00:00:02:11 – 00:00:29:19
Busie
When my second child was born, she had severe food allergies. I had to resign from a job that I had as an executive director to become her primary provider, you know, caretaker. And that’s how I ended up doing a lot of remote stuff, becoming a consultant.

00:00:29:21 – 00:00:58:13
Claudia
Hello and welcome back to Shift Happens. My name is Claudia Mahler. I’m your host, and I invite you to listen to my conversation with global strategist, serial entrepreneur, former banker, and Wall Street wizard, and founder and president of the New York African Chamber of Commerce. Busie Matsiko. And, Busie and I, we talk about grief and how tons of work can be a coping mechanism.

00:00:58:15 – 00:01:42:17
Claudia
We talk about building an economic and cultural bridge between New York and Africa. We talk about resilience and life’s sudden changes. Boosie had to become a stay at home and then work from home mom when one of her daughters suffered from severe allergies. And that was at a time before zoom. Google meets or WhatsApp. Enjoy this brief and energetic conversation with an exceptional and impactful leader.

00:01:42:19 – 00:01:45:00
Claudia
We finally made it.

00:01:45:02 – 00:01:48:05
Busie
I know, I know, we have.

00:01:48:07 – 00:02:07:12
Claudia
I really am honored that you are able to take time to, speak to me on my podcast shift happens. Before we get into it and talk about pivotal moments in your life. I wanted to ask you a few warm up questions. What is your current state of mind?

00:02:07:13 – 00:02:11:18
Busie
You know, I’m relieved.

00:02:11:20 – 00:02:13:15
Claudia
Yes, I can see.

00:02:13:16 – 00:02:17:02
Busie
That’s how I feel right now. I’m relieved.

00:02:17:04 – 00:02:23:02
Claudia
Yeah. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

00:02:23:04 – 00:02:48:04
Busie
What about happiness is a choice and a state of mind. That’s my belief. And you can choose to do things or be around things that make you happy. And as long as we have life. We’re able to pursue that happiness.

00:02:48:06 – 00:02:54:03
Claudia
Beautiful. Which living person do you most admire.

00:02:54:05 – 00:02:56:16
Busie
I haven’t really thought about that.

00:02:56:18 – 00:02:59:06
Claudia
Okay. Maybe it comes to mind later.

00:02:59:08 – 00:03:09:18
Busie
Maybe, I mean I could say multiple people inspire me. That’s what I could say. Multiple people inspire me. Including my children.

00:03:09:19 – 00:03:21:01
Claudia
Yeah. Yeah. They’re always a good source to learn from and to get inspired by. I agree.

00:03:21:03 – 00:03:53:04
Claudia
So you are half Ugandan, half South African, and you are an award winning global strategist. And from all I’ve read about you and heard about you. You are not only a master in personal and professional change, but you are really living it and you are embracing change. And you take people along your journey to embrace it and you are a pioneer.

00:03:53:06 – 00:03:58:04
Claudia
The first black woman on the board of your alma mater, right? Berkeley College.

00:03:58:04 – 00:03:59:17
Busie
First African born.

00:03:59:19 – 00:04:28:12
Claudia
First African born. So that speaks in itself, you know, for so much power and for so much drive, but also for the willingness to take over responsibility. So of course, I am really interested. What do you think drove you into this? And you shared two life changing moments on your podcast intake form. So it would be great if you can share that with our listeners.

00:04:28:14 – 00:04:37:10
Busie
Claudia, first of all, thank you for having me on your, podcast. You’re a force to reckon with. You inspire me.

00:04:37:12 – 00:04:38:08
Claudia
Thank you.

00:04:38:10 – 00:05:07:09
Busie
And, thank you for just thinking that I should be on this platform with you. And, Yeah. So, as I said, a lot of people, inspire me in different ways. And I like to give. It’s only one person, you know, because the different things you learn from different people. And, I remember Davos meeting you, and I’m like, wow, you’re so regal.

00:05:07:09 – 00:05:37:08
Busie
You’re so you have presence but you’re. Thank you. Is about it you know. And so for me my journey has been interesting. I mean I lived in New York for about 24 years. The longest I’ve lived in any part of the world. As I saying. But, my different things have influenced me, the different places where I’ve lived as well.

00:05:37:10 – 00:06:12:12
Busie
I remember my late father saying, you’re just as Ugandan as you are South African. And that’s why people get so surprised when I say I identify as both, because this has been in the Me, the, I am because of all my experiences. I also grew up in Central Africa as well as Zambia and my father’s sudden death in 2004, was very pivotal in my life in many ways.

