Have you ever felt your inner self set on fire?

Have you ever felt your inner self set on fire? Or just felt that spark in you waiting to be set ablaze?

Had you asked me, say nine months ago, where I wanted my life to be today, I would have said exactly where it is now. Back then I did not know how that was going to be possible, but I knew the life I was living wasn’t ‘it’ for me. I knew and felt that I wanted more, to be more, to experience more, to do more..

As fate would have it, I have found myself squarely here. In a space where I can define a lot in my life, where I feel like I have the power to gain back a level of control I lost. But at the same time, ironically, a place of letting go of the said control. It’s almost paradoxical right? I needed to let go of some level of structure through which I had lived my life previously. I feel that I got overly caught up in planning; setting goals, strategizing… making one year, five year, ten year goals, that I embraced too much rigidity and almost forgot to live, to take risks, to just be.

I have always been a person of timelines, of written down goals, of immense structure. Whilst this is an amazing thing, there’s a fine fine line where said rigidity robs you of life, of your sparkle..

But now, I am taking time to smell the roses, living a bit more fluidly. (Okay I won’t lie, goal setting and timelines will always be a part of me..case in point, I just wrote up an Excel sheet of some goals I have for the rest of the year J). But, but, the difference is I am now doing it different, enjoying the process a whole lot more, putting myself under less pressure and just living. Breathing. Embracing. Loving. Being. And this side of life feels a whole lot better!

I am now getting back into blogging in a much different mind space then how I initially began. This is me, back at my centre, finding that zen. Being on fire, being alive. Challenging myself. Through the blog, I want to be able to broaden my perspective. I want to get out there, interact, engage, laugh while at it, grow.. That’s the stuff I crave for, that’s what makes my pulse beat faster.

Through the blog, I would like to be able to interact with and hopefully feature other like-minded people, of different ages, backgrounds, viewpoints, upbringing, culture.. My dream has always been to take part in programs around the world such as leadership programs, events, conferences and global events with people seeking to make an impact in any way, shape or form. I am slowly discovering some fantastic programs such as the University of Oxford- Said Business School’s Archbishop Tutu Fellowship Program (I've linked it here) and the Women Transforming Leadership Program (I've linked it here). 

Truthfully, these programs target mid-career individuals and it can seem out of reach for you or me to get a chance to ‘take a seat at the table’. However question is; how will change come about, if we young people do not boldly demonstrate why we have the ability to be a part of such amazing forums.. and like sponges; absorb, absorb and absorb! And equally so; contribute, challenge and contribute some more!

I hope to grow, to mature. To enjoy the process, express, be genuine, real, consistent and authentic. To confidently know and say that a year from now, I will be intrinsically the same person, but with more maturity, more body, more fire, more life, more depth, and certainly with bigger dreams. 

And I wish the same for you. J

Love and light

Fiercely journeying through our 20s

Hello there!😊

I recently read a great quote from a friend’s Twitter account which said ‘I am enough. I have enough’. I have had a lot of time to do a lot of thinking these past few weeks, and I have also reconnected with many friends, and ignited some genuinely great friendships along the way.

Throughout all this, I have had some good banter and candid conversations. Most of them begin with a catch up on how life is going and then meander into this beautiful journey we call our 20s. Lots of us 20-somethings are going through important milestones.. I’m talking life changing events such as marriage, scholarships and the pursuit of second degrees, new jobs and career changes, new relationships, new businesses, starting families, pursuing new passions.. the list is endless!

I honestly feel my heart really warm up when I see all of this. It signifies growth, maturity, progress.. which are all incredibly positive! But not all the change comes easy or comes pretty, other people are also going through painful processes such as miscarriages and difficult pregnancies, difficult marriages, retrenchment and job loss, struggling businesses, difficult family trials, death of loved ones, sickness, depression, self doubt.. And these are very trying, traumatic and daunting periods..

No one can fully understand a situation (whether good or not so good), except the individual who finds himself in it.

