBeing funded by her dad, why she sees it as a rare privilege, and the pressure of “not being allowed to fail”Building an honest, founder-led brand online with “unsexy” products like pipes, cement and chumaThe cost of entrepreneurship: long days, lost social life, constant mental loadWhy Gen Z founders “jump first, cry in the middle, then keep going”What older founders and mentors need to know about supporting young women in businessIf you love female entrepreneurship stories, African business interviews, and authentic founder journeys from African women success stories, this conversation will speak to you whether you’re on your first sale or your fiftieth.This episode touches on:African entrepreneurship podcast • Women founders in Africa • Women in business Africa • Female-led startups in Africa • How to fund your startup • How women run businesses in Africa • Women empowerment Africa Follow (So) How’s Business? for more real, unpolished conversations with African women building businesses their own way.

Linda Muriuki, financial literacy educator and founder of Finance4Families, breaks down the real building blocks of generational wealth: money habits at home, family business systems, intentional conversations, and financial protection planning. No theory, just lived experience, cultural honesty, and practical strategy Kenyan families actually need.

In this deeply moving episode, Priscilla opens up about her journey through years of loss, grief, and rediscovering self-worth. After losing a baby and experiencing multiple miscarriages, she found herself questioning everything, her body, her faith, and her place in the world.But through that pain came purpose. While training to become a mindset coach, pregnant with her son after seven years of heartbreak, Priscilla began to rebuild her sense of worth from the inside out.Today, as a mother and coach, she helps others navigate their own insecurities and healing journeys with compassion and courage. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, transformation is possible, and healing begins when we choose to believe we are worthy of it.https://linktr.ee/sohowsbusinessFollow Priscilla Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priscillathemindsetcoach/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16ZZQ1Vbdi/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In this deeply inspiring episode, Mercy Achieng shares how her early life in Kibera shaped her purpose and fuelled her mission to create lasting impact.From watching her parents rise from poverty through grit and grace, she learned the true meaning of resilience. Today, she’s channeling that lesson into building a business that serves those who need it most.Her story is a reminder that perspective changes everything: what we see as challenges, others turn into purpose.https://etsirbellascholarship.org/https://www.instagram.com/etsirbelladesigns?igsh=dnc0ZzJkOW94ZGxrTo support Etsirbella Scholarship Fund, send to:Paybill 247247Account 538070

What does it really take to build a proudly Kenyan brand in an industry dominated by foreign ownership?In this episode of (So) How’s Business?, host Alma Mabachi sits down with Jennifer Odera, founder of T&Co, a premium tea brand on a mission to bring Kenyan tea ownership back home.Jennifer opens up about her journey from idea to execution—how she started T&Co, the hurdles she’s faces raising funds as a woman entrepreneur, and why value addition isn’t just good business—it’s an act of reclaiming Africa’s story.For more real, unfiltered stories of African women building, breaking, and becoming, follow and subscribe @sohowsbusiness https://linktr.ee/sohowsbusiness

No one prepares you for how personal building a business can get. The highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments you wonder if it’s all worth it.For African women, it runs even deeper. We’re building dreams while raising families, managing expectations, and learning to thrive in the messHosted by Alma Mabachi, So, How’s Business? is a raw, unfiltered podcast spotlighting the untold stories of African women entrepreneurs. Their pivots, failures, comebacks, and lessons from the messy middle of building something real.Every week, Alma sits down with bold, brilliant women rewriting what success looks like on our continent.These aren’t just business conversations- they’re human ones. New episodes every week.Follow and rate the show to join a movement amplifying the true nature of entrepreneurship for African women.