Same Script, Same Cast, Different Act.
Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” This quote has reverberated with me and proved to be a valuable point of reflection for me for much of the last 25 odd years, as I made decisions that affected various aspects of my life. And it is these words that encapsulate the spirit of innovation, courage, and forward-thinking that I believe is essential for success in today’s rapidly evolving world.
However, it is mostly at CivSource Africa that I have seen the true manifestation of this adage. At its very core, CivSource Africa is on a quest to venture into areas of work and facilitate bold conversations that have for long been ignored or normalized, and in so doing, creating its own agency, and powering the agency of others (Civil Society and Philanthropy alike) to create meaningful and lasting social change. This is ably espoused in our values through the acronym D.A.R.E.
By going where there is no path and leaving a trail, we inspire others to follow in our footsteps and join us on this extraordinary journey. We become catalysts for change, igniting a spirit of innovation and progress that permeates not only our organization but the wider communities that we serve. Our rotational leadership model is one of those easily mind-astounding innovations that, while challenging the status quo, provides an opportunity for the team to experience varying leadership styles and keeps CivSource Africa ready for (inevitable) change. This model operates on arguably today’s most imperative currency, trust. Trust that we put our best foot forward every time we step out; trust that the freedom to fail will not be taken for granted, trust that our clients and partners remain at the heart of the work that we do.
As I come onboard as the new CEO of CivSource Africa, I encourage each and every member of our team to continue to embrace trust as our guiding philosophy. Let us not be content with following the well-trodden path, but instead, let us D.A.R.E to venture into uncharted territories and blaze our own trail, as we have done for the last five and a half years. Read more