Segment: I Never Knew What I Wanted to Be - From Dreams to Building Businesses Through Influencing

Summary

Konnected Minds Podcast – Episode Summary
Segment: I Never Knew What I Wanted to Be – From Dreams to Building Businesses Through Influencing
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Guest: Ama Bella (“Princess Amdia Berryland”)
Date: April 12, 2026

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Main Theme / Purpose

This episode features Derrick Abaitey in conversation with popular Ghanaian influencer and entrepreneur Ama Bella (real name Princess Amdia Berryland). The discussion centers on how Ama navigated uncertainty regarding her career ambitions, faced personal challenges and societal expectations, and eventually leveraged her personal brand to both influence and build successful businesses. The episode aims to inspire young Ghanaians to embrace unconventional paths, overcome self-doubt, and find empowerment in digital entrepreneurship.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality of Influencing in Ghana

• Influencer Market Not Oversaturated: Ama challenges the notion that influencing is “oversaturated,” asserting instead that the real issue is lack of diversity among content creators, especially in Ghana.
  • "The problem with Ghanaians and the reason why there's oversaturation is that everybody wants to be a food content creator. Everybody wants to do lifestyle. When you are unemployed, that can also be a content idea." (00:04)
• Influencing as a Career Starter: She expresses that influencing is an accessible, “easy money” path for young people compared to other professions.
  • "It's a good way to make easy money as compared to being a lawyer and having to put articles. So, so, so, so, so, so, so rather do a day in my life." (00:23)

2. Transitioning from Influencer to Entrepreneur

• Short Longevity of Influencing: Ama stresses the importance of thinking long-term and diversifying beyond influencing alone.
  • "And you can't be an influencer for the rest of your life. Your time will pass." (01:16)
• Building Businesses: She owns two businesses, both promoted through her content, demonstrating how a personal brand can fuel entrepreneurial success.
  • "You use content to push all of them." (01:25)
• Investment in Business: She admits raising initial capital wasn’t difficult, subtly encouraging listeners that starting is possible with minimal resources.
  • "Oh, it wasn't hard. All I needed was for that. Yeah." (01:31)

3. Early Life, Family, and Identity

• Background:
  • Real Name: Princess Amdia Berryland (“Ama” is not her birth name)
  • Multicultural heritage – Ghanaian mother (Ga) and Scottish father. (03:21)
  • Grew up in Ghana; never visited Scotland.
• Family Dynamics:
  • Only child of her parents but has multiple step-siblings (“I wouldn’t say steps – they're my siblings”). (03:47)
  • Explains a close, protected, and loving family environment, with her older siblings acting as parental figures.
  • Shared an example of familial protection: A sister removed her from a school after she was harshly punished by a teacher. (06:00)

4. School Life and Personality

• Multiple Schools: Attended about ten junior high schools – often due to sibling interventions or disciplinary issues at schools. (06:49)
• Friendships: Initially reserved with friendships, later forming deep connections during senior high school (SHS).
  • "I laugh with everybody, but that doesn't mean that you're my friend. You feel me?" (07:53)
• Outgoing Personality: Describes herself as a natural people-person, known and generally liked by many.
  • "I mean you hate me or love me? But then the love was more growing up like everybody knew me in school." (08:29)

5. Academic Journey and Ambitions

• Academic Performance: Strong student in basic school; became more average in SHS but regained footing when her grades momentarily dropped. (08:41–09:14)
• Uncertain Aspirations: Never had a clear career goal; briefly wanted to be an air hostess but later abandoned that idea.
  • "Nothing. I didn't really think about that. But when I went to senior high school, I think I wanted to be an air hostess. And later I changed my mind. I didn't really know what I wanted to do." (09:16)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Opportunity in Influencing:

  • "The problem with Ghanaians and the reason why there's oversaturation is that everybody wants to be a food content creator. Everybody wants to do lifestyle. When you are unemployed, that can also be a content idea." – Ama (00:04)

• On Early Family Life:

  • "Like, I had, like, two mothers. My other big sister, too, is like, she's now turning 40. So it's like I had, like three mothers there. So, like, I felt very protected and loved and everything." – Ama (06:00)

• On Being Inspired and Inspiring Others:

  • "Why should anyone listen to this Conversation all the way through to the end? Because I'm here to inspire people with my story. So I know a lot of young girls look up to me and boys as well. So I'm here to try my best to inspire them with my story." – Ama (02:43)

• On Self-Confidence and Resilience:

  • "I just have this feeling like that life is a movie and I'm part of the main character. So things will always go well for me, even if I'm going through the worst things." – Ama (00:43)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 00:43: The business of influencing and content creation as a career path.
• 01:16 – 01:25: Transitioning from pure influencing to entrepreneurship.
• 02:23 – 03:47: Introducing Ama Bella, her mission, and her multicultural background.
• 04:30 – 06:44: Family structure and early household experiences.
• 06:49 – 08:22: School life, friendships, and being a people person.
• 08:41 – 09:27: Academic journey and lack of defined childhood ambitions.

