Founder Diaries Podcast
Founder Diaries Podcast shares honest conversations about building, growing, and leading a business. Hosted by Yvonne Kanyi, a founder and creator, it dives deep into the journey from idea to execution, covering wins, stumbles, turning points, and everything in between. Each episode offers practical insights, raw reflections, and human moments from entrepreneurs who have built something remarkable.
Episodes
SN3, Minisode 21: Don't Force Yourself Against Your Architecture
When we started the strengths test with the business coach we hosted in Seasons 1 & 2, the plan was to do it quickly and move on. It ended up shaping a lot of how I’m moving forward.The test led to a bigger realization: everyone is built differently. Some things come easier to me and some come harder, and knowing that changes how I work, how I lead, and how I decide where to put my energy.In this
SN3, Episode 11: Half a Million Profit, Yet Zero Cash | Joan Ogutu on Building Kids Street
For our final full episode of the season, we sit down with Joan Ogutu, founder of Kids Street, a brand focused on premium baby care products in Kenya.Joan takes us through her journey from the start: her early experience working at Safaricom as an agent, and how her own pregnancy led to the idea for Kids Street when she couldn’t find premium baby care products in Kenya. She walks us through the re
SN3, Minisode 20: “I’ll Just Do It Myself” — The Founder Habit That’s Limiting Your Team
Many founders, especially Type A personalities and first-borns (first-born daughters in particular), share a trait that quietly shapes how they run their businesses: hyper-independence, the deeply ingrained belief that “I can do everything myself.”It can look like strength, but in a business, it can do real damage. In this minisode, we explore how hyper-independence shows up in founders and why it
SN3, Minisode 19: Your Most Asked Questions, Answered: GRWM Edition
Today's minisode is a little different. We're pulling back the curtain and giving you a raw, unfiltered look at our production set — Yvonne, mid-makeup, answering some of the questions you've been dropping on our socials.No script, no polish — just real answers to the things you've actually been curious about. Grab a seat and enjoy the behind-the-scenes energy.This episode is brought to you by:🔹 B
SN3, Episode 10: Building Africa's AI Operating System for SMEs | Ft. Abraham Mbuthia
Before Uzapoint, Abraham Mbuthia actually wanted to be a DJ. In this episode, he walks us through how that early dream led him into tech instead, and eventually into building Uzapoint from the ground up, starting with clients paying as little as KES 500, to a business now generating 7-figure revenue across multiple markets.He is the CEO and Co-Founder of Uzapoint, which he describes as the operati
SN3, Minisode 18: Debt Isn't the Enemy — Not Having Access To It Is
Kenyans have an interesting relationship with debt, and this minisode breaks it down into 3 categories✅Those who've seen debt go badly for someone else and want nothing to do with it✅Those who know debt could be useful but have no idea how to actually access it✅Those who understand debt as a tool and use it deliberately to grow their business.This isn't an episode trying to convince you to
SN3, Minisode 17: Market Penetration Isn't About More Ads
his minisode was sparked by a conversation with Manish about running digital ads — and it turned into a bigger question that keeps coming up across so many businesses: how do you actually penetrate your market?The instinct for most founders is the same playbook — get influencers, run Facebook and Instagram ads, and hope for conversions. But the businesses that grow faster often think differently a
SN3, Episode 9: I Lost Close to 400,000 | Anne Muhia on Employee Theft, Motherhood & Building
Anne Muhia is an entrepreneur, founder of Winners Arena Africa, and in this episode, she takes us through one of her earliest and most painful business lessons: a butchery story, and how she navigated employee theft at the time. From there, we trace Anne's full journey: from working as a group finance manager, to quitting impromptu, starting her own business, and how motherhood has shaped who
SN3, Minisode 16: What Are Your 3 Things? Are You Maximizing Your Best Sellers?
