Dear reader, click here to view this leadership update on your browser.
“You can present all the facts, but it’s actually the stories that change people” – Moky Makura
Moky Makura is the executive director of Africa No Filter which is working to shift the narrative about African people and Africa as a continent. She has also worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation previously. Prior to that, she was a well-known TV presenter, producer, author, publisher and a successful entrepreneur – which she calls “jumps from one tree to another”.
In the interview, Moky talks about her trust in the universe, and how that allows her to take risks and venture into very different territories. We talk about how growing up in Nigeria gave her such a boost of confidence that she doesn’t see “failure” as anything except learning. She also highlighted how her parents never told her that she can not do this or that – and which allowed her to take big risks in her career.
She adds, “Failure is part and parcel of who I am because I don’t see it as a failure. I just see it as, the experience. And I think that is a huge sort of difference in confidence booster because I never failed. I just learnt. “
Find the full audio interview and show notes here
Related Finds
Storytelling is not just important in business and work, but also in every other area where you are called to show up as a leader – in your family, neighbourhood, society, or country. Here are my notes and summary of the 3 best books I have read on the topic of “Storytelling”, which is an essential leadership skill in the 21st century.
- Stories for Work By Gabrielle Dolan
- Lead With A Story (2012) by Paul Smith
- Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
I have now published 10 episodes in the Leadership Journey series of the Choosing Leadership podcast. If you have missed any of these, take a look at these insightful conversations I have had with the below inspirational leaders.
- Leadership Journeys [01] – Ramon Llamas – “It is not a zero-sum game”
- Leadership Journeys [02] – Kate Daniels – “I want to live in a world where all companies are B corporations”
- Leadership Journeys [03] – Vicky Kennedy – “I learned to be my own advocate and take risks”
- Leadership Journeys [04] – Stuart Williams – “My mother taught me to color outside the lines”
- Leadership Journeys [05] – Yarrow Kraner – “We can’t be of service to the world without truly knowing ourselves”
- Leadership Journeys [06] – Bojana Duovski – “Success to me is being the person you want to be and, to look in the mirror and just be good with it.”
- Leadership Journeys [07] – Jason Rees – “You do not have to be the cleverest person in the room”
- Leadership Journeys [08] – Nina Rauch – “So many people appear confident, but there’s always something going on.”
- Leadership Journeys [09] – Christian Guttmann – “It is important to put yourself into the shoes of those that you want to inspire”
How can you contribute?
Choosing Leadership is a podcast for people who know deep inside that there is more. My invitation to you is to “choose” leadership and to step up as a leader.
Subscribe to the Choosing Leadership podcast on Spotify, Google, or Amazon Music. We are also live on Apple Itunes.
I am interviewing leaders to learn from their stories – of how they came to be where they are today. These are the stories peers and friends don’t usually know, and my attempt is to bring them out. Find out what has shaped them to be the person and leader they are today.
Our journeys might not look alike. They might resemble more of a roller-coaster ride than a race track, and that is what makes each one of us special and unique in our own ways. I am deeply touched when someone takes the time to share their story with me.
If you would like to recommend someone else who I should interview, feel free to recommend them. You can send me a message on LinkedIn or send me an email at sumit@deployyourself.com.
Until the next week, keep Choosing Leadership.
With gratitude,
Sumit