From Fellow to Desing Lead: My Journey at Impact Africa Network
College was a trip, full of big dreams and bigger ideas. I had visions of becoming this design superstar, but deep down, I knew something was missing. I craved real experience, something beyond the classroom whiteboards and case studies.
Then came a turning point, a shot at joining Impact Africa Network as an intern. A real startup hub. I was buzzing at the chance to finally get my hands dirty.
Let me tell you, nothing prepares you for how fast things move in the real world. I thought working remotely would be chill. It wasn’t. From day one, ideas were flying, prototypes were getting torn apart, and the energy was electric.
But I loved it. For the first time, I wasn’t just designing hypotheticals. I was iterating for real. Watching a product take shape, even when it broke, even when I doubted myself, was addictive.
My first real product was a digital tipping app called Shukran. One minute, I was wireframing flows I’d only read about; the next, I was drowning in real user feedback. It was humbling.
But that feedback, that chaos, was where the growth happened. I stopped asking, “Does this look nice?” and started asking, “Will someone get this the moment they see it?”
I came in with a lone wolf mindset. I thought design was this personal, creative thing. But suddenly, I was working with devs, PMs, marketers, and real users. At first, it felt like everyone was tearing into my work. But then I realised: great design isn’t solo work. It’s a team sport. My role shifted from being “the designer” to being the glue, pulling together insights from every angle to craft something that truly works.
Fast forward three years, and I’m not just a fellow anymore, I’m in a leadership role. I’ve grown from just “doing the work” to owning outcomes, mentoring new fellows, and driving product strategy across our projects.
Impact Africa Network has shaped how I think, work, and lead. As I said in my testimonial:
“My mentality has shifted. My work ethic has sharpened. I’ve seen how much technology can build our continent — and how Impact Africa is helping young talent like me step up and do just that.”
What I’ve Learned So Far
- Fast feedback builds better designers
- Good design is collaborative, not isolated
- Leadership is about ownership, not titles
- Tech, when used well, can reshape systems and lives
This Is Just the Beginning
I’ve come a long way from that wide-eyed intern. But this is just the beginning. I’m still learning, still building, pushing for that seamless experience that just clicks. One day, I’ll get there.
Until then, I’ll keep showing up, designing with purpose, and doing my part to help shape Africa’s innovation story.
