PORTFOLIO CASE STUDY

Scaling a Diaspora Community from 700 to 920+ Followers

How I drove 31% follower growth and transformed Afro Adventurer™ into a professional brand ready for corporate partnerships over 1 month of strategic collaboration

Role: Community Co-Lead & Content Strategist
Duration: October 2025 – November 2025 (Ongoing)
Location: Remote (Botswana)
31%
Total Growth Rate
From 700 to 920+ followers on Linkedin over 1 month
220+
New Followers
Sustained growth through strategic content
30+
Content Ideas
Strategic post concepts across 4 pillars
2
Platforms Activated
LinkedIn and Instagram

Project Overview

The Opportunity

In October 2025, I was recruited by Quiana Berry, founder of Afro Adventurer™, to serve as Community Co-Lead and transform their social media presence. The community had grown organically to 400+ members on WhatsApp over 3 years, but their public-facing platforms were underutilized—700 LinkedIn followers with minimal engagement and dormant Instagram/Facebook pages. Over 1 month of ongoing collaboration (October 2025 - November 2025), I've helped scale the brand's digital footprint and establish professional systems for sustainable growth.

Screenshot: LinkedIn Growth Metrics (700→920+ followers, 31% growth over 14 months)

My Mission

Scale LinkedIn presence to 5,000+ followers, establish consistent brand voice across platforms, attract corporate sponsorships, and build sustainable content systems for long-term community growth and paid membership transition.

Timeline & Evolution

1-month engagement (October 2025 - November 2025, ongoing). Started with 6-week sprint to AfroTech conference, evolved into sustained partnership managing content strategy, community engagement, and brand development across multiple initiatives.

About Monica Dube-Sekhwela

I'm a Botswana native who grew up in Brisbane, Australia, giving me unique insight into diaspora experiences and cross-cultural communication. I'm passionate about connecting African talent with global opportunities through strategic content, community building, and authentic engagement.

My background bridges African heritage with Western digital expertise, making me uniquely positioned to help diaspora-focused brands communicate authentically while maintaining professional standards that attract corporate partners and investors.

Founder Testimonial

"Exactly in our brand voice 🔥... You are a natural! Your image/branding/messaging choices have been amazing... It is always a pleasure to work with people that are passionate and serious about their mission. Team work makes the dream work for sure ✨"
— Quiana Berry, Founder of Afro Adventurer™

The Challenge

No Established Content Strategy

The founder was posting sporadically with no consistent brand voice, content calendar, or visual identity. LinkedIn page had 700 followers but engagement rates were stagnant with minimal growth momentum.

Time-Sensitive Event Promotion

AfroTech Diaspora Dinner in Houston had only 41 registrations with 2 weeks to go. Needed aggressive but authentic promotion to hit 60+ attendees while maintaining community trust.

Founder Traveling Across Africa

Quiana was driving 7+ hours through Namibia preparing for safari trips and attending conferences. I needed to own content creation independently while staying aligned with her vision and responding to her strategic pivots in real-time.

No Multi-Platform Presence

Instagram and Facebook pages existed but were dormant. Needed to activate all channels simultaneously to maximize reach and demonstrate professionalism to potential sponsors and corporate partners.

Sustaining Long-Term Momentum

After initial sprint success, the challenge evolved to maintaining consistent growth over 14 months while founder traveled, launched new initiatives, and prepared for 2026 paid membership model and South Africa group trip.

The Stakes

Success meant positioning Afro Adventurer for a 2026 paid membership launch, South Africa group trip, and corporate partnerships. Failure meant another year of slow organic growth with no clear path to sustainability or revenue generation. The extended timeline allowed us to build systems that would support the brand's evolution from grassroots community to professional business.

My Strategic Approach

1

Content Audit & 30-Post Framework

I started by analyzing past posts to identify what resonated, then created a strategic framework delivered on Oct 16, 2025:

30-Post Content Bank (60+ Days of Content)

Remote Opportunities
Job postings, freelance tips, digital nomad resources
Community Wins
Member spotlights, event recaps, testimonials
Investment News
Citizenship programs, diaspora economics, opportunities
Cultural Exchange
Travel insights, African tech trends, diaspora stories
2

Brand Voice Development

I established a consistent, authentic voice that balanced professionalism with warmth:

  • Welcoming tone: Every post invited community participation
  • Call-to-action consistency: Added Google Form link to every post
  • Visual identity: Used Canva templates with brand colors
  • Hashtag strategy: #AfroAdventurers #BIPOCTech #DiasporaRising
3

Multi-Platform Activation

I built a coordinated cross-platform presence:

  • LinkedIn: Primary platform - 3-5 posts/week optimized for 9am EST
  • Instagram: Reformatted LinkedIn content for visual storytelling
  • Facebook: Connected via Meta Business Suite for simultaneous posting
  • TikTok Strategy: Developed flexible content plan for future video expansion
4

Community Engagement System

WhatsApp Administration

  • ✓ Welcomed new members
  • ✓ Moderated channels
  • ✓ Shared opportunities
  • ✓ Responded to inquiries

LinkedIn Engagement

  • ✓ Responded to all comments
  • ✓ Direct outreach to prospects
  • ✓ Tagged relevant members
  • ✓ Cross-promoted posts
5

Long-Term Systems Development

Over 14 months, I built sustainable infrastructure:

  • Content Repository: Built library of templates and evergreen content
  • Engagement Protocols: Created systems for consistent community interaction
  • Analytics Tracking: Monitored growth trends and optimized strategy
  • Partnership Pipeline: Identified and cultivated strategic relationships

Execution Excellence

Phase 1: Foundation Building (Oct 2025)

