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During my mentorship yesterday at 2Day Venture, I was reminded of where I was a decade ago when I first started building my companies. I saw students presenting ideas that had tremendous potential, but some were hesitant to take advice.
Recently, I found myself explaining the importance of financial planning to the current cohort of the Nyenyezi Fellowship, who were excited about newfound funds in the the Kwathu Kollective. Their excitement was infectious, but it also reminded me of a critical lesson for any entrepreneur: managing cash flow and understanding financial statements isn’t just important—it’s essential for survival and growth.
As I sat at my desk, flipping through Wagner and Hollenbeck’s Organizational Behavior, I saw more than just theories and models on motivation, teamwork, and leadership. I saw reflections of the lessons I’ve lived, especially during my time at Michigan State University, and the work I’m doing now with Kwathu Kollective, Bien Corp, Q2 Corp, and Africa’s future at large. One lesson stands out: organizations, like movements, thrive when their culture is rooted in shared purpose, collective pride, and ownership.
CeraVe was initially a casual purchase. I didn’t plan to commit to the entire product line, but hey—it was turquoise, and my love for color coordination may have subconsciously played a role. What started with a single cleanser quickly turned into a full-on relationship. Now, CeraVe is my holy grail, and I couldn’t be more thankful.