As part of our ongoing tech female spotlight, we are featuring and celebrating dynamic tech female entrepreneurs who are using unique opportunities to create meaningful innovations and community engagements that affect humans globally. For this edition, we are presenting Regina Agyare; CEO of Soronko Solutions; which seeks to use technology to empower rural Ghanaian youth, read my interview with her and get inspired!
What motivated you to start Soronko Solutions ?
I believe technology can be a great tool to drive social change. I had identified two major problems. Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Ghana were not gaining visibility and scaling their business and our educational system was based on route memorization where STEM was not being taught in a practical way. I believe equipping young people with STEM skills will be crucial to get our youth population to develop solutions to fight poverty and develop their community and country
How you have stayed focused and developed your brand?
Our brand focuses on youth engagement and we use social media a lot. Our brand also focuses on excellent customer delivery and innovative solutions. So we use technology and innovation to develop the brand, engage the youth and our customers and keep our brand top of mind.
What is your typical week like?
Currently I have been travelling a lot for different programs, conferences and speaking engagements. I just came back from a 7 week fellowship with the Mandela Washington Fellowship started by Obama and run by the US State department and IREX. I will be going to Kenya for a conference on women empowerment and youth entrepreneurship. When I get back I will be going to China for the World Economic Forum meeting of New Champions. When I am in town the week is normally spent on meeting, strategic planning and coding at night. Developers are nocturnal and like to code at night.
How have you built both your IT and leadership skills? Was it through formal education or your interest?
It was a bit of both. I was interested in IT but there was not a lot of information and not a lot of role models back then so getting formal education helped me learn more and meet more people who inspired and challenged me.
What steps have you taken in the past and are you taking currently to keep your skillsets up-to-date?
I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and to keep my skills up to date. I am constantly learning and reading and coding in new languages. I also like to interact with individuals who can teach me something new informally or formally. I also use technology a lot to learn about new innovations and ideas from all over the world so that I am constantly setting my bar higher since I have a global perspective.
What is your advice to a younger person who wants to follow your path?
Tomorrow is never guaranteed so if you have a dream and passion just go for it. The beauty of youth is you get the opportunity to try as many things and if you fail you can pick yourself up again. Never let the fear of the unknown hold you back from living up to your full potential. You have the ability to achieve whatever you set your mind so don’t deny the world and yourself of the greatness God has placed in you.
What can we expect from Soronko Solutions in the future?
I would tell you but what would be the fun in that. I want to keep you engaged and a little suspense. We have big plans for our local presence in Ghana and we are expanding to have presence in Africa and eventually the rest of the world. Our story is still being written so keep following and supporting us and be a part of our story.
Thank you Regina!
To nominate a tech female to be featured here, kindly fill out the nomination form.
Somto Fab-Ukozor
Latest posts by Somto Fab-Ukozor (see all)
- APPLY: Google Computer Science Summer Institute for High School Seniors - February 7, 2019
- Grace Hopper Celebration 2019 Scholarship Application (Fully Funded) - February 7, 2019
- APPLY: Microsoft Diversity Conference Scholarship (fully funded + $1200 meal stipend) - February 7, 2019