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Overall Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is uplifting, candid, and conversational. Both Derrick and Ama are relatable, with Ama especially open about her family life, uncertainties, and journey. The dialogue balances humor, vulnerability, and actionable inspiration, aligning strongly with the “success, wealth & mindset” ethos of the Konnected Minds Podcast.

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This episode is a must-listen for any young person navigating career uncertainty or exploring digital entrepreneurship in Africa. Ama Bella’s journey demonstrates that it’s okay not to have everything figured out — what matters is taking bold steps, embracing your unique path, and building on your strengths.

Transcript

[A]

I was paid $5,000 for a brand. I see people keep saying that influencing is oversaturated. I don't think so. The problem with Ghanaians and the reason why there's oversaturation is that everybody wants to be a food content creator. Everybody wants to do lifestyle. When you are unemployed, that can also be a content idea.

[B]

Do you genuinely think influencing is a way that young people can start making money for themselves?

[A]

It's a good way to make easy money as compared to being a lawyer and having to put articles. So, so, so, so, so, so, so rather do a day in my life.

[B]

Do brands take influencing in Ghana seriously? Is there real unity in the influencing business? Growing up, what did you want to become?

[A]

Nothing. Not so long ago, they were body shaming me in the comments. Was just people body shaming me. I just have this feeling like that life is a movie and I'm part of the main character. So things will always go well for me, even if I'm going through the worst things.

[B]

You could have just focused on being an influencer. You added business to it because you know that your brand can influence people to even buy your product.

[A]

And you can't be an influencer for the rest of your life. Your time will pass.

[B]

You've got two businesses.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you use content to push all of them.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I really want you to tell the young people something that will really empower them. When did you get the money to start it?

[A]

Oh, it wasn't hard. All I needed was for that. Yeah.

[B]

You're welcome to Connected Minds Podcast. My name is Derek Abayte. My guest today is Ama Bella, the popular influencer who's using influencing to push her business as well. For me, she's showing a lot of the young girls that you can actually build business on the Internet while you're creating content that you love. And this is why she's in the studio today. Stick with me and if you make it to the end, I'd love to know, if you didn't know, that you can listen to Connected Minds Podcast on your phone. Yes, you can. Any app you use to listen to music. Just search Connected Minds Podcast on Spotify and on Apple. Any other platform. Stay with me. Welcome to my studio. I'm A Bella.

[A]

Thank you. Thank you for having me. I appreciate you having me, actually.

[B]

And I appreciate you for coming. I. I think this is going to be a. A conversation that my audience will enjoy, but I want to enjoy it more than them. So let's see how this goes. Why should anyone listen to this Conversation all the way through to the end,

[A]

because I'm here to inspire people with my story. So I know a lot of young girls look up to me and boys as well. So I'm here to try my best to inspire them with my story. Yeah.

[B]

Well, thank you. I mean, that's what we do here. Connected Minds Podcast. So I. I'm. I'm happy to take all the inspirational aspect of life that you have gone through yourself. Now, I've kind of split this conversation up into five parts.

[A]

Right. Okay.

[B]

And the first part is to get to know you on the pot, and then we'll get through to why you decided to start creating content, and we talk about the business and every other thing we'll go through. So. Yeah. What's your background?

[A]

Okay, so my name is Princess Amdia Berryland. My name is not Amma. My background. Okay. So my mom is Ga and my dad is Scottish, so it makes. But then I cleaned the gamble because I've never been to Scotland before. Yeah. And, yeah, I went to about 10 junior high schools, but then I completed in Mary Star of this international school. Then I went to Central City Senior High School. Then Lagoon. I study psychology and information studies.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah, psychology, yes. And information studies. And, you know, I did use the. The thing, like, the psychology for anything, but right now people talk to me a lot, so I feel like I should tap into it because people listen, like, talk to me a lot. Like, they confide in me a lot. And I'm like, why? But I think I have to start, like, considering using my degree for something. Yes. And when it comes to my mom and dad, I'm an only child, but I have a lot of step siblings who. Yeah, we have a great bond. Like, I found out that they were my step siblings, like, in like, JHS1 or something like that, because of a conversation I overhead. But, yeah, that's how, like, close I am with my step siblings. And I wouldn't say steps like they're my siblings, you understand? Yes. And, yeah, that's. That's basically my.

