Today’s world of work is evolving. Young people are increasingly redefining what a career looks like, choosing between the security of traditional 9-to-5 roles and the freedom of side hustles that promote creativity, flexibility, and independence.
Recognising this dynamic shift, Absa Bank Ghana, through its flagship ReadytoWork programme, hosted a thought-provoking webinar themed “Side Hustle or 9-to-5”, aimed at helping young professionals make informed career choices.
The interactive session, moderated by Mr. Cyril Nai, Head of Internal Communications and Sponsorships at Absa Bank, featured two inspiring speakers: Mr Julian Boakye, Learning and Development Partner at Absa Bank, and Mr Joel Anaman, Career Coach and Founder of Mande AI. The speakers unpacked the mindset, skills, and strategies young people need to succeed, whether in formal employment or entrepreneurial ventures.
Opening the discussion, Mr Boakye emphasised that success in any career path, whether corporate or entrepreneurial, rests on mastering what he called “power skills”—the soft skills that drive professional excellence.
“The top skill young people need today is the ability to connect with strangers professionally,” he noted. “Whether you are convincing an employer to hire you or a customer to buy your product, that ability to connect opens doors,” said Mr Boakye.
He further explained that communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence remain timeless essentials. However, technical competencies such as data analytics, coding, and generative AI fluency are becoming equally critical for employability. “Balancing these human and technical capabilities keeps professionals relevant and adaptable,” he asserted.
Adding his perspective, Mr Joel Anaman referenced the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, which identifies resilience, adaptability, and curiosity as top skills for the next decade.
“Curiosity is key,” said Mr Anaman. “When you feel uncertain, the ability to seek information and learn quickly from others, or via digital tools, gives you the clarity to act. That separates those who grow from those who get stuck.”
Drawing from his personal journey across pharmacy, technology, and entrepreneurship, Mr Anaman encouraged participants to embrace change with
confidence. “The future is never guaranteed,” he said. “Your best insurance is personal excellence; being exceptionally good at what you do and building meaningful networks.”
Both speakers urged the youth to be intentional about aligning their education with long-term aspirations and to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.
The session concluded with an invitation for young participants to join the upcoming Absa–Mastercard Foundation Youth Entrepreneurship Forum on 14 November 2025, which will explore pathways for innovation, collaboration, and access to funding.
According to Priscilla Yeboah, Head of Citizenship at Absa Bank Ghana LTD, “Absa is empowering Africa’s youth through its ReadytoWork programme. Driven by our ‘Financial Inclusion Through Entrepreneurship’ strategy, we aim to create opportunities that enable individuals and communities to thrive.”
ReadytoWork is an educational and skills development programme designed to equip young people with the knowledge and capabilities needed to transition seamlessly from education into the world of work. It offers a range of online learning modules covering essential areas such as work skills, people skills, money skills, entrepreneurship, and creative thinking.
Beyond the fundamentals, ReadytoWork also provides advanced training in emerging and high-demand fields, including digital literacy, blockchain technologies, the gig economy, project management, and computational thinking.
Through initiatives like ReadytoWork, Absa continues to reaffirm its commitment to empowering Africa’s tomorrow together, one story at a time.
