Podcasts · Coffee Pump Podcast

Working At META, Pub Culture & Shirts With Flowers - Ben Ryall | Coffee Pump (E133)

25 Oct 2026 · 1 h 54 min · S1 E133 · Explicit

Konnichiwa,

Ben is one of the first people I met in this industry and has been a friend ever since. He got an E in computer studies and barely got into university. He now leads Meta's edge strategy for Africa, the infrastructure that decides how fast WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook load on this continent, and he is the reason Meta landed in Mombasa before Nairobi. This is his first ever podcast!

We talk about:

- Serial cables, Quake, and building a network just to game

- An E in computer studies and why it never mattered

- Finding his first real job

- The night out in Nairobi that ended with Ben dropping me home

- Made redundant at 34, and the imposter syndrome after

- The hardest thing he ever did as a manager

- Seven interviews in one day at Menlo Park

- What happens inside Meta before they enter a market

- How a subsea cable gets built, and what happens when an anchor cuts one

- Why Meta picked Mombasa over Nairobi

- Whether there is a minimum size before Meta will peer with you

- 3.6 billion people using a Meta product every day

- Kinshasa, and why it feels like Lagos did eight years ago

- Whether AI is a bubble, and why your RAM costs what it does

- The weight loss journey

- The flowery shirts

Hope you enjoy the episode.

Best,

Team Coffee Pump

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Disclaimer:

The content of The Coffee Pump Podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Coffee Pump Podcast, its affiliates, or any associated entities. Nothing discussed in this podcast should be construed as professional advice in any field, including but not limited to legal, financial, medical, or business matters.

Any statements made about businesses, products, or individuals are based on personal experiences and opinions and are not meant to be taken as fact or a definitive review. The Coffee Pump Podcast does not assume any liability for the accuracy, completeness, or consequences of using the information discussed. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions, conduct their own research, and seek professional guidance where appropriate.

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