Back in Season 1, we talked about McDonald's and how they arrived at the 3 things on their menu. This minisode is a callback to that idea, and a challenge: do you actually know what your 3 things are?Go into your numbers and look at what genuinely brings you the most profit and what you sell the most of. If you had to trim your entire business down to 3 products or services based on demand and
SN3, Minisode 15: The Number That Tells You If Your Second Branch Was Worth It
This minisode was sparked by an insight from someone who's worked in mergers and acquisitions, reviewing businesses being valued, bought, or sold. It's something that's easy to overlook as a founder: running a separate P&L for each branch of your business, instead of housing everything under one.She shared how a well-known brand runs every single branch like its own separate busine
SN3, Episode 8: The Host Becomes the Guest: Yvonne Kanyi's Untold Founder Story
Today's episode looks a little different. We're switching seats — Yvonne is on the guest chair this time, interviewed by Victoria, Founder of Vspa, Thao Tree, and Titii Kenya. If you've ever wanted to know our host a little better, this is your chance. The conversation covers Yvonne's full entrepreneurial journey, building Beauty Square and Sage from the ground up, her journey into
SN3, Minisode 14: Why Rest Isn't Recharging You — The 5 Types of Rest You're Probably Missing.
Ever taken a whole weekend off and still felt exhausted? That's usually because rest isn't one-size-fits-all — and most of us are only resting in one dimension while running on empty in the rest. In this minisode, we break down the different types of rest based on where your exhaustion is actually coming from, so you can identify what you really need.✅ Physical rest ✅ Mental rest ✅ Emotion
SN3, Minisode 13; More Customers Isn't the Only Way to Grow Revenue | Here's the Formula
This minisode breaks down a simple, repeatable formula for growing revenue that applies to pretty much any business model.When most founders think about increasing revenue, the instinct is usually: open a new branch, spend more on marketing, hire more staff, or add more products. But there are 3 key drivers that can move revenue without necessarily requiring more input into the business.We also br
SN3, Episode 7: The Business Side Of Makeup | O`rnella Nthambi on Building Makeup City Academy
O`rnella Nthambi wears many hats — makeup artist, content creator, beauty educator, and entrepreneur and in this episode, she takes us through the full journey of building Makeup City and Makeup City Academy from a passion project into a business that's sustained her for over a decade.Her very first hustle wasn't in beauty at all. In high school, she sold viazi karai to her fellow students
SN3; Minisode 12:You Already Know | The One Thing You're Avoiding That Could Change Your Revenue
There's usually one thing every founder already knows they should be doing to increase revenue and it's usually the thing that keeps getting pushed to "next week." In this minisode, we challenge all founders that instead of juggling 5-6 major tasks a day and touching a hundred things without finishing any of them, pick that one thing you already know needs to happen, and make it
SN3, Minisode 11;The One Question That Tells You If Someone Is an A, B, or C Player
A quick follow-up to Minisode 4 ("Great CEOs Are Lazy") — this time breaking down a simple rule for evaluating the players on your team. Every team has three types of players: A, B, and C — but it's not always obvious where each person actually falls.Here's the test: ask yourself, if this person left your business today, what would you do?This one simple question can cut through
SN3,Episode 6; Demystifying Tax Compliance | Caine Wanjau on Building DigiTax Across 4 Countries
This episode carries a little extra meaning for us — Caine Wanjau and DigiTax were our very first sponsors on Founder Diaries, and we're honored they believed in this vision from the start. Watching both DigiTax and this show grow since then has been a full-circle moment.Caine is the Co-Founder and CEO of DigiTax, an electronic invoicing and tax compliance platform built to make tax compliance
SN3, Minisode 10; The Hidden Cost of Keeping the Wrong Hire
The one problem that will never fully go away in your business is people. The one asset that will save you is also people. That contradiction is something every founder eventually has to sit with because people come with different stimuli, temperaments, and backgrounds, and what works for managing one person won't work for another.After 7 years in business and a lot of hires — some right, some
SN3, Minisode 9: The One Number Every Founder Should Know By Heart: Your Growth Rate
