Monitor leadership forum key speaker explains what drives him

Who inspires you?
I have been inspired by a number of people throughout my life. My spiritual leader, Morari Bapu, is one of my biggest inspirations as his core teaching is about truth, love and compassion – important elements that keep me grounded.

I am also inspired by people with big ambitions, who punch well above their weight and surprise those around them - Richard Branson, Steve Jobs and Ratan Tata are all good examples of this.

What are the top three most difficult situations you have encountered while building the business? How did you overcome them?
As the Mara Group has developed, so too have the challenges the business faces – from gaining access to funding and knowing the right people, through to attracting and retaining the talent the business needs in order to grow. Historically, I had always thought these challenges were part and parcel of being a small business, however, increasingly, I see multinationals facing the same issues but on a much larger scale. The key to overcoming these hurdles is to never give up and seek counsel from those you trust around you. The solution may not always be obvious, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.

As head of a conglomerate, what are your tips for achieving a work/life balance while still maintaining a firm grip on the business?
I am probably the worst person to ask as I frequently over-work! Being the founder of a business from a very young age, I have always been involved in every part of the business, and I’m sure any other entrepreneur will tell you the same. But when you love what you do, ‘work’ doesn’t really feel like ‘work’ in the broader sense – it almost becomes part of the family. Saying that, too much of anything is never good, and my hope is that as the business continues to grow and I bring in the right people, hopefully one day I will achieve the work/life balance.

What are the obstacles to running business successfully in Uganda? How can one navigate round them?
Mara Group is a pan-African company, and the challenges we face across the continent often relate to adapting our businesses to meet the needs of the ever-evolving political and market dynamics of each country. In Uganda specifically, the fact that the country is land-locked means that operating costs are often higher, but on the plus side, there are also huge benefits to being land-linked.

What drives you? What keeps you motivated and energetic every day?
I am driven by an over-arching ambition to make a real difference to the lives of those living in Africa and to be a part of its journey to become a self-sustainable global player.

Already, we are seeing results through initiatives such as the Mara Foundation which, to date, has impacted almost 140,000 young entrepreneurs across Africa through a series of mentorship schemes and other valuable initiatives. When I start seeing small and growing businesses creating jobs in a sustainable manner, that’s when I know I’ll have made a difference.

What things have you done that people believed were impossible?
At the time, starting a business at age 15 with only $6,000 was deemed impossible. Since then, Mara has evolved into an international multi-sector business and is now one of the most reputable brands in Africa, with operations across 19 African countries.

In that time, we have built the largest corrugated cardboard packaging company in East Africa, founded a leading African IT services company and established an African business processing company that operates across nine African countries. As a result, Mara Group is now recognised as a Global Growth Company by the World Economic Forum.

What remains for you to achieve?
I have a genuine passion for Africa and I am fully aware of its immense potential. My goal for the next few years is to build a series of strategic partnerships with international industry leaders that will see Mara Group become the most exciting African company operating globally.

Uganda is excited about your upcoming talk in Kampala. Any message for Uganda and the rest of Africa?
It is our turn! We have to make things happen for ourselves as a continent. Let’s make it happen! I can’t wait to be at the Monitor Thought Leaders Forum, I’m very excited. It being in Uganda makes me even more excited.

So what should the public expect from the Monitor Thought Leaders Forum?
I believe the Thought Leaders Forum will give us insights on how to manage our businesses, the theme: “Turning business impossibilities into possibilities” is spot on. Let’s think big, be different from the ordinary and uphold values and ethics. We are the future, no excuse! Do not miss the Monitor Thought leaders Forum this Friday. It’s going to be a mind tickling session.

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