Lucas Marang'a — transcript

Transition Coach, Nature Photographer & Storyteller

This transcript is generated automatically by YouTube and has not been checked by a person. It misspells names and mishears words, particularly around Kenyan English and company names, so read it as a guide to the conversation rather than a quotable record. Each timestamp opens the video at that moment.

0:02 [music] Greetings, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to episode 71 of the African Do podcast. Today, we are all set for a brilliant conversation with a good old friend of mine, Lucas Maranga. Lucas, welcome to the African Do Podcast.
I think I'm the good friend. You're the old one. [laughter]
Santi Leonard.
No, Karibu. So,
episode 71. episode 71 like a joke.
Wow. Wow. Well done, bro. Well done.
So, so thank you. So, Lucas, um I'll not take you back into how you grew up because I think your your story or your entrepreneurial journey which I've I've kind of had a front row seat to. Yeah.
Uh tells an interesting story in in and of itself. So, I want us to unpack get straight into it. So, Lucas, I met you. I was trying to think yesterday night when I was reflecting on this recording and I was trying to think where did I meet Lucas and I think I first met you as a customer at Blancos if I'm not wrong.

1:14
Not before at Cani
Ki. Yeah. But you know Kanye I would meet you with people so I didn't really know you you know but Blancos was a much smaller place. I'd open my restaurant. You used to come with your cowboy group. You guys used to sit there into the night and talk and sometimes I would join you and sit with you and that's when I got to know you
and then I got to learn about happening ventures. Yeah.
Um let's start there. Let's start with happening ventures you know. So how do you find yourself and happening ventures uh for those who uh do not know or do not remember the name happening ventures was um
um events tent business. Yeah.
So, let's let's go when you finished school. Yeah. Of your your education,

2:03
how do you then end up running a tent business?
Thanks, Renard and thanks for having me. Um, background.
Mhm.
I think business has been tuting me since I was a kid.
Okay.
You know, and uh we can go as far back as primary school when I had my first business of breeding rabbits. Mhm.
You know, until and I would sell them to my mates in currency primary school.
Mhm.
And that business died one day when one of the rabbits peed in my school bag. And when a rabbit pees and it dries, becomes white, white and smelly. So it soaked into my dad's blue velvet 504 back seat. Yeah.
Mhm.
And when we came home, he was livid in the evening and he told the guy in the shamba to zote. I don't see the rabbits in my property and not to know I have trauma. I can't eat rabbit meat. But anyway, so did a few other bash. But I think the influence, let me start with the influence was my folks, especially mom. She was very entrepreneurial.

3:13
My siblings and I would grow vegetables on the farm. She goes with them to Kenya breweries where she used to work and sell them. And mom would bring us the money for you.
Yeah. You here study Bob. you here is 40 bob, you 10 bob and then
for the work you did on the farm in growing.
Yeah. For giving her the carrots and the yas to go and sell to their ladies in the office.
Back then, I don't know if you experience with your parents, your mom could go with anything almost a chicken and eggs and
colleagues will buy and she comes with the money.
So I think that thing of like you're being brought for did something.
Yes.
Yeah. You know before like Yeah.
Yeah. So of course Akuna saving nin when she goes to savings and loan on Saturday to withdraw deposit money we go with her then we would go to town with my bro and my sis and you don't spend the money yeah go to work a shop on called sunus those ones you buy low man shoes

4:09
so that thing of like oh so you work you get
I think when I think as far back
but see you're a kid you don't think that it's molding your
your your your path Yeah.
So, fast forward to campus and high school, there was always a bish restaurant. We had business we sell. There's always things take to guys buy camera.
And so, finish university at ESTA.
Mhm.
Graduate in 97 and then uh like yeah, look for a job because that's the narrative. Are you seeing now
my mind has been positively polluted
that you can actually work for yourself and get some tunes
but now trying to merge that square peg into this round hole of you finish university and get a job. Are you seeing that

5:06
in a good in a good corporate
Yeah. My dad was a career banker. So like hey bro yeah get a job steady.
So I did I do get a job and my first with Buckless Bank.
Okay. Okay.
My first day of work was Sabah Saba 1997. There were riots in to
Yes.
7th July.
Yeah. Queensway branch.
So I go I report everything in me screaming guy you don't belong here.
This is the thing you do now. Be serious. Stop being a joke. Come on. The father's educated you said on the way to he said now
this is your future. Yeah. you become serious the usual narrative. So there I could even last 4 months cuz this thing was like ah yeah so the way to escape and still be allowed to stay in my father's house was to say hey I've applied for masters and I've been taken so I need to leave I go and do my masters at USIU. So he said sour but he really wasn't after the masters it's to back I mean yeah yeah I think I mean he

