It Wasn’t the Dream Until it Was

I grew up in Nairobi, a blend of cosmopolitan energy and home-brought simplicity and discipline. At the time, I didn’t consider hospitality or safari camps to be my cup of tea.

My introduction into the industry came, somewhat unexpectedly, through the iconic Maasai Mara soccer tournament, held annually in the latter months of the year.

The tournament is designed for staff from lodges across the Mara to have fun, bond, learn from one another, and see how other lodges operate. This is made possible due to the home-and-away format of the tournament.

I became enthralled by Angama, after several friends spoke highly of the lodge, commending how the lodge feels like a utopia. What captivated me most was the way they spoke about Angama’s values: Honesty, Joy, Respect, Courage and Ubuntu. That ignited my passion to work for Angama, by any means possible.

In a short time at Angama, I was promoted to Head Butler, a recognition of my hard work and relentless dedication. Nothing was considered too much trouble or tedious work for me. Everything was made lighter by the conviction I held, both in mind and heart, to pursue excellence with conscious intention.

The promotion marked the dawning of many upward steps, a journey of growth, perseverance, and the crossing of several proverbial rivers. My next step was Camp Manager at Angama Safari Camp, or a tight ship as many would describe it. Here, I learned two invaluable lessons that have remained etched in my being to this very day:

I believe in the tenacious routine of the early bird; it holds a certain power for clarity, focus and self-mastery. And as Jim Rohn so aptly put it: ‘Either you run the day, or the day runs you…Master your hours, and you master your future.’

To build a strong team, you need to lead by genuine example, all boots on the ground. Simultaneously, showing brotherly care for your team is monumental.

Each promotion brought me closer to the venerated position of General Manager.

To me, being a General Manager depicts a lifelong student, one with a voracious appetite for knowledge and a stoic philosopher’s mindset: viewing every challenge as an opportunity for growth and team empowerment.

My leadership style draws from transactional leadership, but with a strong emphasis on leading by example, a lesson I embraced after reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

One principle I often share with interns entering hospitality is this: put first things first, which, in essence, means that the things that matter most must never be at the mercy of the things that matter least.

Here are the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, from Stephen R. Covey’s book