Big Tech to Telco in pursuit of building a "tech telecom giant" 🤔 , my time at MTN 🇬🇭 thus far. #ManagementMinistry

300 million touchpoints

What would you do if you had front-row seats to the user experience of ~300 million on the African continent?

Leading myMTN App NextGen team to launch our localized version of our flagship myMTN App circa November 2023, MTN House, Independence Avenue, Accra Ghana

After 30 years of “more than just talk” and “everywhere you go” connectivity with MTN; my team and I have spent the last 13+ months together interrogating and poking at this opportunity.

With a myriad of challenges and small wins; there has been an even more intention to bring digital practices into our analogue world:

Personal relationships:

I joined MTN with a wide African network framework primarily focused in three buckets: Africa-innovation-focus, diaspora-connectivity, and with people tech-first approach. My people tech-first approach was first identified when I was at Wits Business School, enforced over the last 5 years as a faculty member with Stellenbosch Business School, and has now metamorphosized into a movement I have affectionately named: We Dey Manage Academy

The first day, my day 1 as an employee at MTN with Group CCO & former Ghana CEO Selorm Adadevoh, Feb 2023

Knowing that MTN, first birthed out of Johnnic was a South African telco with 19 operating countries not only appealed to my excitement and time studying at Wits and teaching at Stellenbosch; but also emphasized my eternal hope that Africa-founded-Africa-funded innovation for us by us is possible.

MTN Ghana 🇬🇭 awarded WECA Regional Excellence OpCo for 2023, with colleagues from Digital, Marketing, Customer & Care Excellence, and Sales & Distribution in Capetown, South Africa

MoMo and ubiquitous use in my home country Ghana, as an example of financial service, was just an example of the potential for homegrown African fintech innovation and economic empowerment opportunities when we get our “product-to-market-fit-right.” When people think of toothpaste, they think of the brand Pepsodent, similarly, when they think of detergent, they mention Omo; as a case in point when everyday people think of sending money in an easy fast, and convenient way, they think of MTN’s Momo.

MTN Platforms Accelerator myMTN, MoMo, Ayoba, Chenosis apps, December 2023

Africa-innovation-focus: What would the next Africa-innovation-focus innovation be? An improved apps-powered, contextualized experience for onboarding SMEs and local entrepreneurs into the shared digital economy?

Joining the Digital team, as a senior manager for our digital channels — apps — PWA and internal digital ecosystem — permits me a front-row seat on the enablers, blockers, and sheer will-power of cultural change to fundamentally move the needle for adoption (digital or otherwise) our continent. It is a tall order, few can articulate if their hands are not on the plow and they are not embedded in the day-to-day go-to-market tactics even with the most well-intentioned strategy, Kwerh!

Starting in 2024 gifting my manager and CDO Dario Bianchi one of his first Khaftans with my team growth manager & 2ic, David Daitey Narh, and coordinator Gloria Senam Afanyibo #DreamTeam #Digital #SparkJoy

Diaspra-connectivity: one of the benefits of being a Googler or Facebooker (Meta) is the global alumni of similar-minded folks who tackled some of the same global challenges at scale and willingness to see our part of the world win. My bet is that similar to pan-African banks & tech start-ups, FMCGs, and some insurance companies, MTN has the best cohort of brilliant Africans working in and on local problems in the world; especially the senior management to general management pool of talent.

Illustration by YebSketch x @itp85 reimagining what today’s workplace requires to meet high-performance

Peopletech-first approach: The digitalization narrative emphasizes products first; a cost-saving narrative and then a people-enabling, profit-generating modus operandi. Peopletech — where the tech or technology adoption first empowers workers is not as sexy a draw; as novel and engaging tech that excites the imagination and propels otherwise mundane (but iteratively improved work practice) with its newness. My father was an emigre in Germany, and what he passed on from his time with German mechanics was not to despise the awesome of consistent (sometimes small) iterative improvements of processes, products, and functions. Looking back, with the many constraints of working in telecom in an African country with arresting inflation, 90% of my creative innovation agency at work is constrained to small consistent iterative actions to meet high-performance targets. The key enabler, for now, is still the people in Peopletech.

