From 2016 to Today: How Learning, Empathy, and Resilience Shaped My Journey
The Dream That Started It All
In 2016, I wrote a short bio for a new initiative I had just launched: African Starters. My mission was bold but simple: empower aspiring entrepreneurs in Africa. (https://africanstarters.com/about-us/yannick-bio/)
At that time, I had already traveled widely and worked in global companies. I had seen how systems abroad gave entrepreneurs opportunities to thrive. Yet I couldn’t stop thinking about the untapped potential in Africa — brilliant young people with big ideas, constantly blocked by lack of capital, mentorship, or support.
I knew something had to change. That’s when I took the leap.
Lesson 1 – Stay a Relentless Learner
When I launched African Starters, I quickly realized: I didn’t know everything, and I never would.
Rather than seeing that as a weakness, I embraced it as my advantage. I became a relentless learner.
I devoured books, watched tutorials late at night, sought advice from older entrepreneurs, and listened carefully to younger ones. Every conversation, every failure, every experiment became a classroom.
And that mindset carried me through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. The truth is this: entrepreneurs don’t fail because they don’t know — they fail because they stop being willing to learn.
Lesson 2 – Softness Is a Strength
If you had asked me in 2016 what my biggest weakness was, I would have said: I’m too soft.
I cared about people. I forgave quickly. I gave second chances. And in the business world, many told me this would slow me down.
But the opposite proved true.
Empathy allowed me to build deep trust. Humility helped me admit mistakes and pivot faster. Kindness opened doors that money never could.
I learned that people often choose to work with those they like and trust. And being the kind of leader who listens, respects, and values others has been my greatest asset.
True leadership is not about being the toughest person in the room. It’s about being strong enough to stay kind in a world that often rewards harshness.
Lesson 3 – Resilience Is Built, Not Born
The journey since 2016 has not been easy.
There were contracts lost at the last minute. Partnerships that ended in betrayal. Nights when I wondered if I had made the wrong choice leaving corporate security for entrepreneurship.
But every setback carried a lesson.
I learned that resilience is not about bouncing back instantly. It’s about absorbing the lesson, adjusting your strategy, and growing stronger.
Resilience taught me patience — some seeds take years to bear fruit.
It taught me perspective — one failure doesn’t end a vision.
It taught me gratitude — because even in the hardest times, there were always reasons to keep going.
From 2016 to Today – The Growth Journey
When I look back, I see the same person — but stretched, refined, expanded.
In 2016, I had a dream. Today, I run ventures that create real impact across Central and West Africa: Africa Venture Group, EkoTech, Immigration 360 Degré, MyDoc.cm, and more.
In 2016, I wanted to prove Africa’s potential. Today, I live every day working to unlock it.
The thread between then and now? I never stopped learning. I never abandoned empathy. I never gave up in the face of setbacks.
Growth isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about becoming more of who you were meant to be.
Five Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
If you’re just starting — whether as a student, an employee with a dream, or someone simply trying to survive — here’s what I’ve learned:
- Stay curious. Lifelong learners always outpace the “experts.”
- Protect your empathy. It’s not weakness — it’s leverage.
- Embrace resilience. Failure is part of the journey, not the end of it.
- Start small, start now. Perfect conditions don’t exist.
Think long-term. Entrepreneurship is not a sprint — it’s a marathon.
A Call to Motion – Start Today
In 2016, I declared a mission: empower aspiring entrepreneurs. That mission hasn’t changed.
If you’re reading this, here’s my message: you already have enough to begin.
Your willingness to learn will carry you further than any degree.
Your empathy will connect you deeper than any sales pitch.
Your resilience will keep you standing when others quit.
Don’t wait for tomorrow. Don’t wait for conditions to align.
Start today. Start small. Start where you are.
Because entrepreneurship is not a destination. It’s a journey of becoming — more resilient, more empathetic, more impactful.
And maybe, years from now, you’ll look back — as I do today — and see that the seeds you planted now grew into something greater than you ever imagined.
Final Thought:
The future does not belong to those who wait for perfect conditions. It belongs to those who dare to begin, even when the ground is uneven.
Yannick Kounga is the Founder & CEO of Africa Venture Group, a company driving digital transformation, IT services, and venture building across Central and West Africa. With over 16 years of international experience across 15 countries, he combines global expertise with local impact, helping businesses and entrepreneurs unlock growth opportunities.