by Francesca Uriri

Using technology to improve the quality of lives of people seems to be a far-fetched idea; until you meet Regina Agyare, Founder of Soronko Solutions, and see just how possible it is. A fellow of the Aspen Institute, Regina shares her story on how women are changing the face of technology in Africa, and how they should always believe in the validity of their dreams. She’s the Leading Lady for the week. Be inspired!

 

 

First and foremost, has anyone told you that you’ve got a lovely, radiant smile? You’d expect someone in I.T to be stern-faced and unsmiling, what inspires you?

 

Thank you so much for the compliment. I love technology, it is my passion. So I am always smiling because I get to do what I love. I am inspired by using my skill to create technology that brings value to a lot of people. I am also inspired by being able to bring social change and change Africa’s single story of poverty, war and disease. I want a new story of innovation and creativity to be told about the African continent.

 You write computer codes and develop applications; how do these things improve the quality of life of people in general?

 

Well, technology is a great tool that can be used to spread information, make work easier and help one become financially independent. There are a lot of applications that bring great solutions for education, healthcare, agriculture, economies and even social engagement.

 You are the founder of Soronko Solutions; how did you come about such a unique name, and what does the company do?

 

When I was thinking of starting the company, I wanted to brand locally so that something local and Ghanaian made would make its way to the international stage. ‘Soronko’ means unique in Twi my native language.

The company is a social enterprise and we are experts in using technology to drive human potential. The company runs a for profit which leverages on developing innovative technology solutions across different channels such as Web, Mobile, POS and ATM to help Small and medium Scale Enterprises create visibility and grow their business. I also run a non for profit – Soronko Foundation which focuses on STEM skills development and empowering girls to code or create technology as skill they can use to economically empower themselves and transform their communities. We are also building an application to convert text to sign language for deaf children.

How did your interest in I.T start? Do you agree that it does seem like a pretty unusual field for a woman, particularly in Africa?

You know at the time I didn’t really think about it like that. But now that I think about it, I will have to agree. One thing I lacked was having African female role models when I aspired to study computer science; I was looking up to people like Bill Gates, Paul Allen and Steve jobs. So it is an unusual field for a woman in Africa but to be honest not even just Africa but worldwide. I was the only female in the IT department for two banks and one of three girls in my computer science class.

For me the interest started when I was 12 years old and my dad brought home the very first computer. I played pacman and fell in love with the game. I wanted to build my own pacman. From there it is has been a love affair between me and technology

 You started out working in an international bank, how did you make the big leap of faith to entrepreneurship?

 

Leap of Faith is a perfect description of what happened. I never saw myself as an entrepreneur. I am risk averse and I wanted to find a good job and rise to the top. But I reached a point where I felt I could do more with my skills and I was so passionate about using technology for social change. I did not know the morning I woke up that I would resign that day. I had a strong feeling that I had to resign on that day. My friends and colleagues asked me to wait a little till the end of the month or when bonus was paid. It took a lot of courage but I said I a prayer and decided to take the leap.

 At the bank, you kept getting passed on for promotions because they felt you were a woman, and also too young; how would advise women in the words of Sheryl Sandberg to ‘Lean in?’

It is interesting that you mention Sheryl Sandberg’s ‘Lean in’ because my story was published in the second edition Lean in for graduates. So my advice to women would be don’t be afraid to stand out or ask for help or what you deserve. There is also power in coming together to advocate for a common cause. I feel so blessed to work with the amazing women who serve as mentors in Tech Needs Girls. So ladies, please Lean In!

You started Soronko Solutions from a lap-top and chair in your father’s house; now you have over 30 clients in a little less than 5 years. How did your business grow?

When I started I did a market survey and proof of concept to really understand my target market; which is Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, then I made sure that I was providing value and quality services. Soon my business grew on referrals without me having to go out and prospect for business.

One of the challenges that entrepreneurs face is that of funding; how were you able to raise funding for Soronko Solutions?

Well for me I started out with my life savings. I believed so much in my vision I was willing to start with my own money.

Africa seems to be the new darling for international investors, with funding pouring in, what do you think of this new trend, and how do you think it affects start-ups such as yours?

It is interesting that you said that. I had a conversation on how there are a lot of venture capitalists, angel investors and investment funds available in Ghana but there are not a lot of start-ups being funded. I think start-ups need to structure themselves properly and have a clear business plan or value proposition. I think it is great that more funding is coming in so that more enterprises are created and people have the resources to expand. For me it gives me hope that I can find investors or partners who will help me grow my business and scale.

If you weren’t writing codes and being so amazingly cool at it, what would you be doing?

Hmmm… I wanted to be a flight attendant and travel the world. I actually wanted to apply but I felt I was not tall enough. *laughs*

Tell us about your ‘Tech Needs Girls’ initiative; what do you hope to achieve with it?

With Tech Needs Girls we want to mentor girls to lead and innovate by learning to code. We are creating a movement where young girls and women have a skill that allows them to become tech entrepreneurs, economically empower themselves or become creators of technology. We believe technology is the future and we don’t women to be left behind in the technology solutions that are being created.

With the immense international recognition you’ve received, do you have people being surprised that you attended Ashesi University, a home-grown, indigenous institution? And how do you handle that?

Yes as a matter of fact people always ask me if I studied in the US. I am proud to stay I studied at Ashesi University a home-grown indigenous institution. Normally I smile and say it with a big grin. Lol!

With all this techy stuff you’re involved in; what do you do for fun, and how do you let your hair down?

So I love movies, series and eating. I love the taste of different foods in my mouth. I love an iced chilled coke, icre-cream, Kenkey and fish and a good movie.

 What do you think is the greatest challenge women face in advancing themselves in their careers or business?

Lack of Self Confidence. My new power mantra is that I am aware of my power. For women we hold ourselves back sometimes by not asking for what we want and not believing that we have all that we need to be all that we can be.

Name 3 women you admire and why?

My Mother:  Strongest woman I know. She taught me from an early age to be an independent woman and not to be afraid to speak up and believe in my potential.

Rasheeda Yehuza: She is the cofounder of Tech needs Girls and runs Nasara Tech. This young woman reminds me so much of myself when I was her age. I love her drive and her positive attitude. She is simply amazing.

Deborah Ahenkorah: She is founder of Golden Baobab and a curator of the Global Shapers Accra Hub. She is a leader and knows how to motivate others. She has a good heart, works hard and has achieved a lot. I love how she is creating a world filled with wonder and possibilities for children one African story at a time.

What would you say to young girls who intend to make careers in I.T?

There is so much opportunity in the I.T field. I.T is fun and in the space you can apply your creativity to solve any type of problem. Also with I.T you learn how to think critically and from the comfort of your home or office your work can impact millions of people worldwide

And finally, on a personal and professional note, what do you hope to have achieved 10 years from now?

Personally in 10 years I should have a wonderful family with two of my own children and some adopted children. Soronko Solutions will be the technology backbone for Small and Medium Scale business in sub Saharan Africa. There will be Tech Needs Girls running in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Sao Tome and Principe etc. We would have created the next generation of female tech entrepreneurs who are creating tech solutions to the many problems we have in Africa.  Our curriculum would be used in all public schools in Ghana. We would also started a coding academy for African children. Soronko would be synonymous with innovation from Africa by A­­frica.