00:06:12:14 – 00:06:45:03
Busie
I was such a daddy’s girl. And then, he was also a mentor of mine. And, he was very driven. I get, he was very driven and very resilient, you know. And so the thing about my dad was and he cared about other people, but he was very firm and very disciplined. And so one of the things that my dad did was he encouraged.

00:06:45:05 – 00:07:09:11
Busie
So when he passed on, suddenly I was deeply affected. And I, I became very but I turned to work. I became a workaholic. And that’s how I felt about it, my business at the time. Fortunately, while I was working on Wall Street, it was my coping mechanism. And, you know, I didn’t realize the impact of it, but.

00:07:09:11 – 00:07:14:00
Claudia
So you worked on Wall Street and in parallel, you you started this business?

00:07:14:02 – 00:07:15:02
Busie
Yes, yes.

00:07:15:03 – 00:07:16:09
Claudia
Fashion in the.

00:07:16:11 – 00:07:45:21
Busie
And, it was just because I just needed a, I needed an outlet but at the same time I’m a creative. So I was thinking of musical independent, classical independent, artistically independent. But I remember him saying you can’t be a jack of all trades and must have none. So I had to focus on one. And then I, I worked backwards and then I ended up, you know, so fashion and became one of the first fashion technology companies.

00:07:45:23 – 00:08:11:12
Busie
So that was that. Then another pivotal moment was when my second child was born. She had severe food allergies and had to resign from a job that I had as an executive director to become her primary provider. You know. Wow. Caretaker. And that’s how I ended up doing a lot of remote stuff, becoming a consultant.

00:08:11:14 – 00:08:15:04
Claudia
That must have been so challenging on so many levels. I mean, yeah.

00:08:15:04 – 00:08:32:02
Busie
This was in 2012. You can imagine 2012. This was before work. I mean remote work was a thing. And since then I’ve just been that’s that’s been my journey. The pivot.

00:08:32:04 – 00:08:44:19
Claudia
The pivot. So, so your father’s passing through you into being a workaholic, and you created from there. You did one job, but you also, you know, created a whole new other world. Yeah.

00:08:44:20 – 00:09:14:03
Busie
Because my dad, he was very pragmatic and he always says his best friend said, your dad always believed in not mixing reason with emotion at the same time. Your dad wouldn’t want to see you ruined and a mess. So I kept on thinking about, okay, yes, I’m wanting that, but what can I build out of this? And then that, for me, was supporting emerging designers.

00:09:14:05 – 00:09:22:12
Claudia
And you were. I read you were the first, fashion indie was the first basically social media consultant for Louis Vuitton back.

00:09:22:12 – 00:09:33:21
Busie
In, the outsource their blogger relations to us were the first company outsource the blogger relations so that was unheard of back in the day because were also one of the first fashion blogs at the time.

00:09:34:03 – 00:09:43:03
Claudia
So cool. And then when you had to deal with the changing life situation, because of the severe allergies of your daughter, I’m really sorry.

00:09:43:04 – 00:09:48:08
Busie
Yes. I mean, she’s now by I mean, yeah, she’s lost them.

00:09:48:10 – 00:10:09:13
Claudia
All because of the good care. Yes. Yeah. But also there and as you said, it was a times before zoom and before, Google Meet and so on and so forth that you turned your situation around and established being, work from home, mom, and still worked on your career and, built these new fields and engaged people.

00:10:09:13 – 00:10:31:14
Claudia
And this is just an incredible drive. And, so you live in the US, but you are very close. You work very closely with African organizations, right? And, at the forefront, really, of, bringing Africa much more into the focus and into the economic focus.

00:10:31:14 – 00:11:14:08
Busie
Yes, yes. You know, Claudia, for me, I remember my father saying, don’t forget where you’re from. You know, don’t forget, even if you don’t live on the continent, that doesn’t mean you can’t create impact on the continent. That’s what he used to say. So for me, it became a thing of. I thought I was going to move back to Uganda and work with Citibank, just after graduation, because he literally passed on a couple of days after I received my results, college results, and he missed my graduation walk by about three months, four months or so.

00:11:14:10 – 00:11:40:05
Busie
So that was that’s interesting place. And then I was like, okay, now what’s is the future. So I ended up my future, ended up being in America and I’ve always thought about he invented a lot of people. So I so that’s, I said working with him from when I was 15 years old. So I think that work ethic also developed as a result.

