What it's really like running a 7-Figure coaching business in Gambia a
What It’s Really Like Running a 7-Figure Coaching Business in Gambia
When people hear that I live in The Gambia and run a seven-figure coaching business, they immediately think of beaches and palm trees — like I’m living a Bali dream, sipping coconuts all day.
And while I do enjoy the beach, the reality of building and running a thriving business here is far more layered. This is the real story.
The Infrastructure Challenge
When I first moved to The Gambia, the electricity situation hit hard. I couldn’t predict when the power would go out — and that’s terrifying when your entire business depends on stable electricity and internet.
Even though I was born and raised in Cameroon until I was 16, this was my first time as an adult living and working full-time on the continent. I thought I was prepared. I wasn’t.
I’ll never forget being in the middle of a webinar with nearly 100 people when the power suddenly went out. I was mortified. I panicked. But the power came back five minutes later — and most people stayed.
That moment taught me something I carry with me today: life goes on. I’m not a surgeon. I’m not in an ER saving lives. The work I do — helping women build transformational businesses — is important, but it’s not life or death. If the power goes out, it’s okay. If people leave, it’s okay. Either way, the mission continues.
How I Adapted
Over the years, we’ve put systems in place that allow us to stay productive no matter what:
A generator (although it's noisy and manual)
An inverter for quieter, automatic backup power
Portable power stations that keep our Wi-Fi running for up to eight hours
Multiple Wi-Fi providers (we use at least three)
Always keeping devices fully charged in case of sudden outages
I've become a huge fan of backups — backups for the backups. That mindset alone has helped us maintain consistency.
Managing Global Teams & Time Zones
My clients are mostly based in the U.S., my team is in Nigeria, and I live in The Gambia. That makes time zone management a real challenge.
To simplify things, our company runs entirely on Central Time. Even though my laptop may say 2:45 PM local time, our meetings, deadlines, and communications all use Central Time.
This single decision removed hours of confusion and misalignment. It ensures we don’t accidentally ping a client at 3 AM their time or miss an internal meeting because someone calculated wrong.
Working Across Cultures
Building a global team also means navigating cultural norms. One funny example: in Nigeria, it’s respectful to call someone “Ma.” But one of our U.S.-based clients didn’t like it — she felt like she was being called old.
So we had to adjust. These little things come up often. Being able to navigate them with grace, patience, and clear communication is part of building a company that works across borders.
Smart Tools That Save Time
Recording content and collaborating with a remote team used to be painfully slow. Uploading videos to Google Drive, then downloading, editing, re-uploading, and so on — with limited internet speeds — would eat up 24 to 30 hours easily.
We’ve since adopted tools like Descript and Riverside that allow us to record, edit, and collaborate in real-time — without the endless uploading. These tools have saved us weeks of productivity.
Life Outside of Work
I’m not always working. One of the biggest blessings of living here is what it’s done for my family.
My kids play outside freely. They don’t have to think about their race — everyone looks like them. They’re learning Wolof, making lifelong friends, riding horses on the beach, going boxing, and having the kind of childhood I had growing up.
That peace of mind, that sense of freedom — I couldn’t give them that in the same way back in the U.S.
Homeschooling has been a beautiful part of this journey too. And honestly, sometimes I look at them and think, I want your childhood.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be in a big city to build a big business.
What you do need is:
Resilience
Adaptability
A willingness to figure it out, no matter what
There is so much brilliance, talent, and opportunity on the continent. And while running a business here comes with unique challenges, it also comes with extraordinary rewards.
If you’re waiting for the “perfect” location or conditions to start your business, let this be your reminder: you can start where you are. You can build something powerful. And yes — you can thrive.