[B]

So you ever lived with your father?

[A]

Yes, when I was very young.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But then he left to the uk, so.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So what sort of relationship did you have with him growing up?

[A]

I don't. I was. When I was a kid. I don't really remember that part, but when I see pictures, like, we're like this. Because I look just like him. So we're like this when I. Like, I was a kid and everything. But because we didn't grow up to get like, together, the relationship I have with my mom is different from what I have with my dad. Like, I respect my dad and everything, but, like, the jokes I would make with my mom and the way I'll feel free around her. It's not the same with my dad because he. He lived in the UK for a long time. I started coming back to Ghana when I was, like, older and everything. So it will still not be the same as somebody that lived with my whole life growing up.

[B]

So growing up, who did you live with? Was it your stepfather?

[A]

No, my mom. I don't have a stepfather.

[B]

Oh, okay. But you said step siblings. Siblings.

[A]

My daddy has children.

[B]

But you never lived with them.

[A]

No, my mom has children as well. I'm the last born.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So I'm a patient baby. Yes. They met in their late 30s. Like my mother gave birth to when she was 37. So, like, I'm the last. So they had children before me. So those are the step siblings. But I grew up with my mother's children, right? Yes. But then, like, I'm good with my father's children as well, but I didn't grow up with them because they have a mother as well.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. So most of them are not in Ghana.

[B]

Right. So take me inside the home. How was it growing up in the home?

[A]

It was amazing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I had a good childhood. I feel like my mother tried her very best with me and my siblings as well. So as I said, I'm a patient baby. I'm in my 20s. My big sister right now is 41, 42, thereabouts. So she was like my mother at a point too. Like, I had, like, two mothers. My other big sister, too is like, she's now turning 40. So it's like I had, like three mothers there. So, like, I felt very protected and loved and everything. Like, growing up was very good. Like, there was this time where, like, a teacher, like, lashed me in school. My charity. My charity slam for lashing me, and they took me out of their school. Like, that's how much protected, like, I was growing up. So. Yeah. But they didn't let me go out a lot. I appreciate that. Now. I wasn't seeing why then, but apart from that, I had a good.

[B]

Like, you were protected?

[A]

Yes, I was protected. Like, I felt loved from her. Yeah.

[B]

Right. I mean, your sister going to slap someone could be a reason. One of the reasons why he ended up going to, what, 10 schools, you said?

[A]

I guess.

[B]

Right. Because you keep moving from one place to the other.

[A]

Yeah. Like, if you, like, that wasn't the only reason why. So I was in school at. I want to use distances so that people understand. But then the teacher lashed me and then made me stay in school to sweep the compound. I was in class one.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Yes. So I had to walk. I'm going to use a distance from like, let's see, American house to leg on if you use straight and ars runabout. Like I had to walk home because the school bus left me.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Yes. So my sister was very irritated by that because what could I have possibly done? I didn't have a book. Yeah. And that was the punishment to lash me and let me see Black.

[B]

He's. He or she's teaching you sense. Right? That's what they said. That's what, that's what they say when, when they are beating you for punishment in school. But okay, now you are in school. How was your relationship with friends?

[A]

Like which part of school? Junior high school, senior shs. Oh, at the end of shs I made like amazing friends. Like in the start I didn't really make friends, I was just there. Like I laugh with me, I laugh with everybody, but that doesn't mean that you're my friend. You feel me? Yes. But then like when I was in like I made actual friends that I'm still friends with some of them. I made friends with Frida, Pray, Lakhani, you know those people.

[B]

And then were you always naturally a people person? Always. I'm trying to figure that out from when you. I guess through school.

[A]

I guess naturally. Yeah. I mean you hate me or love me?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But then the love was more growing up like everybody knew me in school.

[B]

So were you the sort of kid that used to get good grades?

[A]

Oh yeah.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah, okay. And I, Yeah. But then I just never chop fists but like first to fifth year, I'm inside.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. But when I went to shs, I stopped learning a bit so like I became an average student. But then like it wasn't hard to pick back up when, when I got my first from the school I was coming from, I knew that. Oh, I'm always first to fifth. So when I went to SHS the first term I was like 10th and I was like, hey, I've come to me. So that was when I'm like I stepped picking up and everything. But I've always been like a good student growing up.

[B]

What did you want to become?

[A]

Nothing. I didn't really think about that. But when I went to senior high school, I think I wanted to be an air hostess. And later I changed my mind. I didn't really know what I wanted to do.

[B]

Connected Minds Podcast.