In this episode of In Her Own Name, I sit down with Anne-Rose Obidi, founder of The African Parent, for a deeply honest conversation about parenting, power, culture, and the courage to speak up in systems that often feel confusing or intimidating.

This is not just a conversation about raising children. It is about learning how institutions work. It is about understanding how culture shapes our responses. It is about moving from silence to strategy.

Anne-Rose shares how her own journey as a mother led her to build a platform that equips African parents with the tools, language and confidence to advocate effectively for their children.

Together, we explore what happens when respectability meets resistance. What happens when cultural values collide with institutional expectations. And what becomes possible when parents stop shrinking and start engaging with clarity and intention.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why many African parents walk into school systems already feeling disempowered • The importance of systems literacy when advocating for children • How behaviour, culture and neurodivergence are often misunderstood • The hidden cost of raising “good children” who are afraid to challenge • Stepping into your own name after an ADHD diagnosis • Emotional regulation as a leadership skill • Teaching children to question respectfully and lead confidently

Anne-Rose also shares books that have shaped her thinking around leadership and parenting:

📚 Let’s Go Leadership by Obi James: a practical guide exploring different leadership styles and the importance of learning when to let go. 📚 The Conscious Parent: a reflective read focused on intentional parenting and raising self-aware children.

If you are navigating school systems, safeguarding concerns, or simply trying to raise confident children in environments that were not designed with your reality in mind, this conversation will resonate.