If there's one number every founder should have top of mind, it's not just revenue — it's your growth rate. In this minisode, we break down why growth rate matters more than most founders realize, and how to actually track it.Here's what we cover:✅ How to calculate your business growth rate✅ Why you should track it both month-to-month and year-over-year✅ What growth rate reveals ✅
SN3, Episode 5; He Dropped out of a Top University to Help Students Find Theirs | FT. Manish Sardana
Manish earned a place at Delhi School of Economics — one of the most selective universities in the world, admitting less than 1% of applicants. He dropped out in his first semester, knowing it wasn't the right fit, and decided to build his first company instead. Years later, he shares moment that became the starting point for Craydel, Africa's #1 AI-powered study-abroad platform, built to
SN 3, Minisode 8; The Unglamorous Businesses Making Serious Money
Not every profitable business looks exciting on Instagram and this minisode proves it. We asked a question on my TikTok page: what are some unglamorous ways people are making good money? The comments did not disappoint.In this minisode, we highlight some of the most interesting responses, including:✅ Portable toilet rentals✅ Selling popcorn✅ Loan/financing businesses for boda boda riders✅ Supplyin
SN3, Minisode 7: Taxes Won't Wait: What Every Founder Should Know Before KRA Comes Knocking
They say there are two things that can quietly shut a business down over time: taxes and calamity. In this minisode, we get into why staying informed about taxes isn't optional it affects your business every single day, whether you're paying attention to it or not. Choosing to ignore it doesn't protect you; it just makes you easier to take advantage of.Here are the tax lessons learned the hard way
SN3, Episode 4: Behind Misono's Consistency | Ft. Daniel Rea Song on Building a Family Business
Some businesses don't just survive they become institutions. In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Rea Song, Marketing and Business Development Director at Misono and son of the founder, to unpack over 30 years of the Misono journey: the story, the lessons, the mishaps, and how a single restaurant became a household name.Daniel takes us back to where it all started — his father's journe
SN3;Minisode 6: The Wealth Toolkit Every Founder Needs
Paying yourself isn't a luxury it's the entire point of building a business. In this minisode, we break down a founder's toolkit for wealth creation: three things you need in place to protect yourself financially, even as a small business owner.Here's what we cover:✅ Pension ✅ A two-tier emergency fund — one for you personally, one for the business✅ A salary that actually covers yo
SN3,Minisode 5: How I Reset: A Founder's Morning Reboot Routine
Every founder hits a funk - the days where motivation disappears and getting anything done feels impossible. In this minisode, we're sharing a personal reboot strategy: three simple things I do every working day to jumpstart out of a slump and back into productivity.None of this requires a complicated morning routine or hours of free time just three small, repeatable habits that compound over
SN3, Episode 3: "Your Business Needs Me" | Ft. Ivy on Building Scalable, Legacy Businesses
Today`s episode features Ivy, a business coach who works with founders to build scalable, legacy-ready businesses. Her work is centered on helping founders put the right systems in place, hire the right people, and build something that can grow beyond their own limitations; something they can eventually pass on or sell.Ivy takes us through her own entrepreneurial journey, starting with selling cab
SN3,Minisode 4:"Great CEOs Are Lazy" — A Book Review
Being busy is not the same as being productive, and this minisode might make you a little uncomfortable. We're reviewing the book Great CEOs Are Lazy, whose core idea is simple but hard to swallow: CEOs aren't paid to be busy, they're paid for the 20% of work that produces 80% of the results. The real job isn't filling your calendar, it's learning to be ruthlessly efficient wit
SN3,Minisode 3:The Habit-Stacking Trick for Actual Consistency
Motivation runs out. Systems don't. In this minisode, we talk about consistency not as a personality trait, but as something you can engineer. Borrowing a behavioral strategy from the author of Profit First, we break down "habit sandwiching": stacking a new habit between two things you already do without fail, so there's no room for excuses.If there's a habit you've been
SN3,Episode 2: A Founders Roundtable on Loss, Legacy & Letting Go
