Skip to main content

BALANCING LOVE & LEADERSHIP: Running Stellar Generation Kenya with My Spouse.

It all began with two different passions that came together to create something bigger than either of us could have imagined. My husband was deeply passionate about mentorship for the youth. He spent countless hours planning youth rallies and mentorship programs, first in his church (in the city and in upcountry) and later in Nyakach Sango, his hometown - and now my home as well . Even today, he continues to be an advocate for young people, empowering them to become leaders and live better lives.

I, on the other hand, was a young girl determined to empower girls and women. My journey started at Hanne Howard Fund in Lenana, where I worked to uplift and empower young girls to see a future they didn't think possible. From High School to Uni days, my best days were those I spent going for Community Outreach.

Our paths crossed, and it was in that shared desire to create change and empower those around us that we founded Stellar Generation Kenya (SGK). Running SGK together has been both rewarding and challenging. We’ve learned how to blend our strengths to create a mission-driven organization, but there’s no doubt that navigating a marriage and business partnership is a delicate dance.

There’s always been a certain oddness, especially in the early days (and even now), when he calls me by my full name in a meeting. It immediately feels like we’re on the verge of an argument , and I can't help but smile (and maybe even brace myself) for a more serious conversation. After all, we all know what happens when your spouse uses your “government name” - it’s rarely a good sign!

I’ll never forget the time I sent a message meant for my husband in one of the SGK WhatsApp groups, saying “It’s okay baby,” only to realize I’d mixed up the chat. Back then, there was no “delete for all” option, and that message stayed in the group for everyone to see. Thankfully, we laughed it off, but it’s one of those moments that sticks with you.

In the midst of our professional journey, SGK has often been the thread that brings us together when our personal lives feel out of sync. It has happened more times than I can count - when the “silent treatment” is activated unintentionally , and we’re both upset, yet there’s an SGK Leaders meeting that we simply have to hold. In those moments, we’re forced to talk, forced to communicate, and more often than not, those forced conversations lead to reconciliation. SGK has been our glue during those challenging times, reminding us of our shared mission and the bigger picture.

Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way for working with your spouse:
 Set Boundaries: Create clear distinctions between work and personal life. Keep work hours separate and allow each person to have their space to shine in their roles.

 Use Corporate Lingo: It’s important to maintain professionalism. Though we may want to call each other sweet names like 'My Pumpkin, share the minutes' , during business discussions, it’s all about “CEO", "Director" and “Founder.”

 Stay Organized: Use different channels for personal and work communication to prevent mix-ups.

 Respect Each Other's Roles: Trust in each other’s expertise and responsibilities. Delegation is key, and it’s important to make space for independent decision-making.

 Prioritize Your Marriage: Remember why you’re doing this together. Nurture your relationship outside of work, and always make time for each other.

Working with your spouse is a beautiful, though sometimes challenging, experience. When done right, it can build a strong foundation both for your marriage and your mission. The journey is tough but so worth it!

Comments

  1. I Love doing this with you. Let's change the world and make it better Baby 😍

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Leave a comment here...

Popular posts from this blog

ROOFTOP

After exactly 3 months and 11 days, today I went back up the stairs to the rooftop of the apartment we stay at. Trembling and shaking, I kept taking a step after the next hoping to get to the top. Several times I kept thinking, …why go? …but kept at it regardless. On this rooftop, I had set a very calm meeting place with my Father. For about 3 months leading to the delivery of my darling baby girl, I'd come up here, do some simple workouts but most importantly have a daily tete-a-tete with Him. I couldn't and still can't wrap my head around the fatigue that comes with the 3rd trimester and rightly so, many times I contemplated not going up there. What made me keep up with the routine was the fact that I knew He was waiting for me and was eager to talk about how far and smooth my pregnancy journey was.   We'd talk about my hopes, dreams and plans for baby in my tummy. We'd discuss my maternity leave plans and among other things mostly just sit in the silence of dawn ...

'For My Beautiful Teenage Girl' ~ A story of when my teenage hormones were off the charts.

As I read through this exceptionally written book by Rawder Kidula & Florah Kidula, I couldn't help but silently laugh at one vivid memory still etched in my mind of a time in my teenage hood when I thought the world, with no shred of doubt, revolved around me. Had I had such a book, my approach to life then would probably have been different, who knows? Now, having visitors was the norm while living at Hanne Howard Fund Lenana compound (aka The Project). Some volunteers would come to either teach us art, dance, boxing, taekwondo, others would come teach us how to express ourselves in English and the ones we'd mostly look forward to were those donors, local and/or international, who'd come with clothes and food. This particular week while we were all home for the August holidays there was a donor, beautiful Miss Sonia, who'd booked to spend her week at the project. She would portion her day in a way that ensured she spends time with all groups of kids, starting with...

MY VALENTINE

My darling husband 💖, You were worth the wait! Remember when we were just friends, the first time I told you that I have a personal blog; a haven I occasionally dump my stories & thoughts?...to which you carefully listened then asked: “Will you one day write about me on your blog?”  I laughed!! I laughed so hard then told you how for you to feature in my writing you’d have to be out-of-this-world special to me ... to which you thoughtfully responded: “Mercy, never say never!” ….. and then went on a mission to overturn my entire life!! You clever, genius hunk of a man! 😉😉 I’m here today to categorically say that a blogpost is the least of what you, my elusive leading man, deserve! The universe kept saying “The right person will show up, find a path into your heart and know how to hold your love with all the delicateness it deserves, choose you just as deeply as they choose themselves and as you choose them, reciprocate your vibe, match your energy and never make you feel lik...