Meet Any Keila Pereira

We were lucky to catch up with Any Keila Pereira recently and have shared our conversation below.

Any Keila , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Being the only one in the room has taught me that I am never truly alone.

When I enter a space where I am the only woman, the only black person, the only scientific writer, or the only founder, I carry with me entire communities and generations who never had access to that room. People just as capable and just as brilliant, but denied the opportunity or the privilege to be there.

That awareness keeps me grounded and deeply grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, while also making m aware of my responsibility. I know my presence in that room is not only about me but also about what becomes possible for those who come after. This strongly shaped the way I show up: I always choosing excellence intentionally. Not to prove that I belong, but to expand the idea of who belongs.

I want my work and my voice should ensure that my presence doesn’t close doors behind me, but instead it makes it easier for the next person who looks like me to walk in, and when she does, she’s not alone by any means, nor is her excellence is ever in question.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a software engineer, scientific writer, and founder building at the intersection of technology, education, and Africa’s future. My work focuses on creating tools, knowledge, and platforms that make access, whether to technology, information, or opportunity, more equitable and inclusive.

Professionally, I work in tech while also building Maaip, a platform designed to make traveling to and within Africa easier using Artificial Intelligence to connect travelers to authentic African experiencies. Africa represents one of the world’s largest and most underexplored travel markets, less than 1% of the trillion dollar of travel and tourism tourism goes to the continent and from this percentage that goes, only 5% actually stays in the hand of the locals or benefits communities.
What excites me most about Maaip is its potential to shift that narrative, using technology to simplify travel, elevate local experiences, and contribute to sustainable economic growth across African countries.

Alongside my work in tech and entrepreneurship, I am also an author. I wrote and launched the the first technical book written by a Cape Verdean woman and first technical cybersecurity book written by a Cape Verdean. Writing is an extension of my mission: to demystify technology, make knowledge more accessible, and create representation where it has historically been absent.

At the core of everything I do is a deep belief that Africa’s potential is not limited by talent or ideas, but by access to information, infrastructure, and visibility. Whether I’m building products, writing, or mentoring young girls interested in technology, my goal is to open doors, challenge narratives, and help create pathways for others to lead and innovate.
Currently, I am focused on growing Maaip into a sustainable, impact-driven company, learning from global entrepreneurial ecosystems, and continuing to build solutions that center Africa, not as an afterthought, but as a starting point.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

First, intentional excellence.
I learned early on that excellence is not about perfection or proving worth—it’s about consistency, preparation, and respect for the opportunities you’re given. Especially when you’re underrepresented, how you show up can open doors not just for you, but for others. My advice is to treat your craft seriously: master the fundamentals, stay curious, and commit to lifelong learning.

Second, clarity of purpose.
Knowing why I do what I do has helped me navigate uncertainty, rejection, and change. Purpose keeps you anchored when the path isn’t linear. For those early in their journey, take time to reflect on what problems you genuinely care about solving. Skills can be learned, but purpose is what sustains you when things get hard.

Third, the ability to build and trust yourself and your intuition
This includes resilience, self-belief, the courage to take up space even before you feel “ready”, and your intuition, especially as a women. Sometimes you believe in something that you can’t explain to others or looks like non-sense to others but you can feel in your guts that you are in the right path.
My advice is to start before you feel fully prepared, learn you to build and trust your intuition

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I feel overwhelmed I rest. People don’t understand, especially on the entrepreneurship world that rest is also building and most of the failures we face is because we are tired. There is a quote in Portuguese that I always use, that says: “Devagar e sempre” which means Slow and steady. This helps me remain calm in the most critic times, because, it does mean that I will move slow but it means that when I am on my lowest velocity and I am steady and don’t quit, I rest.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maaip.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/any_keila/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anykeila.roxy/
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/any-keila-pereira-a01350158