Devs, UI UX designers, project managers scrum masters & avengers responsible for myMTN app, circa February 2024

Hiring Building a collaboration-first team: One of my most impactful take-aways from my time at MTN was an empathetic daily check-in cadence during our stand-ups that I call: red gold green. By modifying our check-ins to include prioritize updates by color coding: red for highest priority, green for least priority-but need to know we can have a low effort, high-touch, support/unblocking check-in on WhatsApp almost daily. Grateful my team members adopted and championed check-ins with colleagues “streaking” and getting commended for being consistent.

Spark Joy:

Top of the column at my desk, amidst team culture, mid-future operationalized goals & Ambition 2025 personalized targets… is a deliberate scribble for “fun: onboarding scavenger hunts to pass joy to new hires; and chorale after-week practice” to maintain a beginner’s mindset in learning a new hobby: singing.

Fun, Culture, Future & Ambition 2025, top on my desk at MTN Ghana HQ, Independence Avenue, Accra Ghana

I shared earlier what my team and I have been up to at a Future of Work conference; and on LinkedIn and on reflection, I can only recount these past months with gratitude, and reverence for the titans who braved the constraints in actioning the dreams that have led to our success this far; and to draw my small circle of support even closer as I am now part of the status quo that implements habits for 300 million of our customers across our mobile devices on my favorite continent, Africa. The legacy of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress is ongoing, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

Future of Work Conference, Univerity of Ghana Legon

Be well, be safe, and be loved.

p.s. If you breathe product dev, conduct team management with respectful finesse, and enjoy working with a high-paced, high-impact team join my team at MTN here. #EveryWhereYouGo #WhatAreYouDoingToday

We are hiring & serendipitously matching here

p.s. At 30 years old, MTN is still one of the most fascinating for Africa by Africa businesses out there. For those who want to, I know you do… you may nerd out on our latest suite of reports: here https://bit.ly/3UOLUo1 and here https://bit.ly/4aUis5z #30yearsofMTN #DoingGoodTogether

Originally published to Unpacking Africa newsletter’s 15,000 + subscribers on May 10th, 2024.

#SpacesWithGamor curates conversations online and in-person that leverages tech, culture, and, connections from Africa to the rest of the world.

We had our intro session on 6th February and a discussion on Story Boarding with Akua Nyame-Mensah (@akua_nm)

Click the links below #SpacesWithGamor and join the conversation if you missed out!

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This space has ended: 🎙 The Intro Show w/Akua Nyame-MENSAH #SpacesWithGamor — twitter.com 
 Emmanuel A. Gamor’s space · Where live audio conversations happen

⚡ Highlights

• There is no wrong or right idea. It just depends on the context it is created in

• Theme-setting is very essential

• Recognizing if anything that you are human and that they’re going to be peaks and there’s going to be valleys in that you’re not going to be in.

🎶Song of the day

DJ Neptune ft Mr. Eazi- Marry

Enjoy!!

For The Love Of Chocolate 🍫

This session had Kwadwo Agyekum (@aeagyekum) and Mabel (@chocolateshop_) dissect the issue on the fruit of the month… Cocoa!

If you missed out, you know what to do. (Click here)

This space has ended: For the Love ❤️ of Chocolate🍫 #SpacesWithGamor — twitter.com 

⚡ Highlights

• Chocolate is defined by its colour. It is defined by the ingredients.

• Quality chocolate has two main ingredients. The cocoa mass and the butter. If it is more milky, you have to question it.

• Chocolate is more than a sweet. The bitter, the better

🎶Song of the day

Kojo Antwi- Adiepenna

Enjoy!!!

For the Love of Innovation 🖥️

In the spirit of love, Isaac Newton Acquah (@isaacnewtonIII), Philip Ashon (@kofiashon), Allana Finley (@afosterfinley), and Michele Clarke- Ceres (@clarkeceres) took our community through the path of innovation.

Mind-blowing and eye-opening!

Click here to listen

This space has ended: The Love of Innovation ✨ #SpacesWithGamor — twitter.com 
 Emmanuel A. Gamor’s space · Where live audio conversations happen

⚡ Highlights

• The joy is in the doing

• Anybody can innovate and you don’t have to complicate it

• Innovation is making something ready at the right time for the right audience

• Innovation is about taking risks. If you are not taking risks, you cannot encourage others to do so

• We have been innovating in this space for a long time. Collaboration is key. Look to those who came before you

🎶Song of the day

M.anifest- Someway bi

🗣️Wanna speak?

#SpacesWithGamor is welcoming interested persons who want to join in the conversation. Just click the link below and let’s get talking!