This week, we're switching things up with a roundtable conversation featuring four incredible founders, each building in a completely different space:🔹 Val Njoroge — Co-Founder, Africa's Pocket & Panda Towers🔹 Patricia — Founder, Party Lounges (Furniture & Décor Rental)🔹 Liz Gitari — Founder, Ogolaw & Wakili Lux | Podcaster, The Green Brief KE🔹 Waithera Mugo — Founder, [Commercial Law Firm] & Co-F
SN3; Minisode 2: The PROFIT FIRST Formula Every Founder Needs to Know
We started our businesses to make money but why does profit always feel like an afterthought? In this minisode, we break down key insights from Profit First, and one formula in particular that flips things. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHTThis episode is brought to you by:Beauty Square KE — Your go-to destination for premium, quality beauty essentials. Visit and patronize at beautysquareke.co PARTNER HIGHLIGHT 🤝
SN3; Minisode 1:The Hiring Framework Every Founder Needs
Most job descriptions are copy-pasted from Google, and that's exactly why so many hires don't work out. In this minisode, we break down performance-based hiring: a practical, 5-step approach to building your HR process around actual output, not vague titles.Here's what you'll learn:✅ Why the generic JD is killing your hiring process✅ How I have used the SMART method to define real, measurable expe
SN3;Episode 1: From Oxford MBA to Building Africa's Pocket | Val Njoroge
Founder Squad, We're back for Season 3!!We're kicking the season off with someone who's redefining what building wealth in Africa looks like. Val Njoroge is the Co-Founder & CEO of Africa's Pocket (a digital investment and financial advisory platform) and Co-Founder of Panda Towers (a real estate passive-income venture).In this episode, Val takes us all the way back to her firs
SN2; Episode 11: Answering Your Biggest Business Questions | Season 2 Finale
What do you do when business challenges start feeling personal?How do you know it's finally time to hire?Should every business be built to scale?In this Season 2 finale, we're flipping the script and answering some of the most common questions and dilemmas submitted by our audience. Through honest conversation and lived experience, we explore different ways founders can approach the challe
SN2: Episode 10: How Kamau Nyabwengi Built a Golf Academy That Has Trained 4,000+ Golfers
One of the biggest barriers to golf is the perception that it's expensive, exclusive, and difficult to access.In Episode 10, we sit down with Kamau Nyabwengi, Founder and CEO of Yen Golf, to unpack his entrepreneurial journey, the business behind golf, and how he has spent over a decade making the sport more accessible to thousands of people.Kamau shares how Yen Golf has worked to reduce golf barr
SN2; Minisode 19: The Struggle of Many Founders and Managers
Hiring your first employee feels exciting.Managing them? That's where many founders discover an entirely different challenge.In this minisode, we will be reflecting on one of the biggest struggles entrepreneurs and managers face: navigating performance issues and having difficult conversations with employees.Many founders start by hiring based on attitude, education, and willingness to learn. But
SN2;Episode 9: From Makeup Content to Building One of Kenya's Leading Beauty Brands | Joanna K Pt. 1
What happens when the business you've spent years building no longer excites you?In Episode 9, we sit down with Joanna K, founder of Joanna K Cosmetics and one of Kenya's most influential beauty content creators, to unpack her journey from makeup enthusiast to building one of Kenya's leading beauty brands. 💄✨But this isn't just a business story.It's a conversation about creativity, content creatio
SN2; Episode 8: The Business Side of The Creative Business Nobody Talks About | FT. Abel & Judy
Welcome to Episode 8:Today, Abel Mutua and Judy Nyawira share the journey behind their creative careers, entrepreneurship, and the business lessons that completely changed how they approached the industry 🎬From humble beginnings, internships, and unconventional jobs to handling multi-million-shilling productions, this episode explores the reality behind building a sustainable creative business.Don
SN2; Minisode 15: Money Advice for Founders ( From My Experience)
Most founders learn money the hard way. Most of us figure it out through pressure, mistakes, survival, and experience.In Minisode 15, we unpack practical money advice for founders from years of building and running businesses; the lessons, mistakes, and financial habits that every entrepreneur should start thinking about early. Because somewhere along the journey of impact, growth, hiring, and sca
SN2; Minisode 14: Signal Vs Noise | Why Most Founders Stay Busy But Don't Grow
