Navigating life’s twists and turns has a way of shaping us into who we are meant to become. Welcome to the first part of my journey series.
This has not been an easy piece to write. For the past three weeks, I have had this idea brewing, but every time I sat down to begin, distractions—whether music, work, or something else—got the best of me. Today, I finally decided to make it happen.
I’ve always loved writing. In high school, I even wrote a novel, and the few people who read it suggested I should publish it. That manuscript is now locked away somewhere in an old metal box at home, and the thought of rummaging through a dusty store to retrieve it feels daunting. I sometimes wonder if revisiting it would rekindle my passion for writing novels, or if, perhaps, it’s better left where it is. Still, I write almost daily in my journal as a form of self-care, pouring my heart out on paper—or, in this case, the keyboard.
Despite my certainty that I wanted to write this piece, I found myself unable to start. After reflecting on why, I realized it was because I knew this piece would make me vulnerable—something I’m not always eager to embrace. It would open my heart and mind to the world, which is never an easy thing to do.
In this reflection, I wanted to share insights from my career, which has been a journey of discovery. I once met a well-respected man who remarked that, despite my youth, I had experienced the more sorrowful events in life. He called my parents often, urging them to watch over me after my first major loss, fearing I might fall into depression. One day, however, he admitted that he was shocked by how well I had handled everything, noting that many others in my situation might have broken down. While I’ve certainly had my moments, that difficult season wasn’t going to be the end of my story.
As for my career, I started at one of the Big Four audit firms. I still vividly remember the group interview—it was intimidating. Eight of us were tasked with discussing a topic related to cost management. I was nervous and only spoke once, as most of the others repeated each other's points. But eventually, an opportunity presented itself, and I made a key point everyone had missed which was ‘before deciding to cut costs like electricity or internet, etc., it was important to first analyze the company's cost drivers.’ While i spoke everyone was silent and there was no interjection until i finished making my point, you could have heard a pin drop - surreal. I left the interview sure i wouldn’t progress to the next level but by Gods grace i did and as they say the rest is history.
Then came the partner interview. I remember it being almost comical. The partner pushed me repeatedly with the same question, trying to see if I’d crack under pressure. Eventually, we got to the weakness question, and, having read online that “workaholic” was a good answer, I said it. Unfortunately, stemming from the stress of the previous question, I blurted out, “I’m a workaholic,” which the other interviewer misheard as “alcoholic.” She burst out laughing and couldn’t stop. We all laughed, and later, when I started the job, the partner apologized, explaining that he had just wanted to see if I could handle pressure.
Working at a Big Four firm was undoubtedly challenging, but I thrived in the fast-paced environment. My role involved extensive travel, which provided valuable experiences—stories for another time. Fortunately, my group was given the opportunity to select a work area we were passionate about. I had three options: grants management, organizational development, and audit. After spending a year in audit, I realized it wasn’t the direction I wanted to pursue, so I chose to focus on grants management, which aligned with my true passion. Even now, I consider myself more of a grants manager than a fundraiser. Ultimately, this decision allowed me to transition from audit into a field that I found far more fulfilling and aligned with my long-term goals.
After a month of working in grants management, I was approached by a former audit manager who requested that I return to audit for another year due to staffing shortages. However, I was committed to pursuing my passion for grants management, and I was not willing to accept a role that was being imposed upon me. As a result, I made the difficult decision to resign, even without another position lined up.... This is simply a story from one Recadina, without naming any names! 😊
During that season of my life, I learned some important lessons:
Trust is easy to break but hard to rebuild.
People can be chameleons—constantly changing.
God’s favour is with us, even when we don’t realize it. Looking back, I see how I was guided, even though I wasn’t taking life seriously at the time.
Working in a Big Four firm can strain friendships. It’s true, but perseverance builds character.
Being new in Nairobi meant I could only find my way from Afya Centre.
I loved wearing heels, walking around town, and even taking matatus in them—something I find hard to imagine now.
Above all, listen, listen, listen.
To be continued...
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