00:11:40:05 – 00:12:13:19
Busie
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not I’m not perfect. So but I was able to pick myself up when I fall, you know, and this is also because, intention and I’ve learned to surround myself with people who will encourage you even when the going gets tough, but also who are accountability partners, call you out if you’re not working at your optimal self, you know.

00:12:13:21 – 00:12:38:05
Busie
So for me, those are the things that have also reminded me about okay, the Africans, the lots of amazing Africans, lots of amazing, not only Africans but also people who do business with Africa, you know. So we need to tell those stories until the story of a billion is told to glorify the story of the hunter.

00:12:38:05 – 00:13:16:16
Busie
That is when media would focus on the stories regarding the continents, that focus on what’s the what’s what’s what’s. So supposedly. But. Not a balanced approach. And so for me I’m like okay. Yes the, the might be some negative things on the continent but they also these amazing stories and people on the continent want to be seen as also equal trade partners and think you could do amazing business with them, you know, and not necessarily you doing business on the continent, but you can also exports to the US.

00:13:16:18 – 00:13:24:18
Busie
So that is for me, you know, about all of us looking at, hey, we can work, we can trade together.

00:13:24:23 – 00:13:32:00
Claudia
Yes. It’s it’s just, you know, being willing to build these bridges. Yeah. You know, bridges, economic bridges.

00:13:32:02 – 00:13:57:12
Busie
Look at how, I mean, our relationship form, you know, it’s that willingness to build together. Yes. Because also we’re human and we’re trying to work towards, you know, so that, we want to have a good conscience and enjoy life. And, I like the soft life as well.

00:13:57:14 – 00:14:04:01
Claudia
Well, who doesn’t? And it’s so important, right, that you embrace that too.

00:14:04:03 – 00:14:06:13
Busie
But we have to work to it. Yes.

00:14:06:14 – 00:14:11:18
Claudia
What does at the moment, professionally, your main focus.

00:14:11:20 – 00:14:22:17
Busie
So I formed the New York Africa Chamber of Commerce, which is. Oh, wow. Oh, yes. It’s launching during Unga in September.

00:14:22:20 – 00:14:24:21
Claudia
Yes. Oh, that’s fantastic.

00:14:24:21 – 00:14:36:19
Busie
So, actually, I hope you’re in town during Unga. So you should. Yes. Or you know. Yeah, that’s, I’ll tell you more about that. And. Yeah. So that’s that’s the highlights.

00:14:36:21 – 00:14:44:20
Claudia
Yeah. That’s fantastic. That’s huge. And then are you still also doing your consultancy Pound Global?

00:14:44:22 – 00:14:52:20
Busie
I still advise companies and that kind of. Yeah. And so but now that’s my new baby. So excited that.

00:14:52:20 – 00:15:06:12
Claudia
That’s your new baby. Yeah. Yeah. That’s really big. And they’re very important. The chambers of commerce. I’ve been involved for many years with, German and the Swiss and Austrian chambers of commerce in New York City. So, so.

00:15:06:12 – 00:15:17:06
Busie
Okay, so I’m going to I’m going to go to work so that you see. Yes. Now you’re, you’re you’ve made your rounds. Now there’s also Africa.

00:15:17:08 – 00:15:19:00
Claudia
So, so.

00:15:19:02 – 00:15:19:15
Busie
Who knew.

00:15:19:18 – 00:15:20:10
Claudia
Who knew.

00:15:20:11 – 00:15:30:01
Busie
When they’re right. You know, like, oh you just ask the question. And it happens to me that something that you have been working on, right. You know.

00:15:30:03 – 00:15:39:16
Claudia
Okay. So that is next and of course, yeah, UN week is the perfect week to kind of launch it and to bring this baby out into the world. Wants to.

00:15:39:18 – 00:15:41:02
Busie
Launch. Yes.

00:15:41:04 – 00:15:52:08
Claudia
Your children, do they feel more American or do they feel American, Ugandan, South African? Or how how is that.

00:15:52:10 – 00:15:55:16
Busie
That is actually Ghanaian. So yeah. So that’s oh.

00:15:55:17 – 00:15:56:21
Claudia
Wow. That’s. Yeah.

00:15:57:00 – 00:16:12:00
Busie
So like it’s separate. It’s so interesting. I think they are global. They are global kids. I’ve been intentional about letting them know that also they also American. So like I am American so you know.

00:16:12:03 – 00:16:12:18
Claudia
Yeah.

