My First 365 Days at Raenest: What One Year Taught Me About Leadership and Resilience

When my photo popped up in the Slack General channel with a “Happy Rae-nniversary!” banner, I paused for a second. One year already?

As the congratulatory messages started pouring in, I sat there for a moment, taking it in. A full year of building with many people I’ve never met in person, across time zones, for a company I said yes to after an unexpected LinkedIn message.

My name is Cynthia Orji, and I’ve led the content and community team at Raenest for a little over a year.

In that time, I’ve written, created, built, laughed, doubted, and grown. 

Saying yes to Raenest

It all started from a LinkedIn DM from Yetunde Salawu, the People and Culture Lead at Raenest. They were building a content team and thought I might be the right fit to lead it.

I was curious about the company, so I did some research and learned what they were doing. Raenest was breaking down the barriers to earning and spending globally for young Africans.

That mission sold me. Because I knew what it felt like to have the skill and the ambition and still be locked out because of geography or currency. And I wanted to be part of changing that.

So I said yes.

I still remember what Richard Oyome, Raenest’s COO and Co-founder, told me during our interview. He said, “We spoke with many people for this role, but our chat stayed with me. We had to call you back.”

He talked about how they weren’t just looking for someone to oversee things. They wanted a doer. Someone who could lead but also roll up their sleeves and do the work.

And work, I have done.

The first 30 days

I joined Raenest in February 2024. By week two, I was on a flight from Lagos to Nairobi for Africa Tech Summit which Raenest was the headline sponsor.

I hadn’t even fully wrapped my head around the company structure or met many people yet, but there I was, representing the brand and helping make the event a success. That start set the tone for everything that came after. 

One of the first questions I had to answer when I joined was how to develop a global brand voice when the audience isn’t all in the same country or even continent.

So I started small, researching, testing. One post. One campaign. One conversation. And slowly, we started rolling out. Articles, emails, internal processes, social media campaigns, strategy decks. We were laying the groundwork.

Building the team

By the time we started hiring for the content team, I already had an idea of the kind of culture I wanted us to build, one that was collaborative and focused on both “doing” and “why we’re doing”.

The team has grown over the months, and I’ve continued to adapt and lead better.

My approach has been to set a clear vision, document everything, ask questions, and leave room for people to bring their ideas forward. That’s something I picked up from the wider Raenest culture. People here are generous with knowledge, open to feedback, and always willing to help you figure things out.

One of my biggest fears when I joined was how distant remote work can feel. Like what if I can’t reach someone when it’s urgent and things fall through the cracks? 

But working with people across Nigeria, Kenya, Canada, the U.S., U.K., and more has proven that distance doesn’t have to be a barrier. Everyone shares this commitment to building something meaningful. And it shows in the content we create, the products we launch, and the values we uphold. 

The highlights

I didn’t come into Raenest thinking I’d ever be unsure of myself. But it happened. Impostor syndrome crept in and made me wonder if I was doing enough.

But the trust and support I got from the team and the founders quickly reminded me of my why. I guess when you care deeply about something, it’s easy to second-guess yourself sometimes. 

Over time, I’ve learned to sit with doubt, not run from it. To name it, but not let it take over.

I’ve led campaigns that pushed me. From shaping the brand’s voice and building our content strategy, to planning our first community-facing event, Geegs and Groove (which was a big challenge for an introvert like me).

I even moderated a panel at the event with leading voices in the creative and tech ecosystem, and sat on a panel at Moonshot by TechCabal, talking about the creative economy I care so deeply about.

I’ve revived our blog, written hundreds of articles and emails, interviewed our community, shared their stories, and helped ground our brand in real people.

I’ve lived and breathed our CRAFT culture, and helped make it tangible for every team member.

And none of it was done in isolation. I’ve collaborated with my team members and teams across product, growth, support, design, data. And in every project, there’s been the same energy to build something great.

Even though I’m not always great at taking compliments, every now and then, a kind word lands in just the right way and stays with me.

Like the time Victor Alade, our CEO and Co-founder, ended a team leads’ meeting by giving shout-outs to Tobi Otokiti, the Vice President of Product, and me for our selflessness. It was unexpected and deeply validating. Moments like that remind me that people notice.

One year later

It’s been one year of showing up. Of leading and still staying close to the work. Of building something meaningful with people I deeply respect.

My biggest lesson is that, when it comes to growth, there’s no magical point where all the answers appear. Like a wise cartoon character once said in Bread Barbershop (my toddler’s current favourite show): “What matters is that you keep going”. And that’s what I’m doing. 

Before I joined Raenest, I prayed for a job that would challenge me and give me something to wake up excited about. I got that and more. And if year one looked like this, you can bet that I’m excited for what year two has in store.