Back-to-back meetings,Constant notifications,Supplier issues,Endless tasks,New ideas every hour 👀And somehow… at the end of the day, it still feels like you’re not moving the business forward.In Minisode 14, we unpack the powerful concept of Signal vs Noise inspired by Steve Jobs’ return to Apple in 1997 and how it helped transform the company. In this minisode, we explore:The origin of Signal vs
SN2; Episode 7: Money Trauma, Debt, Business & Self-Worth | Ft. Susan Wanjiku
In Episode 7, we sit down with Susan Wanjiku, founder of The Legacy Hub, a platform focused on making financial literacy simple, accessible, and personalized. From growing up in poverty, accumulating over 1 million in debt, losing her job during restructuring, surviving through online writing, and eventually building a personal finance coaching business. Susan shares a deeply honest story about mo
SN2; Minisode 13: You Don`t Have To Do Everything
As founders, every day we discover another thing the business needs.Another task, another responsibility, another thing added to our plate. But what if the answer isn’t working harder but building systems?In Minisode 13, we unpack the importance of systemizing your business, delegating, and creating workflows that allow consistency without everything depending on you. The goal isn’t to become the
SN2; Minisode 12: She Built a Beauty Empire With Just 4 Products | The Estée Lauder Story
One determined woman, Four products, One counter, and a Relentless belief in herself. In Minisode 12, we unpack the incredible backstory behind Estée Lauder, the founder who built one of the world’s most iconic beauty companies starting from her kitchen.Before the global brand, before luxury counters and worldwide recognition, she was mixing creams, going door-to-door, giving free samples, demonst
SN2; Episode 6: From Doing it For Free to Charging KSH.3,500 to KSH.600,000 | Coach John Paul Nyiha
What does it actually take to build a successful coaching business? In Episode 6, we sit down with John Paul Nyiha, an online fitness and dietary coach who has spent over 9 years building a coaching business tailored specifically for Kenyan women.This conversation goes beyond fitness, we unpack the business side of coaching: the inception, positioning, pricing, client acquisition, and the mindset
SN2; Minisode 11:Systems Before Scale | The McDonald’s Story Every Founder Needs To Know
In today`s minisode, we break down the story of how two brothers transformed a simple drive-in restaurant into one of the most scalable business models in the world—by doing something radical.In 1948, Richard and Maurice McDonald shut down their restaurant, simplified their menu, and rebuilt their entire operation around speed, consistency, and repeatability. The result? The Speedee Service System
SN2; Minisode 10: When Should Founders Pay Themselves? And How Much?
When is the right time to start paying yourself as a founder, and how much should you actually take home? 🤔A lot of businesses are started with one goal: to make money for you. But somewhere along the way, many founders end up underpaying themselves… or not paying themselves at all.In this episode, we break down the reality of founder compensation and why paying yourself isn’t optional - It’s a co
SN2; Episode 5: You’re Not an Entrepreneur (Yet) | Profit, Value & Wealth ft. Waithaka Gatumia
What if everything you thought about profit, business, and your personal value… was wrong? 👀In Episode 5, we sit down with Mr. Waithaka Gatumia, a financial literacy coach, who breaks down the realities of business, money, and what it truly means to build wealth.From transitioning out of Media & Communications into financial education, to helping people grow sustainable wealth, this conversati
SN2; Minisode 9: Why Kenyan Founders Fear Funding | The Truth About Bootstrapping
Why are so many founders determined to use their own money to build businesses? 🤔In this Minisode, we unpack the deeply rooted mindset behind self-funding and bootstrapping, especially among Kenyan founders, and ask the uncomfortable question:Is it always bravery… or sometimes fear and lack of awareness?From selling personal assets, borrowing from chamas, and taking high-interest loans, to wearing
SN2; Episode 4: Tara Nicole | Turning Creativity Into Income Streams
In this episode of Founder Diaries, we sit down with a creative entrepreneur, Tara Nicole as she shares her journey of building, evolving, and reinventing herself across multiple creative industries.From painting on t-shirts and shoes, to diving into food photography for brands, to creating props and drops —Tara’s story is one of constant evolution, bold pivots, and following curiosity.Today, she’
SN2; Minisode 8: Opening A New Branch!
