Invitation to The Oscars, Again

Serving is like being a mother. Seriously, the list is endless…

In 2005, I was invited to watch the Oscars Ceremony, live.

Well, working on radio as a morning show host, I received prominent invitations. As an esteemed guest, the black-tie affair required I arrive at The Sheraton Hotel in Kampala by approximately 6:00pm. An invitation by senior managers at M-NET Uganda. They live streamed the Oscars and invited Kampala influencers (i.e. mostly T.V  and radio presenters and journalists), since WhatsApp and Facebook weren’t yet invented.

When I think about it, I recall watching Chris Rock, who hosted the 2005 award ceremony. In East Africa, that would have been at about 4:30am.  I won’t work around this befuddlement of the time. It was grand, and I mean grand. Celebrities at the impressive Sheraton Hotel. The most prolific journalists and media personalities, including businesswomen and business men.

There was another red carpet event, held on 29 January 2023, a virtual premiere ceremony, one of a kind.

Since 2016. I have been serving in Toastmasters in so many categories. Starting the second club in Uganda, with the held of a super cool team, Bukoto Toastmasters, founding the District’s newsletter, serving as the District’s Public Relations Manager and in other ways, mentoring, coaching, leading contests, meetings, events and seriously, this list is endless. It’s like being a mother. The list is endless.

On the evening of 29 January, District 114, which includes the entire East Africa, with Ethiopia, held its first recognition awards. What an event of  such monumental scale. Hundreds of members and friends online, with a shimmering welcome, glamour, glitz and greatness.

For the first time, members who had been serving diligently, as I said, like a mother who works ceaselessly without any reward or nod of a thank you, actually received the nod.

Under several categories, the District leaders named individuals who had shone their shine. And then my name was read, for championing the most dazzling and impactful event of the year (June to December 2022), which was The Grand Toastmasters Reunion, whose aim was to revive and reenergize the oldest club in Uganda, Kampala Toastmasters Club. Yes, with a super fantastic team, I put my heart and soul into the planning and precision and it certainly paid off. Not only with over a hundred guests but also the membership of Kampala Toastmasters doubled, and a new club was formed too.

While I was still relishing in that recognition, pinching my cheeks and sucking my dimples in, The District Director calls my name. There were only a handful of us in this special District Recognition Award category, amongst the hundreds of Toastmasters, for showing service beyond the expected, with diligence and unwavering commitment.

What!

I am still smiling, pinching my cheeks and rolling in my own exhilaration.

I’m filled with gratitude, because for seven years in Toastmasters, my dedication has been heartfelt, sometimes arduous and always impactful.

I am ready for the next global chapter of my life.

#Toastmasters #leadership

 

 

Of Memories at Rainbow International School

Do you see the young lady in spectacles? That's me.

It's 2001 and I'm at my very first job, teaching at Rainbow International School Kampala, (Now changed to Rainbow International School Uganda). 

That's my senior secondary class, Year 7, all of whom are in their thirties, and most of whom have families of their own. That particular day was non-uniform day, last day of school, just before the Christmas holidays.

Having a first job, that pays in US Dollars, one that empowers you to buy a car before your peers, even as the youngest employee at your job, does a lot for your confidence, with a tad bit of anxiety too.

I was ready. Always ready for any international or global challenge, which is how I got the job. Volunteering at Uganda Women Writers’ Association, the head of the English department at Rainbow, Sophie Bamwoyerakyi, a constant visitor at the organisation, noticed the way I ushered in visitors, arranged the material for workshops, sold books with enthusiasm, politely responded to inquiries, and was always immaculately dressed.

Introducing herself as the head of the English department, after a brief chat and an application letter and C.V, I began teaching English and History in August of 2001.

 

I am always ready for a global challenge and international opportunity, because I know there are spaces for learning about ideas far loftier than my own and for connections across borders. The thrill!

It was one rainy afternoon in early August of 2001 when the headmaster at the time, Cliff Green, called me for an impromptu interview.

"Hello Beverley, are you able to pop in for an interview?"

I was dressed in a long skirt with a blouse, tucked in. Not in jeans, not that it would have mattered, since it was impromptu? Hmmm.

Boarding a taxi from the park, to Kansanga, I made it in about 30 minutes to the school gate, and was ushered to the headmaster's office. There he was waiting for me, in the rain. I offered him my umbrella which he politely refused, and gave me a quick history and tour of the school.

On mentioning my salary, I am not sure if he heard me gulping down my intense satisfaction at receiving close to 1,000 USD as starting salary. The rate then, was slightly less than 2,000 UGX and yet it was enough to make me feel rich and increasingly privileged.

I enjoyed Rainbow a lot. During an opportunity for two teachers to travel to South Africa, escorting eighteen students on a holiday tour across Johannesburg, Sun City, Durban and Pretoria, many of the teachers, for some reason, voted me. And I went, stayed at the 4 star Randburg Hotel, next to the Waterfront, toured the most delectable of places which honeymooners dream of.

 

Pretoria Zoo, the largest in Africa, had penguins. Now that was a sight! And then Gold Reef City with peacocks walking by like important pedestrians. Sun City was a Disney like marvel. Places like Soweto and relearning the history of Mandela and Apartheid, Hillbrow, which we were told to never pass by as tourists and Sandton, with malls larger than we could have imagined.

