Edition 15 by NSSF Uganda

TOP STORY: Notes from Brendah's Journal ......Pg.4

The Vibe Staff Bulletin - ISSUE No. XV - SEPT 2026

Table of

Content Pg. 4 NOTES FROM MY JOURNAL Pg. 9 MONDAY MORNING REFLECTIONS Pg. 13 STAYING RELEVANT IN A CHANGING WORLD Pg. 19 SOMETIMES THINGS JUST HAPPEN DIFFERENTLY Pg. 23 THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISING

The Vibe Staff Bulletin - ISSUE No. XV - SEPT 2026

Foreword work behind the scenes to enable others to deliver, your contribution forms part of this success. Most importantly, this achievement demonstrates what is possible when we remain focused on the reason we exist: our members. Our responsibility has always been greater than managing savings. We carry the aspirations of people who work hard every day and trust us to protect and grow the value of their contributions. Every decision we make, every process we improve and every interaction we have with a member must therefore be guided by one question: Are we doing what is best for the member? The 22.53% interest declaration is a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when we put our values of member focus, creativity, collaboration and integrity into action.

Dear Colleagues,

would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you for the commitment, hard work and sense of purpose that you continue to demonstrate in serving our members.

Success Raises the Bar As we celebrate this achievement, however, we must also recognise the responsibility that comes with it. Success has a way of raising expectations. Having demonstrated what we are capable of, our members and the wider public will rightly expect even more from us. Yesterday’s exceptional performance quickly becomes tomorrow’s benchmark.

This year, we reached an important milestone in the Fund’s journey with the declaration of a record-breaking interest rate of 22.53%. This is an exceptional outcome—one that surpassed expectations and, more importantly, delivered significant value to the millions of members who entrust us with their savings and their financial security.

We therefore cannot allow this achievement to make us complacent. We cannot afford to slacken, lower our standards or assume that past success guarantees future performance. The bar is now higher, and it is our responsibility to keep it there - and, wherever possible, raise it further.

Achievements of this magnitude do not happen by chance, nor are they the work of one individual, department or team. They are the result of a collective effort across the entire Fund.

This will require deeper discipline, collaboration, innovation and commitment that brought us this far. It will require us to continue challenging ourselves, finding better ways of working and taking personal responsibility for the quality of service we provide.

I therefore wish to acknowledge the stewardship and strategic guidance of our Board, the leadership of the Executive Committee, and the contribution of every member of staff. Whether you interact directly with our members, manage investments, support our operations, strengthen our systems, grow our business, manage risk, or

Every role matters. Every interaction matters. Every decision matters. 2

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The public will continue demanding the best from the Fund every day - and rightly so. We must welcome those expectations rather than fear them because they remind us of the importance of the institution we serve and the confidence that Ugandans have placed in us.

Protecting the Trust We Have Earned Beyond financial performance, one of the Fund’s most valuable assets is the trust that the public places in us. Trust takes years to build, but it must be earned every single day. As custodians of our members’ savings, the standard by which we conduct ourselves must therefore remain exceptionally high. Our values of member focus, creativity, collaboration and integrity, must not simply be words that we display on our walls or repeat at organisational events. They must be reflected in how we make decisions, how we treat one another, how we serve our members and how we conduct ourselves when nobody is watching.

The challenge before us, therefore, is not simply to celebrate what we have accomplished. It is to prove that this level of performance was not an exception. It is to sustain it. It is to build on it. And it is to continue earning the confidence of our members through our actions every single day. As we progress through the financial year, I encourage each of you to remain focused on our purpose, committed to our values and conscious of the responsibility we carry. Let us continue supporting one another, holding ourselves to the highest standards and bringing our very best to work every day.

In this regard, integrity must continue to lead the way. wWe must always remember that each of us represents the Fund. Our individual actions can strengthen the confidence that members have in this institution, just as easily as they can undermine it. We therefore have a collective responsibility to protect the reputation and credibility that the Fund has built over the years.

To the Board, EXCO and, especially, to every member of staff across the Fund: thank you. Thank you for your resilience. Thank you for your commitment. Thank you for continuing to put our members first. We should all take pride in what we have achieved. But even as we celebrate, let us keep our eyes firmly on what lies ahead.

As we pursue ambitious targets and greater performance, we must never compromise the principles upon which public trust is built. How we achieve our results is just as important as the results themselves.

The bar is high. The expectations are even higher. And our members deserve nothing less than our best.

Staying Focused on What Matters

Let us keep serving them - with integrity, with excellence and, above all, with one heart.

The first quarter of this financial year has not been without its disruptions. Like any organisation operating in a dynamic environment, we will occasionally encounter challenges, distractions and moments that test our focus and resilience.