I am writing this post to:-

-really laud those who are flourishing in this season of life, to fully cheer them on, root for them 110%!! To that person who just managed to break a bad habit/ addiction, the person that just moved out of home, the person who just bagged a scholarship and entry into their dream school (shoutout to those starting grad school this September, yay!), to that person who just started a blog (shoutout to the fitness blog Tizi), that person who just landed their dream job, the person who just bought their first home, the one who started a new business.. and to anyone who has achieved their own personal version of success..Congratulations through and through!

-to encourage those going through a stage called being in the ‘waiting room of life’. Where things are neither here nor there. Where you are frustrated at your job or just lost that job, lost that business deal, lost a loved one, missed that promotion, started that venture that just isn’t picking up, lost money in that investment.. or you who is just going through an incredibly difficult time.. may you always be reminded that this is just a season, and it too, shall pass.

Lastly we need to take time to pray and be there for each other, intentionally and truly. Journeying our 20s and into our 30s is a bittersweet roller coaster, but, an overall amazing, wholesome and beautiful experience. I’ll leave you with another beautiful quote:

‘Surround yourself with people who add value to your life, who challenge you to be greater than you were yesterday, who sprinkle magic into your existence, just like you do to theirs. Life isn’t to be done alone. Find your tribe- and journey freely and loyally together’ Alex Elle

PS: As you may/ may not have noticed, this is my old blog and my actual blog (calibratedblossom.com) is still under construction. Literally! But I will redirect all my traffic to the main site when it is fully up and running 😊Thank you to EVERYONE who encouraged me to get back to writing.. a heartfelt and sincere thank you! Love and light.

BIG THINGS BREWING…

Hello there! I hope you are having a fantastic end to your July. This year time keeps whizzing by and before you can catch a break a new month is ready to begin. As we “recover” from Obama’s visit to Kenya (hands up if you still don’t know what POTUS means, haha! Probably the most googled word last week!)and the positive effects from the GES Summit, I thought I would let you in on something remarkable that is brewing.

I have been blogging since February 2014 and for a long time I have envisioned transitioning to a full website. Transitioning into a new site would serve as an open canvas with a depth of possibility. Well, this dream is finally materialising. In celebration of this amazing feat, it is fitting to organise a launch to unveil the new site.

Proceed to mark your calendars for Saturday 29^th August 2015 when we will be hosting our inaugural event dubbed “The fruition of a dream”. It will be an afternoon like no other; of unveiling the Calibrated Blossom website alongside fireside chats with stellar Kenyan personalities and culminating in a celebration of our local Kenyan music. It is an excellent opportunity for the young and upwardly mobile Kenyan to meet and rub shoulders with some of Kenya's most remarkable personalities. It is also a celebration of Kenya’s entrepreneurial culture giving a platform to fantastic businesses to showcase what their businesses have to offer.

This launch will also give us an opportunity to share the remarkable and ambitious plan to make Calibrated Blossom a brand that you and I can identify with. A brand that people between the ages of 23-35 all over the world can identify with.  I envision it as a place that people can find inspiration, be challenged, find useful advice applicable to various facets of their lives. A place where potential connections can be made, a refreshing haven, where ideas can be exchanged and birthed; a melting pot of opportunity, inspiration and possibility. I want this to be a brand that has never been seen in Kenya, Africa and the world over!!

I recently run a quick survey on my social media sites on the following question “If you could spend 30minutes in a one-on-one conversation with a Kenyan personality of your choice, who would that be and why?” It was intriguing to see the depth of responses I received and the reasons behind the choice of individual. What was amazing was that the responses cut across individuals in diverse fields; from enterprise, to corporate leaders, media personalities, political figures, bloggers, and ambassadors… the list is indeed endless. It’s great that people hold such remarkable men and women in high regard. Given the opportunity, they would be willing to spend some time in a tête-à-tête and perhaps sneak in a selfie! (You know?!) This event hopes to do just that and give you that opportunity.

