Unlike many entrepreneurs, my journey actually came about via the unconventional route. I am a computer science graduate. I know this will come as a surprise to a lot of people or my industrial partners and my friends re: my career path or choice. I have always been passionate about the entertainment industry. Therefore, from a young age - I played numerous and vital roles in that space. I collaborated with many organizations, spearheading corporate and private parties whenever I could. I began my career in the event industry as a musician. After a few interesting years of pursuing music as a member of a boy band, I joined Imajin Advertising where I worked as the Head of Events and Promotions for roughly 6 years. Some of the projects I created and project managed were the Legends and Legacy (LAL) Ball, Ghana Stands in Worship Concert, and the Stand Up GH Concert, which featured international artists such as Keri Hilson, Bow Wow, Donnie McClurkin and William McDowell. Moving forward, seeking to diversify my expertises and portfolio I became a private consultant and later went ahead to complete my MBA in Project Management from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). During my transition between school and my consulting, Carbon AV Ltd was founded. My role is to provide strategical direction for all projects implemented by the company. At Carbon AV, I collaborated with USAID and GIMPA - spearheading all Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) events from 2017 to 2019. I have also produced and managed major events for global organizations such as the European Union, Alliance Motors (Land Rover & Jaguar), MTN Ghana, Prudential Insurance Ghana, Rocha Ghana, Miss Universe Ghana organization and so on. Not being prideful but instead proud of my journey, with my remarkable entrepreneurial skills, innovative skills and outstanding leadership qualities; I managed to co-founded another highly-profitable company (EMY Africa) that stands out as the market leader and have become well-known brand in the entertainment industry. EMY Africa produces the annual EMY Africa Awards commemorating Father’s Day, The annual prestigious awards and its complementary events have been carefully designed to celebrate great achievements across local industry, community, culture and public service to inspire the youth to aspire above all odds. Some of the complimentary awards we decided to initiate is to acknowledge dedicated women who are trendsetters making social and community impact their number one calling or their number one priority. Some past recipients of the EMY Africa Awards have also been inspirational gentlemen who have made important contributions to life in our community from journalists, community leaders, social workers, humanitarians to health workers. Few of these previous high profile winners includes former President John Agyekum Kufuor, His Eminence Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu (Chief Imam of Ghana and member of the National Peace Council), Businessmen Sir Sam Jonah, Togbe Afede XIV, Dr Kwabena Duffour, Dr Ernest Ofori Sarpong and Dr Osei Kwame Despite, Sports Legends Azumah Nelson and Abedi Pele, to name a few. I am honoured and grateful to be featured in the recent Forbes Africa Magazine as one of the finest emerging event managers in Ghana and Africa. For what it's worth, I am very thrilled to be part of a movement and trendsetters - inspiring up and coming entrepreneurs and my community as a whole.
What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them?
When I started, my first hurdle I overcame was - "getting in my own way". I almost second guessed myself out of starting the company because I was scared of failing. I guess that’s human nature.
Did you ever deal with contention from your family and friends concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits? How did you handle it?
No, not at all. My family and friends have always been supportive. They have always known what my passion was. My family especially helped me whenever they could, with ideas and capital. I did have some friends who re-echoed my fears of failure out of love.
What do you know today that you wish you would have known when you first got started as an entrepreneur?
I know now that the timing is never right to do anything. For all of the most important things, the timing is never right. The stars will never align and the traffic lights will never be all green at the same time. If it’s important to you - make it, just do it and correct the course along the way. Now, I avoid pushing things to ‘someday’.
What advice would you give to an upcoming entrepreneur locally and internationally?
Just go for it! If you fail, so what? You wasted money? So what? That failure becomes experience. Make every experience educational. Now you know what not to do. That’s not to say test the depth of the river with both feet. A little prudence is required.
