Amazing Exploits Podcast w/ Joshua Olaniyi

What does it take to build a career, company, and community in tech?In this episode of Amazing Exploits, I sit down with Abiola Rasaq, Founder and Chief Testing Officer at The Bug Detective (TBD), a Quality Assurance as a Service (QAaaS) company serving clients across Africa.Abiola's journey is anything but conventional. With a background in History and International Studies, she transitioned into software testing, built a thriving career in Quality Assurance, founded a company, and created platforms like TestFest and Women in Test that have helped thousands of testers learn, connect, and grow.We explore the future of QA in the age of AI, the realities of building a tech career today, the challenges women face in the industry, and what it takes to build trust, find support, and create opportunities for others. Abiola also shares lessons from training thousands of software testers across Africa and why doing great work must be paired with communicating your impact.Whether you're considering a career in tech, growing a business, leading a community, or simply looking for inspiration to create meaningful impact, this conversation is filled with practical insights and hard-earned lessons.Connect with Abiola Rasaq: https://www.instagram.com/biola.rasaq/Connect with Joshua Olaniyi: https://www.instagram.com/amazinggjosh/Enjoyed this episode? Follow Amazing Exploits on Spotify and share it with someone building their own path.

What does it take to build a business that lasts?In this episode, I sit down with Seun Koshoedo, Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Xcentrique Media, to discuss her journey of building a marketing and communications company for over seven years, starting at just 23 years old.Seun shares the personal experiences that shaped her—from losing her father at the age of five and being raised by a resilient mother, to discovering the power of faith, mentorship, and community in navigating life and business. She reflects on the people God strategically placed in different seasons of her life, the lessons she learned through internships and early career opportunities, and how those experiences gave her the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship.We also explore her decision to gain corporate experience at CWG, where she rose from Head Brand Strategist to Head, Brand & Marketing Communications, and led a major rebranding effort for a legacy company.Beyond her personal story, Seun breaks down why data is essential for business growth, how companies can use frameworks like SWOT Analysis, PESTLE Analysis, and the BCG Matrix to make better decisions, what established brands must do to stay relevant, and how underdogs can compete in crowded markets.This conversation is filled with lessons on entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, strategy, faith, and the courage to pursue a bigger vision.If you enjoyed this conversation, follow for more conversations with founders, executives, creatives, and business leaders sharing the lessons behind their journeys.___Connect with Seun Koshoedo: https://www.instagram.com/seun_kosh/Connect with Joshua Olaniyi: https://www.instagram.com/amazinggjosh/Xcentrique Media: https://www.xcentriquemedia.com/

Mojisola Bello is the founder of House of Estilos — a fashion brand, garment manufacturing factory, and academy based in Nigeria.In this conversation, she shares her journey from studying Biochemistry at the University of Ilorin to becoming a fashion entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience building across ready-to-wear, manufacturing, and fashion education.We talked about the realities of producing fashion in Nigeria, the challenges of local manufacturing, scaling a creative business, mistakes young designers make, and the discipline required to build something sustainable over time.She also shared the story of how House of Estilos pieces made their way to Paris, with 48 out of 50 pieces sold.This episode is a deep conversation on entrepreneurship, resilience, creativity, and building systems within the Nigerian fashion industry.___Follow Mojisola Bello: https://www.instagram.com/estilosmaam/Follow Joshua Olaniyi: https://www.instagram.com/amazinggjosh/

What does it really take to build a career in the creative industry?In this episode, Adeyinka Ibidapo shares his journey from studying Microbiology to becoming a filmmaker, lighting designer, and creative educator. We talk about career clarity, creative growth, filmmaking in Nigeria, the realities of the industry, and why lighting plays such a powerful role in storytelling.Adeyinka also shares the vision behind EveryoneCanLight — his initiative that simplifies lighting for creators and filmmakers.This conversation is for filmmakers, designers, videographers, and anyone trying to navigate a creative path with intention.___Connect with Adeyinka: https://www.instagram.com/adeyinka_ibidapo/Connect with Joshua: https://www.instagram.com/amazinggjosh/

Emmanuel Michael’s growth as a designer didn’t happen slowly — it was exponential.In this episode, the Head of Design at Multigate shares the unfair advantage that shaped his journey from an entry-level designer to leadership in just a few years. Surprisingly, it wasn’t just design skills.With a background in Computer Science and hands-on experience in experiential marketing, Michael learned to think beyond pixels, gaining a deeper understanding of business, communication, and people than most designers do.We talk about what really drives growth:Why design alone isn’t enoughHow sales and marketing sharpen your edge as a designerThe role of mentorship, ownership, and high-agency environmentsWhat it actually takes to move into leadershipThe realities of building and sustaining a design community like SectionsThis is a conversation about doing the uncomfortable work that most people avoid, and why that’s exactly where real growth happens.If you’re trying to grow faster, think better, and stand out as a designer, this episode will change how you approach your career.Connect with Joshua: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-olaniyi/ Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelemmanuel125/

In this episode of Amazing Exploits, I sit with Tobi Adara —Senior Product Manager at Vesicash and Co-founder of Terntribe—to unpack what it really takes to build fintech products that scale across Africa, thrive under pressure, and embrace the mindset of doing hard things.We explore the chaos of African fintech, the realities of product-market fit, expanding into multiple markets, and why open source and community building matter more than ever.Whether you’re a product manager, designer, developer, early founder, or student, this conversation gives you the clarity, frameworks, and mindset to grow, contribute, and build with purpose.What You’ll LearnWhy “doing hard things” is a real advantageHow to build products that scale across African marketsMindsets for thriving in pressure, chaos, and uncertaintyHow to pursue PMF — and when to walk awayOpen source explained, in simple termsActionable steps for aspiring product managersThe Africa Tobi hopes to help shape#amazingexploits

He studied Radiography but now leads Design and Data Visualization at Stears, Africa’s leading financial data company.In this episode, Dumebi Iwuchukwu shares how curiosity, creativity, and mentorship helped him pivot from the medical field to shaping how Africa sees data today. We talk about leadership, design culture at Stears, and practical advice for designers feeling stuck or overlooked.🎧 Tune in and be inspired to redefine your own path.Follow Amazing Exploits for more stories of people doing work that makes a difference.

Marketing isn’t about pushing products — it’s about creating curiosity and connection. In this episode of Amazing Exploits, Jimi Gibson, VP of Brand Communication at Thrive Agency and former magician, shares how brands can win attention and trust in a world that’s tired of being sold to. He breaks down what makes messages resonate, how curiosity leads to conversion, and the mindset shift founders need to reach customers in the U.S. or anywhere in the world. If you’re building a startup, personal brand, or business with global ambition, this conversation will show you how to stop selling and start connecting — so customers come to you.