Rwanda Hosts LinkedIn Local Kigali Networking Event

On Thursday, June 6th, 2024, Mayowa Kolawole, a business development & management professional based in Kigali, hosted Rwanda’s second LinkedIn Local networking event, bringing together a community of diverse people from different countries and industries.

Held at Lemon Kigali, a rooftop lounge and restaurant, the networking event was well-attended and began with introductions from participants from all over Africa: Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and more, with different careers, founders of various startups, students, lawyers and other industry professionals.

The convener, Mayowa, explained her reason for hosting the event during a fireside chat with Sonia Iraguha, the founder of Bicu Lounge. She mentioned how she moved to Kigali, Rwanda, some months before the event and utilized LinkedIn to build connections and find networks in Rwanda. 

While talking about business during her session, Sonia mentioned how she also moved to Kigali in 2020 after finishing her masters in Paris and spending time in Nairobi, Kenya. In December 2021, Sonia started her hospitality business, which she built for a year; during this time, she learned how to communicate differently and be more patient as she was in a new environment. She also talked about how she appreciates the security of the country and its community and how the community’s connections have helped her find amazing individuals and collaborators. 

When asked about what it’s like to launch a business, Sonia mentioned some important advice about having plans and ensuring they work.

“The first thing is to figure out how to put a plan and have plans set. As a business owner, you must have the idea and get it in your head; the plan helps you move. Have a plan before you start, research taxes, and understand them. Having a strong support system, exchanging ideas, having people from different fields and industries, and how they navigate helps to teach you how to do things differently.” Sonia said as she talked about what it was like for her while starting her own business and how this advice helped her business grow and scale. 

After the first panel session, Rita Uzoma, a sensational solo performer from Nigeria, gave an incredible violin music performance that captivated the audience and earned her a standing ovation. She skillfully performed a violin rendition of Sam Smith’s Fire on Fire and Teddy Swims’s Lose Control; this showcased her exceptional talent and dedication to her craft. 

Following the incredible performance was another fireside chat on personal branding and building business networks. David Mubita, a creative entrepreneur, and Clever Rusaro, a communications specialist and founder of Blank Mavins, a marketing agency, were speakers.

David Mubita, while speaking, mentioned he built his connections after traveling to Rwanda a few years ago to study. He put himself in a position to do things no one was doing. He started a podcast to tell stories of his fellow students at the student residence and many other unique activities that stood out from the public trend and gave him a name and reason to always be on people’s minds, which he later used to build momentum and position himself strategically. 

He also commented on how to post and put yourself out online, especially on a social platform like LinkedIn, saying, “What you share might build your personal brand or destroy it,.” He mentioned how it is important to create content intentionally, become both a content consumer and creator, and stay consistent and relevant, especially when Kigali is one of the perfect places to create content, as there are a lot of resources small creators can utilize. 

On the other hand, Clever spoke intensively on how LinkedIn is a place of personal and career development rather than intimidation. He also mentioned his belief in the power of networking, that there should be value in what you are offering. “Why would someone want to connect with you? Have something to offer, create content, I create content around marketing, and make posts. This sparks engagements, questions, and opportunities to collaborate.” Clever emphasized as he talked about ensuring that a person’s LinkedIn profile is clear enough and has an about section with value to offer. 

The first-of-its-kind networking event ended with a powerful networking session as the convener appreciated the partners, BAG, Lemon Kigali, TechGyant, the attendants, and the event’s organizing team.