Patrick Ayota Managing Director

But these must never derail us from doing what we have always done best: serving our members with one heart. Our members must continue to experience the same commitment, professionalism and care from us regardless of what may be happening around us. They expect us to remain focused on their needs, responsive to their concerns and responsible in the management of their savings. That responsibility belongs to all of us. 3

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Journal

From Me to You:

Notes from My Journal Brendah Arinda

Senior Manager Enterprise

ournaling helps me see myself, and I truly believe you can’t be what you can’t see. And in my journal session today, I grant you permission to see me through my own lenses.

Because I was dedicated, hardworking and committed to doing the right thing.

I also write with the hope that someone reading my words can pick something that will create a shift in their journey.

11 years in and today I tap out.

I feel this way because I attribute so much of my own journey to people who generously shared their knowledge. Be it in writing, audio, video or just a conversation in person — I took notes. And I acted on the things I felt could shift me onto my next step.

Seven years!

But guess what?

Of my 11 years at the Fund, close to seven have been spent upcountry.

Ooooh, my teams. Those I have worked closely with; we have some beautiful memories. We have had some hearty laughs. We have held each other through some of the best times and some really hard ones. We worked, we delivered, we disagreed sometimes, we figured things out and somewhere along the way, we became part of each other’s stories.

I often get asked how I have made it this far, and that question always makes me look back at my journey and appreciate how far I have come, but in there, I have learnt to appreciate life differently.

You will forever have an impact on my life! Someone once said organisations have no memories. And yes, that could be true.

Looking Back Who encouraged you to come and work at NSSF?

I choose to make and keep my own memories: Soroti, Karamoja, Bukwo, Mbale, Kapchorwa. The corporate office. I could go on.

For me, it was my mum. And as we praised God for my appointment, we knew for sure I had locked in an employer for retirement.

Each place carried its own people, its own lessons, its own challenges and its own 4

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memories. There were days that stretched me, days that surprised me and days that reminded me why the work mattered.

take some extra days off immediately after the regional meeting.

I remember one of my hardest moments while working upcountry.

But I also told myself that while I was here, and because I had chosen to stay, I better make it count.

We had the annual regional employers’ meeting being hosted in my area. The team had put it together beautifully and we were due to crown it off.

And I am glad we pulled off a successful day. I share this to remind myself — and you — that it hasn’t all been rosy. I broke sometimes. I questioned my decisions.

And boom. Sickness hit my home. In the space of a few days, all three of my children fell sick with a viral infection.

What would you have done? Someone asked me yesterday, of the four roles I have served in, which one has been my best?

I was away.

Ammmmm…Honestly, it is difficult to place a finger on “the best.” What I know is that in every one of them, I knew I had to grow where I was planted and blossom into my next big thing. And sometimes, when you feel stuck and probably feel like you’re not progressing, look back at your journey.

Our night calls were: “Mummy come.” “I need you.” “Hold me please.”

Look at the things you have achieved. Look at the things that once felt impossible and somehow became part of your story. Sometimes you need to look back to realise that you actually have been moving.

It was hard. Not because they weren’t being cared for. They were in the best hands, surrounded by people who loved them. But they just needed me. And I remember crying on my knees, asking God to give me some comfort and to heal my children.

What does growth mean to you?

I questioned myself.

If I don’t understand, I ask. If I know someone has experienced a journey I am trying to navigate, I ask. A lesson from someone who has already walked that road can get me at least two steps faster. You don’t always need to reinvent the wheel. Put your ego aside and ask for help.

Raise Your Hand. I have always raised my hand. Way back from my mathematics class till this day.

What type of mother leaves her children this far away? E ven t u a l l y, I chose to surrender it to God. I promised myself I would

But here is another truth. 5

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Not every time you raise your hand will your hand be picked. Sometimes people may not pick you for reasons you may never know. That didn’t stop me from raising mine again. And again.

We started with 22 members. Today, the reading club is closing in on 100 and growing. I had the privilege of leading us through 10 books, and now the club is closing in on 20. What started as a continuation of the Pathfinder Women’s Catalyst Academy grew beyond us and opened up to the entire Fund.

And sometimes, your hand does get picked. I joined the first Pathfinder Women’s Catalyst Academy and was asked to lead the Book Club. I didn’t feel like the right person, but my hand had been picked even when I hadn’t raised it.

And somewhere in that journey, I discovered another side of myself. Resilience! Showing up. Again, and again. Hoping that the listenership would grow. Finding ways to keep people reading, engaged, and learning together.

“

And now the club moves on strong without me. I pat myself on the back for this one. I was there. I was part of that journey because someone believed in me and pushed me over the cliff.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I am already thinking about my legacy and the things I want to die empty of. There is a whole conversation on dying empty, but let me pin that for another day. For today, I’ll share just one. I want to write a book. Hopefully, you’ll buy a copy. But seriously, I dream about sharing the lessons, experiences and things I have gathered along the way. Maybe one day, something I write will create a shift in someone else, just as the words of others have done for me. And wouldn't that be something? There are some names I have been debating whether to put here because once you start dropping names, who do you leave out.? But there are some I simply can’t leave out. Abdul. What started as coaching turned into a whole mentorship journey. Guys, you all need an Abdul in your corner. He comes with this ability to help you see clarity in the fog, but also continuously stretch out his hand and guide you towards that clarity.

