Embracing the opportunities that life brings

[Paul Natorp]

Mugendi K. M'Rithaa, senior lecturer in Industrial Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town shares his experience of participating in a three day course of creative leadership together with his colleagues from the Faculty of Informatics and Design.

How was it to be part of the creative leadership course?

It was an incredibly invigorating experience for me. When I started off I was curious because I had some materials I had read about the course. And what I was fascinated by – because I spoke earlier about Ubuntu and the sense of ”I am because we are” – was to see how that relates to the work of the KaosPilots.

What is important about creative leadership – seen from where you are?

From where I am, just looking at the continent, looking at the country, looking at the institution I’m in, there’s a lot of change, a lot of flux. We’re in a state of flux most of the time. And the change for many people is an unknown and people are scared of that change. So creative leadership helps. At least if I speak for myself this course has equipped me to deal with unexpected change, to embrace it and to also inspire confidence in those that constantly relate to me.

When I speak about this institution – this is a five year old institution, which merged from two institutions – and two institutional cultures coming together has led to a lot of anxiety. Then the country politically is going through quite a bit of change. And on the continent – I am sure everyone knows that there is something new out of Africa all the time. So this helps me anticipate change. And that gives me a sense of purpose, a sense of direction – personally. And that confidence relates into the way I actually deal with other people and the way I relate to the world around me.

If you should describe creative leadership in one sentence, what would it be?

I’d say creative leadership would be the capacity for any person irrespective of their station in life to embrace the opportunities that life brings and to move in sync with everyone else to create a different and positive outcome.

[Nathan Daniel]

I strongly agree with your outlook Mugendi, it's amazing to see this taking place in Cape Town where it is so needed!

I am based at KaosPilots in Denmark this month, in a process of mapping the international leadership network - great that it links up with my hometown - watch this space ;)

Ubuntu!