Financial stress kills company culture

The famous saying, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast and transformation for lunch,” highlights the importance of company culture in achieving business success. Yet, even the best strategies fail if employees are not in the right frame of mind. This is the challenge Marjorine Nantambi, CEO of Unravel Coaching and Consultancy, aims to address.

Unravel Coaching, a leading corporate coaching firm, helps organisations maximise potential through high-impact training. Its unique focus lies in linking company culture with employee well-being, particularly financial health.

“Culture is implemented by people, and financial stress is a major barrier to productivity,” Nantambi explained during a press conference. “When employees worry about school fees, loans, or medical bills, they can’t focus on work.”

Unravel tackles this by integrating financial literacy into its programmes. “We help organisations build supportive cultures while teaching employees to save, spend responsibly, and invest wisely,” Nantambi added. “Many struggle with low earnings, poor savings, or unprofitable investments. Addressing these issues unlocks their potential.”

Turning stress into support

To transform stress into support, Unravel partners with Prudential Insurance and Cornerstone Asset Managers. These collaborations educate employees and business owners on safe, tax-free investments.

Brian Alinda, Cornerstone’s Head of Marketing, stressed the importance of making money work as hard as employees do. “Even Shs100,000 can earn interest in five days if invested wisely,” he said. “We break down the basics in simple terms to help people grow their wealth.”

For many Ugandans, such promises might sound too good to be true, especially given the prevalence of Ponzi schemes in recent years. However, Alinda assured that Cornerstone operates within a regulated framework.

“We are licensed by the Capital Markets Authority, and to get that license, you must go through a thorough vetting process. At Cornerstone, we don’t keep your money, it is held securely by KCB, our custodian bank.”

By addressing financial stress, organisations can foster engaged, productive teams, driving business success. Nantambi’s vision is clear; a strong culture starts with empowered employees. “When employees feel supported, they contribute meaningfully to their organisations,” she said. 

“We are here to build that culture of support.”

Unravel’s innovative approach to blending culture transformation with financial literacy could set a new standard for corporate well-being in Uganda. After all, thriving cultures are built by empowered people.

TRANSFORMATION

One key area to focus on is culture transformation. Culture is driven by people, and research shows that financial stress is one of the primary reasons employees struggle to perform at their best. When workers are overwhelmed by school fees, loan repayments, or medical bills, their ability to deliver results is significantly