Extraordinary Conversations with askChenai

Episode 10 — “What’s the Deal, Africa? Raising Capital, Finding Purpose, and Surviving the Zombipocalypse” – An Extraordinary Conversation with Monica Shupikai Simmons (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this extraordinary conversation, Chenai and Vimbai dive deeper with Monica Shupikai Simmons — global investment banker, author, and proud “Africa girl” — to unpack the stories and lessons behind her book What’s the Deal, Africa? This episode is about building, belonging, and believing in African founders: * Why What’s the Deal, Africa? had to be written — and how Monica finished it between chemo sessions and boardrooms * The truth about capital raising on the continent (and the myths we need to unlearn) * How she balances ambition, motherhood, and rest — even when switching off doesn’t come easy * Why gardening, swimming, and cleaning are her unexpected therapy * And, of course, how she plans to survive the Zombipocalypse  Wise, funny, and refreshingly grounded — this is Monica in her element: honest about the grind, passionate about the continent, and still ready to fight to the end. To learn more about Monica, follow her on LinkedIn ( ⁠/ Monica Shupikai Simmons⁠ (  / monica-shupikai-simmons-2a4b084   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTQyN25iRzJsQklZdmNTek9XTkRzY2lHSEJ5Z3xBQ3Jtc0tsNjdMTTEzUjlqOFN0S1I3MXpvU2xwZmRIcVBWZ3J1X1F4QVZnWFBieTdmcWlsZ1hmVVE2bVB0Qnp3VE8wcEExR2pBU0ZMZXc3aGtxYlNPUU5aOE0zSjduV0ZUTU1yRXR6ZmRha2kwS1QtOXJLVTVXOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fuk.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmonica-shupikai-simmons-2a4b084&v=5fVlEmy409c])  ) , and visit her website (⁠ / https://monicashupikai.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbENHT0ZlMEZUZEVlQXFMLVFuaThMa1R3dFhCd3xBQ3Jtc0tseFctZEx4UG9TUjJqSHZhbUd1MWlwZ0FsZmtOb3d6Z21HQ2QxbjFFUTl5ZFpvWTBJRWJCN1BLYjk3WEdDVWlhM3paODhUX3VBdlV1Z2xhdndlSTc4bExLb1hxS2szVlAyRzNJejVUUVpQRUJubUFibw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmonicashupikai.com%2F&v=5fVlEmy409c] ⁠) To learn more about askChenai - visit our ⁠website⁠ (⁠https://www.askchenai.com/⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbldObUhCaGtETnhMODgtamRTWVFZMFlKaHBqUXxBQ3Jtc0tsQUtfNG5EZEJqOExkMEIxblJ1Rm5Nb18xdms3TGtqWTYzU0ZoZ2FMSVZ6a3ZhZFpYN19LV3lvN2FIVTV4cDlOZ19tNjJMbmZOM2hSMFJudjhBdHpDZlZMMDhQU1l5SXlQaUgwSTU4X29DeFFfeXRHMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.askchenai.com%2F%E2%81%A0&v=5fVlEmy409c] ) or follow us on ⁠Linkedin⁠ (⁠  / https://www.linkedin.com/company/askchenai/ ) , ⁠TikTok⁠ (⁠  / https://www.tiktok.com/@askchenai_vas  ⁠ ) or ⁠Instagram (⁠  / https://www.instagram.com/askchenai/ )

Episode 9 - Cats, Cancer, and Conversations with God: How Monica Shupikai Simmons Rebuilt Her Life from the Ashes – An Extraordinary Conversation with Monica Shupikai Simmons (Part 1)

In Part 1 of this powerful two-part episode, we sit down with Monica Shupikai Simmons — global investment banker, author, mother of two, and unapologetic outlier — to explore the fire, faith, and fight behind her extraordinary story. This is not a finance episode. It’s about life after the breakdown — finding faith, identity, and purpose when everything you thought defined you falls away. In this episode: * Growing up in Harare and thriving in male-dominated spaces * Why being “different” became her superpower * Real talk on marriage, motherhood, and the myth of having it all * What divorce, cancer, and courage taught her about surrender and starting over * And yes — why a Zimbabwean woman with a cat might just be the ultimate rebel Raw, thoughtful, and full of quiet strength — this is Monica before What’s the Deal, Africa?!, before the headlines, before the healing. To learn more about Monica, follow her on LinkedIn ( ⁠/ Monica Shupikai Simmons⁠ [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/monica-shupikai-simmons-2a4b084] ) , and visit her website (⁠ / https://monicashupikai.com/ ⁠ [https://monicashupikai.com/]) To learn more about askChenai - visit our ⁠website⁠ (⁠https://www.askchenai.com/⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1dXUV9ES3NVaVR3cWlBa2xoNXZsZm1FNkVfZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsNlJrcGVCbDAyS2VJdUpidFY5TlUtemowWTZxeF96RjNLNHVZdDItNWZZTWFKQ2FzUi1BMDlub3BNMk13ckc2ckU0aEpWSDV6ZG9ub3VmNEc0ZGNrOTZsSWJPOVdSNnhXRmtWeUNMVzkwMWpEc0ExUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.askchenai.com%2F&v=FDrM_v9sb18]) , or follow us on ⁠Linkedin⁠ (⁠  / askchenai  ⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1FBVS1neHA4S3ZaYWtwR1lZeEU2eWgyMmZVZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttSDVNR1JBQkdScUxLY1BSS1dhM28xNS0zTW41Q0FEV1VQdnNLMFFjakhxM1laTHNXRDNMRkFad3RjYk1lVTFHZUdnN0xZV0x1OS1sUDVFbjV1X1NfNDFtXzl2WEFBOXFfTFNNR05BdklweVhSNFVISQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Faskchenai%2F&v=FDrM_v9sb18]) , ⁠TikTok⁠ (⁠  / askchenai_vas  ⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUtibnVVbE1hdWZhdXhqMm11RmNiZU9NRDFkUXxBQ3Jtc0ttaHhJV3c4VHRmZ3UxRXNuaDJiSUVnVG1UVFdQN19YQk1vT3lSVGlINWsySFYwVlFLTWRQZ1Z1RUtUeDlhNmI1YXpiUmRpeUh1aWhGNmxjbERZb3JPbGl1WW44eEJkTU1QREtpSjNLZ3hsZ3Y4RjR5UQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40askchenai_vas&v=FDrM_v9sb18]) or ⁠Instagram (⁠  / askchenai  ⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjRtTTB3N0Vzd0hYbjdvbFR1YkdjSEJPaHdzQXxBQ3Jtc0tsLTZESGpjdlNNYTBRS19nVGt5QkpFVXJvOTRZY0I3VnFFVXR6UTgwVU1qcGxoM2swU2wzdGhPdnJGNDBzN0NseDRxb1YtVVYyTHFZQURKdmxNMFdBYXctVE9kVEV4WG1HaUdtN0lSanVvcU90UmloRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Faskchenai&v=FDrM_v9sb18])