Together with an amazing team, we built the club from the ground up. Reading isn't necessarily a culture many of us naturally have. Yet week after week, we logged in for those early morning reading sessions and learnt together. 6

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Penny

Him or spend the entire season lamenting about what hasn’t happened yet? I would be lying if I said my journey hasn’t been walked with God.

Someone who saw me over and over again. She once told me: “There is no glory in being the best-kept secret.” And I have watched her lead from that same place of fullness — understanding that lighting another candle never dims your own light.

I give Him all the glory. And it may sound cliché, but you try Him. Give Him authority over your life and it will never be the same. A whole wave of something different will hit you. I call it Holy Spirit dust. One scripture I keep coming back to says: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Geoffrey I remember badly needing to understand how to sell social security. I was then working as an RM in Soroti. He extended a leaf. I grabbed the entire tree. And we walked a journey.

In all things. Even in the waiting.

“

Vivianna You can’t unsee her; or maybe what I want to say is, you can’t unhear her. She will always give you the best scriptures in whatever state you’re in. She grounds me in faith and in believing that even as we pursue our dreams, we are still working for the Lord.

I dream about sharing the lessons, experiences and things I have gathered along the way. Maybe one day, something I write will create a shift in someone else, just as the words of others have done for me.

I share these people and experiences not because I haven’t appreciated them before. They know exactly how I feel about our experiences together. I share them to tell you that good people exist. They are around you. But it also comes from a place of knowing what you want to learn, where you want to grow and where you need someone to help you develop. Then being able to raise your hand. Someone will genuinely extend theirs. There is also a silent code I have noticed with people who have received that kind of genuine olive branch. Once someone does that for you, it almost becomes inevitable that you will extend the same to someone else. And then the ripple effect begins.

Find Your Path

There is another question I have carried with me:

And maybe you have that feeling too. That inner hunger somewhere within your core telling you there is something more. I pray you find it. Or, like me, embark on a journey to discover it and allow God to lead you. But you surely cannot sit back with that feeling and leave it entirely to chance.

What do you do in the waiting? I once listened to a sermon from Steven Furtick where he spoke about what we do while waiting for our next blessing from God. Because there are blessings that take time.

Ask. Pray. Learn. Explore. Prepare. Raise your hand. And move.

What do you do then? Do you choose to praise 7

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Message from my Dad:

• A short movie: The After on Netflix — it’s an 18-minute movie, but yet very heavy. It takes me to a place of being present in the moment. Anyway, for this one, just go and watch it.

“Brendah, I am very excited. God has a plan for you. Go ahead and pursue your dreams. My prayers are with you. I am proud of your courage to shift from where you have been.”

And then I have a guilty pleasure. I am a podcast girlie. I look forward to when my kids are out of the car and I am by myself because I get to listen.

And then this: “But that’s what Pathfinders are. They keep moving. Venturing out, even into the unknown.” This message stayed with me. “The Pathfinder finds a path.”

• Here is a song that may elevate you, get you thinking and choosing to live rather than remaining stuck in what is familiar: Mizmo — Hello (The Sun Is Up, Where Are You?).

• One of my latest listens that I know I will keep coming back to is The Mel Robbins Podcast conversation with Oprah Winfrey on unlocking your power, purpose and life’s calling. Here I learnt that purpose is not the thing you do; purpose is the thing that happens in others when you do the thing that you do.

• Are you dreading Mondays, wondering what you’re getting up for?

I could write and go on forever, but allow me to say thank you for reading till the end.

Here is a book that might bring some clarity to life and purpose: Ikigai — The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles.

To the people whose paths crossed mine during these 11 years — thank you.

Allow Me to Plug You to My GEMS

For the opportunities. For the lessons. For the hearty laughs. For the difficult days we somehow got through. For extending your hand. For allowing me to extend mine. And for the memories I choose to keep. If our paths are meant to cross again, they surely will.

And to answer some of these life-changing questions, I honestly don’t believe we can get all the right answers without hearing from God. So I leave you with this scripture: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NLT

For now, Du bist gut genug.

“

Not every time you raise your hand will your hand be picked. Sometimes people may not pick you for reasons you may never know. That didn’t stop me from raising mine again. And again.