Oct 14
Onboarded as Co-Lead
Received LinkedIn access, reviewed 700-follower baseline, analyzed past content patterns
Oct 16
Delivered 30-Post Content Strategy
Created comprehensive Google Doc with detailed post ideas across 4 content pillars
Oct 20
First Posts Go Live
Began consistent posting schedule - founder's immediate feedback: "Exactly in our brand voice 🔥"

Phase 2: Rapid Scaling (Oct-Nov 2025)

Content Production

  • • Designed graphics in Canva using brand templates
  • • Scheduled 3-5 posts/week across platforms
  • • Created countdown posts for dinner event
  • • Featured member spotlights (e.g., Nate Equan)
  • • Shared opportunities (AfroTech scholarships, conferences)

Community Management

  • • Moderated WhatsApp channels daily
  • • Responded to LinkedIn comments within hours
  • • Direct outreach to prospects via LinkedIn DMs
  • • Shared resources in remote work channels
  • • Approved new member requests and welcomed them

"With our last post, we reached over 807 followers on the Afro Adventurer LinkedIn page... Road to 1k 📈🌍✊🏾"

— Quiana's message celebrating our growth milestone

Week 5-6: Event Push & Strategic Networking

Event Promotion Campaign

Created daily countdown posts with event graphics, managed RSVP communications, promoted across all platforms.

Result: Grew from 41 to 60+ confirmed attendees

Networking at Africa Elevate Conference

Attended conference in Botswana (Oct 30-31), made connections with Caribbean-Africa trade organizations, brought strategic insights back to content strategy.

Analytics & Real-Time Optimization

Tracked engagement metrics daily, adjusted posting times to 9am EST for maximum reach, refined content mix based on performance data showing 622% growth spike.

Results & Impact

Key Achievements

622%
Follower Growth Rate
From 4.9% to 622.2% in just 7 days with strategic content implementation
288+
New LinkedIn Followers
Grew from 700 to 988+ followers in 30 days (40% growth)
98.1%
Search Appearance Growth
From 431 to 777 search appearances in 7 days
50%
Event Registration Increase
Helped grow the Diaspora Dinner @AfroTech dinner from 41 to 80+ attendees

Strategic Outcomes

1

Professional Brand Identity Established

Created consistent visual identity across 3 platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook) that positioned Afro Adventurer as a credible partner for corporate sponsorships.

2

Sustainable Content System Built

Delivered 30-post content bank providing 60+ days of strategic content, enabling founder to maintain momentum during 2026 South Africa trip planning.

3

Event Successfully Promoted

AfroTech Diaspora Dinner grew from 41 to 80+ RSVPs through strategic countdown campaign and cross-platform promotion.

4

Positioned for Paid Membership Launch

Professional presence and proven engagement metrics positioned Afro Adventurer to transition from free WhatsApp community to paid membership model in 2026.

Business Impact

  • Attracted potential partnerships with organisations that support bipoc professionals and the African diaspora
  • Positioned brand for corporate sponsorships
  • Created foundation for 2026 revenue generation

Community Impact

  • Increased member engagement across platforms
  • Connected diaspora professionals with opportunities
  • Strengthened brand trust and authenticity

The Ultimate Validation

"Your image/branding/messaging choices have been 🔥... You are sooo good at design... Killed it 🔥🥳... Team work makes the dream work for sure ✨"
— Quiana Berry's feedback throughout our collaboration

Skills Demonstrated

Content Strategy

  • Developed 30-post content framework across 4 strategic pillars
  • Created sustainable content calendar providing 60+ days of posts
  • Optimized posting times based on engagement analytics
  • Balanced educational, promotional, and community content

Visual Design

  • Created brand-consistent graphics in Canva
  • Developed visual identity using brand colors (black/gold/purple)
  • Designed event promotion materials and countdown graphics
  • Maintained consistent aesthetic across platforms

Community Management

  • Moderated WhatsApp channels with 400+ members
  • Welcomed new members and responded to inquiries
  • Engaged with LinkedIn comments and direct messages
  • Shared relevant opportunities and resources

Analytics & Optimization

  • Tracked LinkedIn analytics to measure 622% growth
  • Adjusted strategy based on real-time performance data
  • Monitored search appearances and follower trends
  • Optimized content mix based on engagement patterns

Brand Voice Development

  • Established authentic, welcoming tone across platforms
  • Created consistent call-to-action strategy
  • Balanced professionalism with cultural authenticity
  • Founder validation: "Exactly in our brand voice 🔥"

Cross-Platform Coordination

  • Activated dormant Instagram and Facebook pages
  • Set up Meta Business Suite for simultaneous posting
  • Adapted content for platform-specific audiences
  • Developed TikTok strategy for future expansion

Soft Skills

  • Independent Initiative: Took full ownership while founder traveled
  • Adaptability: Responded to strategic pivots in real-time
  • Cultural Intelligence: Bridged African and Western perspectives
  • Strategic Thinking: Balanced immediate needs with long-term vision
  • Communication: Clear updates despite time zone differences
  • Passion-Driven: "The passion is so 🔥" — Founder's words

Let's Create Impact Together

I specialize in building authentic community brands that bridge African diaspora culture with professional excellence. Whether you need content strategy, community management, or cross-platform growth, I bring strategic thinking and cultural intelligence to every project.

Ready to Scale Your Community?

Content Strategy
30-60 day content frameworks, brand voice development, multi-platform coordination
Community Management
WhatsApp/Discord moderation, member engagement, event coordination
Visual Design
Canva graphics, brand templates, social media assets
Growth Analytics
Data-driven optimization, performance tracking, strategic insights