✨SpacesWithGamor — docs.google.com 
 Digital platform conversations on monthly themes that foster collaboration in physical and meta-physical spaces. Join our community here: https://lu.ma/SpacesWithGamor | DM: @naa_orgle or @eagamor

🤝 Hey Partner!

We would love to partner with organizations within our space. Come let’s do amazing things together

✨SpacesWithGamor

 Digital platform conversations on monthly themes that foster collaboration in physical and metaphysical spaces. Join our community here: | DM @eagamor 

Originally published to Unpacking Africa newsletter's 15,000 + subscribers on February 26th, 2022.

 Reflections on Africa Day.

“We Are our ancestors’ wildest dreams, but we don’t know that unless we learn what our ancestors went through.” — Monita K. Bell

Leading up to Africa Day 2021, I had the once-in-a-lifetime joy of surprising my mother, Rev. Muriel on her return visit to Ghana after 25 years of being away. It has been incredibly emotional to experience my mom reconnect with her country of birth after making so many sacrifices for our family. For her, our college education in the United States was paramount. In spite of leaving the continent first with two young children, and then became four young kids she preserved and has also built a community ministry.

Muriel, Esaaba, Emmanuel Gamor Golden Tulip Hotel Accra, May 22nd, 2021.

Being the oldest, with three younger sisters the weight of the responsibilities and sacrifices by our parents and by extension, our ancestors has never been lost on me. Never shying away from the mantle to circle back in building a world that validates our experiences, from the African and especially, respected everywhere else in the world.

Every year, Muriel and I align on a shared mantra. This year, in spite of the challenges and trauma of the global pandemic, the mission is to be intentional in carrying on the torch and momentum of our forebearers had, to have the audacity to co-create these dreams.

I am incredibly blessed that I get to witness my mother relive, and share the dreams I was too young to fully understand; also to create new ones that exceed our wildest ones. Even as she takes the time to honor her own mother and father on her return journey.

Be well, be safe, be loved.

p.s.

My mother was one of the founding staff members of the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra Ghana when it first opened about 30 years ago, joined some of the early staff members present who were gracious to n and take a few pictures with her.

image credit: Sylvester Darku, Team Black Image

Originally published to Unpacking Africa newsletter’s 15,000 + subscribers on May 26, 2021.

One of the impactful lessons I picked up during my time teaching Entrepreneurial Leadership at ALU in Mauritius, was the constant need to foster a growth mindset. The intentional ability to keep dreaming and the consistent effort in bringing these dreams to life!

You could briefly join me in today’s exercise on exploring your own moment of having a growth mindset. If you may kindly take a quick moment to close your eyes, take a deep breath, and allow your mind to settle. Then, respond privately or aloud to this prompt:

In the absence of all that is happening and all my responsibilities, and limitless resources, what is the one thing I can dream up and create, today? Something audaciously impactful, and rewardingly personal.

You should write your answer down and refer to it often, creating little achievable tasks to achieve your and let’s reconvene on your progress. I’ll be happy to be your accountability buddy.

My dreams are most often times dipped in culture, expressed in melodies, colored in curated experiences, and only tempered by the need to wake up, eventually. This year, I have the privilege of joining Andani.Africa and the University of Johannesburg to exploring “Futures & Beyond” 2-day summit Where Creatives and 4IR meet on the 16th & 17th of March. I am giddy to share on Culture, Creative Arts, Connectivity & Commerce with further details here.

Andani.Africa x UJ Arts & Culture (FADA)

If the intersection of re-imagine Africa’s contributions to digital and the appreciation of our cultural heritage through the digital arts is your jam as much as mine, then it would be an honor to have you join us!

“Connecting the dots: Culture, Creative Arts, Connectivity & Commerce.” E. A. Gamor

Besides the Unpacking Africa lens, I shall be engaging our audience on the untapped, underexploited economic and innovation opportunity that exists in our creative manufacturing and artisanal spaces; while sharing the relevance of Africa’s poignant contributions that have recently taken space on digital entertainment consumption during the pandemic with Beyonce’s Black is King, Apple’s Prince G iPhone photography campaign, Netflix’s Bridgerton, Afrobeats, and provocative colorful design.

