In this episode, we sit down with Lin Loke, founder of Nuwa wellness brand and former management consultant. Lin shares her journey from corporate burnout to building a health and wellness company, the power of picking up the phone, and why trust is the foundation of every business. We dive deep into career pivots, the reality of launching a consumer brand, and the importance of taking that crucial first step.
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Career Foundation & Early Experiences
01:04 - Lin's UCL journey and early career exploration
07:20 - Summer internships: From surveying buildings to inspecting Wembley Stadium
12:56 - Lin: Early career exploration eliminates what you don't want to 13:53 - Nero: Business is about people - rapport building and stakeholder management
16:04 - Lin's 5 years at Arup: M&A infrastructure and due diligence
17:21 - Meeting Hael Kobayashi: From Star Wars to digital transformation mentor
20:28 - The importance of mentors and international exposurePivoting from Corporate to Entrepreneurship
22:05 - Lin: Escaping the linear career path - why consulting wasn't enough
23:35 - Nero's story: From engineering to discovering lean startup methodology
27:20 - Lin: Creative energy and the birth of Nuwa wellness brand
29:15 - The burnout that inspired the product ideaBuilding Nuwa: From Idea to Execution
34:00 - From trademark to product development: The research process
36:31 - East meets West philosophy in wellness products
39:10 - Packaging innovation: Why she chose biodegradable tea bags over bottles
42:43 - Finding manufacturing partners: The power of picking up the phone
Golden Insights on Entrepreneurship
46:29 - Nero's Jetseta story: Uber for private jets in Nigeria
49:50 - Marketing photoshoot as MVP56:02 - Dogfooding your product changes how you sell
The Reality of Launching
56:51 - Lin: The misconception about "selling out" on launch day
59:22 - Nero: Trust before the trust - preparation meets opportunity
Philosophy & Final Advice
01:01:03 - "The frog in the well knows nothing about the ocean"
01:03:33 - Lin: Learning by doing vs. learning about doing01:07:57 - Most rewarding aspects of building Nuwa
01:10:55 - Final advice: Find a problem you care about and care deeper
01:13:22 - Nero's closing thoughts: Keep taking risks, the best is yet to come
Guest: Lin Loke - Founder of Nuwa Wellness
In this episode, we sit down with Alberto Zandi, the co-founder of Emerald Hospitality Group, Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, and the host of the 30 & Thriving Podcast.
Zandi shares valuable insights on his entrepreneurship journey, building iconic restaurant brands, and the importance of happiness for success.00:00 - Intro00:33 - Alberto's story04:13 - Finding the right business model 05:08 - Finding the right opportunity 08:19 - Travelling and building a brand10:50 - Working with his twin brother 15:00 - Curating a quality restaurant experience17:10 - 30 & Thriving Podcast21:00 - Success is never final, failure is never fatal21:45 - Defining Success24:06 - Advice to his 21 year old self 25:09 - What's Next Emperor Nero Okwa: / nerookwa , IG: @nero_okwaAlberto Zandi: / alberto-zandi-ba0a54130 Emerald Hospitality Group: https://emerald-hospitality-group.com/30 & Thriving Podcast: https://30-and-thriving.com/
After the amazing conversation on Creativity and Entrepreneurship with @BukaTheBuilder we were having an amazing 'back stage' chat and decided to just keep rolling the camera. We covered a lot of interesting themes on navigating identities from growing up somewhere else, Nigeria Culture 4.0, and Predictions for Africa.00:00 - Intro00:33 - Navigating Identities 01:12 - Nigeria Culture 4.001:32 - Add the Old, Enjoy the New 01:42 - African Diaspora 02:14 – Back to the source 02:36 - The Year of Return Ghana 201903:38 - Burna Boy: African Giant Album07:09 - Burna Boy: Touring Craft07:57 – Between 2 options, why not both?08:40 – Culturally Multilingual 08:54 – Creating Nigeria Culture 4.009:16 – We are creating history, right now09:40 – Being aware of the moment 10:04 – New tools to create 10:16 - Nigeria10:40 – Future of Africa, Agenda 206311:03 – Africa Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)12:15 – Mansa Musa, Europe 13:07 – Knowing where you came from 13:17 – We Need New Narratives13:52 – A Time to be Alive 14:43 – African High Speed Railway 16:15 – Africa Ecommerce 17:55 – Learning about my Culture18:24 – PREDICTIONS for Africa21:12 - Travelling across Africa, Hubs 22:16 – AfCFTA22:44 – People follow Opportunities. 23:55 - That’s a Wrap Emperor Nero: IG: @nero_okwaBuka The Builder: IG: @bukathebuilder
Had an amazing conversation on Creativity and Entrepreneurship with @BukaTheBuilder.We covered a lot of interesting themes on Music, Summer 2024, Creating, Africa, Culture and much more.