Opening a new branch sounds like growth but it can quickly become pressure if you’re not fully prepared.In this minisode, we’re unpacking the real conversations every entrepreneur needs to have before expanding, because having cash flow doesn’t always mean you have overflow, and that distinction can make or break your next move.We get into:Why data matters more than hype; Understanding your market
SSN2; Minisode 7: Sage Sknn At 1 | Key Decisions I had To Make When Building
Sage Skin officially turned 1 last month and in this episode I get to share some financial decisions that almost cost me the business and how we've managed to pivot since then. Partner Spotlight;We’re honored to have Sarova Hotels as our Season 2 partner on Founder Diaries. From creating beautiful spaces to curating unforgettable experiences, Sarova is the best fit for your staycation, business me
SN2; Minisode 6: Building Founder-Led Brands and Doing Founder-Led Marketing
In today’s episode, we explore the power of founder-led brands and what it really means to build through founder-led marketing.More than just visibility, founder-led marketing is about becoming the primary channel for trust, storytelling, authority, and distribution. It’s strategic, intentional, and deeply human.If you’re building a brand, this episode will challenge you to step forward not just a
SN2; Episode 3: Lynn Ngugi | Transitioning From A Well Paying Job To Her Own Law Firm & Businesses
In today`s episode, we feature Lynn Ngugi (commonly knows as Miss Turu), who is a well celebrated Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, and founder of ANO Advocates LLP as she takes us through her journey of becoming a lawyer, transitioning from a well paying job into building businesses that are thriving in the market.Partner Spotlight;We’re honored to have Sarova Hotels as our Season 2 partner on
SN2; Minisode 5: The 5 Systems Every Business Needs to Grow
This episode is a follow-up on Minisode 4, where we go deeper into what it really takes to build systems that support growth, not just survival.We break down the power of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), the franchise mindset, and scaling properly and how small consistent structures allow a business to scale.Partner Spotlight;We’re honored to have Sarova Hotels as our Season 2 partner on Foun
SN2; Minisode 4: Working On Your Business VS Working In Your Business
In this episode, we unpack key insights from The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber—and the hard truth about what’s really holding most businesses back.The difference between working in your business and working on your business.Most small businesses don’t fail because the owner lacks skill but because the owner never stops being the technician.Technical skills may generate income, but systems
SN2; Episode 2: Building Melvin’s - Flora Mutahi and the Birth of the Flavored Teas We Love & More
Did you know that the Melvin Marsh company didn’t start as a tea brand—it started by solving a practical everyday problem through Kenya’s first free-flowing salt? In today`s episode, we sit down with the Founder & CEO of Melvin Marsh International as she shares her journey into building this well celebrated tea brand that has become a household name across boarders. Partner Spotlight;We’re hon
SN2; Minisode 3: Consumer Behaviour, The GOOD reason vs The REAL reason
According to Rory Sutherland, (a well-known behavioral science expert at Ogilvy in the U.K), human beings don't buy things for purely logical or practical reasons. Instead, their decisions are driven by subconscious desires, emotional triggers, and perceived meaning.In this episode, we’ll be unpacking the real reason VS the practical reason behind consumer behaviour, exploring what truly influ
SN 2; Minisode 2: A Brilliant Business Idea! Analogue Is So Back
Imagine having a phone that doesn`t force you to be on your screens all day but you still get your notifications on time. In this episode, we talk about an entrepreneur called Kat Goetze who invented a bluetooth landline phone that is able to connect to your smartphone, which means if your phone rings, the landline rings. The phone was designed to help users reduce screen time by allowing them to
SN2; Episode 1: Data is What Drives Your Business - How Much Do You Know? | Michelle Watiki, Co-founder Duck Analytics
Imagine being able to access real data to understand your business operations, reduce stock-outs and who your consumers are. In this episode, Michelle Watiki, Co-founder of Duck Analytics takes us through the importance of data and client segmentation in business building to make better decisions that boost revenue. Duck Analytics helps retailers optimise their pricing and location strategies usin
Minisode 1: From selling Noodles in Highschool to building two successful Brands
Welcome to Season 2 of Founder Diaries! 🎙️In this first minisode, I take you back to where it all began—my story, my journey into business, and how we got here. From selling noodles in high school to building two thriving beauty and skincare brands, this is a raw and honest look at the process behind the progress.One thing I’ve learned? Skincare is like math—there’s a formula for everything.If you
