What do you do when the business you’ve poured your heart into starts slipping—and you’re forced to confront the hardest leadership question of all: Do I keep going, or is it time to let go? And what if letting go becomes the most courageous decision you can make?

This episode is a grounded, honest, and deeply human conversation about leading through hard seasons, navigating entrepreneurial uncertainty, and finding the courage to release control. It’s not a highlight reel. It’s a real exploration of what it feels like when growth stalls, pressure intensifies, and the path forward becomes unclear.

If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, or senior leader who has ever felt tired, unsure, or quietly overwhelmed, this conversation will meet you with empathy and clarity. You’ll gain practical ways to think through tough decisions, a renewed understanding of what strong leadership looks like in crisis, and reassurance that you’re not alone in the questions you’re carrying. Expect insight, reflection, and a steady voice reminding you that difficult seasons don’t have to define the end of your story.

George Nuthu is joined once again by Murefu Barasa, Founder and Executive Chair of EED Advisory, a Pan-African consulting firm he launched in 2013. With experience across development, policy, and strategy—including work with the World Bank and the African Development Bank—Murefu brings both depth and vulnerability to this conversation.

When he first appeared on the podcast in 2021, he shared a raw account of navigating one of the toughest chapters of his entrepreneurial journey. Four years later, he returns with perspective—having led a turnaround, expanded EED’s footprint across Africa, and intentionally transitioned out of the Managing Partner role to focus on governance, long-term vision, and the next horizon.

Murefu revisits the early days of EED, when growth was rapid, confidence was high, and the team felt unstoppable. Then came the shock: revenues dropped, uncertainty crept in, and the business entered what many founders quietly fear—the “valley of death.”

Rather than offering neat conclusions, he sits with the truth of that season. He speaks candidly about confusion, loneliness, and the emotional weight of watching something you’ve built begin to falter. He challenges the simplistic “never quit” mantra and offers a more grounded alternative: the wisdom to discern when to persevere and how to evaluate when it might be time to step back.

One pivotal moment came from a seasoned entrepreneur who asked him a single clarifying question: “Are you still signing business?” That question became a lifeline—a practical way to assess whether the organization still had momentum and potential.

The conversation then widens into leadership. Murefu describes his role during the crisis as becoming the “chief of assurance”—not pretending everything was fine, but staying steady, communicating openly, and giving his team confidence through presence and honesty. Transparency, clarity, and truth-telling became anchors when outcomes were uncertain.

You’ll also hear how EED made a bold strategic shift—from a primarily regional focus to a truly Pan-African presence—and how that decision created resilience and renewed growth. And then comes one of the most profound parts of the episode: succession.

Murefu shares how he set a “maturity date” for the business, prepared the organization for leadership beyond himself, and gradually handed over responsibility to leaders he had mentored. He speaks openly about the emotional cost—sadness, grief, and the identity questions that surfaced when he stepped away from the Managing Partner title.

With time, clarity emerged. Today, he speaks with peace about watching new leaders thrive, having space to think and reflect, and trusting the future of what he built.

He closes with a powerful reflection: once our basic needs are met, leadership invites a deeper question—not “How do I get more?” but “What is truly meaningful?”

Can a single leader’s resilience turn a struggling global program into a beacon of success, even when faced with the agonizing decision of a full office closure?

Tune in for an inspirational and professional deep dive into the true essence of servant leadership as practiced by Janet Ngombalu. You’ll learn how to cultivate a foundation of faith-driven resilience to navigate career-defining storms, the power of co-creation and enabling others over dictatorship, and why leadership must always be about leaving a legacy of possibility. This episode offers invaluable lessons on ethical leadership, managing organizational change, and the profound responsibility of a leader to the human beings they serve, providing the motivation you need to shine your own light brighter.

Our guest is Janet Ngombalu, the dynamic Country Director for Christian Aid in Kenya. Christian Aid is a global organization committed to alleviating poverty by addressing its root causes and reaching the unreached. Janet oversees the entire country's operations, managing complex programs in climate change, gender justice, transparency, accountability, and humanitarian crisis response. She is not only an organizational leader but also a social entrepreneur, a change-maker, and an active board member, chairing the Audit and Finance Committee for the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). Her journey is a compelling testament to the power of intentional growth and purpose-driven influence.

Janet Ngombalu shares the fascinating, innate beginnings of her leadership journey, tracing it back to the nursery school playground where her leadership qualities first manifested. She recounts the humorous yet telling moment in high school when her parents were called in not for failure, but for her too many leadership responsibilities.

