George Omiro's Insights on the DierkeHouben Leadership Academy in Kenya

Aiducation International in partnership with DierkeHouben Leadership Advisors successfully implemented the second edition of a week-long 'Lead  Your Self' Academy in Nairobi, Kenya; An intensive leadership training program which brought together Forty young talented participants from all over the country, Five international Coaches/Managers and Three Kenyan Managers/Coaches. The academy which took place between 5th - 10th June 2022, was a very successful one with the participants who are also former beneficiaries of the Aiducation Scholarship program in Kenya, walking through the journey from Self-awareness to Self-management to stepping into their purpose. 

Picture: Participants and Coaches 

George Omiro is a risk management and insurance graduate student from the University of Nairobi, School of Business, and also one of the graduates of the DierkeHouben Leadership training program. He shared with us his insights from the academy; his key takeaways and his experiences from the week-long training.
Read his inspiring story below...

One of the topics that I am passionate about is leadership. The idea that we have the option of going above and beyond, of not settling for less, and of just being a light in the world and being there for people when they are in need encourages me greatly. With so many unique leadership learning experiences and memorable sessions, the DierkeHouben leadership academy was one of a kind. The academy lasted five days, with the first day concentrating on inspiration, values, and reflecting on one's life path. On day two, we learned about our crucibles, recalled our proudest leadership moments and discovered our personal purpose. The third day was equally exciting, as we dug deeper and handled the various behavioural styles. Day four focused on moving from self-awareness to self-management, with an emphasis on leading with emotional intelligence. On the final day, participants drafted their own purpose statement and personal action plan.

The awareness of breath session, when we trained our minds to focus, recognize thoughts, and let them go, was my favourite part of the academy! This had a significant impact because it was so relaxing and stress-relieving. It was a meditation on an entirely different level. Another memorable session was when we shared our stories in small groups. It was more like a tiny family, where you could share and listen to the experiences and crucible moments that moulded the lives of the various group members.

Pictures: George and his group members during one of the group sessions.

The Leadership Academy had a large number of important takeaways. But, to name a few on my top list, realizing my purpose statement, which is something I can identify with and which motivates me to make my mark on the world, not just in my own life, but also in the lives of others. 'I am the bolt of lightning that illuminates your midnight sky.' This was not a spur-of-the-moment choice to discover my mission statement! It took the help of our coaches, as well as our own efforts to connect the dots by reflecting on our past experiences and channelling them into a positive outcome, which is our life's purpose. Another important lesson was learning about behavioural styles and when to let each one take the lead, as well as how to interact with and accommodate people with diverse behavioural styles. It's also important to remember that sometimes life's setbacks are part of the broader picture, and all you have to do is connect the dots. Don't settle, keep looking, and stay foolish, stay hungry!

Picture: Academy Coaches/Managers

I would strongly recommend other Aidu-Alumni to attend the academy. Leadership is a journey and a learning process, and you'll occasionally need an energy boost along the way! This academy was one of those necessary power boosters for any leader! And sometimes we forget that before we lead others, we must first look within ourselves and lead ourselves! As I close, I'd like to express my gratitude to the DierkeHouben leadership advisors for providing us with such a wonderful opportunity to learn and reflect on how we lead ourselves, and, more importantly, to uncover our purpose statement. I hope that we will see more of these academies in the near future. Thank you so much to Aiducation International, Coaches and everyone who contributed to making the Academy a success! Bravo!

Written by George Omiro - AiduTalent, Kenya

Please watch the highlight video of the Academy here: DiekeHouben Leadership Academy