Empowering African Women by Hiring Virtual Assistance: The Dada Dunia Journey
This episode of the YouMeWe Amplified Podcast features an interview with Jayne Akinyi, the founder and CEO of Dada Dunia, a company that connects virtual assistants in Africa with socially responsible businesses in Canada.
Born from Jayne's personal struggles as an immigrant in Canada and her desire to help African women gain access to better opportunities, Dada Dunia not only provides virtual assistance services but also focuses on the personal and professional development of its employees, offering training, mentoring, and workshops focused on emotional intelligence and confidence building.
The podcast explores Jayne's journey from Kenya to Canada, her motivations for starting Dada Dunia, the challenges of building a business that bridges two very different worlds, and the impact Dada Dunia is having on both the virtual assistants it employs and the businesses it serves.
00:00 Introduction to Jayne Akinyi and Dada Dunia
02:14 The Essence of Dada Dunia: Connecting Africa and Canada
04:01 Jayne's Journey: From Kenya to Canada and Beyond
06:07 The Vision and Impact of Dada Dunia
09:56 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Diversity
12:07 Empowering African Women Through Virtual Assistance
19:37 Navigating Time Zones and Client Expectations
24:51 Education and Empowerment: Beyond Degrees
30:45 Empowering Women Beyond Traditional Roles
31:40 The Vision and Impact of Dada Dunia
31:46 Feminism and Voting Rights: A Global Perspective
31:46 Dada Dunia's Pricing Model and Ethical Practices
32:45 Creating a Thriving Wage and Support System
35:21 Building a Community and Sisterhood at Dada Dunia
37:25 The Journey and Growth of Dada Dunia
37:59 Fostering Stability and Growth for Virtual Assistants
40:28 Partnering for Social Impact with Canadian Companies
42:25 The Story of Finding a Business Partner
45:22 Transformative Stories of Dada Dunia Assistants
48:44 Rapid Fire Questions: Insights and Advice
57:22 Final Thoughts on Making a Conscious Contribution
TLDR
Devin Friedman, Sarah Rieger, Matthew Karasz