 

It was not uncommon for many of the tour guides to mistake me for one of the students. I was 25 years old and wore jeans and bandanas.

 

I always felt part of something special when I was at Rainbow, undoubtedly because as an individual, the ability to express my creative side was unlimited. I led the creative dance club, held debates in many of my History and English lessons and led a successful camping trip to Samuka Island in Jinja. The hummocks, boats, magnificent views of the lake and cosy campfires at night.

 

Being new to an international teaching curriculum, there was a lot to navigate. Two decades later, I’m still in touch with some of the staff and students, who formed an indelible impact on my life.

 

Rainbow was one of the most important learning curves of my career, a trajectory for my global experience. With every job, we need to share our narrative, the truth and the joy that often go untold, the lessons we learned and the future we continue to live towards.

If you ever have a chance to work in an international space where your creative side is harnessed, with a salary that pleases you, then that's a gift.

#jobs #opportunities #leadership #Rainbow #Teaching

 

Gen-Z are Zesty and Zen and I’m here for it.

 Of all the employees I have had, the people I have volunteered with and worked with and trained, Gen Z are by far the most loyal, committed and innovative. They are able to carry meaningful conversation and can hold their own. They are born between 1997 to 2012, approximately 11 to 26 years old.

My most recent employee Terry, who had to stop when her university schedule became hectic, was highly innovative, listened and shared her own ideas. We never argued and she never ever made demands on her time or pouted for recognition amongst clients. She knew her space and created it into a real gem.

After her, I hired another Gen-Z from the Phillipines. She was an English teacher and equally delightful. Thoroughly organized, innovated with her communication and her style was well received. I learned a lot from the time that they worked for Rich Diction and we’re still in touch.

I have volunteered with organisations and again, the Gen-Z are loyal, fun to be with and never make you second guess who you are. They’re respectful, open to dialogue and immensely inventive. They also gossip far less than Generation Z or Generation Y. Gen-Z are here to mean business and they are definitely the leaders that the world needs.

According to Forbes, ‘15 Ways Leaders Can More Effectively Manage Gen-Z Workers,’ Gen z are open to dialogue and to suggesting important and effective changes in work places. The article also states that we should expect innovation to climb at a global scale.

One of Terry's posters.

I would want my next accountant to belong to Gen-Z. I would want to coach a Gen-Z and let them take over my company.

Generation X whom I consider friends, have the same energy as Gen-Z, they are committed to being who they are, and do not have that nasty jealous spirit that was birthed in many of our peers and manifests in the most bizarre way.

Gen-Z, I know that once you take over as C.E.Os, Presidents and Kings and Queens, the world will experience necessary change.

 

Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

Founder and Team Lead, Rich Diction Enterprises Ltd.

+256 751 703226

#leadership #goals #purpose

 

Discipline is A Full Tank of Petrol, while Motivation is just a teaspoon of it

 

I worked as a weekday morning radio host from 2003 to 2005, on a Christian radio in Kampala, Power FM. I opened the station promptly at 6:00am every single weekday, during the two years that I worked there.

Naming the show, ‘Masters of The Dawn,’ I scripted my lines, ideas, nuggets and humorous punch lines. Sometimes I worked with a co-host and for a while, I worked alone. No matter which, I worked diligently and never missed a day, not even on Christmas. On Christmas of 2004, I actually hosted parents of children that were born on 25 December and gave the families gifts.

Working on radio requires a consistent dose of high energy, creative charisma and consistency. For the most part, motivation carries only 1% and for the 99%, you just need discipline. For me, being a highly motivated person, it is humbling to recognize that the inner butterflies that stir me to wake up Kampala City by 6:00am, reading the messages that validate my existence and hearing how I encouraged hundreds of people daily, was not enough. Discipline ruled the day.

You don’t need motivation to reach your goals, or to achieve your targets. You need discipline. It takes discipline to be creative and not just motivation. It takes discipline to be cheerful and encourage hundreds of people every day, and not motivation. Discipline is long-lasting, stronger and is free from emotional burdens.

Discipline got me to wake up before 5:30am, every weekday that I was on Power FM. The only week that I missed was when I went on leave to Kigali, in 2004. That was my first ever visit to the’ land of a thousand hills.’ I returned with stories of Rwanda, which coincided with the tenth anniversary of the genocide and the opening of the Rwanda Genocide memorial centre. Rwanda was an extension of whom I was born to become. I listened to stories of people around the towns, visited Butare National University and various restaurants. Rwanda was always an extension of my desire to travel around the world and to establish friends without borders.

Discipline carried me through the two years at Power FM, launching new programmes and learning and unlearning.

Fridays was the time for African Christian music. Mondays were job postings and cash prizes to be won. Everyday was something new, created by a consistent set of disciplinary standards.

We all want something this year, 2023. Try discipline. You’ll achieve it much faster than if you just rely on motivation.

 

Bless!

Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

Speaker. Poet. Long-distance swimmer. Author.

Team Leader, Rich Diction Enterprises Ltd.

Founder, Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation