From 15th to 18th October, Taonga Grace Banda Chizyuka, Manager – Innovation Consulting, BongoHive Consult, represented the organization as a distinguished panelist at the Inspire Africa Conference held in Lagos, Nigeria. This prestigious event brought together both local and international leaders in product development, aiming to empower the African product community through shared knowledge and innovative strategies.

During the conference, a compelling discussion centered around the impact of global models on product leadership in Africa. While acknowledging the value of frameworks like agile and lean methodologies, Taonga highlighted the necessity for African product teams to develop solutions grounded in local realities. This involves building products that effectively address the challenges faced by African users, rather than merely adapting Western models to fit the continent’s diverse needs.

The conversation also underscored the importance of a cultural mindset shift within African companies. Embracing calculated risks and fostering an environment where failure is seen as a learning opportunity are essential steps toward genuine innovation. The panel emphasized that African companies should empower their teams, encouraging them to take ownership of their projects to cultivate creativity and bold thinking.

In addressing the potential that Africa holds, the panel raised the need for intentional steps to convert this promise into product leadership. This includes addressing the skills gap through mentorship and training, encouraging cross-border collaboration, and creating robust ecosystems where talent thrives. Notably, the discussion pointed out that Africa’s unique market characteristics—like its youthful population and informal economies—should be leveraged to create solutions that are not only relevant but can also set global standards.

The panel also confronted the often-hurdling pressure to deliver immediate results versus maintaining a focus on long-term, sustainable product cultures – arguing for a balanced approach that celebrates short-term achievements while investing in the foundational elements necessary for enduring growth.

The conference served as a pivotal platform to challenge the narrative around product leadership in Africa.

As the panel concluded, the overarching call to action was clear: Africa needs to move from ‘potential’ to implementation. By shifting perspectives from looking at
‘challenges’ as opportunities, product leaders can create solutions that highlight Africa’s uniqueness. For example, Africa’s large informal sector is one of the key reasons that mobile money is a success.

BongoHive remains committed to empowering the African product community and is proud to have Taonga represent the organization at such a crucial discussion that is shaping the future of innovation across the continent.