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The Business Success Principle

Monday Morning Reflections: Why I keep writing

Makubuya Abdul Kigozi

Senior Manager Organisational Development

When results are good, when customers are happy, when the numbers are moving in the right direction and when an organisation has built a strong reputation, it becomes very easy to assume that whatever brought us here will automatically take us where we want to go next. History repeatedly tells us otherwise.

or more than eight years now, I have had a little Monday morning ritual.

colleagues will check whether I am on leave or perhaps unwell!

At around 5:00 a.m. every Monday, before the week fully comes alive, I send an email to all staff. There is no fixed subject. Some Mondays, I write about career growth and development. On others, I reflect on leadership, life, workplace culture, personal effectiveness, organisational development, or simply an idea that I believe might help someone approach their work or life a little differently.

I find that both amusing and deeply humbling. But behind that consistency is something I genuinely believe in: knowledge becomes more valuable when it is shared. I have always enjoyed sharing what I know, but these Monday reflections have never been about presenting myself as someone who has all the answers. Far from it. They are as much a learning journey for me as I hope they are for the people who read them. Writing forces me to read, reflect, question some of my own assumptions and, occasionally, learn from the responses and perspectives of colleagues

What started as a simple desire to share has, over the years, become something of a personal tradition. In fact, it has become so consistent that whenever a Monday passes without an early morning email from me, some 9

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who see things differently.

happy, when the numbers are moving in the right direction and when an organisation has built a strong reputation, it becomes very easy to assume that whatever brought us here will automatically take us where we want to go next. History repeatedly tells us otherwise.

Over the years, I have come to appreciate that learning does not always have to happen in a classroom, during a training programme, or through a formal qualification. Sometimes it can come from a five-minute read on a Monday morning. Sometimes it is a sentence that stays with you. Sometimes it is an idea you disagree with, but which causes you to think. And sometimes it is simply a reminder of something you already knew but had stopped consciously practising.

That was the thought behind this week’s Monday morning reflection. So, drawing from Donald R. Keough's unconventional wisdom, I shared a few Business Success Principles - or, perhaps more accurately, some reminders of the things we must guard against if we want to continue growing, adapting and succeeding. Because sometimes, learning how not to fail can teach us a great deal about how to succeed.

That is the spirit in which I continue to write these emails. This week, my reflection was on what I called “Business Success Principles.” And for this one, I borrowed some wisdom from an interesting source - Donald R. Keough, the former President of The Coca-Cola Company, and his fascinating book, The Ten Commandments for Business Failure.

“

What makes Keough’s perspective particularly interesting is that, rather than giving us another conventional list of things organisations and leaders must do to succeed, he approaches the subject from the opposite direction. Drawing from decades of experience at the highest levels of business, he identifies behaviours and mindsets that can almost certainly help individuals and organisations fail.

Learning does not always have to happen in a classroom, during a training programme, or through a formal qualification. Sometimes it can come from a fiveminute read on a Monday morning.

There is something powerful about looking at success through the lens of failure. Sometimes the clearest way to understand what we should be doing is to examine the habits, assumptions and behaviours that consistently take us in the opposite direction. Keough challenges us to think about complacency, resistance to change, arrogance, bureaucracy, poor communication and the many seemingly small leadership behaviours that can gradually undermine otherwise successful organisations. And perhaps that is an especially important conversation for organisations that are already doing well. Success can be a dangerous place to become comfortable. When results are good, when customers are 10

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Back to Keough's insightful thoughts. Keough believed that understanding the common ways businesses go wrong is just as important as chasing the latest trends. If you want your business to crash and burn, he says, just follow these ten rules. But if you want to succeed? Avoid them like the plague.

refuses to adapt, it will get left behind. Flexibility is key to survival. Keough warns against sticking to a rigid plan when the ground is clearly shifting beneath you. 3. Isolate Yourself Want to fail fast? Cut yourself off from your team, your customers, and the world. Leaders who isolate themselves from honest feedback end up in an echo chamber—hearing only what they want to hear.

Here’s a rundown of his ten commandments with a little interpretation. 1. Quit Taking Risks

4. Assume Infallibility

Playing it safe might sound smart, but in business, it’s a slow death. If you stop taking risks, you stop innovating. And when you stop innovating, someone else takes your place. Markets change; customers evolve - staying still is the same as falling behind.

Believing you’re always right is a one-way ticket to disaster. The moment you stop listening, stop learning, and start thinking you have all the answers is the moment things start to unravel.

2. Be Inflexible

5. Play the Game Close to the Foul Line

The world is always changing. If your business 11

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9. Send Mixed Messages

Cutting corners and pushing ethical boundaries might offer short-term gain, but it’s risky and unsustainable. Keough emphasizes the importance of integrity. If you can’t look in the mirror and be proud of your decisions, it’s probably not the right call.

If your vision isn’t clear, how can anyone follow it? Confusing goals, inconsistent communication, and unclear priorities lead to wasted energy and frustrated teams.

