Stephany Zoo – Medium

Sep 1, 2022

In 30 years of my life, I have never lived in my body.

I have always been a multi-tasker, always- doer, under-table-texter. I felt that if I did things at the same time, I could pack more and therefore live more fully. I knew that I needed to be more present, but I did not comprehend the extent to which I was not…

Meditation

8 min read

In 30 years of my life, I have never lived in my body.

Meditation

8 min read

Published in P.S. I Love You

·Feb 28, 2021

I cannot remember

I. I cannot remember the first time I told you I loved you, although I am sure I said it first. I cannot remember whether you said it back. I only remember something about your breath — or maybe your voice, as unconditional as the sun. It was not melodramatic…

Long Distance

4 min read

Long Distance

4 min read

Published in AZAfinance

·Oct 22, 2019

Why “AZA”?

“Reflect” in Swahili. “Powerful” in Arabic. “Strength” in Hebrew. “Money” in Nigerian slang. We are now giving AZA a new meaning — the potential of frontier markets. Frontier markets are dynamic, a lush field for innovation and growth — with the right kind of inputs. We are showing the world…

Startup

2 min read

Startup

2 min read

Published in P.S. I Love You

·Jul 18, 2019

Slowing Under the Acacia Tree

My love, were we born half a century too late? — It’s only two hours away from my home, but coming here, I leave my sense of time in a suitcase in the car. In the morning the sun pours like bright oil across our sprawled bodies, and it releases the grip of my circadian rhythms. That internal cycle lives in…

Love

4 min read

Love

4 min read

Published in P.S. I Love You

·Jul 18, 2019

The Grammar of Death

Violence turns everything — from bricks to bodies — into rubbish. Before January 16, 2019, I had never seen a body. I thought I always loved bodies — I loved describing them in my poetry and drawing limbs in pencil. I compared them to smoked cigarettes and wet ground. …

Death

4 min read

Death

4 min read

Jul 14, 2019

Why and How I Froze my Eggs at 27

There are many other egg freezing 101 websites and resources out there and this is not meant to be comprehensive, but just a description of my own, personal experience with it. Personally, I was surprised at how easy and comfortable the whole process was. I’m not sure if I amped…

Egg Freezing

4 min read

Egg Freezing

4 min read

Published in TransferZero

·Mar 28, 2019

What African Banks Can Learn from Chinese Fintechs

In 2017, mobile technologies and services generated 7.1% of GDP across Sub-Saharan Africa, and Mckinsey found a sharp rise in the number of mobile financial services such as peer-2-peer borrowing, group savings and micro-loans among others. While the rise of fintech and alternative financial tools is exciting, so is the…

Fintech

9 min read

Fintech

9 min read

Published in TransferZero

·Mar 28, 2019

Secrets for Fintechs to Better Work with African Banks

The financial sector is continuously improving, and different companies have different standards for awarding banks. Some of the key factors that are considered by companies such as McKinsey’s or Moody’s to award different banks include digital transformation, financial inclusion, and ability to serve customers. As a fintech, we have to…

Fintech

4 min read

Fintech

4 min read

Oct 25, 2017

The answer it gives to a question of yours

I had started writing a letter about leaving Shanghai, but I decided it would be better to write one about coming to Nairobi. I’ve been in Nairobi for a month, but I am still finding this letter exceedingly hard to write. The reason is because I know that your first…

Africa

4 min read

The answer it gives to a question of yours

Africa

4 min read

Sep 11, 2017

In 26 years of your life, have you spent 26 hours with yourself?

TLDR: During my Vipassana — First random thoughts, torrents of sadness, anger clothed as excitement, and visceral fear — then feeling lighter. I don’t think I’m going to write anything about Vipassana that someone hasn’t written before. After 10 days of silence, I haven’t walked away with some great enlightenment…

Meditation

6 min read

In 26 years of your life, have you spent 26 hours with yourself?

Meditation

6 min read