Tales of Strength and Resilience: Ep 12 with Muthoni Waigwa

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 Twelve
The Tales of Strength and Resilience Podcast has been an insightful journey to understand strength and resilience. During these six months, Muthoni Waigwa, the host, shared different conversations with resilient leaders who opened up about their life experiences.  As the season draws to a close, Muthoni unveils a powerful revelation in the final episode—highlighting the pivotal role of imagination. Discover how this invaluable tool not only crafts a roadmap through life but empowers us to sculpt new and inspiring realities.

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.

Hey there, I'm Muthoni Waigwa, your host for the Tales of Strength and Resilience podcast. This final episode is a huge moment and I want to thank each of you for tuning in over the past six months. If you're just joining us, welcome aboard. I encourage you to catch up on the incredible stories shared by remarkable leaders from around the world in our previous episodes. When I kicked off this journey, my goal was to chat with resilient leaders making waves in their fields. It's been an amazing ride hearing their tales and soaking up their wisdom. Take Primrose Katena from Ghana, for instance. She highlighted how tapping into the wisdom of those around us can be a game changer. Her parents gifted her their reservoirs of strength and resilience, shaping her into the leader she is today.

Primrose Katena:

I feel like I was exposed to life so early, which helped me to become matured in court. When I was too young, had to take up responsibilities. I had a young sister who I was somehow taking care of as well. So I feel like that helped me to understand life early at a very young age and build strength and become more resilient because it wasn't easy growing up with no mother. And also my dad was really... My dad retired when I was born, so it was like just having that... Being born in such a family and having to figure it out ourselves was challenging, but it also helped me build some good traits and helped me be where I am right now. Yeah, so that's really me. I've worked my way up to where I am right now.

Muthoni Waigwa:

Then there's Brian Mukeswe in Canada who stressed the importance of determination and dedication in achieving both professional excellence and personal goals. He emphasized seizing opportunities like the MasterCard Foundation Scholarship to fuel his dreams.

Brian Mukeswe:

These factors all came together and led me to set my sights on this new career path. So that's when I went to enroll into the Masters, and at the time I realized that they really... The job market was demanding people with experience and education was not going to cut it because at the time as well, there weren't many education programs that taught data science. A lot of people were self-teaching, were going through bootcamps. So I realized that I had to actually get a job that gave me that experience. The problem at the time was that the only job I could get was an entry level job, which meant taking a pay cut at the time because I'd already started building some experience in engineering, but setting my sights on the longer term gave me the confidence to make that move because I knew it was going to pay off, or at least I hoped it'll pay off in the longer term.

And I knew that if I just kept pushing forward on the path that I was on, I was only going to become less happy. So all I had to lose was... In the worst case scenario. If this new path didn't work out, I could always go back to the path I was already on. So I already had that baseline of the least happiness I would have was just going back to what I was already doing. So framing it in my mind like that allowed me to be able to take that risk and I was happy it paid off. At the time it wasn't as obvious because while I was... I had switched into a new job, I was also pursuing my Masters at the same time. So I was doing this online Masters while working full time, and that made for some very long days where I would wake up as early as six, five and do some classes, do a full day of work, and then in the evening do some assignments.

And at some point doing that every day, even on weekends just makes you feel like, is it worth it? Ask yourself, is this worth it? There are people who are just going to work and then getting some rest in the evening. And then also, I always look back and say, a Masters is not required. It's something that is optional. So again, getting that extra motivation to still do those long hours, despite knowing that I'll be fine even if I don't get this Masters, I can still do my job, get my paycheck. I don't need to do it, but having that conviction that it's going to take me to a better place, so it's worth putting in that extra effort. Just reminding myself of that allowed me to continue and work through that very rigorous schedule for three years until I managed to complete the Masters. And then I was able to transition into bigger opportunities in the new career space.

Muthoni Waigwa:

Over these six months, I've learned that each of us carries incredible stories. These stories are laced with strength and resilience born from challenges or the milestones set by those around us. Life does not waste a thing. Even in moments of doubt or uncertainty, we discover more about ourselves, realizing our potential exceeds our current circumstances. That's when we tap into our inner strength seeking advice or help, propelling us to apply for that scholarship, push our startup ideas further or step up in our jobs. 2023 has stretched me thin. I feel like a tent pole pushed to its limits. Celebrating a decade in business was monumental yet it signaled the need for our business to pivot, which has been exhausting and challenging, and I've battled the urge to throw in the towel. But witnessing our business thrive for 10 years bolstered my determination to navigate this transition. What lies ahead in the next decade, it's a thrilling thought. I'm bubbling with excitement because I know there's a lot more ahead of me than behind.

The conclusion of the Baobab Summit 2023 tackled the theme here, now, onwards, the power of imagination. It hammered home the importance of dreaming and envisioning our future. As a young girl, I daydreamed endlessly painting scenarios of what my life could be. Today I'm living out that young girls dream by building a business in the media and entertainment industry. Imagination can sketch a roadmap guiding us through life. Dreams are like lighthouses in the distance guiding us toward that illumination. They stir in the realm of imagination where creativity and resourcefulness reign supreme. So as we wrap up, let your mind wander into uncharted territories, forging new realities to build on. Let your dreams light the way through life's storms and challenges. Keep pushing toward that beacon, and as you surpass those guiding lights, let your mind dream up an even grander and brighter tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in. This wraps up the season. Once again, I'm your host, Muthoni Waigwa.