Ever wonder what it takes to revolutionize the fabric of an entire industry -- and have it create a legacy that lifts millions? In this episode learn how a leader, one bold decision at a time, has taken the continent back into a journey of re-imagining African tea.
It is time to embark on a discussion of the spirit — an inspiring one! Be it the leaves or the fields or whatever -- on these topics, we are here to build a story based on ethics, resilience and innovation. You’re going to learn how visionary thinking and people-centered management can tackle long standing headaches, from ethnic bias to outdated systems, and how one single man’s dedication is revolutionizing the benchmarks for transparency, value addition and global recognition in the tea business. Be it a business leader, an entrepreneur, or someone who just loves stories of transformation, this episode will leave you inspired to lead with purpose and integrity.
Meet George Omuga Okoth Managing Director East Africa Tea Trade Association. Having spent more than 25 years in the field, George has come a long way, having no job other than on the job as a casual worker in Africa’s biggest tea auction. But all of his journey is a story of grit, faith and hard work to make a difference. As a purveyor of ethical and people-centered leadership, George has influence in ten African countries affecting millions of smallholder farmers and shaping the future game of a critical industry.
In this episode, you’ll follow George’s amazing journey from his first awe-struck experience with tea plantations to his ascent in an industry so steeped in established tradition and class-based hierarchy. We’ll hear how he made the impossible choice of leadership — of being a man for whom selflessness and accountability is more important than personal rewards — that ultimately worked for him and led him toward building teams of people built around trust, training and shared mission. George reveals some of the greatest obstacles he has ever encountered, from eradicating ethnic prejudice to leading his teams out of national crisis spots, he has been placing people front and center and promoting unity in diversity.
You will also get an insider’s glimpse into what George is doing with the innovations he’s spearheading: the launch of Africa’s first Orthodox tea auction, lobbying for tax reforms which will improve farmers’ economies and the advent of innovative trading platforms which, according to the official, will pave the road to completely revolutionize tea markets. We need a look at why Kenyan tea is set to reinvent, globally, and what George has envisioned for the sector to add value with an emphasis on international recognition and sustainable development and the future growth of the sector.
But this one is more than a business episode, it is also a journey. George is passionate about making African tea known around the globe for its quality and its near-organic purity, and opening opportunities for tomorrow's leaders. His story reminds us powerfully that true leadership is service; it is about transformation; it is about bettering the world than you knew it was.
Ready to be inspired? Listen today for George Omuga’s amazing story, and hear how you too can lead with bravery, kindness and resolve. Listen, subscribe, spread this episode with other disruptors in your life, and be a part of the change-making mission – cup by cup.