Episode 8 - "On how becoming cabin crew, why Lagos is a vibe, and the worst food we've eaten while travelling" - An Extraordinary Conversation with The AfroTraveller aka Cookie Tatenda Dube (Part 2)

In Part 2 Chenai and Vimbai move from Cookie’s roots to her rise: the AfroTraveller in full flight, navigating the highs and lows of life at 30,000 feet. From Virgin Atlantic uniforms to Lagos night life, from in-flight meals to holiday romances - Cookie Tatenda Dube has seen the world, and she’s got the stories to prove it. This is not a glossy cabin-crew advert. It’s the reality behind the glamour: * How Cookie became cabin crew (after swearing she never would) * Living with endometriosis * Her thoughts on on destinations - from Lagos to America to China * The absolute best and worst food she’s eaten on her travels * And ofcourse, how she's tackling the Zombies (... with fire, she's using fire) Unfiltered, hilarious, and full of wanderlust, this is a behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to live a life built around travel. To learn more about Cookie, follow her on Instagram [http://instagram.com/theAfroTraveller], Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@theafrotraveller?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc], Youtube [https://youtube.com/@theafrotraveller?si=NZ4WBy0ppnoKOMDe] and Twitter [http://twitter.com/afro_traveller]⁠ [http://twitter.com/afro_traveller] To learn more about askChenai - visit our ⁠website⁠ [https://www.askchenai.com/], or follow us on ⁠Linkedin⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/askchenai/], ⁠TikTok⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@askchenai_vas] or ⁠Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/askchenai]

Episode 7 - "Do you shed bad energy when you shave your head, what's couchsurfing, and when do romances scream visa scrounger" - An Extraordinary Conversation with The AfroTraveller (Part 1)

In Part 1 of this extraordinary conversation, Chenai and Vimbai sit down with The AfroTraveller - cabin crew, digital creator, storyteller, and Zimbabwean mischief-maker to trace the roots of her journey. This is not a travel blog episode. It’s about identity, heritage, and the joy (and chaos) of moving through the world: * Why shaving her head was about more than style - it was energy, renewal, and power * Becoming The AfroTraveller almost by accident * How couchsurfing in Tanzania changed the way she saw people and places * The strange tale of cannibalism that somehow makes sense when Vimbai tells it * What holiday romances can reveal about passports and privilege, and the bittersweet reality of travel romances that rarely last past immigration Funny, sharp, and deeply rooted in culture, this is the story behind the persona — the mischief before the miles. To learn more about Cookie, follow her on Instagram [http://instagram.com/theAfroTraveller], Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@theafrotraveller?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc], Youtube [https://youtube.com/@theafrotraveller?si=NZ4WBy0ppnoKOMDe] and Twitter [http://twitter.com/afro_traveller] To learn more about askChenai - visit our website [https://www.askchenai.com/], or follow us on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/askchenai/], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@askchenai_vas] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/askchenai]

Episode 6 - "The lowdown on space tech, why VCs seem to love sketchy founders, and why who you have as your investor can make or break your startup" – An Extraordinary Conversation with Rumbi Makanga

From Cambridge to space tech, from startup trenches to the investor’s chair — Rumbi Makanga has seen how ambition, money, and risk collide. In Part 2 of this extraordinary conversation, Chenai and Vimbai move from Rumbi’s roots to her rise: a career that spans consulting, deep tech, venture capital, and ecosystem building. This is not a glossy success story. It’s a candid look at the reality behind the LinkedIn headlines: * The truth about space tech - what’s real, what’s hype, and why it matters for the African continent * Why some VCs seem to get starry-eyed over obviously sketchy founders * The number-one thing entrepreneurs raising capital underestimate (spoiler: it's your cap table construction) * What investors really look for when they write checks * And yes — Rumbi’s surprisingly strategic zombie apocalypse plan Funny, sharp, and full of practical wisdom, this is a masterclass in risk, resilience, and the courage it takes to build the future. To learn more about Rumbi, follow her on LinkedIn here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rumbi-makanga-89518369/] To read more about askChenai and our remote support solutions, visit our website [https://www.askchenai.com/] or find us on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/askchenai/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/askchenai?igsh=MXNicWYwOHpuODZ1Zg%3D%3D] and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@askchenai_vas].