Africa Untangled

Building Banks in the Red Zone: Strategy, Risk, and Digital Leapfrogging with Tengeri Osoro

Join the conversation [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2589390/fan_mail/new] Guest: Tengeri Nyaramba Osoro – Co-Founder & Executive, Premier Bank How do you build a financial institution where others see only chaos? In this episode, we sit down with Tengeri Nyaramba Osoro, a banker who has defined his career by running toward volatility rather than away from it. From the scorching heat of a newly independent South Sudan to the bullet-riddled streets of Mogadishu, Tengeri shares the untold story of establishing banking infrastructure in East Africa's most challenging frontier markets. We dive deep into the "First Mover" strategy that led to the founding of Premier Bank in Somalia—defying consultant warnings to launch the country's first functional ATM and digital banking rails. Tengeri opens up about the leadership resilience required to navigate war zones, the nuances of compliant banking in volatile economies, and Premier Bank’s aggressive "Neobank" strategy for capturing Kenya’s Gen Z market. This is a masterclass on risk management, digital transformation in emerging markets, and the power of local empowerment. Key Topics: Frontier Markets, Digital Transformation, Fintech, Crisis Management, Leadership. Credits Host: * Suban Nur Producer: * James Njoroge Executive Producers: * Harry Hare * Agutu Dan

First Principles: How Africa Rebuilds Featuring Robert Kirubi

Join the conversation [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2589390/fan_mail/new] Guest: Robert Kirubi, Former DHL Vice President (EMEA & Global Programmes) Most people who leave Africa for 40 years don't come back. Robert Karubi did - Robert Karubi spent 31 years building global supply chains at DHL. Then in December 2024, he came home to Kenya and discovered he didn't actually know what money was. Robert explains why most Africans never learn what money fundamentally does, only how to earn, save, and invest it. He breaks down why your 8% savings account return is silently eroding your wealth, why Bitcoin isn't an investment (it's a store of value), and why boda boda riders in Kibera already understand something our central banks have forgotten. But the deeper conversation is about systems. After 31 years watching global corporations navigate change, Robert identifies the real reason African digital transformation fails: governance structures can't adapt as fast as technology accelerates. It's not about importing Western solutions faster. It's about having the courage to build African ones. This is an episode about rebuilding from first principles—both personal and systemic. It’s for anyone asking: What needs to actually change? What are we getting wrong? And who gets to decide what Africa becomes? Key topics: Momentary systems, Bitcoin, Digital Transformation, Governance, Reverse Migration, Financial Sovereignty, Corporate Values, Systems Thinking Credits Host: * Suban Nur Producer: * James Njoroge Executive Producers: * Harry Hare * Agutu Dan

Introduction with Suban Nur & Michael Eadie

Join the conversation [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2589390/fan_mail/new] Welcome to Africa Untangled. This introductory episode sets the foundation for a series of conversations that go beyond headlines, hype, and surface-level success. Africa Untangled is a space for honest dialogue—where stories are unpacked, systems are questioned, and leadership is examined from an African perspective. We share the why behind TALO: why this platform exists, what it seeks to challenge, and the kind of conversations we believe Africa needs right now. From leadership and innovation to culture, failure, and growth, Africa Untangled is about the stories behind the decisions shaping our future. This is not about perfection or performance. It’s about perspective. It’s about listening, learning, and unlearning. And most importantly, it’s about telling African stories with depth, nuance, and intention. This episode invites you into the journey—setting the tone for the voices, ideas, and narratives that will follow. Welcome to TALO. Let’s talk. Credits Host: * Suban Nur Producer: * James Njoroge Executive Producers: * Harry Hare * Agutu Dan