00:16:12:20 – 00:16:34:11
Busie
But they embrace the culture they’re proud of. They’re very aware of, the culture, the food. And they actually asked me if you could see if I could teach them a language. I wish I was good at languages, but I’m very poor. But, but, I’m still finding who could teach them an African language, but at the same time, they’re doing Spanish.

00:16:34:16 – 00:17:02:17
Busie
They’ve been doing. My oldest has been doing Spanish for about five years now. Great. And the second one is doing the same. And, I’ll surprise my youngest to my, my youngest, 12 and six. And they know all the flags of the world. They just said very good. Yes, I was impressed. And so my youngest yesterday, I was like, mommy, what’s the Ugandan flag?

00:17:02:19 – 00:17:15:12
Busie
Then I said, oh, it’s, red letter. Oh, red, yellow, black. I said, yeah, that’s just like with the Flamingo. I said, no, it’s a crested crane.

00:17:15:14 – 00:17:20:04
Busie
But I got what you’re saying. The crested crane really has a shape up of lingo. Yeah.

00:17:20:07 – 00:17:28:21
Claudia
Oh, Flamingo. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, but that’s a great game. And kids love it. And it’s such a good entry to open the doors to different countries.

00:17:29:00 – 00:17:51:17
Busie
And I’d say yes, I’ve been involved also in the South African community. They go to the events and then they also love the you know they could tell you the flag, you know, and also Ghanaian food. They can prepare it so that they can my oldest who can cook actually, yes, they embrace it. They embrace that heritage and Afrobeats is making it’s easier to.

00:17:51:18 – 00:17:52:10
Busie
Yeah.

00:17:52:12 – 00:17:54:20
Claudia
True.

00:17:54:22 – 00:18:01:22
Busie
They listen to it in school. We live in Long Island, so imagine Long Island as a no. It’s a thing.

00:18:02:00 – 00:18:04:17
Claudia
Yeah, yeah, it’s a good vibe.

00:18:04:19 – 00:18:05:09
Busie
Yeah.

00:18:05:11 – 00:18:15:15
Claudia
So you’ve also always focused on empowering women. And what would you say is like your biggest learning from that?

00:18:15:17 – 00:18:42:06
Busie
We need to continue to fix or put each other’s crowns on. I believe in a proverb. If you want to go far, go together. If you want to go fast, go alone. So if you are intentional about bringing 1 or 2 people along with you on a journey, you’ll build the world as well as you build yourself.

00:18:42:08 – 00:18:45:20
Busie
I find joy from those types of things.

00:18:45:21 – 00:18:48:11
Claudia
Yeah. No, they are very rewarding.

00:18:48:17 – 00:19:17:18
Busie
Yes, yes and yeah. And actually for me lately also I’ve been a, a group that also appeals to me is moms. Specially moms who have been stay at home moms. Because I’ve been one. And I’ve seen sometimes how society sometimes treats them as if they don’t do anything. They’re just showing you know. Yeah. They contribute single lots to the world.

00:19:17:19 – 00:19:44:18
Busie
And sometimes moms face challenges imposter syndrome when they’re trying, especially when they become empty nesters or they’re trying to get back or, or they’re trying to some of them want to become start working again and that kind of thing and be they’re treated as if they were they fell off and yet they were still contributing. Some of them have been PTA moms.

00:19:44:19 – 00:20:07:14
Busie
I mean, I’ve been that mom. I remember going for an interview, with a bank, an exploratory interview. My sister set it up for me and HR us. They put. Oh, how do you know that? You’ve been out of corporate? How do you think you’ll be able to fix it? But I’ve been doing even much more than I was doing before.

00:20:07:16 – 00:20:27:12
Busie
And. But I should have known. But it was a it was a setup because she was a temp. How does a temp interview for a recruiter role. Yeah, that means she probably wanted that same job. And this was a woman who interviewed me. And it was really I was saddened because automatically like oh what do you bring to the table.

00:20:27:12 – 00:20:55:06
Busie
And so unlike some moms I had already I mean I had I was a consultant. So but at the same time that even if I wasn’t a consultant that shouldn’t be the way leaves Hill. You know, it should never be. People take time off to do what works for their family, and that should be respected. And if one wants to go back into the workforce, that should also be respected.

00:20:55:08 – 00:20:59:07
Busie
They shouldn’t pits one people versus the other, you know.

00:20:59:09 – 00:21:21:14
Claudia
Yeah I think yes you’re right. And I think I mean it’s slowly here and they’re getting better and better. I mean the language around it gets much more respectful. But it’s an incredibly slow process. It is. And yeah that’s a shame. And I agree that women still need to get a little bit more loose and celebrating each other.

