Tales of Strength and Resilience Episode 1

 Tales of Strength and Resilience podcast explores the boundless dimensions of strength and resilience. Join the host, Muthoni Waigwa, on a transformative journey as we delve into the very essence of these profound qualities. We will unveil the multifaceted nature of strength and resilience in heartfelt conversations with extraordinary individuals.

Episode One
Muthoni Waigwa, the host of Tales of Strength and Resilience podcast, shares her thoughts on this first episode. She shares her career journey and the importance of recognizing the different abilities that are within us so that we can leverage on them and maximize the opportunities that lie in front of us. 

Muthoni Waigwa is a remarkable individual—a visionary leader, an inspiring speaker, and a beacon of motivation. She is the co-founder of Niftyworks Plus Ltd, a dynamic graphic design and audio-visual production company that passionately creates captivating digital content from the unique African perspective. With her unparalleled creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, she also wears the hat of a compassionate host. Through her podcast, "Moments with Nderru," she shares a plethora of captivating stories that uplift and empower her listeners.

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Transcript

Muthoni Waigwa :

Welcome to the Tales of Strength and Resilience podcast, where we explore the boundless dimensions of strength and resilience. Join me, your host Muthoni Waigwa, on a transformation journey. As we delve into the very essence of these profound qualities. We will unveil the multifaceted nature of strength and resilience in heartfelt conversations with extraordinary individuals. We will empower and enlighten through these inspiring stories triumphing over adversity and discovering transformation lessons embedded within. Get ready for today's episode where untold stories of inner power and tenacity await us. Let's begin.

Thank you so much for choosing this podcast and for listening. This is Muthoni, the host of the Tales of Strength and Resilience podcast. So why this podcast and why am I hosting it? I got selected to be part of the new cohort of the Alumni in Residence program. It's a six months program where alumni of the network will be provided with different resources to just share our experiences, share our insights to the Baobab community and to the larger community. And it's important that we share our stories in whatever form or format to encourage one another on this journey, to inspire people to continue pursuing their dreams and goals and to keep pushing, because sometimes we can feel that we are not moving forward with our lives, but listening to a podcast or reading a blog, you can get a dose of encouragement or inspiration to just continue on your life journey.

So who is Muthoni? I am a entrepreneur, content creator and public speaker and podcaster, and I've been on this journey of entrepreneurship for 10 years. When I look at it, sometimes I'm left in shock and wonder at how I'm still on this journey of building a business and leaving a mark in the industry. Has it been easy? No. Has it been fulfilling? Yes, and it's one of those decisions where I keep getting surprised. I keep getting challenged. I keep getting stretched each and every single day by building my business and pursuing this passion of building strong African brands for the global market. So from a very young age, I knew that I wanted to be in the media and entertainment industry. I would wake up early in the mornings over the weekends to make sure that I catch my favorite TV show or cartoon. And for me, it was Sesame Street.

So every Saturday I would be up and ready to watch whatever program was on for Sesame Street. And if I was watching a film, of course, the films that were for my age at that point in time, I just knew that there was a different world that I wanted to be a part of. Watching these stories unfold on screen, whatever story it was, be it the Sound of Music or Pinocchio or Winnie the Pooh. Whatever story it was, I just knew that there was a different world that I wanted to be a part of. So from early on, I knew I wanted to create stories. How would I create those stories? I didn't know, but I knew from the bottom of my heart I wanted to create these stories. And also from a young age, I knew that I wanted to own a business. How would I get there? I don't know. But I knew from the bottom of my heart that I was going to do it.

So fast-forward, I didn't study film or communications or broadcasting. I studied international business administration and yes, so far removed from media and film and communication, but it gave me the necessary tools that I use today for running and operating a business. But one of the things that stood out for me is just because you're not able to pursue one thing at that particular time, what opportunities are within your reach that you can embark on and pursue as you build towards your bigger dream? So I told myself, you know what? Even if I can't attend film school or I've not been selected to join a communications program, let me just focus on this international business administration program. I gave it to my all. I graduated and I entered advertising.

And the beauty about advertising, you get to interact with different facets of media, of TV production, of creating stories and making sure that they're executed as per the client's brief. So I told myself, you know what? Since I'm in advertising, let me learn the other side of TV and film production, the business side where the client comes to the creative and says, this is my brief. I want this story to come to life. So it was interesting, it was fulfilling, but at the same time, advertising is cutthroat.

