Cherae Robinson founded the travel tech company TasteMakers Africa six years ago to help travelers connect with people in authentic ways through unique tours created and hosted by artists, creators, and makers.
Initially she arrived in Africa focused on international development. “When I got to the continent and spent a significant amount of time there, I realized that the poverty narrative wasn’t the one I was called to share,” Robinson told Black Enterprise. “I didn’t really see anybody doing progressive cultural work.”
Soon she was fielding requests on social media for suggestions on places to go, what to see, and where to eat. Robinson decided to create a centralized platform for travel-related messages, envisioning that TasteMakers Africa could become a vehicle of transformation for Black people.
The company garnered attention from outlets including Fusion, AFAR, Conde Nast Traveler, and CNN. Then, this year, the pandemic hampered international travel. Robinson had to pivot, expanding her platform to include virtual experiences and a members-only digital community.
In today’s Plug In South LA Beat, our curation of innovation and tech news, we’re finding out how Robinson left a 9-to-5 career in biology to build and scale up a successful business:
TasteMakers Africa Founder Cherae Robinson Is Living her Calling by Connecting Us to the Motherland
SistersInc. Podcast Episode Nine: Following Your Calling with Cherae Robinson
Photo Credit: TasteMakers Africa on Facebook