6. Don’t Take Time to Think

10. Be Afraid of the Future

Rushing through decisions without reflection can lead to chaos. Keough reminds us that in business, pausing to think critically is not a luxury - it’s a necessity.

Change is scary. But fearing it - rather than facing it - is a sure path to failure. The best businesses anticipate the future and prepare for it. Keough encourages leaders to lean into uncertainty instead of hiding from it.

7. Put All Your Faith in Experts and Outside Consultants

A Humble Take on Leadership What makes Keough’s list stand out is how honest and practical it is. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He’s not trying to sell a miracle formula. Instead, he draws on decades of leadership experience to highlight how even smart people can steer companies into failure - usually without realizing it.

Experts can offer insight, but they don’t know your business like you do. Keough warns against blindly following external advice. Use it as input, not gospel. 8. Love Your Bureaucracy Layers of red tape, endless approvals, and rigid procedures kill creativity and speed. Keough says bureaucracy might make some people feel important, but it makes businesses slow and stale.

The beauty of these commandments is that they’re not complicated. In fact, they’re almost too simple. But that’s the point: businesses often don’t fail because of one massive mistake. They fail because of slow, small missteps repeated over time.

“

Keough's message? Stay curious. Stay flexible. Stay connected. And whatever you do - don’t fall into the comfort of complacency.

Playing it safe might sound smart, but in business, it’s a slow death. If you stop taking risks, you stop innovating. -

In the End… The Ten Commandments for Business Failure is more than just a warning, it’s a guide. Not to failing, but to staying honest about what it takes to keep a business alive, healthy, and growing. And sometimes, knowing what not to do is exactly what we need to do better.

Donald R. Keough

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Perspective

Career Development:

Staying Relevant in a Changing World Ian Mutange

Board Administration Officer https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-derrick-mutange-mciarb8b1628161/

he recent trend of events indicates a significant shift in global dynamics. I recently posted a short write-up on my LinkedIn page titled “Business Is No Longer Business as Usual.” We are witnessing global shifts and developments happening at extraordinary speed. As we observe these twists and turns, one question is increasingly important: Are we able to see and seize the opportunities hidden within these changes?

morph, evolve, and adjust to emerging realities. Similarly, professionals must continuously reinvent themselves. A person may have achieved a great deal in the past; however, those achievements alone may not guarantee relevance in the future if they are not accompanied by the ability and willingness to adapt.

We are living in an era shaped by issues such as corporate governance, technology, artificial intelligence, sustainability, digital marketing and content creation, mental health and wellness, financial literacy, risk management, and many others. These are not simply fashionable buzzwords. They are becoming increasingly important drivers of how businesses, institutions, governments, and professionals operate.

Consider BlackBerry and Nokia. At one point in the 2000s, these were among the most powerful and recognisable names in the mobile phone industry. Nokia built a reputation for durable, reliable phones, while BlackBerry became synonymous with business communication, its physical keyboard and BBM making it a preferred device for professionals. They were successful. Very successful. Yet today, their dominance in the mobile phone market is largely a thing of the past. Nikhil Joshi, writing in 2025, reflected on the decline of the phone businesses of Nokia and BlackBerry and asked what went wrong, and whether their failure to adapt accelerated their downfall.

BlackBerry and Nokia

A professional in this era must therefore consider alignment with global trends. As the saying goes, “those who see the future own it”. Over the next decade, these areas are likely to take centre stage in business and professional spaces. Businesses must

I refer to this as the “curse of success.” The 13

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curse of success occurs when an individual or organisation rises to the top, becomes comfortable with its achievements, and begins to believe that what worked yesterday will continue to work tomorrow. Success can create a dangerous sense of security. It can make people resistant to change precisely at the moment when change is most necessary. Eventually, they are overtaken by events and find themselves playing catch-up. This is what happens when people and organisations fail to read the writing on the wall or, better yet, ‘fail to wake up and smell the coffee’.

their own development. That investment is not a luxury. It is the price of continued relevance. Professionals also need to move beyond traditional models of education. The world has changed. Learning is no longer confined to classrooms, lecture halls, libraries, or formal academic programmes. There is an extraordinary amount of knowledge available online, often at little or no cost. I once heard someone say that the biggest university in the world is YouTube. While that may be an oversimplification, the underlying message is powerful: learning opportunities are everywhere. A lawyer can develop into a governance professional. An accountant can become a content creator. A marketer can learn data analytics. A teacher can develop expertise in technology. A governance professional can acquire knowledge in artificial intelligence, sustainability, or risk management. There is no fixed ceiling on what a professional can become. The greatest limitation is often not

Regardless of your career path, it is increasingly important to align yourself with evolving global trends. No professional should allow themselves to become obsolete. Whether through mentorship, a professional certification, a short course, postgraduate education, executive training, self-learning, or simply developing a new skill, professionals today must be willing to personally invest in