Nonetheless, I learned as much as I could, and I remember just pouring myself into this space, gaining all the insights that I could, and eventually I transitioned into a production company where I became a producer. Now I was getting closer and closer to my dream of creating stories. So within this space of being a producer, I was able to learn how to write scripts, how to envision your script from the inception stage, making sure that you have the different elements to bring the story to life. So crew, making sure you have the right equipment, making sure that you have the right software for editing.

So with that, I harnessed my screenwriting skills. I was given the opportunity to not only produce, but also direct. So with this I'm saying, your life isn't static. You may find yourself in a space where you have finished your degree and you're wondering, is this all there is to my life? I would say, first focus with what you have right now. You've graduated or you find yourself that you have advanced considerably in your career, and you're wondering, okay, fine. Is this all there is? What other aspects about your goals and dreams can you build upon in that space? So for me, also, I didn't mention when I was in advertising, I took the time to figure out what different departments are in this advertising agency.

And one of the things that I learned was, within this agency, they had a sound department where there was a sound producer who used to record voiceovers, edit them, and ensure that they met the client's brief. So these voiceovers would be plugged into TV commercials or plugged into jingles that would play on radio. So I told myself, you know what, Muthoni, let me take the time to learn, what's a voiceover? How do I record my voice? How do I bring emotion into a script? And I'm truly grateful for that sound producer who gave me the room to learn, the room to grow and ask all my questions about voiceovers. And here I am, over 10 years later, still recording voiceovers. So my point is this, we all have skills and abilities that sometimes we ignore because at this point in time, they're not adding any value.

But I would say, lean into those skills and abilities, because you don't know where you will use them in the future, or you don't know if it's something that will give you a greater opportunity that is beyond your wildest dreams. During the pandemic, with all the extra time that I had, I was like, what am I going to do with my extra time? And with that, I was like, okay, fine. I've been doing voiceover recordings for over 10 years. Why not record a podcast and share my thoughts and encourage people? Because obviously during the pandemic, we're all stuck in this limbo wondering, when will this pandemic end? And that was three years ago, and I recorded my first episode. Of course I was scared, but I leaned on this skill of voiceover recording, and I kept showing up and I kept building up on it.

So just know that there are skills and abilities within you that you can harness and you can build upon. But the question is this, are you willing to step into the unknown? Are you willing to step into rooms and spaces that you have no clue about, but you're willing to bet on yourself? So three years on, I have a podcast, it's called Moments with Nderru Podcast. And at the same time, three years on, I have this opportunity to create and produce a podcast for the Baobab Podcast Network. Yes, I'm an entrepreneur. Yes, I lead my team, but at the same time, I can use my abilities and skills in other spaces. I look back at a time where, I think it was 2018, when TD Jakes came to Kenya and part of the YALI community or alumni were able to attend that conference. And one of the things that stood out for me that he said during that conference is that we are multidimensional, meaning that there are different dimensions and aspects that pertain to you.

You're not just one version of yourself or one dimension of yourself. There are different aspects that are intertwined and connected to make you who you are today. So take the time to figure out what aspects about my life am I not paying attention to? What aspects of my life am I not investing in? Or what aspects of my life do I not know are there? And it's okay to ask a friend or a family member to be like, what are my strengths? Or what do you think I can build upon or work upon or improve about myself? And you would be amazed by how sometimes people can see different aspects of ourselves, but we are not seeing that for ourselves. So take the time to recognize that you are multidimensional. There is more in you than you are taking the time to acknowledge and build upon your strengths. Build upon your skills.

So if you are a writer, continue writing. But at the same time, keep showing up at your nine to five job. Or if you are at your nine to five job, what else can you learn within that company that can help you to transition into owning your own business? It's little things that always build upon each other to create the bigger picture. We all want to get ahead. We all want to get to our destination, but there are so many things that we can learn along the way before we reach our destination.

So with that, remember that you are multidimensional and that is your strength. I invite you to carry the lessons learned in this podcast into your own lives, embracing your inner strength and nurturing resilience in the face of adversity. Let's forge a future where we support one another and celebrate the triumphs shaping our journeys. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for more inspiring episodes that will continue to ignite the flame of strength and resilience within you. Until next time, I'm your host Muthoni Waigwa, bidding you farewell but not goodbye.