A former chief executive of a Kenyan government agency has retraced his spirit-lifting professional journey, terming it a “unique career odyssey”. He has never experienced unemployment.
Mr Edward Mwasi, who exited as the CEO of Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board a few months ago, has told his story with the ingredients of thinking outside the box since his primary school days when he first sold his rudimentary artworks.
“Throughout my life, I have thrived by pushing boundaries, creating my own competition and setting own rules,” Mwasi says in a LinkedIn post.
Among others, his reflection is expected to turn heads and turn the youth on in an economy where people are literally fighting to land jobs, leave alone what may be considered decent placements. It is not uncommon to find PhD holders riding motorcycle taxis while confessing they have sunk to their lowest in search of jobs, a puzzle that further education has not helped them to unravel.
At secondary school, Mwasi says he excelled in arts and science subjects, took part in extra-curricular activities including sports and debating, leaving a mark by attempting what his agemates and schoolmates in primary and secondary schools considered impossible.
A graphic designer, he enrolled for Art tests in national examinations in secondary school as a private candidate, meaning he had no teacher for the subject, but relied on grit, passion, and foresight. In his book, ‘So Good They Can’t Ignore You’, Cal Newport says grit comes before passion.
The theme of Dr Newport’s book is that people who have invested in their crafts and professions through reading, practice and right networks end up wowing their industry and are the darling of employers. Indeed, people so good are the ones who end up launching their own practice to become their own bosses and employers.
Similar to Mwasi’s odyssey in art, design and graphics, the abilities he used to climb the professional ladder, entering the industry at his second year of university study.
He encountered Art and Design in a formal setting for the first time at the University of Nairobi in 1988 as a Fresher and in his Second Year, employers could not ignore him. While theory subjects challenged him in the early days of the course, “the practical aspects felt like second nature to me”. Innovative artwork earned him top scores in all his practicals. He also landed jobs, escaping the hustle and bustle of looking for employment.
“I’ve never experienced unemployment,” he reveals. He landed his first job as creative director at Kenwide Media Advertising Agency in his second year at university and his portfolio got the attention of other potential employers including Nation Media Group (NMG) that also gave him part-time assignments.
From gigs to full-time employment, Mr Edward Mwasi stayed at NMG for 15 years, rising to become the group chief graphic designer. “At NMG, I initiated significant transformations, establishing a graphics section in the newspaper editorial division. This was influenced by the additional roles I had offered to enhance the newspaper’s presentation,” he explains.
He sat for his “first mandatory interview” seeking to join the government-owned Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board as the agency’s production manager in 2009. He rose to become the CEO after eight years and introduced “groundbreaking changes in government publishing” transforming the agency’s flagship publication to “address contemporary priorities and gained prominence by pioneering strategic publications”. He left the agency this year having done a cumulative 14 years.
Now a consultant in the media industry, he says accurate information enables people to make right decisions about their lives, communities, societies and governments.
What can you learn from this odyssey, especially in an economy where graduates look for jobs for years or wait until they graduate to start looking for “something to do”?
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