What I Use

People often ask what tools and technology I use for community building, content creation, and day-to-day work. This is my current setup.

Last updated: November 2025

Hardware

Computer Setup

Primary Machine: Apple iMac 24” (2021)

M1 chip with 8GB RAM
Used for community management, content creation, and multitasking
Strong display for design work and video editing
Planning a future upgrade

Portable Setup: MacBook Air 13”

M1 chip with reliable performance for its size
My go-to for workshops, events, and working on the go
All-day battery life for those long community events
Lightweight enough for daily commute

Previous: Transitioned from Samsung to Apple ecosystem in 2024

Mobile

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Primary communication device for community management
Strong camera for documenting NAA events and camps
Long battery life essential for full-day programs
ProRAW for better photo quality when documenting our work

Why I switched from Samsung:

Better integration with MacBook and iMac
Superior camera for social media content
More reliable for video calls during mentorship sessions
Ecosystem benefits (AirDrop, Handoff, etc.)

Accessories

Audio:

AirPods Pro - For calls, podcasts, and focus time
iPhone built-in mic for quick voice memos and ideas

Desk Setup:

Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse (came with iMac)
Simple, clean desk - minimal distractions
Good lighting for video calls with mentees

Software and Apps

Productivity & Organization

Task Management:

Apple Reminders - Simple, syncs across all devices
Google Calendar - Scheduling meetings, events, and workshops
Notion (exploring) - For project documentation and knowledge management

Communication:

Gmail - Primary personal and business email
Outlook - For organizational communications
Slack - Team communication at NAA
Zoom - Video calls for mentorship and remote workshops
Google Meet - Quick meetings and check-ins

Note-Taking:

Apple Notes - Quick thoughts and ideas, syncs everywhere
Google Docs - Collaborative writing and planning
Notion (learning) - Long-form documentation and wikis

Community Building & Management

Primary Platform:

Circle.so - My #1 recommendation for community platforms
- Why I use it: Clean interface, easy member management, and useful cohort features
- Use case: Could scale Mentors Outreach or NAA programs here
- Features I value: Spaces, events, member directory, mobile app

Social Media Management:

Native apps - Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn (posting directly)
Canva - Quick social media graphics and post designs
Buffer (occasionally) - Scheduling posts across platforms

Email & Newsletters:

Exploring Substack or ConvertKit for the newsletter

Video & Content:

iMovie - Basic video editing for social media content
Canva - Graphics, presentations, social media posts
QuickTime - Screen recordings for tutorials
iPhone Camera - Primary tool for photos/videos at events

Development & Website

Website Management:

VS Code - Code editor for website updates (Jekyll site)
GitHub - Version control and hosting code
Netlify - Website hosting and deployment
- Why Netlify: Free for personal sites, automatic deploys, easy SSL
- Built-in forms (using for contact page)
- Strong performance and CDN

Analytics & SEO:

Google Analytics - Website traffic and behavior tracking
Google Search Console - SEO monitoring and site health
Netlify Analytics - Server-side analytics (more privacy-friendly)

File Storage & Backup

iCloud - Primary cloud storage (photos, documents, backups)
Google Drive - Shared documents and collaboration
Time Machine - Local backups of MacBook and iMac

Services and Platforms

Web Infrastructure

Hosting & Deployment:

Netlify - Static site hosting (this website)
- Useful free tier
- Automatic HTTPS
- Form handling
- Deploy previews

Domain & DNS:

Domain registrar - Managing bakarimustafa.com
Cloudflare (considering) - For additional CDN and security

Analytics & Monitoring:

Google Analytics - UA-69813719-2 (traffic analytics)
Privacy-first approach - Cookie consent, opt-out options

Communication & Email

Email Providers:

Gmail - bakari@bakarimustafa.com (primary)
Outlook - Organizational work

Business Tools:

LinkedIn - Professional networking and content
Google Workspace (considering upgrade) - For better collaboration

Payment & Donations

Current:

Buy Me a Coffee - Simple donation widget on website

Considering:

Stripe - For future paid workshops or consulting
PayPal - Alternative payment option

Based on my experience with Mentors Outreach and Networking African-Australians:

For Starting Out (Free/Low-Cost)

Circle.so - My top recommendation

Best for: Building membership communities, cohort programs
Pricing: Free up to 100 members, then paid tiers
Why I use it: Clean UX, member engagement features, and a mobile app
Best for: Mentorship programs, leadership cohorts, and alumni networks

Discord

Best for: Real-time communication, younger audiences
Pricing: Free (paid for advanced features)
Good for: Study groups, casual community chat

WhatsApp/Telegram

Best for: Quick coordination, community in developing regions
Pricing: Free
Use case: Works well for refugee/diaspora communities with limited data

For Scaling Up

Slack

Best for: Team communication, organizational work
Pricing: Free tier, then paid
Currently using for NAA team coordination

Zoom

Best for: Virtual workshops, one-on-one mentoring
Pricing: Free tier (40 min limit), then paid
Essential for remote mentorship sessions

Content & Engagement

Canva

Best for: Social media graphics, presentation design
Pricing: Strong free tier, paid plans for teams
Essential for creating engaging content quickly

Typeform/Google Forms

Best for: Applications, surveys, feedback
Use case: NAA program applications, post-event surveys

Mobile Apps I Use Daily

Productivity:

Gmail, Outlook - Email management
Google Calendar - Schedule everything
Apple Reminders - Quick tasks
Notes - Capture ideas

Social & Community:

LinkedIn - Professional networking
Instagram - Visual storytelling
Twitter - Real-time updates
WhatsApp - Direct community communication

Learning:

Podcasts - Commute learning
Kindle - Reading on the go
YouTube - Tutorials and inspiration

Utilities:

1Password (considering) - Password management
Safari - Primary browser (privacy focus)

Setup Philosophy

Why I Choose These Tools:

Simplicity over complexity - Fewer tools, used well, beat dozens of half-used apps
Privacy-conscious - Respecting user data (hence cookie consent, privacy policy)
Accessibility first - Tools that work for diverse communities
Mobile-friendly - Many NAA students access everything via phone
Cost-effective - Maximize free tiers, invest where it matters

What I’ve Learned:

Don’t chase shiny tools - Master what you have before adding more
Mobile matters - Our community members are often mobile-first
Free does not mean low quality - Many free tools, including Netlify and Circle.so’s free tier, are useful
Integration > perfection - Tools that work together beat perfect isolated tools
Simple scales - Complex setups break when your community grows

🔄 Tools I’m Exploring

Currently Testing:

Notion - For comprehensive knowledge management
ConvertKit/Substack - Newsletter platform
Loom - Video messages for async communication
Calendly - Meeting scheduling automation