Today we’d like to introduce you to Sidonie Niba
Hi Sidonie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My first job when I moved to the US from Cameroon about 20 years ago was as a dishwasher in a small, family owned Mexican restaurant in the tiny city of Coalinga, CA. As an international student, I was quite lonely. There were only a handful of people that looked like me, and only one who had a shared experience like myself – my roommate from Nigeria, Tosin. I ended up being kicked out of school for financial reasons. Those were some rough years – a wonderful lady Penny allowed me to stay with her for a while, and my friends were incredibly supportive during this time, allowing me to save money and eventually get back into school.
Now, many years later, I have successfully completed three degrees – nursing, a doctorate in Pharmacy, and a Master’s in Business Administration. My career has blossomed and allowed me to build and lead high-performing teams in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, and I have gained some incredible mentors along the journey. As a serial entrepreneur, my husband and I have built a few companies from the ground up, always with the goal of solving problems around us. Thankfully, I don’t have to wash dishes anymore.
There is something that has been ubiquitous throughout this time though – the deep sense of loss I felt moving to the US – a loss of my homeland, a loss of my friendships, a loss of my family, a loss of my environment and comfort zone – my identity. It’s a pervasive sentiment that immigrants know only too well – the discomfort that comes with feeling like you don’t belong, that you’re an imposter, even when you’re not. Not understanding how the system works: from as simple as how to apply for a social security or ID card, to as complex as understanding how the US government functions; having anxiety every time you see a law enforcement officer because you wonder if they are going to deport you – and no, this feeling doesn’t magically disappear once you become a citizen.
For many years I repressed these emotions and just tried to fit in. And then I had kids….that changed everything for me. I started to see the world through their eyes – inquisitive, audacious, authentic, disruptive. That’s when I realized inaction was not an option. I started looking for spaces that accommodated my kind – members of the African diaspora with a mission to transform our communities for good; to create and seek solutions to the issues unique to our struggles. I didn’t find much. So I did what I do best – built one. One of my favorite people, Caroline Wanga says “If you cannot be who you are, where you are, change where you are, not who you are”. I believe we have an obligation to create solutions in the spaces we exist in. And so, that is how The African Think Tank was born in January of 2023, right here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We have since expanded to 4 other major cities across the US.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
If it were smooth I probably wouldn’t be doing it😀. The most difficult part about building The African Think Tank has actually been gaining the trust of the community members. There is a deep history of mistrust and lack of confidence in the African diaspora community, for a multitude of reasons. Acknowledging, leaning into that and sitting with it takes a lot of courage, and patience. Patience is not one of my superpowers.
I would say funding as well. There’s a lot of work to be done with very little resources. We have a fantastic team of over 150 volunteers across the country doing incredible work – but in order to make the types of shifts needed in our communities we need more resources.
The third and probably most unanticipated area for us as we have expanded rapidly has been staying authentic to the brand – being unapologetic about the African heritage. We get so many inquiries from members of the African American community who wonder if they can attend our events – it breaks my heart. We are the same people: twins separated at birth who need to rediscover one another. Part of what we strive to accomplish at TATT is having authentic, real conversations about the gap that exists between the African immigrant and African American communities. Africa lives in all of us – we need to love, revel in, own that heritage, and wear it proudly.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The African Think Tank is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to uniting members of the African diaspora and friends of Africa across borders and industries for lasting impact. Our mission is to foster a sense of belonging and drive the professional, entrepreneurial, and economic transformation of the African diaspora through innovative programs. We are building a global community rooted in trust, unity, collaboration, and impact.
TATT focuses on three key program areas:
1. Educational events and mixers: Connecting professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs in major U.S. cities to build a supportive network within the African diaspora community. These programs currently run in Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Washington, DC area and Atlanta.
2. Kids’ cultural program: Educating children on African history and developing leadership and communication skills.
3. Think Tank University: An interactive online platform cultivating a global African diaspora community and providing resources to address gaps in education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
Although just 1.5 years old, we are the fastest growing African diaspora organization in the US. In an incredibly short time, we have grown our community by over 1000% from 20 to over 2000. Our educational mixer events and workshops have supported over 60 entrepreneurs and delivered education around topics like parenting, professional development, investing and financial literacy to over 1000 community members. We were recently awarded the prestigious “Organization of The Year Award” by the Global African Diaspora Awards, which is a testament to the incredible work our teams take on every single day. More excitingly, we are hosting our first ever annual fundraising gala right here in Dallas, TX on Saturday, November 16th, 2024. For tickets and sponsorships please visit www.theafricanthinktank.com/gala
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Please consider supporting our work by signing up as a volunteer, donating to help keep our programs going, or spreading the word within your communities and on social media.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theafricanthinktank.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theafricanthinktank/profilecard/?igsh=czM3dTA5b3hkcm9z
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theafrthinktank?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://www.theafricanthinktank.com/gala
Image Credits
Photography Credit: MoonVision Productions, PruneLens Photography, Kijo Media Works
