5 years ago today: I just got home in Dar es Salaam after a stressful day at work. As i sat on the table, my phone started ringing with an American phone number calling me. I picked up and was informed i had been accepted to @StanfordGSB with a full tuition scholarship.
I remember the tears strolling down my face especially after the hundreds of hours of work you put into getting something you really want and more importantly, the faith I had that God would come through. I froze on the phone and struggled to say thank you.
5 years later, @StanfordGSB felt like a launchpad. A rollercoaster for me but one full of lessons learned. While i always say, Stanford is NOT the golden ticket. It helped open my eyes to endless opportunity. I was challenged inside and outside of the classroom to think harder.
I never thought i would ever start a business after school, but being surrounded by individuals and classmates who would push you think about the world differently and value impact you could potentially create inspired me to give it a shot.
Gary Vee @garyvee taught me about the importance of Empathy in Leadership. 
Bill Gates @BillGates taught me about humility and the importance of giving back. (all lives have equal value).
Jack Ma @AlibabaGroup reminded me that Africa is the future. He described Africa today as China in 1980.
Fred Swaniker @FredSwaniker told me, if i wanted to go home, i had to commit, not excuses.
President @PaulKagame taught me how international relationships can spear forward an economy of a country with limited national resources.
Sir Alex Ferguson taught me how the most successful people he knew were also the most disciplined people he knew. @ManUtd
Evan Spiegel @evanspiegel founder of @Snapchat taught me to always remember those people to believe in you from day 1.
Laura Arrillaga Andreessen @LAAF taught me that the more succesful you become, make sure you give back to the communities that need the most help.
Wendy Kopp @wendykopp taught me that inexperience can be a powerful gift.
Vinod Khosla @vkhosla told me to never wear a suit in Silicon Valley 😂
Tyra Banks @tyrabanks taught me that Being Different is Better than being Better.
Bassem Youssef @Byoussef told me if ever given a mic, use it wisely.
Maleek Berry @MaleekBerry agreed that East African music was better than West African 😉🤣
Former President of Estonia @IlvesToomas reminded me of the importance of building e-government services with increasing efficiencies and reducing costs.
Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice @CondoleezzaRice taught me about transformational diplomacy.
Former US Vice President @algore reminded me that you have a voice and it is powerful. Use it wisely.
Of course there have been many challenges in returning home, starting with our own homeland not even calling us locals anymore because we have been abroad. You will hear words and phrases like, ‘You aren’t African’ or ‘You failed abroad, that is why you are home.’
While painful to hear, these are the realities that sometimes us as Africans, limit our peers or ourselves from reaching where they should be. Like go to formal meetings, getting yelled at and told, ‘Do you know who I am’ or don’t teach me my job, I have been here for 22 years.’
However, despite these ups and downs, the decision to come back has given me something that none of the job offers could have given me. And truth be told, I don’t have it all figured out. For many of the obstacles that pop up, I have either no experience or no expertise in.
I still have many ‘what if’s? Matter of fact, probably more than before we got started.
While many consider us successful, I repeatedly remind myself and my team, we are only at 2% where I would like us to be - of what our real potential is. This is only the beginning of a long journey, with plenty of challenges ahead of us.
I am grateful for the opportunities the Lord has granted me, they have been far beyond anything i woild have ever expected. For now, it’s time to pay it forward to the next generation. 🙏🏽 goodnight.
