Impact Masters Podcast
The Impact Masters Podcast explores the forces shaping Africa’s technology and innovation ecosystem while connecting them to global tech trends and best practices.
Hosted by technology ecosystem builder Michael Kimathi, the show features authentic conversations with the founders, developers, investors, and thought leaders who are building the future of Africa and influencing the global digital economy.
As the tech landscape shifts toward AI-augmented engineering and globalized talent pools, Impact Masters focuses on tactical, proven frameworks—not theory. We deconstruct the socio-technical challenges of building scalable software, securing venture capital, and leading high-performance engineering teams across emerging and global markets.
Each episode dives into how technology is transforming the way we live, work, and govern, with a focus on:
Software & DevEx: Engineering, developer experience, DevRel, and product design.
Digital Transformation: AI integration and scaling high-performance teams.
The Startup Playbook: Securing venture capital and driving startup growth.
While deeply rooted in Africa’s tech journey, we also unpack global innovations that inspire local impact. We tell authentic stories, preserve Africa’s tech history, share actionable insights, and challenge the status quo: body, mind, and spirit.
If you’re a tech founder, developer, investor, or innovator looking to understand Africa’s digital future while staying plugged into global technology trends, this podcast is your guide.
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Episodes
67 episodes
Culture, Capital & Code: Building Africa’s Future with Grace Mumo and Eng. Yinka Abioye
Culture isn’t a sideshow. It’s the engine that can power fair trade, smarter policy, and inclusive tech across Africa; and this conversation makes the case with lived experience and a concrete plan. We sit down with two heavyweight builders: Gr...
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2:39:46
Airtime, Data and Impact Across Africa with Luchiri Omoto | Impact Masters Podcast
Two truths can shape a career and a continent: simplify what matters, and put humans first. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Luchiri Omoto—commercial lead for airtime and mobile data at Africa’s Talking—whose journey runs from Kaka...
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2:05:13
Impact Masters Podcast and AT Retold and AT Summit 2024: Building APIs, Building Communities in Africa’s Startup Frontier Part 1
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38:43
UWC-USA, Crisis, and the Power of Humane Education with Dr Victoria | Impact Masters Podcast
What if school made us more alive instead of more numb? That question threads through our conversation with Victoria, President of UWC‑USA, as we journey from her Head Start memories in Albuquerque to crisis-tested leadership during COVID and t...
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2:00:32
Mining Engineer on Using Data & Vision to Transform Africa with Zikamai Gangaizo | Impact Masters Podcast
A story of motion becomes a blueprint for momentum. From a childhood crisscrossing Botswana and Zimbabwe to rugby fields, rain-soaked pools, and a first blast on a copper pit, Dzikamai Gangaizo learned agility the hard way—and then used it to r...
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2:50:59
Innovative Business Development & Growth with Ryan Dewey Smith | Impact Masters Podcast
Ryan Dewey-Smith, founder and CEO of Inperium Inc., reveals how he's revolutionizing the nonprofit world by creating a collaborative network where organizations maintain their autonomy while sharing resources. With over three decades of leaders...
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Season 57
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1:03:51
#56 Impact Masters Podcast: Unlocking the Power of Video: Video Marketing Trifecta
Meet Tim Bradley, the creative force behind Pennant Video and pioneer of the "video marketing trifecta" that's transforming how B2B companies build trust and close deals. From his childhood making videos with his brothers in rural Massachusetts...
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Season 56
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59:30
Finding Your Tech Path With Japheth Obala | Impact Masters Podcast
What does it take to go from coding on a phone during ferry rides to building developer tools at Microsoft? In this captivating conversation, Japheth Obala reveals his remarkable journey from Likoni, Mombasa to becoming the first engineer at Mi...
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Season 55
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1:55:27
#54 IMPACT MASTER CATHERLINE MIROBE: ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TO SOFTWARE ENGINEER
What does it take for a woman to succeed in Africa's male-dominated tech world? Catherline Mirobe's story shows us exactly that - through determination, skill, and an entrepreneurial spirit that refuses to quit.Growing up between Nairob...
