Why I Started A Personal Website

We live in a time where, if you don't take control of your narrative and tell your own story, someone else will do it for you. Whether we realise it or not, each of us has a professional identity shaped by our experiences, skills, and perspectives. However, without conscious effort, this identity can become scattered across platforms like LinkedIn, academic publications, or informal professional networks. It was this realisation that initially inspired me to launch my personal website.

Working at the intersection of innovation, policy, and digital transformation in Africa has given me plenty to think about and share. Over the years, I've taken on different roles in both the public and private sectors, ranging from software development and systems analysis and academic research . Each position/role taught me important lessons and provided practical experiences. I felt strongly that it was important to share what I've learned with colleagues, industry professionals, and anyone interested in how innovation and digital transformation are shaping Africa.

Designing and building this website was also an exciting personal challenge and hobby. Previously, I developed digital platforms for various organisations and clients, but creating something purely for myself was a challenge I looked forward to.

This project allowed me to experiment freely and at my own pace using my favourite technology stack—Laravel, MySQL, and vanilla JavaScript. The aim was to create a modern, lightweight, and SEO-friendly content management system completely from scratch.

Choosing Laravel was an easy choice for me. Laravel is a powerful, well documented, reliable, and secure PHP framework known for clear and maintainable code. It fitted well with my preference for structured yet flexible coding. Also because I've been working with PHP since 2007 when I left high school.

MySQL was the natural choice for database management, given its reliability and efficiency. Vanilla JavaScript for simplicity and for the site to remain fast and responsive, without the need to install countless of JS libraries/framework. Keeping the whole project as lean as possible helps in maintaining strong SEO performance.

After years in various industries, multiple career changes, and countless projects, I now feel I have something of value to share.

Returning to the reason behind building a personal brand, I plan to use this website as a space to share practical knowledge gained from working on innovation and digital transformation projects across Africa. I plan to write essays, commentaries, case studies, and reflections on topics relevant to both industry practitioners and policymakers—such as measuring innovation, the implications of various policies, digital governance, and how organisations can effectively use data science.

My goal is straightforward: to encourage meaningful conversations and provide practical advice. I aim to build a community that values open discussions and mutual learning by connecting with other professionals through this platform. Having spent considerable time on both theory and practical applications, I understand the gaps between academic ideas and their real-world use. One of my main ambitions with this site is to bridge these gaps by offering clear, actionable content.

A personal website is an intentional act of self-expression, and in today’s world, it’s perhaps the most authentic way to market yourself.

The project is far from complete. But eventhough it remains a work in progress, it's something I'll keep refining and improving over time. I plan to continue improving, tweaking, and adding on more features (like the ability to add comments). I look forward to each tweak, bug fix, or security upgrade.

If you're reading this and wondering how to navigate your own personal brand, let me leave you with this thought: there is power in owning your own platform. And if you, like I did for so many years, are struggling with the why question, maybe the time has come to build a space that is truly yours. If you’re ready to take that step, I can help you build your own personal branding website. Let’s create something that reflects your journey and makes your voice heard in a crowded digital landscape. Hit me up!