Governance
Leadership, Legacy And Forward Looking Principles
By Prof. Kellen Kiambati
In the last five years, we have witnessed major disruptions in the business space, starting from Covid-19, Artificial Intelligence, sustainability and many other new concepts that have presented numerous opportunities as well as challenges.
We have no idea what the job market will look like in 2050. However, we are optimistic in the long run technology advancements will keep generating new jobs and greater prosperity for all. With a huge young population, we must start thinking of how to steward these opportunities. By turning global challenges into opportunities, and by equipping our young people to serve with excellence, we can expand territories and transform societies.
That said, sustainable growth must be anchored on the right values and forwardlooking principles that provide the compass for leaders navigating this new global order. Success is not accidental; it is programmable, built on exact principles. True and lasting success must have the right principles as its foundation.
Leadership at all levels should be seen as an opportunity to become people of value, consistently serving and uplifting others rather than just holding positions because you will not just be remembered for titles but for the influence you created, the problems you solved and the hope you inspired.
Young people should be encouraged to step into leadership with a service mindset. Legacy is built when leadership is practiced with consistency, humility, and impact. The justice and charity that guide our actions, the mastery we pursue in our fields, and the attitude we cultivate in every environment shapes how the future generations will remember us. True legacy is not measured in personal wealth or accolades, but enduring influence as a foundation of legacy.
It should also be remembered that knowledge is the true currency of influence. In a world deluged by irrelevant information, clarity is power. In theory, anybody can join the debate about the future of humanity, but it is so hard to maintain a clear vision.
Leaders at all levels cannot afford to be ignorant, for knowledge gives them the authority to shape lives and systems. A leader must relentlessly pursue knowledge
A leader must ask what will remain after their voice has long gone silent. Impact, not popularity, is the true metric of greatness. Leadership that ends with the leaders’ time in office is no leadership at all. Instead, genuine leadership builds institutions, transforms systems, and passes values to the next generation. to secure relevance and excellence. A leader who ceases to consistently invest in learning ceases to lead, for every generation requires fresh wisdom and insight.
My personal conviction is that no one ever rises beyond their level of mentality. A transformed, winner’ s mindset remains the greatest asset for all of us. A spiritual leader once said that there is a law of becoming and in accordance with that law, leaders must think in terms of value we bring to the table. In building networks and partnerships, value is what truly counts. People may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. For sure, true leadership is ultimately measured by the lives impacted.
We are at a very defining time and the right principles, the right platforms, and the right mindset is what will make Kenya rise. Our future will be written not only in policies and investments but also in the values we uphold and the legacies we leave behind.
A leader must ask what will remain after their voice has long gone silent. Impact, not popularity, is the true metric of greatness. Leadership that ends with the leaders’ time in office is no leadership at all. Instead, genuine leadership builds institutions, transforms systems, and passes values to the next generation.
Prof. Kellen Kiambati holds a BA- HRM from Kenyatta University, MBA from the Kenya Methodist University and a PhD in Business Administration with a focus in Strategic Management from JKUAT. She is a member of the Institute of Human Resource Management of Kenya. She can be reached via: Kellenkiambati @ gmail. com.
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