708. Using Her Talents to Grow Young African Entrepreneurship

Victoria Crandall

“I’m a firm believer that once you finish your university studies, those following years are just so important to shaping who you are as a person and figuring out what you want to do and who’s my tribe.”

Victoria Crandall is the host and founder of Young African Entrepreneur podcast where she chats with successful entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa about their entrepreneurial journeys. She recently joined Insider, a PR company that helps global entrepreneurs connect with investors, media and influencers in the US and Europe, as director of media relations. Before discovering her passion for Africa entrepreneurship, Victoria worked in Africa’s agricultural commodity sector. She now lives in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

How Did You Start Using Your Talents?

“I was a very good student and loved languages, but did not feel challenged at all in high school. I was always driven by my motivation and curiosity to be exposed to new things. At the University of Virginia I became a dedicated student activist and dug deeply into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which got me into the study of the Middle East, the Arabic language, and changed the course of my academic life and my career.”

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

“I came to the Ivory Coast in 2013 on a research project and fell in love with the country. I gained exposure to agriculture and agricultural commodities. Because journalism is so hard to make a career of, particularly the last 10 years, I took a position as a soft commodities analyst with a Pan-African bank, and have been happily living here ever since.”

The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?

“I am a firm believer that, once you finish your university studies, those following years are so vitally important in shaping who you are as a person and figuring out what kind of life and lifestyle you want. I have simply kept an open mind and continued to explore myself and my options.”

Steps to Success from Victoria Crandall

1. You need time and that can be a luxury depending on what your circumstances are. It also demands taking risks, which is difficult for most of us.

2. Go find your tribe—a community of like-minded individuals in your community or online. Find people who stimulate you and introduce you to new ideas and new activities, who have a different way of approaching problems, and who ultimately push you to be better.

3. Keep an open mind and continue to explore yourself and your options.