Indeed it is an opportunity to celebrate the fruition of dreams.

I will be posting more event details as the date approaches, with the anticipated personalities who will be in attendance, a list of six entrepreneurs who will be showcasing their businesses and unveiling the local musical talent. Look out for the event details SOON! 
Note: In order for guests to derive ABSOLUTE value, this will ideally be a small gathering therefore limited tickets will be on sale.

2015 is indeed OUR year! Do you have a dream? Does it seem crazy? Are you going for it? If so, keep at it!

Book Swap

Have you ever been to a book swap? If you're like me, then you probably haven't! Haha

I would like to introduce you to the idea of a book swap. So what exactly is book swap? A book swap involves the swapping of books between people. It's a practice among book groups, friends and colleagues giving one an opportunity to exchange books, find out about new books  and make awesome connections.

This Sunday 12th July, Mwanaume ni Effort presents the MNE Book Swap. Mwanaume ni Effort (MNE) is a lifestyle brand dedicated to uplifting and refining young Africans through fashion, events, education and charity.

Location: Leilani House, Lenana Road. (Leilani's is located at the end of Dennis Pritt Road)

Time: From 2pm

Charges: Kshs 500 at the gate

Come with any books you would like to share, swap or giveaway. There will be lots of food, drink, amazing conversation, and an open mic session where readers will share their favourite excerpts from their favorite books. Please bring a book or two to swap. The more, the merrier!

Imagine an afternoon of book swapping in the backdrop of music, lovely Sangria& wine and amazing company; where you can have a decent engaging conversation, meet like-minded people and have a fabulous time.

See you there. Until then, happy reading!

If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what book he reads- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Woman of steel- Rehmat Sumra

In the male-dominated scrap metal industry, Rehmat Sumra has managed to make a name for herself. At the tender age of 19 she became MD of Roma Scrap Metal Dealers Limited and has since steered it to great heights.

I grew up in Mombasa and my family later moved to Kisumu. My life spurned the normal life of a teenager. During school holidays I kept busy helping my mother to run and balance the accounts in our family-run business.

I completed school in 2004 and enrolled for a Diploma in International Commerce at the University of Toronto in Canada. I was studying in Canada when my mother suffered a stroke. I quickly returned to Kenya to run the family business. I previously never saw myself in the family business.

Looking back I believe my family background impacted on my career goals. Watching my parents run the family business drew me into the scrap metal industry. The company supplies scrap metal to lead manufacturers and steel mills. I began as an administrative assistant and was later made CEO at the age of nineteen.

I do not have a typical day. My day involves a balance of home and work. My day begins at 5am with prayer. I get my daughter ready for school and leave for work. My work involves correspondence with clients, seeking new business opportunities and supervising and overseeing the company’s operations.

Working in the scrap metal industry has taught me to deftly manoeuvre this informal sector. Having confidence has been handy in this male-dominated industry. Learning to deal with industry stakeholders has enabled the company to broaden its operations to Kisumu and Mombasa.

I actively engaged in strengthening the Kenya Iron and Scrap Metal Association. I cautioned on the dangers and implications of vandalism. This helped to reduce the rift between dealers in the business and management of national firms.

In my early days running the company, I was faced with a myriad of challenges such as business deals gone wrong. I would take it personally, like it was my failure. But I learnt that it can happen to anybody.

Through the years I have learnt that it is important to separate business and personal life. Never let your business affect your personal life. Never take matters to heart.

I am married and have a daughter who is three years old. Motherhood is a beautiful thing. It is possible to achieve the intricate balance of business and motherhood. I remember when I was a new mum I made a nursery for my daughter at work; I somehow developed this need to be constantly around my daughter.

I believe my responsibility towards society is to be an excellent wife, mother and business executive. Women can excel both at work and at home.

My husband and I love travelling. Since we got married we have travelled to all continents except Australia. My dream destinations in the future would be Mexico, Cuba and Switzerland.

