On taking on mountains.

So this has been on my bucket list for a while now. Summiting Mt. Kenya. At least the Lenana peak. I’d hoped to do it for my 25th birthday but a year and change later, I still feel that it came just when it was supposed to.

This year for me, much to what I have been praying and working towards, has been for a whole lot of growth internally and out; and literally taking on the challenges and would be mountains in my life and just doing all the stuff that has me scared shitless. Learnt that I cannot afford passivity in creating the life I envision for myself.

I’ve experienced a ton of growth personally and professionally. I’ve been able to clearly identify what I would like in a relationship and be bold enough to state that and not settle for anything else, much as it crashed my entirety then and made me question every damn thing in terms of committed relationships and the resultant work that you commit to doing on a daily to keep it going. I’ve also gotten to grow professionally and improve my competence when it comes to working within the development space. The Catalytic Jobs Fund for one, has been that project that sort of catapulted me into this arena of policy + innovation + business where I get to support socially conscious businesses with the primary goal being sustainability and improved lives and livelihoods for guys who’d be classified within the majority global south. It clearly brought out the sense of purpose within my career and for that I’m really grateful.

I’m also happy that I’ve gotten a chance to intentionally cultivate relationships with mentors and leaders in my industry who are committed to seeing me grow not only in my professional but also personal capacity. I really love what Ronnie and I have been able to do on here.

And for anyone who’s gotten a chance to interact with me post Andela knows how I’ve been stocked about graduate school and the MBA/MPP combo from HBS and The Kennedy School of Government. After what seemed an eternity, I got an offer to pursue my masters in Development Engineering from UC Berkeley, which in itself is a combination of the business, innovation and policy training that the JD would’ve provided. In speaking to my folks about this, there was that deep seated conviction about the program and it’s goals and when I speak with the professors and other students in my cohort, I am even more convinced that I’m definitely on my life’s path and that this journey will be an inspiration to someone else.

This move to California is wild to say the least but I’m positive that I’m going to absolutely thrive; mentally, physically, emotionally, relationally and even so in my academics. I just might be convinced to go on a 6 year track for the PhD. 😅. I’ll be keen on evaluating the approaches that development agencies have when it comes to creating sustainable programs for the interventions they have in the primary global south and in marginalized communities, this would be the indigenous and BIPOC folk.

Why Mount Kenya?

I’m working out my faith in the physical realm. That’s the short and long of it. My approach to this is that the discipline and grit that I’ve had to muster to take on this rather challenging physical goal, will translate in everything that I’m setting myself out to do; from school, work and a budding career in the development space globally. VP at Google.org for their sustainable programs, a sustainable programs director with the UN, an advisor on a global platform for development agencies on how to effectively support and design programs with the local communities being the biggest benefactors is what I envision for the next chapter of my life, arguably, a pivotal one.

So yeah, I get to dare greatly, dream bigger and pray even harder from a posture of gratitude as I acknowledge that I’m living in the middle of many answered prayers as is so far.

Let’s get to the summit 😎

Choose your mad

Occupy space

Be indelible.