Career Path with Opera News EA Chief Editor/Country Manager

It was then that I felt confident to continue because I had my audience to dictate my success. We would definitely go where they wanted to go.

Kenyans and Kenyamoja taught me the skills of managing talent, creating systems, and excellence. It is also here that I learnt how to set goals and have enough willpower to achieve them (It’s called GRIT).

In Opera, I’m learning the power of consensus and negotiation considering it’s a global company with a diverse range of moving parts but working hand in hand. I’m also learning how to understand culture and diversity which is a great component in making any company successful.

It is also at Opera that my project management skills are being tested to the maximum alongside the power of setting goals, especially long-term ones.

How have you progressed in your career over the year?

In the last nine years, my career has been nothing but an engrossing journey of passion and zeal for creating a positive impact, championing innovation and igniting success in digital newsrooms.

I wake up every day seeking relevant opportunities, making every day count and this has in turn put me at the centre stage of some of the most successful digital products in the Kenyan media landscape.

What has been a key driver of your growth? Lessons learnt, celebrations and failures?

The biggest driver in my growth is my innate need to be productive, curious and innovative in offering suitable solutions to everything.

This has mostly been cultivated by being a firm believer of the 5-hour rule. The five-hour rule is a simple concept that was first coined by Michael Simmons. It involves setting aside five hours a week or one hour each working day, dedicated to deliberate practice or learning. Learning comes in different forms, including time for reading, reflection and experimentation.

I have also learnt that there is power in numbers, teams and collaborations. One of the biggest tasks I embarked on as Chief Editor at Ghafla was building a spirited team of young dynamic individuals who shared my vision and determination to make an impact in the digital media space.

Together we disrupted the status quo and we were able to hit the biggest milestone of 3 million unique visitors and 15 million page views per month. This was unheard of from a non-legacy news outlet.

There is also power in showing up, and I mean every time. People are always fond of people who are reliable, trustworthy and consistent especially at the workplace. Always strive to be that person. Networking, especially in journalism, is also key.

Listening and giving everyone a chance despite their background has also been a blessing. Trust me, I have learnt over time that everyone in the world has something to bring to the table and your work should be to see through them and identify it. This is what I seek to find from my current team at Opera News in order to bring out the best in them.

Lastly, confidence and a winner’s mindset is also the hallmark of getting it done.

I think my biggest failure has been getting too engrossed in my job. For instance, I’m now on paternity and I can’t resist the urge of getting my hands dirty.

Who influenced your career growth and how did it happen?

My parents have greatly contributed to my success. They’ve always respected my decisions and given me a chance to be in charge of my own life and destiny. They understand very little about my industry (they both work in the health sector) but they always trust that I’m sober enough to know what I’m doing. I will forever thank them for that.

I must also acknowledge all the bosses I’ve had so far. My current boss, Vincent, for always giving me the autonomy to make decisions. There is also my former boss, Robert, the proprietor of Kenyans and KenyaMoja who pushed my potential to the limit. He awakened the GRIT I currently have. He also taught me the foundations of leadership.

There is also Majani, the proprietor of Ghafla, who taught me how to be confident, to always trust my gut, and to always go for what I want.

There are also other people I seek counsel from like Lucia Musau, the CEO of African Elite Group, Patrick Githinji, the Influence and Advocacy Manager at EABL and my colleagues from whom I always learn something new.

Key decisions you might have taken along your career?

For me, knowing when time is up, that the season is over and it’s time to jump into something new, is what I’d consider a key decision. I think this is a major component for success and it cuts across all careers and businesses.

What would you tell your younger self?

I honestly wouldn’t change anything about my career trajectory. I have put in the work and I’m proud of how far I’ve gotten. In regards to my personal life, I should have started playing tennis a bit earlier in life. It is absolutely rejuvenating.

What would you advise the youth in Kenya?

They should learn, understand and follow the art of always showing up. And this doesn’t matter if you are gaining anything or being paid for it as good tidings always follow people who are reliable and dependable.

I don’t advocate this new mentality among Generation Z of always proclaiming to know their worth. Worth, in my view, is measured by your value and this comes with experience, your networks, self-discovery and achievements. There is no harm in starting small and building. They should also apply the 5-hour rule which I live by.

I have plans of going back for a Masters later on this year on media management and further advancing my course at Opera. I have barely scratched the surface so I’m baying for more blood.

And of course, my quest in transforming lives through digital journalism remains a core component of my life.

Can more young people invest their time in politics? I doubt they will see any positive changes in this country if they don’t invest in understanding politics. That’s where all decisions concerning their lives are made.