00:00 Intro
01:04 Buka - Attending Oxford Business Africa Summit
02:27 Nero - Attending Oxford Business Africa Summit
03:40 Buka - Music on our playlist
04:20 Nero - Music on our playlist
05:20 Buka - Summer: DJing, Music videos
06:52 Nero - Summer: Newsletter anniversary
07:38 Nero - Summer: Discovering your niche
08:31 Nero - Summer: Exploring London
11:55 Buka - What's next ?
13:22 Buka - Building the brand, dance, DJing
14:39 Buka - Mobile DJing, European tour
13:36 Nero - What's next ?
14:14 Nero - Climbing Kilimanjaro
15:24 Nero - Music the soundtrack of our lives
16:05 Life is Movie
16:25 Emperor Nero brand
17:57 Creating for yourself, body of work
18:19 Year of return, Afronation and Ghana
19:30 Be a beginner again
20:21 Buka - Discovering places with music
20:58 Nero - London Carnival, the multidimensional experience.
22:58 Buka - Art takes courage
23:16 Buka - Not good is better not done
24:15 Buka - If you don’t start you’ll never win
25:16 1 big thing in 6 months
26:46 Advice for creatives
28:29 Go up for glory
Emperor Nero: IG: @nero_okwaBuka The Builder: IG: @bukathebuilder
In this final episode of the Kilimanjaro series, Nero reflects on his transformative journey, from the challenges of the climb to the profound impact of exploring Tanzania.
He shares insights on self-discovery, the importance of environmental conservation, and the need for greater African travel and collaboration.
Drawing inspiration from a certain Japanese proverb, Nero emphasizes the importance of expanding our horizons and embracing new experiences to broaden our understanding of the world.
This episode takes us to the enchanting island of Zanzibar. I'll describe exploring the historic Stone Town, relaxing on pristine beaches, and immersing myself in the vibrant culture and delicious cuisine.
We'll then catch a ferry to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city, where I'll experience the blend of old and new.
Leaving the mountain behind, I embark on a thrilling safari adventure. Join me as I explore the Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, encountering incredible wildlife like lions, elephants, and giraffes.
Day 7In this climactic episode, I recount the midnight summit attempt – the physical and mental challenges of climbing in the dark, the exhilaration of reaching Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, and the bittersweet feeling of completing this incredible challenge.
Day 5 - Day 6
Experience the emotional and physical toll of the climb as I descend into the Karanga Valley and confront the stark contrast in landscapes. I'll discuss the importance of mental resilience and the grueling ascent to Barafu Camp, the final resting point before the summit push.
Day 1 - Day 4Join me as I navigate the diverse landscapes of Kilimanjaro, from the lush rainforests to the stark beauty of the Shira Plateau. I'll share the challenges of acclimatization, the importance of pacing oneself, and the thrill of conquering the formidable Barranco Wall.
In this inaugural episode of the series, I share the driving force behind my Kilimanjaro climb: raising awareness for the climate crisis in Africa, specifically the devastating deforestation of the Congo Rainforest.
I'll discuss the inspiration for this ambitious undertaking and set the stage for the incredible journey that lies ahead.
Introduction