6:22 passed away 5 years ago so he didn't know that part
this master's degree was not a goal
yes
was I need to be in your house
but to do that and not be at buckless Rudy Shoule yeah so did that then after that went abroad for some time again it was just this whirlwind of trying to figure thought so what am I about what will I do and then after being I went to the UK for a while worked for few months then went to see my bro in the US he was graduating then thought okay now that I'm here now this USIU graduation this masters which says university of
it's USU San Diego California cuz they had no charter then
so my in fact now brilliant you're in America you have a masters from this country even if you didn't do it here I can help you get a job but again everything is screaming go back home you know now many years later I can say my life actually was supposed to unfold on this continent now I'm sure 100% so I can't even think about relocating anywhere else yeah [snorts] this is where I'm purposed to be

7:26
in this country and on this continent
so I got back uh my picked me up at the airport very disappointed
there you go
yeah it was that [clears throat] time of moera things I think economies He's at a standstill. He's dealing with his own demons of loans and whatever.
So he just picked me. It was a long drive from JK to home.
I remember making a prayer and telling God and may I never ask my folks for a coin bare minimum.
So luckily he told me there what do I do? Cracking my head. Racking my head. Then it's like this thing dropped on my head that on on my mind like maybe I tent thing can be a plan.
But when I think deeper about it, it was influenced by a guy you may have known called Moriah.

8:21
He had passed away.
Yes.
What was his first gosh, how can I forget? Anyway, and he had a business I think called Party Time Enterprises.
Yes. He was one of the first indigenous or miro tent guys. Before there was a Kenya canvas.
Yes.
They were all Mindy business.
Yes. You know.
So somehow I don't know how I bump into him and I decide let me just be helping him do setups. I was just fascinated by this tent thing. I can't tell you from where. Uh so I did a few gigs with him. A few of them I broke. Make a car 2K you survive you know. And then he passed away unfortunately uh not too long after that in a car crash. And then I asked I want to do this thing.
Okay.
But again herea

9:12
so three of my friends lent me a total of 170k.
Okay.
Yeah.
Okay.
And again a lesson there you know like have friends before you need them.
Cuz I told these guys I really want to do this thing. Can you help? I can't. I have no collateral. have nothing to my name
you know are you here you'll pay it was it was 100k and then 30k and then 40k from these three people
so met this kai sty welding frame
okay then I registered happening ventures but as a sole proprietor the easiest way which many people do lucas maranga trading
yes
this was way back in 2000
so I did that and then got a logo. Met this lady who does some graphics. She did for me a nice logo and some invoice book, receipt book, whatever. Went to cooperative bank there, university account then let's start this show [snorts] and then began. So that's 2000. So small G. So I made two t I think bought like 30 or 40 chairs. We still had our old pickup which now I had some money to run it around and deliver. So my was our

10:33 so during the day I'm like I know you're tired. Yeah. So we do that
and so 2001 let me just mention was was a defining moment for that tent journey.
Yes.
Because Safariccom was I think celebrating one year.
Mhm. So I remember were you at Ka around that time? Yes, I was. Yes.
So again it's funny how just the dots connecting life leard. So my friend Diana who was my classmate in DA is working for Ginadine. Ginadine's outfit is newish.
Yes.
Yeah.
So I'm like hey you guys do these communication events. You hook me up. Yeah. In fact let me send you to a guy. We have a safar. Go to Splash. You'll meet a guy called Ali Mazo.
Mhm.
So I meet Ali. I go I'm like I was sent by very vibrant guy. How many do you have? I'm like 20 and like 4,000 chairs. Are you saying

11:33
how many do you have at that time?
Two.
Yeah.
And 40 chairs. But I say 20 and 2,000 chairs. So I'm like but I think the ones available right now are like two. [laughter] So you bring them put them here by the pool. In fact, it's okay that they are few cuz yeah the wakubas will come the crowd will be at kite but splash is like a VIPish for those guys s so set up then panic said ah Martin but Danford came there and someone from who it was yeah put five more here [laughter] in fact this young man says he has like 20 Lucas we need five I'm like sour Then again another personal friend had introduced me to her friend Katherine of Chairman.
Yes.
So I called K. I'm like me my name is Lucas. I was in front I need you to give me five hammers. I'll pay you when I'm I don't even have so each of those have made five. So Katherine agreed. I just found favor with her

12:39
quickly pick them. Those two things that my buddy Ununice had printed to flyers. Now on the chairman
thing on the tent show happening ventures
jazz. Hey this young man and from there I remember now that evening I went for the big gig now the ki grounds where you are and seeing those fireworks of safar and my tents there
it was like an out of body experience.
Yeah
you know like come on guy this is it.
Yeah like you're here
I'm here I'm in the game. Yeah, like things are happening in this country with the fireworks and you're in that mix. So it defined me in a way I can't up to now describe.
Then uh another highlight of so now things were moving.
So became a do effect for a long time

13:33
and then grew and grew and grew. We got more money, made more tents, bought trucks, built a warehouse. Just the usual thing.
Paid your guys back there 170 days.
Yeah. paid them. In fact, they even forgotten,
you know. So, it was a
So that's how happening ventures came to be, you know, after Safariccom got many other gigs actually splash almost up to the point they were closing
our accounts probably and then with a wonderful lady who came Grace Grace
Gamu they were my longest clients you know and then many many other guys so it was a beautiful journey of business.
Yeah. But that journey ended.
It ended.
And I I I like to speak to entrepreneurs who've closed businesses.

