Konnected Minds Podcast – Episode Segment Summary

Episode Segment: "We Don't Like Systems Thinking – Ego and Fear of Change Held Back My Business"
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Date: April 7, 2026

Overview

In this engaging segment, Derrick Abaitey and guests reflect on the challenges faced by Ghanaian event organizers in the UK, centering around the struggle with "systems thinking," the impact of ego and fear of change, and lessons learned from key business decisions. The conversation moves fluidly between personal anecdotes, industry-wide observations, and actionable insights, with particular focus on collaboration, risk, and growth within the Ghanaian diaspora events scene.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sponsorship and Community Support

• Difficulties Accessing Corporate Sponsorships in the UK
  • The event organizer shares frustration over failed attempts to secure support from major UK banks and corporations, despite their public commitments to community responsibility. ([00:00])
• Openness to Partnership
  • The organizer clarifies he was "100% open to the idea" of partnerships, having secured some sponsorships from companies like Western Union and MoneyGram in the past, but laments lack of broader, sustained support. ([00:22])
  • Memorable Quote:

    "I wish they even did more. They did well for us, don't get me wrong. But I wish they did more." – Event Organizer ([00:30])

  • Regret that more robust mechanisms for partnership and sponsorship weren't in place "10, 15 years ago," admitting that having those structures would have led to greater success and impact. ([00:36])

Systems Thinking, Ego, and Resistance to Change

• Cultural Aversion to Systems
  • The host recounts a friend's remark that "a lot of us Ghanaians don't like systems thinking," reflecting a tendency to improvise rather than work within structured processes. ([00:46])
  • Illustrative Anecdote: The example of resistance to being seated according to the church usher's directions highlights the discomfort with following systems. ([01:07])
• Personal Admission and Fear of Change
  • The organizer admits his own reluctance to embrace change, acknowledging that fear and habit impaired his decision-making:

    "I think we didn't. We don't like system thinking. And also some of us, including myself, we were scared for change. Change is good. Honestly. Change is good..." ([01:29])

  • Insight: There's consensus that overcoming this fear is crucial for both personal and business growth.

Event Management Lessons: The Bisake Show

• Venue Limitations and Risk Assessment
  • The intense demand for Bisake’s show is highlighted: ticket sales exceeded expectations, but choice of a smaller venue limited potential. ([01:50])
  • External barriers: At the time, black event promoters faced discriminatory venue policies, with some venues refusing "black events" due to concerns over violence and mandatory risk assessment protocols (e.g., the A696 risk assessment form for all participants, especially DJs). ([02:00])
  • Regret and Reflection:

    "We could have sold that event twice, I'm telling you." – Event Organizer ([03:12])

  • Learning: Importance of adaptability—recognition that decisions made under constraints were sometimes errors, but also learning opportunities. ([03:33])
• Mistake Ownership and Life Perspective
  • The organizer takes responsibility for his decisions, reflecting that mistakes are part of growth:

    "You've got to be able to make mistakes to be able to correct them as well." ([03:23])

  • Emphasis on not being excessively harsh on oneself: "Would I have done better? Yes. Can I do better? Yes. In life you can always do better." ([03:34])

Missed Opportunities for Collaboration

• Regret Over Not Including More People
  • Admits to often handling projects solo or within a close circle, neglecting broader collaboration that could have improved outcomes. ([04:26])
  • Observes that previous relationships with artists and promoters suffered due to a lack of understanding and smart alliance. ([04:36])
  • Notable Quote:

    "We wasted money, money that we didn't have, by competing against each other where we could have actually worked smarter." – Event Organizer ([05:04])

• Ego, Pride, and Competition
  • Discusses how ego and pride led to unnecessary competition among Ghanaian promoters, resulting in fragmented efforts and lost potential (e.g., multiple separate Independence events instead of one large celebration). ([05:11])
  • Acknowledges that now, wiser collaboration is being pursued.

    "Now I work very closely with Valodia, I work very closely with West Coast. You know, I get them well with our brand." ([05:47])

Branding and Business Decisions: Scaling Beyond "Ghana"

• Potential to Globalize
  • There was serious discussion about removing “Ghana” from the “Ghana Party in the Park” branding, to attract a more diverse audience and elevate the event’s status (like London’s Wireless Festival). ([06:01])
  • Business Dilemma:

    "If you take Ghana away from it, what happens next?" ([06:17])

  • COVID-19 disrupted plans, but the intention was to potentially rebrand for broader appeal. ([06:33])
• Sense of Ownership and Innovation
  • Admits a pattern: “Ghana starts it and our neighbors take it”—implying innovation is there, but not always the follow-through to own or scale initiatives.

    "We tend to start a lot of things. We don't own it and somebody else will take it better and I'm part of the system that got it wrong. I have to say." ([06:55])

Challenges With Artists

• Stories of Difficult Partnerships
  • The organizer shares frank recollections of working with Ghanaian music legends, particularly Daddy Lumba. Miscommunications and abrupt cancellations led to financial losses and stress. ([07:14])
  • Memorable Moment:

    "The fourth show I was just about to do with him again with...with a day or two to go, he called me to say he's not coming. Just like that, your money is ready. Come and pick up your money. Refund. Yeah. At that time I've already made a heavy loss." ([07:46])

  • Even sought intervention from high-profile community leaders to try to resolve last-minute show cancellations. ([08:00])

Notable Quotes

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Event Organizer | "I wish they even did more. They did well for us, don't get me wrong. But I wish they did more." | 00:30 | | Interviewer | "A lot of us Ghanaians don't like systems thinking. We just like to do things." | 00:46 | | Event Organizer | "We could have sold that event twice, I'm telling you." | 03:12 | | Event Organizer | "We wasted money, money that we didn't have, by competing against each other where we could have worked smarter."| 05:04 | | Event Organizer | "We tend to start a lot of things. We don't own it and somebody else will take it better and I'm part of the system that got it wrong. I have to say." | 06:55 | | Event Organizer | "Just like that, your money is ready. Come and pick up your money. Refund. Yeah. At that time I've already made a heavy loss." | 07:46 |

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–00:36: Sponsorship struggles and looking back on missed partnership opportunities
• 00:46–01:29: Ghanaians’ aversion to systems thinking and fear of change
• 01:50–03:33: The Bisake show, venue limitations, and mistakes made under pressure
• 04:26–05:11: Regrets about not collaborating, wasted resources due to competition
• 05:21–05:47: Discussing ego/pride vs. healthy competition; movement towards smarter, collaborative work
• 06:01–06:39: The debate about “Ghana Party in the Park” branding and scaling beyond niche identity
• 06:55–07:06: Self-critique about Ghanaian innovation being capitalized by others
• 07:14–08:00: Difficulties working with Daddy Lumba and the fallout of last-minute cancellations

Summary

This episode segment is a candid, introspective look into the business and cultural hurdles that have shaped the Ghanaian events scene in the UK. Derrick Abaitey and his guests dissect how fear of change, resistance to systems, and personal egos have held back collaborative growth, and share timely lessons on partnership, adaptability, and visionary branding. Through honest storytelling and incisive commentary, listeners gain a blueprint for facing adversity, learning from errors, and ultimately building smarter, more unified ventures in diasporic communities.