My husband and I partnered together to start Aayat Enterprises Limited in 2014. It is a building and construction company that aims to empower the youth.

I returned to school to complete my studies. I graduated from Catholic University with a degree in political science with a bias in economics. Despite the fact that my education was cut short when my mother fell ill, I have deeply believed in the power of education. I wished to set an example to my siblings.

I am always disheartened by the suffering of disadvantaged children. I have adopted fifteen children with special needs, mainly suffering from cerebral malaria, cancer and brain tumours. We cannot continue thriving in business as a country while ignoring the plight of the less fortunate.

Success to me is being happy; and I can say that I am happy. As long as you know what you are doing then actively pursue it. You need to have that drive inside you because at the end of the day, if you do not want it you are not going to get it!

2014 Top 40 under 40 Award

This article is featured in True Love East Africa Magazine July 2015 issue.

All rights reserved 

Half year reflections

We are already six months into the year. Would you believe that? It’s amazing how fast time is moving.

My half year has been riddled with ups and downs. The greatest difficulty has been dealing with disappointments and change. It is especially painful and difficult when it feels like life is dealing you one difficult situation after another.  On the flip side however, is that superb things have happened along the way and I am deeply appreciative of them. What do you do when things go unplanned? When things go wrong?  When situations cast some self-doubt and you question yourself? When you have to question whether you’re good enough for something; even when factors around you seem to suggest that you aren’t as good. Here are a few reflections that have helped me in dealing with disappointments and regaining my perspective.

 

1. Allow yourself to feel the emotions. You could be dealing with difficult intricacies at work, or treading along the thin ice of a failing or failed relationship, or battling disappointments from loved ones, a single mother coming to terms with an absentee spouse or better half or dealing with the repercussions of that important presentation or pitch that went horribly wrong. The list is indeed endless, and I have found that a situation or setback is highly personal. You cannot begin to compare your situation, or to diminish a situation you find yourself in. You are highly unique and what happens to you is purely personal. I am slowly learning that it is important to let yourself experience the emotions that come with each situation. Allow yourself to feel what you are feeling, without an agenda of rushing it or speeding up the process of moving on. Just. Let. It. Be.
2. Don’t take it personally. When you take something personally, it unnecessarily narrows your point of view and prevents the acquiring of wisdom, which is an ability to see life from a deeper, broader, more meaningful perspective. 
3. Take a big picture perspective. The ability to self-reflect is the essence of good mental health. Take some time to explore what is happening for you around this event – what it means to you and what it has taught you about life.
4. Don’t let it shake you. This one is difficult. It’s easy to really question yourself when things go wrong. It’s not uncommon to find yourself doubting yourself, your character, your potential and your ability. I have learnt, and I’m continually learning, that disappointment doesn’t necessarily reflect on our weaknesses and inadequacies. It serves as a light to better understand ourselves, understand our capabilities, our emotional intelligence& soundness, and embrace acceptance. The way forward and solutions may not necessarily be clear, but believe me they are there. All it needs is time, some soul-searching and reflection and most importantly seeking out advice from those around you.
5. Embrace change. Change is amazing. The more you embrace it, the more you open up to amazing possibilities. You unlock a side of you, and some great opportunities that you previously did not know existed. Admittedly it is a painful and slow process, but the growth that comes out of it is undoubtedly far more rewarding.

You learn so much from things that happen to you, disappointments do not define you. What defines you is your ability to handle the situation, embrace the situation and keep your head above the water.

I hope this helps you in dealing with the rigours that life has dealt you. It’s been a tough first half of the year on different fronts in my life. Life is complicated, difficult and a roller coaster in itself. But life is indeed beautiful, do not let that beauty pass you by.

Love and light.

