This Black founder is shaping the future of cybersecurity
“The hardest thing about starting your business is struggling to define your identity to get customers. You make the mistake of doing like everyone else. So, in this process with Wabala Studio the most important thing for me was to align with my values. Today, the site reflects my identity and is going to get me the customers I want. When I look at the new site, it stands out, it’s simple, uncluttered. ” — Francis Wanko, Hemley co-founder.
Working with technology founders, I rarely came across business owners like him.
Francis Wanko is our client, a PhD student and the co-founder and CEO of the cyber-security consultancy Hemley (visit the new site). During our first strategy call, it was fascinating to learn about his long-term vision for Hemley.Throughout our brand strategy and landing page design process, I got to know Francis.
This is how I describe him. He is someone who:
— is thoughtful,
— slow to speak,
— builds strong foundations before jumping head first.
Though he is business-minded with an engineer mind, he knows his strengths and weaknesses. He is open to get support to move his brand forward. That’s why he teamed up with us at Wabala Studio and our collaborators Velours Studio to rebrand Hemley. The results are a full revamp of Hemley's visual identity design and a brand new landing page.What was Francis looking for?
Francis wanted a brand that felt like his. He wanted something modern, minimal and that spoke directly to his ideal customers. So, we worked with him to understand his needs, his business goals and rely on our brand strategy process to inform the visual direction.
How can you reach out to Francis & Hemley?
If you are a small to medium business and want to upgrade your cyber defences, Hemley has worked with companies in education, energy, finance and beyond. Do not hesitate to reach out to Francis Wanko PhD student, Msc. Ing, PMP, ITIL V3, on LinkedIn or on his brand new website.
So, what is the meaning of Hemley?
Hemley is a tribe in Cameroon, Francis' home country. It also an expression commonly used home to mean ‘don’t give up, keep going.’ Francis embodies this expression and showed me that good founders are resilient.
— Good founders are humble,
— Good founders are focused,
— Good founders are made.
So, before you doubt yourself and where you are right now, continue to work on your skills and mindset. Even on a small scale. Most founders are made. Maybe you're one of those founders after all, despite your doubt?
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