🎖️Henry Asenso: Investing in Ghana, Advice for the African Diaspora, and more
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What would you do if your business model suddenly became obsolete? Not a thought you ever want to entertain. Right? Unfortunately, that’s possible as we move into the era of AI agents, etc.
But it’s not all gloom and doom, as you already know. I believe 2025 will bring remarkable opportunities as well! I feel exceptionally hopeful about the New Year.
For me, 2025 is a year for consolidation. Seriously, I think it’ll be a year to catch your breath and reclaim past glories…as a business, an individual, or even a country.
That’s why I’m writing you today.
Anticipate uncertainties, but plan for great times.
The way we work — and the work we do — will evolve significantly. The need for platform ownership will be even more pronounced. And so I present pose to you Peter Thiel’s immortal question: What are you building or helping to build? It’s time to be part of something big. It’s time to consolidate.
Anyway, enough of predictions and challenging questions.
We’ve now rounded off 2024 installments of the Get Ahead ReadyforWork Webinar series. If you missed it, here are the recordings:
🔌 ReadyforWork Webinar with Mrs. Georgina Fiagbenu & Erin Porche
🔌 ReadyforWork Webinar with Henry Asenso, founder of Kuro Africa
We covered vitally important topics. You will not regret watching those videos.
2024 Wrapped: Recounting Blessings
In just four days, I’ll be celebrating my birthday.
There’s so much to be thankful for this year. As I look back and count my blessings, I feel grateful to, first, God, and second, everyone who’s been part of my journey.
Last year, I fought an internal battle with severe back pain. I went through much silent agony and work to nurse myself back to health. I’ve talked about that before.
This year, I enjoyed sound health. I pray it remains that way. I’ve only been to the hospital a few times since I came to Ghana. Considering my workload, that’s a miracle!
There’s so much I want to do for and from this country that I’ve called home for 11 years. I’m glad to have participated in policy events and helped put Ghana on the map this year. I’m equally thrilled about the jobs and business opportunities we created.
Let’s recount those, shall we?
🚥World Bank Africa Policy Events
I had the opportunity to join The World Bank Ghana as they launched the annual Country Policy and Institutional Assessment report.
The year's research, themed Structural Reforms for a Vibrant Private Sector, has some highs and notable lows.
Subsequently, I joined the Bank for the 8th Ghana Economic Update prepared by the World Bank.
The Ghana Economic Update is a yearly analytical report published by the World Bank on Ghana’s economic developments and prospects. Each edition includes a general overview of the country’s macroeconomic and structural dynamics and a special topic presenting detailed research on a theme.
🌍Africa Tech Startup Forum Accelerator
SFAN was selected among 160 entrepreneurs from eight African countries to participate in the inaugural Africa Tech Startup Forum. It was an interesting experience, and I’m thankful to the organizers for including me in the program.
🎤⚡️DW News Interview and Street Debate
Following Joe Biden's exit from the US presidential race, I had the opportunity to talk to German news network DW News about how Africans perceive that development.
Then, I supported their Street Debate in partnership with JoyNews on Galamsay and its impact on people living in Ghana. The event took place at the Legon campus. It was full of vibrant discussions.
🌍Guinness World Record Attempt
October 28 to November 1st will remain unforgettable for many in Ghana as the date I set out to break the Guinness World Record for the longest interviewing marathon by an individual through the Global Student Entrepreneurship Week 2024!
The epoch-making GSEW24 event was 100% live-streamed, showcasing impactful discussions with 104 diverse speakers from 18 countries in 100 hours!
767 participants from 25 countries around the world witnessed the history-making event on sfanonline.org/events/live. Many more joined the meeting through SFAN's YouTube channel. Enjoy the highlights!
I’ve submitted the evidence. I am now awaiting the result, as noted in my previous email. I hope to hear back in early February. It’ll be a great New Year gift!
👩🏿💻ReadyforWork Platform Re-Design
After extensive overhaul and platform redesign, our dynamic learning ecosystem, ReadyforWork, has now started accepting applications!
Check out the open track here.
We’re calling content owners, subject-matter experts, and companies to bring their courses and training programs to ReadyforWork. Reach out to learn more about the process.
If you want to provide tuition scholarships during this giving period, please send us an email via info@sfanonline.org.
There’s more:
My team and I created over 50 business opportunities and jobs.
I had the opportunity to represent Ms Roberta Annan of Annan Capital Partners at the Omniverse Summit 2024 in Lagos Nigeria.
I wrote 58 thought leadership fintech-related articles and published 19 B2B guest posts.
Added additional headcount to the team, and welcomed a new board advisory member. On that note, please say hello to Mr Andy Mensah, the Human Resource & Administration Manager at Tropical Cables and Conductor Ltd:
Thank you for being part of our community this year.
I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas!
May the New Year bring you much joy, prosperity, and progress!
Best regards,
Tom-Chris.
(Let’s connect on LinkedIn)