EP 8: Building A Billion Dollar Business in Africa by Africans For Africans | Ken & Kui Njoroge on Building Cellulant & Komini
Listen to the story of how Cellulant was built, the businesses Ken Njoroge built prior to getting investors into the business. He built with a larger market in mind and today that is a reality. Today's hustle is Komini which is a business built to create community for small business owners and helping them "arrive alive." Then hear the perspective of Kui Njoroge who built alongside h
Minisode 23: Marketing Outside of Social Media
Hear my thoughts on how I would market my business if social media was no longer available. Social media is becoming saturated and more people sensitive to promotional content thus affecting it's effectiveness. We need to start thinking about offline ways to engage and attract new customers. What are your ideas? Engage us in the comment section. Find our host on socials:Instagram TikTok Foll
EP 7: Waithera Mugo on Building A Niche Business, Tax Law & How To Legally Pay Less Taxes
Catch up on Waithera Mugo's story and how she went from a law student to owning her own firm and building a niche business with Ithera Africa, a tax & wealth advisory firm. I learned from here there are so many ways to legally reduce your tax liability as a business and to think through your corporate structure and the implications that has on your tax points. The true point of a business
Minisode 22: Get To Know The Host - Q n A
Find our host on socials:Instagram TikTok Follow Founder Diaries on socials: InstagramTikTok - @founderdariespodcast Reach out to DigiTax to make your eTIMS compliance much easier: HERE | +254795279403This podcast has been proudly sponsored by Beauty Square Ke, and Sage Sknn. Visit and patronize at beautysquareke.co, and use the code FOUNDER10 for some coins off.
Minisode 21: The Inventory Trap - Everyone in Retail Business Should Hear This
You know… running a product business will teach you math you didn’t even know you needed.Not the cute math… the painful math.The “why is my cash gone yet my shelves are full?” math.Today we’re talking about inventory mistakes, the true cost of dead stock, and why inventory turnover and run rate are non-negotiable if you want a healthy business.Inventory is a beast to master and has to be mastered
Minisode 20: On Pricing, Mistakes I and You Are Making and Signs It's Wrong
Pricing might seem straightforward — but over time, I’ve learned that most of us underestimate how many things quietly eat into our margins.We price for the product.But we forget to price for the business. Your pricing should factor in: Your salary and compensation as a founder/directorGovernment compliance (taxes, licenses, statutory requirements)Rent and operational overheadsStaffing and laborSo
Minisode 19: The One Time I Really Nearly Quit
I've been in business for many many years and I have one particular season where I truly thought about quitting. I sat down to figure out how to replace my income and actually got the ball rolling until I realized where the pain point truly was. What happens when you're faced with the end of the business you built from scratch?This podcast has been proudly sponsored by Beauty Square Ke and
EP 6: Liz Njuguna On Hiring Husbands, Flipping 20k\Month into a 700K Lumpsum
Hear the story of Liz Njuguna and how she started off with buying and flipping land at 19. She started off with one parcel being paid in installments of 20K a month which down the road was flipped into 700K pain in a lumpsum. Learn how her discipline and reinvesting grew that hustle into Risiih Investments. Five years down the road Risiih is working on putting more land into the hands of women and
Minisode 18: Why Dreaming Big Is Easier Than Actually Doing It
Dreaming is dopamine and doing is discipline. It's not because you're lazy or lack of motivation. Thinking about your dream life of driving the car you'd want, the freedom of time you crave and dream travel destinations is VERY easy but different to when it comes to taking the action required to achieve that. There is a physiological reason to this - your nervous system is wired to avo
Minisode 17: How I Stopped Running My Business Like a Kiosk
At some point, every founder has to ask:Am I building a real business… or just surviving?In Minisode17, Yvonne shares the practical shifts that helped her stop running her business like a kiosk and started structuring it properly, from paying herself consistently, building systems, delegating intentionally, to planning financially and creating cash reserves.If you’re still in survival mode, this o
Minisode 16: Your Business Venture Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated
We’ve been sold the myth that businesses need to be revolutionary, AI-powered, or completely novel to succeed.In this minisode, we strip it back to the basics and unpack the 4 pillars of a good business — and why simple, needed, profitable ideas often win.If you’ve been overthinking your idea, this episode is for you.Let’s share about our partners, DigiTaxAs someone running a business, staying com
Minisode 15: Does Your Business Stop When Your Stop?