The conversation then transitions to the professional foundation of servant leadership forged at Daystar University, a principle that became her guiding philosophy: leadership is not for the self, but for the service of others. Janet takes us through her impressive career ascent—from an admin assistant at Practical Action to a regional manager, and later, the Regional Programs Coordinator for 10 countries at the East Africa Green Council—highlighting how each step was supported by intentional leadership programs like the Ashoka and African Food Fellowships.

A core theme emerges as Janet defines her leadership style: enabling those around her to thrive because she, too, was intentionally enabled by mentors like the former Executive Director of Fida-Kenya, Jean Kamau. She passionately argues against dictatorship and office politics, stressing that a leader’s role is to create a psychologically safe and materially enabling environment where a team can co-create success.

Janet shares a deeply personal look at the challenges she’s faced, including the emotional drain of organizational restructuring and the harrowing experience of working for six months without pay during the COVID-19 pandemic. She reveals her secret weapon: an unyielding resilience born of faith and inner strength, which grounds her during every roller-coaster moment of life and career.

The high points are equally compelling—from turning the Kenyan Christian Aid office from a global closure risk into an organization’s talk-of-the-town success story through a focus on teamwork, to the astonishing moment she was given Red Carpet treatment as a state visitor in Rwanda for her expertise. The episode concludes with a vital message to the rising Gen Z leaders—to respect existing structures and embrace patience—and a powerful reflection on the kind of uncorrupt, selfless, and united leadership Africa desperately needs to fulfill its God-given potential. Janet leaves us with her defining legacy: “Because Janet did it, it can be done.”

Don’t just listen to the light; let it guide you. Listen now and learn how you can become the lighthouse in your own community and career.

What does it take to become a transformative leader—one whose influence stretches from rural Kenya to international boardrooms and whose vision for social change is as unwavering as it is compassionate?

In this unforgettable episode we go beyond the title and accolades to uncover the humanity determination and values that shape Dr. Anne Musuva’s leadership journey.

Step inside a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation that not only explores the challenges and triumphs of leadership in Africa but also illuminates the universal lessons that anyone anywhere can apply. You’ll learn how a burning sense of purpose forged Dr. Anne’s commitment to healthcare reform and equitable systems. Through candid storytelling discover the mindset shifts required to overcome “imposter syndrome”, break glass ceilings and make authentic values-driven impact—whether you lead a team, a community or simply your own life.

A medical doctor by training, Dr. Anne is a renowned development specialist health systems innovator and advocate for universal health coverage across Africa. With over 15 years of hands-on experience spanning rural public hospitals national policy leadership and multiple boardrooms—including the Kenya Healthcare Federation and Swedish telemedicine pioneer Byon8—Anne brings unparalleled expertise and passion to the quest for dignity and access in African healthcare. A mentor to many and a model of servant leadership she champions the causes of healthcare equity women’s advancement and ethical transformation.

In this episode of “Once Upon a Leader in Africa” host George Nuthu invites Anne to share not only her impressive career trajectory but also the defining moments and internal battles behind her success. Listen as Anne opens about growing up as a responsible daughter at home and student in school made her to learn the importance of leading by example. Hear her reflections on persevering through resource shortages as a young doctor her pivotal decision to pivot from direct medical care to public health and the emotional stories that led her to fight for systemic change over personal comfort.

But the heart of this episode beats in Anne’s passionate advocacy for altruistic leadership—“leadership as stewardship not power.” She discusses how selflessness empathy and integrity are sorely needed across Africa’s public and private sectors and how leaders can and must mentor others especially women to multiply positive impact. Anne shares powerful anecdotes—from being the only African in high-stakes global boardrooms to finding her own voice in moments of doubt—and underscores why authenticity clarity and courage remain at the core of real influence.

Listeners will walk away from this episode inspired and equipped—whether you aspire to disrupt systems, mentor the next generation or simply act with more purpose in your everyday roles. You’ll also get actionable takeaways on building your unique leadership style making a difference from any starting point and overcoming cultural and personal roadblocks that keep many on the sidelines.

Ready to meet a leader whose story proves that anyone can lead from where they are—and leave a legacy worth remembering? Tune in to hear Dr. Anne Musuva’s compelling journey her hard-won wisdom and her call for each of us to lead ourselves and others with courage compassion and conviction.

Subscribe now to “Once Upon a Leader in Africa” share this episode with those seeking inspiration and join a growing community of listeners who believe in the power of authentic purpose-driven leadership.