The CEO with a larger than life dream

Meet the man behind Kenya’s first and only castle; the beautiful Tafaria Castle. He has built one of Kenya’s most beautiful structures- an elegant structure designed on fairy tales of medieval Europe. The marvelous castle is a result of seven years of construction. Before he made the transition from the corporate world to build this dream castle, he was the man at the helm of Steadman Group (now Ipsos Synovate), who steered it to an African multinational. The man, George Waititu. Let his tale unfold.

Growing up in Laikipia plains near the Aberdares was remote, harsh, lonely and God forsaken (in many ways). My mother was a pioneer immigrant there. Make no mistake though, it was still fun and well-moulded me – I can bet I would have been a totally different person if I didn’t grow up there.

The inspiration behind Tafaria Castle stemmed out of a childhood dream and the need to express my love for architecture and art. Most importantly, the castle is very symbolic of transforming my village. Having gone back to conquer the brutality that it unleashed on me when I was growing up, a Castle had to be built to signify that – just like in medieval times when they conquered a territory. The fact that we built a castle was also borne out of the expression by my English teacher each time one was caught day dreaming ‘don’t build castles in the air!’, so I had to build one on the ground for my village.

The challenges I faced were in plenty – I look back and there is no way I shall undertake such a project again! (chuckles) The challenges ranged for the very location itself – far flung making materials haulage expensive, local labour was not used to the kind of work ethics the project demanded, I was fulltime working and supervision was a major challenge, the heavy rains and bad roads, lack of water and lack of power made the early years of the project very expensive. Overall, there were many challenges but they did not seem as such as Tafaria is a pure work of passion…. I am happy to note that we accomplished all the set out transformational goals: to bring water, electricity, roads, employment, skills, market for local produce, to enhance land value and to create social prestige in the village.

The front and rear entrances to the Castle

One of the beautiful pieces of art at the Castle

Tafaria was always a dream I had. I made the transition from my career to focus on the castle because of the overwhelming need to go back home and transform the village that I grew up in, the village that made me the person that I am today. I also have this thing in me - that this craving to live in urban areas needs to be reversed by making rural areas more attractive places to live in. Beyond the localized transformation that I pursued, I'm very deliberate about rural transformation.

The lessons I have learnt are un-ending. The most important one is being ‘never delegate your dream’; you must personally be involved and pursue it with brutal consistency. Anything short of that will be filled with regret of either unrealized goals or poor execution – I had to leave corporate life to pursue my dream brutally. The results are always deeply fulfilling.

Where I am today is a result of being passionate about what I believe in. I never take up anything in life that I am not in love with. I had a similar passion for the Steadman group which I built to an Africa multinational. If you have ever been in love, I'm sure you will understand what I mean – no one else or anything else matters in the world and you go to strenuous lengths to satisfy this. (Isn’t that amazing, can I get an amen? Haha!)

I am very average and have always been even academically – I still get bored very quickly – I'm also very edgy and terribly impatient – when I die, burry me quick else you might have some questions to answer. Haha!

Success to me is the attainment of a set personal vision – a goal true to one’s heart. I think it is always very disempowering to others when one tells his story because using the benefit of hindsight, everything sounds and looks well thought out and executed – it’s therefore very hard to explain this in a way that sounds normal. I would sum up my journey as one full of the ordinary ups and downs pursued with brutal consistence – hence few regrets.

Mentors are important but one needs to be careful not to be entrapped by social conformity. I have been personally inspired by different phenomenon and people. For instance am very inspired by the consistency of the sun (never fails to rise or set) and hawkers (for their aggression, belief in what they sell and passion to push it through). We are who we are because all our paths are unique and however hard you try to take mine, you will never end up with the same results. One needs someone to occasionally bounce off ideas. Trouble with young people when they get mentors is that they over-subject themselves to the said mentors, sometimes compromising their own creativity and personal liberties (which I highly cherish). You must stand for something first at a personal level then look for someone to guide you through it.