00:21:21:16 – 00:21:31:18
Busie
Yes, yes. And even those who are not able to have children, that’s should also be considered be made to feel good about it, you know. Yes, yes. Yeah.

00:21:31:18 – 00:21:57:03
Claudia
And those are all choices. And, you know, we need to be respectful of choices. So, you are very busy, as I can attest, because I tried to catch you so many times and, what is your way to keep in balance, to calm down? What energizes you? What are a few life hacks we can steal from you?

00:21:57:05 – 00:22:30:17
Busie
I’m still working on that. But, So you know what? I’m trying to be intentional about setting time, aside. And, sometimes also, I’m also I also give room for impromptu stuff, not being too structured, like, if you. Claudia called me because you have my number and just say, hey, we’ll see if I’m available to chat up chats, I won’t get offended that.

00:22:30:17 – 00:23:03:04
Busie
Oh, Claudia did not make an appointment. If I’m not able to speak, I’ll say, hey, can we set up time to speak? So I’ve learned that also helps me do certain things. And not feel the pressure of doing tasks or making it too routine, too rigid. And I like going to get to massage sometimes, you know, go to a spa and sometimes I’ll even go and grab a meal by myself.

00:23:03:06 – 00:23:04:13
Claudia
Oh nice. Yeah.

00:23:04:15 – 00:23:13:14
Busie
And it’s a long time. And I also drive it and I just enjoy taking drives in the country.

00:23:13:16 – 00:23:16:20
Claudia
Yeah. That’s also a good way to get focused.

00:23:16:22 – 00:23:25:08
Busie
Yes. Yeah. And I sometimes decide okay I’m shutting down. Maybe I need the nap. I’m learning not to feel guilty about that.

00:23:25:09 – 00:23:31:10
Claudia
Oh yeah. That’s a that’s a big big big lesson. Yeah I’m still working for that one. Yeah.

00:23:31:11 – 00:23:33:23
Busie
And so tell me how do you do it.

00:23:34:01 – 00:23:35:12
Claudia
Yeah, I,

00:23:35:14 – 00:23:36:01
Busie
Open letter.

00:23:36:02 – 00:23:58:04
Claudia
I actually, just recently got back into yoga and meditation, and I almost had the feeling that my body was telling me finally. It it was very, Yeah, it was a very intense experience. So, I like to cultivate that again. And also. Yeah. Rest.

00:23:58:04 – 00:24:03:09
Busie
And and I’m also very prayerful. So prayer for prayers. So grounds me and. Yeah.

00:24:03:11 – 00:24:18:02
Claudia
Helps me. Yeah. I mean we have to I think we have to just have to cultivate it because, the speed of the world and the, uncertainty that is around. I don’t think it’s going away. It’s here to stay. So how do we brace ourselves for it?

00:24:18:04 – 00:24:20:07
Busie
That’s 100%.

00:24:20:09 – 00:24:45:14
Claudia
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I am very, very grateful for your wisdom and, for the drive that we kind of experience through you and that there is a next project on the horizon. Of course. I’m super curious, where will you have offices in New York with, with the African American Chamber.

00:24:45:14 – 00:24:49:03
Busie
The African, the New York Africa Chamber of Commerce?

00:24:49:05 – 00:24:55:08
Claudia
Yes, New York, Africa Chambers of Commerce. Okay. Very cool. Well, congratulations.

00:24:55:09 – 00:24:59:13
Busie
On there that I was, with you today. Thank you so.

00:24:59:13 – 00:25:02:23
Claudia
Much. Thank you. Busie. And, we’ll stay in touch.

00:25:03:05 – 00:25:08:01
Busie
Absolutely. You in town? Yeah. I, yeah. Let’s listen.

00:25:08:02 – 00:25:11:01
Claudia
We will. Okay. Thank you so much. Bye bye.

00:25:11:03 – 00:25:25:18
Busie
But in the last quarter of a, I.

00:25:25:20 – 00:25:54:09
Claudia
It is always so uplifting and inspiring to be in conversation with someone who is constantly growing, inventing and reinventing. Boosie is a whirlwind. I loved what she said about women supporting women and that we should put each other’s crowns on. There is always a good and important reminder.

00:25:54:11 – 00:26:19:03
Claudia
Shift happens, has been created and is hosted by me. Claudia Mahler, editing Andy Boroson, social media Magda Reckendrees. I hope you felt connected and heard by listening to shift Happens and please leave a review and a rating wherever you listen to podcasts.