Konnected Minds Podcast
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Episode Highlight: We Don't Like Systems Thinking – Ego and Fear of Change Held Back My Business
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

In this introspective and candid episode, Derrick Abaitey engages in a powerful conversation with an accomplished Ghanaian events promoter (guest not named in the provided transcript) about the hidden costs of resisting structure and intentionality in business. They discuss how ego, fear of change, and cultural attitudes towards systems thinking have impacted their journeys—particularly in the African and Ghanaian community, both in the UK and Ghana. The conversation is rich with personal anecdotes, hard-won lessons, and advice for future generations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Hidden Costs of "Going With the Flow"

Timestamps: 00:34–03:01

• The guest reflects on the financial and emotional toll of not owning more in his ventures, particularly in the context of pioneering December events in Ghana.
• Regret over not documenting achievements or being more intentional:
  "Everywhere I go, I move my children, my kids. And people hinted, 'oh, your dad did this, your dad did that.' …I feel like I've let you down because you don't really know my story." (01:09 – Guest)
• Nostalgia about introducing his son to cassettes, showing generational gaps in appreciation and storytelling.
• Admits to making mistakes due to "just going with the flow,” expressing some regret but emphasizing the necessity of learning from them.

2. The Cost of a Lack of Intentionality

Timestamps: 03:01–04:49

• Derrick points out the cost of not being intentional:
  "There's a cost to not being intentional about this, isn't it?" (03:01 – Derrick)
• Guest agrees, noting how others telling the story often erases the contributions of the pioneers, leading to feelings of disappointment.
• The difficulty in gaining corporate support and recognition for major events like "Ghana Party in the Park," despite sustained individual effort over decades.

3. Late Maturity and the Evolution of Business Mindset

Timestamps: 04:49–05:53

• Admits to late personal and business maturity:
  "I matured very late. Maturity came to me very late and I think it's the same thing as business." (04:53 – Guest)
• Finds new optimism in working with experienced partners and a motivated team in Ghana.

4. Corporate Partnerships in Ghana vs. the UK

Timestamps: 05:26–07:05

• Cultural and logistical challenges in bringing business into the entertainment space, especially in the UK vs. Ghana: *"A lot of our Ghanaian business at the time were not comfortable with the entertainment scene…" *(05:29 – Guest)
• Praises Ghanaian events (like Ghana Music Awards, Tidal Rave) for securing corporate investment from telcos and banks, which was not feasible for the Ghanaian diaspora in the UK due to demographic realities.
• Guest expresses openness to sponsorships but highlights the lack of consistent corporate support in the past compared to Ghana’s burgeoning scene today.

5. The Ghanaian Aversion to Systems Thinking

Timestamps: 07:05–07:49

• Derrick brings in a memorable quote from a friend:
  "A lot of us Ghanaians don’t like systems thinking. We just like to do things mostly. Sometimes it looks like it's ego." (07:07 – Derrick)
• Guest and Derrick use the church seating scenario to illustrate how default resistance to structure is common and can be counterproductive.

6. Fear of Change and Ego

Timestamps: 07:49–08:02

• Guest identifies fear of change and ego as root causes for resisting systems thinking:
  "We don't like system thinking. And also some of us, including myself, we were scared for change. Change is good. Honestly. Change is very good." (07:49 – Guest)

7. Event-Specific Lessons: Bisake Concert in Camden

Timestamps: 08:02–10:19

• The guest recounts the Bisake concert, a massive event that suffered from venue challenges due to both external and internal factors:
  • Discrimination and hostility in hiring venues for Black events in the UK.
  • Underestimating demand and lacking agility in scaling up.
  • Navigating new regulations meant to combat violence in nightlife (A696 risk assessments). "We could have sold the event twice, I'm telling you..." (09:31 – Guest) – Emphasis on learning through mistakes and the irretrievability of time:
    "You cannot recall time. You've got to deal with it now." (10:19 – Guest)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On generational legacy and missed documentation:
  "I feel like I've let you down because you don't really know my story. I keep saying that to them… It's taking other people to tell you, but I've never been that way anyway." (01:09 – Guest)

• On the pain of erasure and missed credit:
  "Because somebody was going to tell the story, other people take the credit. Other people sit down and tell you you've been lazy, other people tell you that you've been lazy. Do you know how that hurts for me?" (03:04 – Guest)

• On the Ghanaian attitude to planning/system:
  "A lot of us Ghanaians don’t like systems thinking. We just like to do things mostly. Sometimes it looks like it's ego." (07:07 – Derrick citing a friend)

• On resistance to change:
  "We don't like system thinking. And also some of us, including myself, we were scared for change. Change is good. Honestly. Change is very good." (07:49 – Guest)

• On learning from mistakes:
  "You've got to be able to make mistakes to be able to correct them as well. Absolutely, yeah. But I'm not going to be too hard on myself and I think of the challenge I faced at the time." (09:43 – Guest)

Highlights by Timestamp

• 00:34–01:38: Regrets over ownership and legacy.
• 01:39–03:01: Admitting to unplanned path and its pros/cons.
• 03:01–04:49: Consequences of not being intentional in business.
• 04:50–05:53: Business maturity and the value of partnership.
• 05:26–07:05: The challenge and evolution of corporate support in Ghana vs. the UK.
• 07:05–07:49: Cultural aversion to systems thinking.
• 07:49–08:02: Ego and fear holding back change.
• 08:02–10:19: Difficulties in executing successful events, lessons from mistakes.

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is honest, self-critical, and encouraging—balancing vulnerability with pride in past accomplishments. A central message is the need for future founders, especially in the African diaspora, to adopt systems thinking, embrace structured change, and not let ego or fear limit growth. Listeners are left with insights not only into event promotion and entrepreneurship, but also into the cultural psychology that can make or break long-term success.

For those who haven't listened, the episode offers a masterclass in post-hoc wisdom—sharing not just what went wrong or right, but the "why" behind pivotal decisions. The honesty and specificity make this a compelling listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, legacy-building, and cultural evolution in African business contexts.