Decoding Higher Ed - Nana Kofi Nti and Mashama Thompson

Life in Higher Ed

Send us a text

In this episode, Nana Kofi Nti and Mashama Thompson, co-founders of 510 Media, discuss the challenges facing colleges and universities in the attention economy. They note that institutions of higher education must work to distinguish themselves from the ubiquity of crowdsourced online learning.

Kofi Nti and Thompson challenge us to reflect critically on whether higher education is truly developing quality minds. They suggest that education is not a finite destination, but rather a continual process of growth and learning.
Nana Kofi Nti

Nana Kofi Nti is known for his commitment to Black Excellence in business, and dedication to Black Entrepreneurship in his local community and beyond. As co-founder of 510media, Nana is responsible for the strategic vision of the business. Under his leadership, 510media has grown from a photography studio to a brand strategy and management agency focused on finding creative solutions that move audiences to action. Honed over nearly 15 years, Nana has authored an unconventional approach to creativity anchored in human connection through deep listening, storytelling, and shared experiences. This approach has earned Nana and 510media a reputation for creating brands and stories that build connections and change the way clients show up to their audience. Active in his community, Nana Kofi Nti created and led free editorial photography courses for several years before handing the reins over to a group of hand-selected photographers that apprenticed directly with him. For the past four years through 510media HOPE, Nana has actively coached more than aspiring and existing Black entrepreneurs. A modern blueprint for nonprofits serving Black communities, HOPE draws on Black creativity, culture, and entrepreneurial spirit to address the dynamic challenges faced by aspiring business owners and leaders of color. “I want to see Oakland become a thriving hub of Black entrepreneurship.”
Mashama Thompson
Mashama is a co-founder and Creative Director at 510media, distinguished by nearly two decades of expertise in pioneering brand and creative strategies across various sectors, including health and technology. Over the past 17 years, he has led both creative and strategic teams in the physical and digital spaces, spanning lifestyle, education, entertainment, and technology industries. His work ethos strives for simplicity, elegance, and human-centered design that cuts through the noise, delivering messages that resonate deeply and drive meaningful engagement.

Beyond leading projects for significant entities like the San Francisco Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control, Mashama's commitment to education shines through in his development of the ‘PLAY Sessions’ course and his role as a panelist on the Adobe Design Awards, nurturing the next generation of brand and design leaders.
Resources
Kumar, M. J. (2024). The Imperative of Critical Thinking in Higher Education. IETE Technical Review, 41(5), 509–510
Burnett, D.G., Loh, A. & Schmidt, P. (2023). Powerful Forces Are Fracking Our Attention. We Can Fight Back. New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/24/opinion/attention-economy-education.html
Argyris, C. (1993). Knowledge for Action. A Guide to Overcoming Barriers to Organizational Change.