My advice to young people on saving and investing would be to make your dreams first and set your goals then define the steps towards their accomplishment. Put a financial tag to each and then set out to get the necessary finances. I am not a believer of saving money in the bank. The true meaning of money is what one spends it on. The whole essence of working hard is to accomplish a pre-defined goal. I would hate a situation where I make some money then go look for something to do with it.

Invest in that genuine dream that is personal to you. An early start is always advisable. Breakdown the various stages of your investment to the tiniest of elements (I say shilling worth) and that way you don’t have to wait to save big money to start. Tafaria started by simply planting trees. Each seedling then was 1bob and labour for a day was 100bob. So even the biggest of investments has a shilling worth element. If you have an opportunity, I say why not!

Endless pursuit of wealth for its own sake is not fulfilling. I find it deeply satisfying when you do things with and for the community. Tafaria is a social enterprise by motivation. Reaching out to the community does not stop one from earning while at it just like one can do with a hobby. Also, however hard one works, there is always the element of fate and many things in a community conspire to influence our direction. So, community being so cardinal to/in our lives, it’s worth attention.

The earlier one is able to ‘figure’ himself out, the easier navigation through life becomes thereafter. Remember, even the society engages with you at your own terms. You set the terms and immediately the society sees you through those lenses and engages with you as such. 

The CEO Edition- Margaret Ireri, Managing Director at TransAfricaMedia East Africa

Passionate, candid and full of life are just a few words to describe Margaret Ireri. Meet the remarkable market researcher who made the bold transition into the world of sports. She is open and responsive to participating in anything that contributes to creating a positive impact; which is why she was more than willing to meet me on an early Saturday morning at the bustling Café Alexandre in Yaya Centre. Sit back and enjoy the interview with this remarkable woman.

Being the Managing Director of TransAfricaMedia East Africa Limited has been a refreshing and fascinating experience. Sports is among the greatest things that drive Kenyans. In fact, 60% of Kenyans are football enthusiasts and about 30% are athletics fans. Sports is universal. Plugging into this new world of sports has been exciting.

My role involves setting up the Kenyan unit and recruiting new clients. TransAfricaMedia specialises in promotion of sports events, teams and acquisition of broadcast rights.  I take a sport, create a unique concept and package it into an event.

I grew up in Buruburu. My dad always told me that he wouldn’t get me a school; only my grades would. I went to an estate school, then moved on to Moi Girls. I later joined Kenyatta University where I studied a Bachelor of Education, Teaching French as a Foreign Language.  When I graduated teachers were not been employed so I veered into research, and as they say, the rest is history.

Making the transition from market research into the world of sports has been refreshing. I started my career at Ipsos Synovate and my career in market research has spanned about thirteen years.  In life few people have an opportunity to make a career change. I am fortunate enough to have had this opportunity.

I have a typical work day but not a typical week. My day begins at about 8.30am. I do a lot of client meetings, proposal pitching and negotiations. My weekends are spent doing sports events such as roadshows within and outside Nairobi.

My recent appointment as the Chairperson of the Marketing Society of Kenya is a great honour. MSK is the umbrella body for marketers in Kenya. Our vision is to be the force behind business in Kenya and beyond. I am thrilled to take up this role.

In my free time I like to exercise. Recently I have been doing a few outdoor treks. I really believe being in the outdoors helps you appreciate, think, engage and notice so much more. I am not married but I dedicate a lot of time to my friends and family.

I am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration at the University of Edinburgh. This is building from my MBA which I completed in 2011 from the Jomo Kenyatta University (JKUAT).

I am currently writing a book. It is themed around business and management lessons. I share life and practical experiences, and fuse this with lessons learnt along the way.

Mentor to Leader is a mentorship initiative which I founded. It takes another leader to raise the next-generation leader. This initiative seeks to develop the next generation of leaders for Africa through mentorship and leadership forums. It was inspired by my own experience, where through the years I found myself in positions of responsibility but a shortage of mentors.

