My 2025 Wrapped - Building, Letting Go, and Starting Again

This year started with one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make: leaving thedsgnjunkies.

It wasn't easy. Not because of titles or visibility, but because of the time, energy, money, and heart I had invested in building that community to where it was. Walking away from something you've poured yourself into is never simple. And naturally, a lot of people reached out asking “why?”

The truth is, I'll share that story fully someday, but not now.

What I can say is that it came down to alignment, respect, boundaries, values, and integrity. There were things that no longer made sense to me as a person, and I had to choose to honour who I am and what I stand for. At the time, it didn't feel right. But looking back now, I see that it was necessary.

Sometimes, letting go is the first step toward clarity.

A Bigger Vision Begins to Form

After that chapter closed, something else started to take shape.

I've always had a vision of building a strong talent ecosystem in Africa, one that doesn't settle for mediocrity but competes confidently on a global level. During this period, I had several conversations with Michael Ayivi, and many of the concerns I shared were things he strongly resonated with.

In Africa, it's often easy to stand out locally. But that shouldn't be the goal. Our standard shouldn't be “good enough here.” It should be world-class. We have the talent, the competence, and the expertise. What we often lack is the structure, narrative, and systems to support that talent properly.

That thinking is what led to the birth of BoldeShift.

I didn't expect the response we received. People reached out wanting to join the community. Partnerships started forming simply because we were sharing the vision and the work openly. And honestly, this is just the beginning. The vision for BoldeShift is big, and next year I'm looking forward to more partnerships, more content, and deeper impact.

Building for Africa, One Problem at a Time

Another major highlight of the year was Vendorlope.

Vendorlope started as an idea last year, but this year we finally shipped the MVP. Seeing over 100 businesses sign up was incredibly encouraging. But beyond the numbers, what mattered most was the validation.

In Africa, especially Ghana, many small businesses are thriving without websites. Their real struggle isn't visibility, it's administration, inventory, sales tracking, expenses, and making sense of their numbers.

Some still rely on notebooks. Others try Excel, but without the expertise needed to extract meaningful insights, the data just sits there.

Vendorlope exists to remove that burden.

We help business owners record their sales and inventory and automatically turn that data into real-time insights. They can see profits, understand what products sell the most, and identify what's going wrong without having to stress over spreadsheets.

We're intentionally starting with small businesses because they are often overlooked. Not every business needs an e-commerce website. Many need clarity, structure, and control over their operations first.

The reception so far has been great. The MVP is free for now, but next year, the goal is to onboard paying customers and build sustainably. I'm incredibly proud of the team. We're small, but committed. From frontend to backend to design, everyone showed up and believed in the vision.

Building Products, Powered by Curiosity and AI

This year also pushed me deeper into building.

I experimented more with frontend development and AI-assisted building, and one of the most surprising outcomes was Tech Event Ghana. What started as a fun side project quickly gained traction. The platform now has 27 events listed, and people are actively using it.

That alone tells me there's a real need.

Next year, I'm hoping to bring in volunteers and collaborators to help scale it. From development to strategy, this is something I'd love to grow with the community.

AI, in general, has played a big role in how I learned, researched, and built this year. It’s been a powerful tool, not a replacement for thinking, but a multiplier for execution.

Recognition, Content, and Giving Back

One of the most humbling moments this year was winning Product Designer of the Year at the Appreciate Creatives Awards.

Seeing people nominate me, vote, and even spend money to support me was surreal. I'm deeply grateful to my family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who believed my work was worth recognizing.

On the content side, I'll be honest, I didn't show up as much as I wanted to. I had plans for consistency on YouTube, but only managed a few videos. That's something I'm taking into next year with more intention. If I need help, I'll get it. But consistency is the goal.

Mentorship, however, remained close to my heart.

This year, I mentored a cohort of 11 designers, walking them through what it truly means to work as a product designer. Not just tools, but thinking, problem-solving, working with data, and understanding the realities of the tech space. The feedback was incredibly encouraging, and next year, I'm considering running a paid cohort to go even deeper.

Gratitude, Growth, and Looking Ahead

This year wasn't without its challenges. My company went through a tough transition, including layoffs. It was difficult to witness, and the team was reduced significantly. I'm grateful to still be here and for the opportunity to take on more responsibility.

One thing I'm particularly excited about is the chance to help build a proper design system to bring consistency and clarity to the team.

I also finally launched my portfolio. That alone felt like a win. It's simple, intentional, and scalable, exactly what I wanted. A foundation I can build on without constantly starting over.

What This Year Really Taught Me

More than anything, this year taught me to trust my instincts.

There were moments where things didn't fully make sense on paper, but deep down, I knew what felt right and what didn't. Every time I listened to that inner voice, it saved me time, stress, and regret.

This year also reminded me that collaboration scales faster than you think. When you work with the right people, momentum builds naturally. Ideas move quicker. Execution feels lighter. You realize you don't have to carry everything alone.

But collaboration only truly works when values are aligned.

Everyone has their own interests, and that's normal. What matters most is integrity, respect, and shared values. When those align, it shapes how you work together, how decisions are made, and how trust is built. When they don't, no amount of talent or opportunity can sustain the relationship.

Another lesson was simple but powerful: when you put your mind to something and commit to the work, the results eventually follow. Not always immediately, and not always in the way you expect, but the effort compounds.

As I look toward 2026, I'm carrying these lessons with me. Trusting my instincts. Choosing collaboration wisely. Working with people who align with my values. And staying committed to the work.

Above all, I'm grateful.

Grateful for life, for family, for friends, for work, for growth. Some friends got married. Some had kids. I'm still here, still learning, still building.

Next year, one of my biggest personal goals is my spiritual growth. I want to deepen my relationship with God and finally complete reading my Bible. That's something I'm committing to with more intention.

As I look toward 2026, I feel hopeful. There's more to build, more collaborations ahead, and more purpose to walk into. BoldeShift, Vendorlope, new products, new ideas, and deeper impact.

Here's to what's next.