In spite of the challenges we have all had to face this and last year, I have also allowed my dreams to permeate my reality, and have taken on earnest the opportunity to assist our creative manufacturing and hand-made products sector more intentionally with my skills, network, and resources. More on my theory of change with the Eliu Gift Hub here:

My dream and earnest hope are that with this love-offering of curating cultural communities that create bridges in dismantling challenges in commerce from Africa to the world, we are able to unearth even more talents that express the gift of giving.

In a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, a trans-generational icon and barrier-shattering-artist, Stevie Wonder matter-of-factly shared “I wanna see this nation smile again; and I want to see it before I move to Ghana because I’m going to do that.” urged on by Oprah he also shared “I don’t want to see my children’s children’s children have to say, ‘Oh please’, like me. ‘Please respect me, please know that I am important, please value me.’ What is that?” Link to the full interview for context here.

In my lived experience, my culture has always valued me, it has shielded me, it has protected me especially in spaces that have been contentious and unappreciative. And as I continue to future-cast the world I also want my children to thrive and succeed in; I cannot dream up of a better way than to connect our dots in cultural heritage as we negotiate our place in a more equitable world. Join us.

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” Carl Gustav Jung

Be well, be safe, be loved.

Originally published to Unpacking Africa newsletter’s 15,000 + subscribers on March 03, 2021.

Ever since I can remember, my mother has been holding parties for children during Christmas holidays. The work, effort and selflessness usually ate into our own Christmas holidays and plans. But the joy on the faces of the children, and my mother's, always made it well worth it. She got the practice from her father.

Giving back in some way shape of form was inculcated in us by our family at an early age. In high school, I volunteered at a hospital for two years and met my godmother Kathryn Smith. In college I joined many a a volunteer organization including Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. and in Ghana I was thirsty to keep that balance - productivity coupled with impact as part of my routine.

I started with Rotaract see earlier posts here and here.  And created the habit of going outside my comfort zone for outreach programs, cervical cancer awareness drives and general doing-good in my community.

On February 24th, at my induction I was supported by my Rotaract Club of Adentan family and close friends. As I re-affirmed my commitment to "Service Above Self" #GamorLegacy

Our snazzy induction class flyer!

Moments before being officially announced as a member of the Rotary Club of Accra - Ring Road Central

President Franklin Attah of Rotary Club of Accra - Ring Road Central & Emmanuel Gamor

Fellow Rotarian Lamisi and my Rotary mentor Dr. Dennis Addo (right)

Table of Men Rotarians at the Rotary Club of Accra - Ring Road Central

Holding up my certificate of membership: Rotarian Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor - Rotary Club of Accra - Ring Road Central

Friends and members of the Rotaract Club of Adentan 

My induction mentor & one of the oldest Rotarians PAG Abbi Dodo

Feb 24th felt like swearing-in ceremony: "Service Above Self"

Fellow Rotary inductees: Billy & Sheba & Emmanuel Gamor

All these pictures were taken kind courtesy of fellow Shaper, mentor and awesome friend +Yawa Hansen-Quao #WeAreOne

Google REACH is a three-week intensive program aimed at bringing together innovators, developers, and entrepreneurs with mentors from Google to forge lasting relationships and turn ideas into reality. This year, for HuddleGH - YouTube workshops and consultations, three awesome Googlers +Gaurav Bhogale, +Christina Beveridge & +Ellen Eby spent 3 weeks with me in Accra as REACHstars! Highlights below:

Week 1:

On our way to our first school session at National Film & Television institute (NAFTI)

Attentive students: future filmmakers and media journalists

Always time for a selfie, yep E. A. Gamor - YouTube

Week 2:

Did you know University of Ghana - Legon has gone Google!

Christina Beveridge explaining advertising models on YT

Gaurav Bhogale before his famous ice-breaker "Big Bird Little Bird"

Excited to teach at University of Ghana - Legon

Week 3:

Presenting to a rapt audience at IPMC College of Technology

Do you YouTube? Why not? It is FREE!

Huddles +iSpace Foundation

New big screen +iSpace Foundation just for YouTube videos

Ellen Eby engaging with HuddleGH participants at iSpace Foundation, Osu

HuddleGH YouTube Community 2014

In-between & after all the work we found time to eat, fellowship ("chillop") and we picked up some awards!

Buka - guess who is eating what....

Halloween in Accra!

West Hills Mall Opening #REACHstars

West Hills mall - largest in West Africa

Look who picked up two Google Reach Global Awards - Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor #GamorLegacy