I have had to re-brand myself from my market research persona and demonstrate capacity in my new role. A famous quote by Steve Jobs reads “The difference between a leader and a follower lies in innovation”. I am constantly innovating and looking to be different.

When I look back through my life, I would definitely say it is important to surround yourself with the right team. Through strategic partnerships with people around you, you can accomplish a whole lot more.

When all is said and done, I would want what I have done to outlive me. When you have a dream, there’s a reason for it. Don’t listen to the external voices. Your dream defines your purpose.

This article is featured in True Love East Africa Magazine June 2015 issue.

All rights reserved

  

The CEO Edition- Joshua Oigara, Group CEO of KCB Bank

His twitter bio reads “Choiseul Laureate and named Africa’s top 100 youngest and most influential economic leaders in 2014 by Institut Choiseul”

The man; Mr. Joshua Oigara. He serves as Group CEO of KCB Bank Limited, a position he has held since January 2013. He served as CFO and member of the Board of Directors of KCB from January 2012 to January 2013. Mr Oigara has many feathers in his cap, from serving as the current Chairman of the Kenya Bankers Association, Chairman of the Williamson Foundation, Executive Director and Group Financial Director for Lafarge East Africa at Bamburi Cement Limited, to Business Performance Manager at Hima Cement Limited, Group Business Performance Manager at Bidco Africa and to his initial years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Impressive credentials, right? KCB is the largest bank in Kenya by asset base. Steering such a powerhouse demands a level of prowess, skill and uncommon savvy!

My interview with him wasn’t like any I’ve done before. This was evident right from my efforts to schedule an interview with him, which began in January this year. Someone asked me how I managed to connect with him and schedule an interview. Would you believe me if I told you it was as simple as using Twitter?

Sometimes I think us young people don’t effectively utilise Social media as best as we should. Social media is great to post selfies on Instagram, talk about your weekend on Facebook, shares memes and interact with friends. However I have come to realise that we can take it a step further and connect with diverse people and expand our circles. Leaders, entrepreneurs, and business executives have now gone digital. It really is as simple as that! So I sent Joshua a tweet. The interesting thing about twitter is that it limits you to 140 characters, so I had to sum up my message in 140 characters. (Chuckles). And here we are!

I felt more nervous than ever walking into his meticulous office on the material day. Our mothers always tell us to put on our best dresses, hold our heads high and flash the million dollar smile. That I did!  J

I knew that this would be an interview unique in its own way. He inquired about me, wished to know what I did and what inspired the interview; it was engaging, refreshing and a challenging conversation. In fact I told him that the aim of this interview was to discover the man himself, devoid of the title and information in the public domain. A quick google search will yield phenomenal results of this man, his childhood, his accolades, and his rise to KCB CEO. So this interview will steer clear from that, and unearth who he is, his values and what makes him the man he is. I hope something in here inspires you, or triggers a spark in you to become the person you are destined to be. Enjoy:

I have one of the best teams. I am surrounded by some of the best minds; a brilliant team. I believe our culture has taught us to have the tyranny of “you versus me”. It is always a competition to outwit those around you. It is a push and shove aimed at outsmarting, outperforming and outshining those around us. But my fundamental question would be, why can we not replace this “you versus me” mindset with “you AND me”? Why can’t it be about teamwork, about working together and about growing each other? I believe this is a paradigm shift we need to have as a society.

I have always believed there is no shortcut to prosperity. It is sheer hard work. Earlier on in my career I undertook a program for Management Development at Duke University. While I was there I met one of the youngest CEOs. He rubbed shoulders with men twice his age, and still exhibited traits of a seasoned captain of industry. This greatly challenged me. Scaling to great professional heights is not a preserve of those with numerous years in their feathers.

Effort delivers outstanding results. You must make a conscious decision to follow the path you want. Growing up, my ambition was always “to be a CEO of a blue chip company by the time I was 40, although at that time I wasn’t exactly sure what a blue chip company was”. I have always believed background doesn’t define who you are; it is a platform to catapult you to unimaginable heights that you wish to achieve. My parents, William and Diana Oigara, were school teachers and rural farmers.  My father believed the only inheritance we would get was a good education.