Many founders think they’re building businesses... but have actually created full-time jobs for themselves.In this minisode, we unpack the difference between being self-employed and being an entrepreneur, the signs your business depends too heavily on you, and practical steps to start building systems that scale without burning you out.If your business stops when you stop, this episode is for you.
EP 5: From Selling Black Forests At Home To Running Multiple Corporate Cafeterias
What does it take to build a sustainable catering business?In this episode of Founder Diaries, Yvonne sits down with Esmeralda Founder & CEO of Spez Catering Limited, to unpack her journey from starting to running multiple corporate cafeterias.We talk about:• Why event catering alone isn’t sustainable• How corporate cafeterias create steady daily cashflow• Turning one client into long-term ins
Minisode 14: The One Book Every Founder Must Read | Outwitting The Devil
What if the reason your business feels stuck isn’t strategy —but mindset?In this Minisode, Yvonne breaks down Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill — the one book she believes every entrepreneur must read.This episode explores how fear, drifting, habits, and lack of purpose quietly control founders and keep businesses stagnant. Framed as a psychological conversation, the book reveals how most peop
Minisode 13: Just Because It Didn’t Make Money, Doesn’t Mean It Failed
Just because an idea didn’t make money doesn’t mean it failed.In this minisode , we unpack why founders often label ideas as “failures” too quickly and how that mindset can cost you valuable insight, growth, and momentum.We talk about:Why failure feels personal (and why it shouldn’t)How to reframe “failed” ideas What to audit after an idea doesn’t perform financiallyWhy money is not the only metri
Minisode 12: Why I Struggled With Delegation & What Finally Changed
Delegation sounds great in theory… but in practice? It can be terrifying especially when it comes to the big things.In this Minisode of Founder Diaries, Yvonne shares her personal journey with delegation …from doing everything herself , to slowly handing over responsibilities, to finally bringing in management-level support.We talk about: •Why founders cling to control (even when it’s hurting the
Minisode 11: Why Every Founder Needs A Job Description
In this minsode of Founder Diaries, we’re unpacking something most founders never stop to define …your job description as the founder or CEO.So many of us struggle with focus, delegation, and time management not because we’re lazy or disorganised, but because we’ve never clearly defined what our role actually is in the business.We talk about: •Why founders end up doing everyone else’s job •How not
EP 4: More Than a Creator: Murugi on Business, Motherhood & Starting Early
In today’s episode of Founder Diaries, we sit down with Murugi Munyi for a conversation that goes beyond content creation…the space most of us know her for.Murugi shares her journey of starting her first business while still in university, navigating entrepreneurship as a young mum, and growing into a founder who has built multiple businesses over time.We talk about starting before you feel ready,
Minisode 10: 6 Lessons From 6 Years In Business
In today’s episode, Yvonne shares 6 lessons from 6 years in business…From hiring and money to boundaries, self-awareness and trusting your instincts, this episode is a reflection on what it really takes to build and sustain a business over time.If you’re building something of your own, or thinking about it …this one’s for you.
Minisode 9: You're Spending Too Much Time On Planning
In this episode, we’re talking about overplanning and why it’s quietly holding you back.Planning feels productive because it’s safe. You get to keep the idea in your head without exposing it to the world. But real clarity doesn’t come from thinking, it comes from moving.In this episode, I share: •Why money loves speed •How getting the first ball in motion forces execution •Why you don’t need the f
Minisode 8: Why Seeking Validation Is Killing Your Momentum
In this episode, we talk about why founders struggle to trust their own decisions, and how constantly seeking validation slows down execution, growth and impact.If you were given responsibility early in life, you might feel the need to overthink every move, ask multiple people for approval, or wait until something feels “perfect” before acting. But the truth is, clarity often comes after action.We
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