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the absence of opportunity, but the walls we have built in our own minds. Once those walls collapse, we are introduced to an entirely new world of possibilities.

world? Banks, government institutions, ministries, schools, and businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of employee wellbeing. The rapid growth of social media and digital content has also created new challenges, particularly for young people. Constant exposure to curated lifestyles, harmful content, cyberbullying, violence, and other forms of disruptive content can have serious consequences. Australia's decision to restrict social media access for children under 16, for example, has been linked to concerns about children's exposure to harmful online content. See (BBC report on Australia's social media restrictions for children). This creates

The following are areas of focus for anyone looking to keep up with global trends. A. Corporate governance is increasingly becoming the centre of gravity for responsible and sustainable businesses. It concerns how organisations are directed, controlled, and held accountable, and how decisions are made. While some traditional roles and jobs may disappear or be transformed by technology, the need for sound governance will remain. As businesses become more complex, shareholders become more demanding, regulators become more sophisticated, and risks continue to evolve, organisations will need people who understand governance, accountability, ethics, board effectiveness, risk oversight, and responsible decision-making. For anyone looking to position themselves strategically, building capacity in corporate governance could therefore be a valuable career investment.

B. Another area worth considering is content creation, digital marketing, and the use of social media. Whether it is a corporation, shop, restaurant, religious institution, government office, professional practice, or small business, organisations are increasingly embracing digital platforms. It would be self-deception to expect business to return to the analogue age. The ability to communicate, create content, build a digital presence, understand audiences, and use social media strategically is becoming an important professional skill. For a professional looking to add another dimension to their skill set, content creation and digital marketing are areas worth exploring.

opportunities for professionals in mental health, counselling, psychology, workplace wellness, and organisational wellbeing. Wellness is also becoming increasingly important as people become more conscious of what they eat, how they live, and the impact of lifestyle choices on their health. Opportunities

C. Mental health and wellness is another field experiencing significant growth. Have you noticed the increasing attention being given to mental health and wellness in the corporate 15

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are therefore emerging in nutrition, wellness, fitness, and related areas.

sustainability and ESG represent a strategic direction worth serious consideration.

D. Sustainability is another area that professionals should watch closely. Sustainability is no longer simply an environmental conversation; it has become a business conversation. Accountants, auditors, investors, regulators, and corporate leaders are increasingly dealing with sustainabilityrelated reporting and disclosure requirements. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have become an important part of corporate decision-making. The

E. Risk and crisis management is another increasingly important area. Technology has created enormous opportunities, but it has also created new risks. Cybersecurity threats, artificial intelligence, misinformation, deepfakes, data breaches, fraud, and technology-related disruptions are becoming increasingly sophisticated. In 2024, a multinational company in Hong Kong reportedly lost approximately €20 million after employees were deceived through a deepfake video conference involving individuals impersonating senior executives. See The Guardian report on the Hong Kong deepfake fraud case. The lesson is clear: organisations cannot afford to wait for a crisis before thinking about crisis management. Proactive preparation through contingency planning, reactive response through effective crisis management, and business recovery and adaptation must become part of how organisations think about risk. Professionals with expertise in enterprise risk management, cybersecurity, crisis communication, business continuity, and organisational resilience will increasingly be valuable.

F. Perhaps no conversation about the future of work can ignore Artificial Intelligence and technological advancement. The capabilities of AI are developing at extraordinary speed. From business operations and data analysis to healthcare, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, and governance, technology is changing how work is performed. We are already seeing discussions about AI being used to support decision-making in boardrooms. Beyond AI, technological advancement is occurring across areas such as biotechnology, agritech, fintech, robotics, and medical technology. The possibilities can sometimes sound like science fiction. Advances in medical technology, for example, include research into microscopic robotic systems and other technologies designed to support medical

growth of electric vehicles and investment in renewable energy are examples of the broader transition taking place around us. Businesses are increasingly expected to understand their environmental footprint, social responsibilities, governance practices, and long-term sustainability. For a professional considering where to invest in future skills, 16

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procedures. The broader point is not that every professional needs to become a technology expert. Rather, every professional needs to understand how technology is changing their profession. You do not necessarily need to become a programmer, but you should understand what AI can do, what it cannot do, how it affects your industry, what risks it creates, and how you can use it to become more effective.

you stop learning, stop adapting, and stop looking ahead, yesterday's achievements can eventually become tomorrow's irrelevance. Your greatest career risk may therefore not be failure. It may be becoming comfortable with success. Do not wait until your skills become obsolete before you start learning something new. Do not wait until your industry is disrupted before you understand the disruption. Do not wait until opportunities pass you by before you decide to prepare. Read the trends. Learn continuously. Reinvent yourself. Build your visibility.