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Season 54
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1:42:04
#53 Impact Master Dennis Okangi: Fish, Freezers, and Funding A Tech Entrepreneur's Tale
What transforms a curious young boy from Likoni into a globally-recognized innovator creating life-changing solutions for fishing communities? In this captivating conversation, Dennis Okangi shares his remarkable journey from watching neighbors...
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2:09:27
#52 Transforming Marine Economies: Dr. Mathew Egessa's Journey
Dive into the remarkable journey of Dr. Mthew Egessa, whose path from computer science to blue economy innovation demonstrates the transformative power of purpose-driven technology. Growing up in Western Kenya and navigating his way through the...
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Season 51
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2:39:52
#50 Impact Master: Tom Building Digital Bridges in African Fintech
The entrepreneurial journey from campus coder to fintech disruptor comes alive in this compelling conversation with Tom Kimani, founder of Presta. With remarkable candor, Tom rev...
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Season 50
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1:35:05
#49 Alfred Ongere Part 1 Bridging Telecom and AI: Lessons Learned in Tech
Dive into a rich conversation in this episode that encapsulates the journey from telecommunications to the era of artificial intelligence. Our guest shares captivating stories from his early experiences navigating the traditional telecom landsc...
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1:30:44
#48 IMPACT MASTER KHALILA MBOWE (KELLZ): FROM ARUSHA TO AFRICA'S CREATIVE ECONOMY AND TECH FOR GENDER #africa #innovation #socialimpact #entrepreneurship
Ever wondered how an introverted soul can still make waves in the world of social innovation? Khalila Mbowe, affectionately known as Kellz, tracking her roots in Machame in Kilimanjaro, joins us to unravel her journey from the bustling streets ...
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2:06:21
#47 Impact Master Irving Amukasa: From Kenyan Public Schools to Tech Entrepreneurship Excellence #africa #education #technology #entrepreneurship #inspiration
What if the key to transforming your passion into a successful career lies within the stories of your upbringing? Join us as we sit down with tech entrepreneur Iving Amukasa for an inspiring journey through his early life in Kenya. From his bir...
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Season 46
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2:05:12
#46 Breaking Barriers: Charles Oduk’s Journey from Struggle to Innovation
In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Charles Oduk, a tech entrepreneur whose life story remarkably intertwines hardship, resilience, and innovation. Born and raised in the challenging environments of Eldoret, Kenya, Charles f...
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2:04:34
#45 Innovating for Change: Empowering Rural Tanzania with Catherine Kimambo
What happens when you combine passion, resilience, and an unyielding commitment to rural development? Catherine R. Kimambo, the founder of African Child Projects, answers this by sharing her transformative journey from Arusha to Dar es Salaam. ...
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Season 45
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1:23:12
#44 African Tech Revolution Through Faith Kilonzi's Eyes
Join us as Faith Kilonzi, a trailblazing full-stack software engineer and Master's student in Big Data Technology, shares her transformative journey from studying business to embracing the world of computer science. Faith opens up about her exp...
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Season 44
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1:05:54
#43 Empowering Communities Through AI: The Kalebu Jordan Story
What if coding could bridge the digital divide and bring innovation to the most rural parts of Africa? Meet Kalebu Jordan Gwalugano, a pioneering force in AI and machine learning from Tanzania, who is doing just that. From his humble beginnings...
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1:40:14
#42 - Victor Abedi
Victor Abedi, a seasoned Site Reliability Engineer, shares his journey from the bustling streets of Umoja and Kibera to leading teams at major tech companies like Disney. How did his disciplined upbringing in Nairobi shape his career and instil...
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1:59:45
#41 Impact Master Hope Wanjeri: From Nairobi's Streets to Tech Innovation and Mentorship #africa #womenintech #podcast #inspiration #community
What does it take to rise from the bustling streets of Nairobi to becoming a force in the tech industry? Meet Hope Wanjeri, a dynamic tech developer whose journey is nothing short of inspiring. From her early days in Ruaka to her impressive rol...
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2:05:50