"My Biggest Enemy Will be Remaining Stuck"
That quote is from Omar Bashir, a farmer in the Tana River basin of Kenya whose livelihood has been profoundly affected by climate change. Our recent conversation went deep into his initial feelings of fear, grief, and hopelessness as he saw his orchards washed away in the Kenyan floods of 2023.
Yet, he found in that moment an opportunity. In that moment he became a leader. My conversation with Omar reaffirmed why I love coaching leaders of all kinds; it reminded me that we can each create the impact the world needs.
I invite you to listen in on our conversation above
His story is of leadership. He reminds us how to find what we can control, even amidst chaos.
His story is of action. He tells us, simply, slowly, powerfully, of the steps he has taken to mitigate the damage of climate change in his community.
His story is of refusing to be a victim. He shows us how we can each overcome our darkest moments.
I was drawn to Omar’s story when he and I met at Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project in Nairobi back in June. We shared a cup of tea that day. Ever since, I have not been able to forget how he summoned the courage to take the first step to prepare for the future, not by himself, but by mobilizing his entire community.
If you would like to discuss your leadership journey on my podcast or if you’re curious about Leadership Coaching, feel free to reach out to me at: www.freemanwhite.co/work-with-me