The list is endless. The opportunities are enormous. The challenge is whether we are prepared to recognise them. The message is simple: identify an area of interest or passion emerging from current global trends, build capacity in that area, and create visibility around your expertise. Because there is little value in knowing what people do not know you know. Knowledge without visibility can remain an invisible opportunity. This is why career development today is not simply about collecting qualifications. It is about deliberately building a portfolio of knowledge, skills, experiences, relationships, and visibility that keeps you relevant in a changing world.

The future will belong not necessarily to the most qualified, the most experienced, or even the most intelligent. It will increasingly belong to those who are willing to learn, unlearn, relearn, and adapt. So, look around you. The opportunities are already here. The question is not whether the world is changing. It is whether you are changing with it. Because in the new world of work, relevance is not something you achieve once; it is something you must continuously earn.

The professional of tomorrow cannot afford to ask only, “What am I good at today?” The better question is, “What will the world need tomorrow, and what am I doing today to prepare myself for it?”

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The world is not waiting for anyone. Technology will continue to evolve. Businesses will change. Jobs will disappear, and new ones will emerge. Entire industries will be disrupted. Skills that command a premium today may become ordinary tomorrow. And this is where the lesson of Nokia and BlackBerry becomes particularly powerful. Their problem was not that they were unsuccessful. Their problem was that success did not prepare them for change. They had the resources. They had the talent. They had the customers. They had the technology. They had the brand. But the world changed, and they did not change quickly enough.

Your greatest career risk may not be failure. It may be becoming comfortable with success.

The same thing can happen to a professional. You can have a good degree, an impressive CV, years of experience, a prestigious job title, and a long list of achievements. But if 17

The Vibe Staff Bulletin - ISSUE No. XV - SEPT 2026

Perspective

Sometimes, Things Just Happen Differently: Achieng Amanda Owori Area Member

was born feet first. Which, apparently, is not how you are supposed to do it.

was frequently trusted with the role of class captain. In a rare exception to our school's tradition, students elected me as Head Girl in primary six, a position usually given to primary seven pupils. It was not the usual way, but somehow, it worked. Much like my birth, it seemed that breaking the normal sequence had become a recurring theme.

Before I had a personality, or even the ability to understand what was happening, I had somehow managed to complicate my own arrival into the world. Most babies, quite sensibly, make their grand entrance into the world headfirst. The doctor tried to turn me around, but I did not cooperate.

Then I joined high school, and somehow, the script reversed.

I cannot claim that this was a conscious decision on my part, but I do find it amusing that one of the first things I did in life was to go against the usual order of things. Thankfully, everything turned out fine. That perfectly introduces a major realization I have had about life. Things do not always have to happen the usual way to turn out well. I encountered another version of this while growing up. In primary school, I was a very serious child. While other children seemed to be starring in a comedy, I approached life like a head teacher trapped in a child’s body. This explains why I 19

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Most children, it seems, start out playful and gradually become more serious as they grow older. I somehow managed to do the opposite. I became the class clown. It was as though all the jokes I had failed to tell in primary school had accumulated interest and suddenly matured at once.

three years from now that you want something completely different? What if the path that eventually makes sense is one you would never have chosen at the beginning? Life allows us to grow along the way. The person you are today does not have to be the final version of you. We can set goals without assuming we know every detail of how we will get there.

I composed funny songs, made people laugh, and was moved from different seats because apparently, wherever I sat, conversations followed. I was, in many ways, a completely different person.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” There is something comforting about that. We can make plans while remaining open to God’s direction.

Looking back, the contrast was quite amusing. Many people who knew me in primary school could hardly recognise me in high school. To be fair, I was surprised too. However, interestingly, one thing remained the same. I continued to take up leadership roles.

In the Bible, David’s story reminds me that sometimes the path that looks unreasonable to everyone else can still be the one God wants to use. When he volunteered to fight Goliath, people did not exactly respond with confidence in him, including his own brother. A young shepherd, offering to kill an armed giant with a sling. It must have looked ridiculous. Yet David followed through. He did not have to become someone else or look like the person everyone expected to win. He trusted what God had given him and stepped forward anyway. To everyone else, he looked underqualified. God, however, was reading a very different résumé.

Perhaps that was another lesson in doing things differently. I became more playful as I grew older, but that did not mean I had lost something or gone off course. It simply meant that another side of me had found room to emerge. Eventually, I realised that these two sides of me were not actually contradictory. I learned that I could be both.

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We do not always need everyone else to understand the path we are taking.

Many areas of life follow this same pattern. We do not always have to follow the expected order, fit neatly into one category, or remain the version of ourselves that other people initially imagined.

Faith does not require us to have the whole map.