Over the years I have come to learn that you must be willing to do what you think you cannot do. You have to envision yourself achieving those dreams which your mind tells you that you cannot achieve. This will require you to have unmeasured ambition, ambition that drives you to put in the necessary hours; commonly known as the 10,000 hour rule.

In order to achieve greatness, we must begin to benchmark ourselves on a global level. Think global. It is important to benchmark yourself alongside those in your industry, but we have to go a step further and think regional, think global. This expands your potential greatly. Depending on the role you are doing, benchmark yourself against your regional and global counterparts. This puts a lot into focus, changes your perspective greatly and sharpens your drive and resilience. Let’s not think Kenya-wide. Let us challenge ourselves and think global!

Having heard such great insights, Joshua gave me the opportunity to ask him anything. I chimed in and asked that all-elusive question which we young people battle with “How do you discover your passion?”  His advice was simple and yet so powerful;

In life, never do many things. Run a race to build on your strengths. Look for your passion, seek out your comfort and what you are good at, and be the best in it. Life is a God-driven purpose. We have to discover our God-given purpose in life, and fully focus on achieving that.

Joshua is a man passionate about young people. In his role as CEO, and outside of this role, he is a firm believer in the potential of the youth. He re-affirms that we need to be in the 2% bracket of people who categorically and without fear of ridicule or shame, go after our dreams. It doesn’t matter how long it takes and the opinion of others (which he reckons you will have to face along the way). What matters is having the drive and will to realise the dreams you have. Look around for the opportunities open to you, and go for them!

Joshua went on further to emphasize that when we are young we can be more aggressive with our time. At a young age, we have the most defining moment to build a more sustainable future. It’s important to surround ourselves with a good support system; choose your friends wisely as they are a definition of who you are.

His greatest advice to young people would be that we need more young people biased to doing more and talking less. The future belongs to Doers. Everyone has an idea, but there are few who decide to do something about it today and not tomorrow. Indeed we have a unique opportunity in this generation to build and realise more inclusive growth and shared prosperity.

Chasing perfection

Photo credits: Business Daily Africa, Kenya Bankers Association, The Star, Samsung Galaxy S4

Chanda chema

 Hey there!

Happy new month loves!

February was one of those up and down months..but I am pretty excited for the new month.

This post is specifically for the ladies! Sorry gents :) 

I want to kickstart your month with a bang, a FABULOUS bang at that.

“…Quite often young ladies see each other as competition instead of sisters. Rarely, do you ever find ladies coming together to invest in a common business venture. Our counterparts however do this so often, and that continues to give them power. Young ladies need to have thirst for power, strength, financial security, respect and independence on the society.”Young, wild & free” we are.Why are girls in competition?Let us  root for each other!"

I hope those words have a profound effect on you. Take a moment and read them again. 

And then proceed to mark your calendars on Saturday March 14^th 2015. I would like to  invite you to an event titled “Chanda Chema”.

Pull out that gorgeous sun hat, slip into that beautiful sundress& come and enjoy cocktails and cheeky chit chat on various aspects of life. From relationships, friendships, sex, careers, travel , savings ,investments, fashion & family…you name it! There will also be a chance to enjoy a taste of our local fashion with amazing things on sale.

Details of the event are:

Event Name:”Chanda Chema”

Event Venue: Pawa 254 Roof Top on State House Road

Event Date:Saturday March 14th 2015

Event time:1:30-4:30pm

Event Price:Ksh.800

Ticket purchase: Ticketsasa or call 0706 444 443 

And guess what?! I’ll be speaking at the event and I would love to see YOU there! It’s my first event to attend as a speaker so I am SUPER EXCITED!

Hurry and get a ticket before the slots run out. Trust me, you really don't want to miss this!

Chasing perfection

-Lydia-