Turning 30. 3 years of Wabala Studio and highlights of 2024
%20(1).jpg)
What a year. I turned 30. Here are some highlights of these past months. I couldn't have predicted 2024 to unfold this way.
The founder, Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie is a design thinker and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Wabala Studio, an experience-as-a-service company. Through product strategy, user experience and founder support, Wabala Studio assists technology-oriented companies to increase engagement and lifetime value for their users.
Her experience has been in creating deeply human products and services in both the public and private sector. She served as a consultant for banking, clean tech, health, art tech and other more.
Her training is in design and social science. She graduated from Concordia University in Montreal with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic and Industrial Design. In addition, Anne-Marie serves as a board director for Computers for Success Canada (CFSC), a nonprofit that improves digital inclusion in Canada since the 1990s.
What is Wabala Studio
Wabala Studio is a black and female-owned user experience (UX) and product strategy company based in Montreal. We partner with North American clients and use data to guide strategic business outcomes. Our clients range from entreprise companies to venture backed startups. Amongst others, we’ve worked with Siemens, BMO Digital, Are.na, Baxter, the OECD, Nithio Holdings, Spheroid AI, the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Digital Innovation Office of the government of Alberta. Various industries: fintech, health tech, wellness tech, banking and investment tech as well as on major digital transformation projects with Federal and provincial governments. We have angel & venture funding, incubation and accelerator connections in Canada, the US and Africa.
Playlist for this Year
Podcasts and Panel Discussions
- Was a guest of the Power of Why podcast with host Naomi Haile and talked about future-proofing skills and designing life.
- Was on a business podcast with my good friend Lyse and spoke about Wabala Studio.
- Joined a panel for founders in Dar es Salaam at SmartLab/Smart Codes.
Exciting Launches and Collaborations
- We help a senior tech company launch its brand and website redesign: SeniorSynCare
- We helped a cybersecurity expert launch his consulting services Hemley.ca
- The Laptop in Barcelona: 6 strategies for 2030 eBook is live and can be used to plan your career, business and lifestyle
This work with worked with:
- Cybersecurity companies
- Health and medical technology companies
- Mental health startup to improve its product strategy
- Agencies in technology & consumer research
- Art tech company improve its web app usability and engagement metrics
Travels and Moving
- Spent 5 weeks in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania inJune and July. I was able to connect with family, friends and the startup community there.
- Travelled to Toronto thrice, one particular time with friends and my partner for a Childish Gambino concert.
- Spent a few days in Ottawa.
- Spent 5 days in Newfoundland.
- Moved to downtown Montreal.
YouTube Finds
- WTF? Why the Face analyses celebrities faces and their personalities. Internet voyeurism has never been this entertaining.
- Eni Popoola, a Nigerian New Yorker who quit law to become a full-time content creator. I love watching her travel, work and get ready.
- Brooki, an Australian baker. She opened a bakery, wrote a book and is purely killing the social media game. I do not bake, but I get sucked in.
- The Devil Wears Data analyzes fashion and beauty brands, their rise, fall and strategies.
Focus for 2025
- Publishing more client work currently in progress.
- Launching our Female Founder Service. Stay tuned.
- Continuing to partner with more founders and helping them achieve their business goals.
- Expanding our range of strategy products.
- Considering working with us? Book a chemistry call.
____