Sometimes circumstances change our plans or even bring out qualities in us that had not yet found an opportunity to emerge. That brings me to another question we often hear: “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Sometimes even ten. It is a useful question. Plans matter. Goals give us direction, and there is value in thinking carefully about the kind of life we want to build. However, sometimes the question can make us feel as though we are supposed to have our entire lives mapped out without room for adjustments. What if you have a plan today and discover 20

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That should extend beyond our own lives. If someone's life diverges from our expectations, this does not mean that they are on the wrong path. Our first instinct may be to question it simply because it is unfamiliar.

Room to change. Room to discover. Room to become. Because maybe life was never meant to unfold according to one fixed script. I was born feet first. It was not the usual way to arrive.

We are so accustomed to how things are supposed to look that we forget there may be more than one way for something to turn out well. Perhaps we can give people the same room to grow that we hope others will give us.

Nevertheless, I arrived just fine. It was not a textbook entrance, but then again, some of the most interesting stories rarely are. Sometimes things simply happen differently.

The Vibe Staff Bulletin - ISSUE No. XV - SEPT 2026

Lifestyle

The Importance of Exercising: Why Regular Physical Activity Matters for the Body and Mind Anna Nanvuma

Key Account Manager

e all know exercise is "good for us," but few people stop to consider just how farreaching its effects really are — or how small, concrete actions can unlock those benefits. Regular physical activity doesn't just shape your body; it reshapes your health, your mind, and the trajectory of your daily life.

It also supports weight and metabolic health. A practical case: swapping a 20-minute sedentary lunch break for a walk around workers house or any mall, five days a week, burns roughly the same calories as an extra hour of moderate cardio a week — without requiring a separate trip to the gym.

A Foundation for Physical Health

The Often-Overlooked Mental Benefits

Regular movement strengthens the heart muscle, improves circulation, and helps regulate blood pressure and cholesterol. In practice, this can be as simple as a 30-minute brisk walk five days a week — studies consistently show this alone measurably lowers resting heart rate and blood pressure within a few months.

Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins and other neurochemicals that reduce stress and elevate mood. For instance, a short run or cycle after a stressful workday clears your head more effectively than an hour of scrolling on the couch — and the effect often kicks in within 20–30 minutes of moderate exercise.

Exercise also builds and preserves muscle mass, increases bone density, and keeps joints mobile. For example, someone in their 50s who takes up twice-weekly bodyweight strength training (squats, push-ups, resistance bands) can meaningfully slow the muscle loss that normally comes with aging — helping them keep carrying groceries, climbing stairs, or playing with grandchildren without strain.

Exercise is also linked to lower rates of anxiety and depression, and sharper memory and focus. A concrete example: its reported that students who take a brisk 15-minute walk before an exam or study session tend to perform better on memory and concentration tasks immediately afterward, because exercise increases blood flow to the brain. There's a quieter benefit too — confidence.

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Summary

Consider someone who starts a "couch to 5K" running plan: the weekly milestones (running one mile without stopping, then three, then five) create a visible record of progress that builds self-esteem well beyond fitness itself.

Exercise's benefits reach far beyond fitness — and small, everyday actions unlock most of them. Physically, a daily brisk walk lowers blood pressure, twice-weekly strength training slows age-related muscle loss, and short walking breaks help manage weight. Mentally, even a 20-minute walk can cut stress and sharpen focus, while visible progress (like a couchto-5K plan) builds confidence. Rather than requiring a dedicated hour, exercise fits into daily life through stairs, short circuits, walking meetings, or active commutes — adding up to the recommended ~150 minutes a week. The real key is consistency: small, stacked habits (a short walk, then added strength sessions, then a weekend activity) stick far better than an all-or-nothing plan.

Why "No Time" Is the Wrong Frame As physician Edward Stanley put it, "Those who think they have no time for exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness." But exercise doesn't require blocking out a separate hour of your day. Practical ways to fit it in: • Take the stairs instead of the elevator • Do a 10-minute bodyweight circuit (squats, lunges, push-ups) while coffee brews • Cycle or walk part of your commute instead of driving the whole way

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• Turn a phone call into a "walking meeting" • Stand up and stretch always

Swapping a 20-minute sedentary lunch break for a walk around workers house or any mall, five days a week, burns roughly the same calories as an extra hour of moderate cardio a week.

Health authorities generally recommend around 150 minutes of moderate activity a week — roughly 20–30 minutes a day. Broken down practically, that's just three 10-minute walks, or one 30-minute session, most days of the week. A Habit Worth Building Consistency matters more than intensity. A realistic starting plan: week one, a 10-minute walk preferably after meals; week three, add two short strength sessions; week six, try a weekend activity you enjoy (hiking, dancing, a recreational sports league). Small, stacked habits like this tend to stick far better than an ambitious all-or-nothing gym plan abandoned after two weeks. Ultimately, exercise is one of the few habits that pays dividends across nearly every dimension of health — physical, mental, and emotional. It's not just about adding years to your life, but about adding life to your years.

The Vibe Staff Bulletin - ISSUE No. XV - SEPT 2026