I’ve tried a lot of things and failed, including a pan-african women’s magazine and loving men who were unavailable (Gbam! HAHAHAHA). Where I’m brilliant is as a leader. I inspire and enable others to be their best. One thing that I do not struggle with is self doubt. I can stand in any room and say I’m as good as it gets but many people who are equally so (especially) Sierra Leoneans can’t do that.

So when I convened the first ever Make Sierra Leone Famous Showcase in Silver Spring last weekend my goal was to use my gifts to shine a light on creatives and entrepreneurs who exemplify what I believe our diaspora and country needs.

We need creatives and entrepreneurs who are equal parts crazy, committed, patriotic, and tranga yes to connect Sierra Leone to the US and global marketplace. These leaders speak the language of the world, leverage digital, storytelling, build community, and create access for our goods and opportunities for our people.

The Make Sierra Leone Famous showcase had three separate fireside conversations. The first fireside which focused on making Sierra Leone famous in the US featured Patrick Beckley, Creative Director, Finor X and Fatima Sesay, Founder, Inside The Diaspora.

Next up was the fireside on Investing in Sierra Leone by US-based entrepreneurs Tamba Lamin, CEO, TouchPoint (TpISENT and TpEstate), and Dr. Fouad Sheriff, Cotton Tree Medical Group. We discussed the tips and lessons for growing profitable ventures given the challenges of virgin markets like Sierra Leone.

Before we moved on to lunch by Mai’s Kitchen, I had a quick chat with the chef and author Mai Burnette. We talked about the opportunities in the food sector. We also discussed how pivoting from corporate to follow a passion in the orange economy requires a mental reset.

To close the firesides, I welcomed Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Abu Kamara, CEO, Grovara, and the Abu Kamara Foundation to talk about success and service. We talked about how he is using his business success in the US to offer youth in Sierra Leone access to robotics and innovation as the launch of the first youth innovation center in Freetown later this year.

After the end of the fireside, the intergenerational audience explored the Sierra Leone Icons exhibit curated by Akindele Decker. They met the author of the Biggest Little Brother and Founder of Readers Inspired, Aminata Jalloh.

The four-hour showcase brought together Sierra Leoneans in the DMV, friends of Sierra Leone, and DNA Sierra Leoneans. A Jamaican man from New York drove down to be there after recently discovering his Sierra Leone ancestry. The feedback from guests who attended the Make Sierra Leone Famous Showcase is that it’s an uplifting and crosscutting experience that celebrates Sierra Leonean excellence in creativity and entrepreneurship.