Purpose and Service

An inspiring African proverb about the meaning and purpose of life is: “The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” I came across this quote recently and it stayed with me. I had been called upon to honour a dear friend at her memorial service and had spent a few weeks trying to compose a poem to celebrate her life. She was a great lover of trees, and we had just distributed seeds to the attendees at her funeral in the hope that they would plant trees to honour her. I mused that people she may never have met would one day find relief from the heat of the day under the shade of those trees.

As I composed the poem incorporating all the elements that I recalled made up her life—which was indeed a life worth celebrating—it led me to a deeper reflection about life and its purpose. Our time here on earth is fleeting. All that will be left when we depart is the memory that lives in the hearts and minds of those who loved us, and the broader impact we may have had on society. I reflected that a meaningful life is measured by what one leaves behind in people, communities, and institutions. Our greatest achievements are often those that empower others to flourish long after we are gone.

We can all aspire to live meaningful lives that go beyond satisfying our own desires and living life on autopilot. At the centre of the meaningful lives we aspire to live is a sense of purpose. Throughout history, philosophers, spiritual leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, and educators have wrestled with a common question: “Why am I here?” I believe that purpose begins when people stop asking, “What opportunities are available to me?” and start asking, “What problems am I uniquely positioned to solve?” This shift in perspective changes everything. This is the mindset I have worked hard to inculcate in the students I have had the privilege to teach at Strathmore University Business School.

Imposter syndrome can cause people to overlook their own talents, question their abilities, and downplay the very strengths and achievements that set them apart. I have found this syndrome at play when teaching executive courses to some of the most incredibly talented individuals who cannot see their own potential or who underestimate the impact they can have on society. Moreover, history consistently reminds us that the individuals remembered most fondly are not necessarily those with the greatest abilities, but those who dedicated their abilities to solving meaningful problems.

Many of Africa’s greatest challenges are well known: unemployment, healthcare access, educational quality, infrastructure gaps, food insecurity, climate resilience, and governance. These challenges should not be viewed only as obstacles; they are also opportunities for innovation. The entrepreneur begins creating jobs instead of waiting for employment. The engineer designs innovations tailored to local communities. The teacher inspires students to think critically rather than memorize facts or rely on artificial intelligence to think for them. The artist preserves cultural identity while shaping new narratives about Africa’s future. Find your purpose and build your life around it. Purpose transforms ambition into responsibility. The world is shaped not only by extraordinary leaders, but by ordinary people who choose, every day, to offer the very best of who they are for the good of all.

Strathmore University embeds the ethos of serving society by pursuing excellence in high-quality education, transformative teaching, and impactful research that addresses societal needs and contributes to the common good. This mission has resonated in my personal approach to teaching, my medical research in hospitals, and the courses I design for undergraduate and executive education. I see this commitment reflected in the actions of Strathmore’s faculty, alumni, and students, whose dedication to excellence, service, and innovation demonstrates a shared responsibility to use knowledge and skills to create meaningful impact in society. As the Founding Editor of the Strathmore Executive magazine, I have had the privilege of encountering these stories and showcasing the people and journeys behind them.

Africa’s future will not be built by a few extraordinary individuals alone. It will be built by millions of ordinary people consistently expressing their talents in service of others. Every person carries within them a unique combination of gifts, experiences, passions, and convictions. Our purpose finds its fullest expression when our talents become instruments of service that improve the lives of others. I have been a caregiver to my father, who battled prostate cancer for two decades. This experience inspired me to start a research project in this area of study to help other families, medical professionals, and patients facing the same difficulties I experienced. I have shared this story and similar stories of people who transformed pain into purpose—ordinary people who saw a gap and tried to fill it to the best of their ability, in my classes to inspire my students. I now hope to showcase these stories to a wider audience with this newsletter.

Launching the Transform Africa Network (TAN) newsletter is a way of keeping the momentum going—creating a space to continue sharing stories, celebrating achievements, and carrying that spirit forward. I would like to extend an invitation to you to share your story of transforming Africa and serving society so that, together, we can inspire others and keep these stories of impact moving forward.

By Shailja Sharma, SBS Faculty Member and Leadership Coach