Molly Jensen
Molly Jensen
Writer: Rutendo Nyamuda, Founder & Editor
Photographers: Emmanuel Jambo
Bold, strong, fearless, beautiful, leader – who always wears a touch of African print. This is how I would describe Molly Jensen, the CEO of Afripods. But, there is so much more to this African leader heading up a pan-African podcasting platform with a very ambitious goal.
“We're looking to build the largest library of African audio stories on the planet. The reason why that is important is because this continent is a continent of oral history. We've told our stories by mouth for generations, and we've never really had the opportunity to memorialise our history in any other way,” she says.
The first time I met Molly was on an online call. We were introduced by a fellow podcaster who thought there were synergies between our work. However, what was supposed to be a quick 20-minute call ran for more than an hour. This evidently set the precedent for all our future “quick” calls.
Over the last few months that I've gotten to know Molly, I’ve realised that her passion for the podcast industry runs very deep, and her vision for what we can become is beyond inspiring.
In 2021, it was announced that Molly would be taking over as CEO of Afripods. I remember having a discussion with her where she expressed her excitement as well as the realisation of the weight of the responsibility that came with this new position. She waited five months to officially make the announcement and understandably so. Being a black female CEO and leader of a tech start-up carries the weight of a crown that can only be felt by the one who bears the load.
"When I signed the paperwork to step in as the CEO, I couldn't believe it was happening to be honest with you. I knew it was happening for months and I was still blown away because it feels like it's not just breaking the glass ceiling. It's like smashing through it… Being a young black woman on the continent, at the helm of a tech company, while tech and media are exploding on the continent, in a medium that will be successful here. That's incredibly powerful.”
In the months leading up to her making the official announcement, Molly spent time getting to know the company, listening and learning from the staff to see how things were being done, what was working well, and identifying opportunities for growth, new partnerships and expansion. She moved swiftly and before the ink was even dry, she was already making money moves.
“The first week after I signed the paperwork, I had agreed to a partnership with the Apple App Store. And we were highlighted for Africa month,” she says.
Looking at the traditional global workforce over the last few years, and through this pandemic, it has changed significantly, and with it the concept of leadership has shifted, too. Leaders have had to ask themselves what it means to lead in these times of remote and hybrid working conditions. They’ve had to adapt and adjust to a new generation of employees who prefer having a work-life balance over the 24/7 grind. And then there’s my favourite new concept – the four-day work week.
These are all things that Molly is grappling with. As a leader, those who have worked with her have described her as one who leads with compassion, humility and grace.
“I like to think that I am a strong leader. I like to think that I am a passionate leader. I get to kind of redefine what young African leadership looks like. It doesn't exist to be in your early thirties and a CEO of a podcasting tech company… I get to define it. I get to be powerful, and young, and compassionate, and exciting. I get to wear vibrant clothes, I get to support African designers. I’ve got to be me. A leader looks like me. And that's really what it boils down to. I don't have to be anything more than me. It's good enough,” she exclaims.
With the growing number of podcasts appearing across the continent, there’s no doubt that the Afripods CEO will have her hands full as they build their pioneering audio library filled with African stories.
Molly is one of many female African leaders zealously making waves in the podcast space, and just by stepping into her power and taking up the mantle of CEO, she’s already inspired others to do the same.
“I like to think that I am a strong leader. I like to think that I am a passionate leader. I get to kind of redefine what young African leadership looks like. A leader looks like me. And that’s really what it boils down to. I don’t have to be anything more than me. It’s good enough.”