14:23
Yeah. Mh. Because if you justose that that you know that that thing you've described for us in
in 2001 that feeling of being at Safariccom at one
you know
and that feeling of being part of something great seeing your your tents in the midst of this firework and then at one point which was what 20 was it 20 or 22 years?
How long?
So I began in 2000.
Yes. closed it in uh
2021, right?
2021. Yes.
Yes. Just after the pandemic because the pandemic was like the death killed for you.
Yes. Yes.
So now tell us about the the emotion of that. You know you have this thing
and businesses they become part of you and and and and when you say maybe let's break it down because we've discussed this personally. It's not so much that the business is a thing a living thing

15:24
but in a way it is because it's the people right it's the teams you get to know them. Some of them joined you they joined you when when they were young people single they get married you know some of your team members go on maternity leave or paternity leave they become parents
and all of you are eating from this ecosystem that is happening ventures
but after 21 years of operations you now say
done how how how was that journey for you okay I'll take you a go back.
So 2014, she's 14 years later is when I turned 40.
Mhm.
Yeah.
Mhm.
And that's when the care restlessness kicked in
of like I think this journey.
Maybe we need to do something about it.
Okay.
That was the same year I went for that OM program at Strathmore Business School. [clears throat] Remember the interview with Dr. Mongay and Terry who are there cuz they interview you before they take you feel like you are fit for this program. They said so why are you doing this program and unlike maybe a good number of my peers who were on that cohort with was like hey I want to grow scale all those things for me it was the opposite

16:45
I want to find the tidiest way of coming out
okay
yeah oh yeah so see there's already a level of clarity I want out
but this baby that is now a genzee [laughter]
almost and the desire was that my son who was tiny then that when he's 20 25 30 he'll be seeing tracks in this Nairobi branded happening investors and saying hey my old man is the one who began that outfit so I had this perfect picture in my head I'll exit then I'll sit on the board I mean good tombs are coming in and just think wow this is good so I start feeling I start having that internal fight and it's funny about businesses cuz when you told me Why do you start happening ventures? There are no goals there to cover markets to no

17:36
again I think it was that childhood thing of like just generating something.
Yes.
Creating something you know we're like co-creators with God in this creation
and uh so I fought with that for a number of years you know until and then it's funny that I'm having that fight and then 2017 you're getting investors.
So I'm like what? So I'm like Tony I love this business but I don't want to be in this business.
Who are the investors?
Some uh two gentlemen.
Okay.
Yeah.
I was referred by a guy who is in that ecosystem. I talked to them guys got favor with them and they gave me color. I remember 2017 going to China and coming with two containers of stuff. Yeah. So I'm like wow. Okay. But I thought we were checking but this chucking journey is not there's a door that's not opening.

18:33
Yes. Yes.
You know and so of course uh with external money comes that thing of boards and all that thing. So we form n we're sitting the boards I come I report quarterly then I'm like hey guys is it okay we start looking for my replacement. They're agreeable with the other board members but no one is doing anything you know. So that will make me more frustrated. Maybe I'm coming to them. Sort out my itch.
But them, I think they're like, "But you know, you're on the driver seat of this. You're the driver.
So you tell us. I found Leonard.
You interview this guy. I think he will." Yeah.
Anyway,
h met a few people who I thought were candidate, kissed a few frogs, h start, stop, start, stop, nothing. And then that's we've come now to almost 2019. Yeah. I'm like w I'm now maybe 45 each hasn't gone and it's getting clear that you need out and again the observation there is that with businesses it's like they take the personality and the it's like when you get a homer your business gets a home you know and maybe

19:44 it's an indicator that you have built this thing around yourself which I think is many African businesses when you die I had this picture of like how we put it down in Langata in a box. We put it down with like a registration certificate cuz when the business has died cuz we built them to pay school fees, it's actually just another job but only
you create for yourself. So when you go, you know,
so this thing like I'm sure what you've been involved in for a long time of growing businesses and them leaving their founders and going to the moon is a fairly new concept that being accepted here. True.
But now from them I mean Yeah. So my business may have been big back then in terms of the tent space but it was just uh a zoomed out version of a mamoga kiosk cuz I was a guy

20:32
remember one time someone telling me if you have your checkbook in your glove compartment just know you're still and that was me
I could get your check in traffic cuz I had it there
you know
but uh yeah so then 2020 came but I'll give this disclosure
yes of course you couldn't meet COVID restrictions. But to me, CO was a godsend.
Okay.
Yeah.
And like finally something beyond me that can finally check me from my pain.
Yeah.
But now I have these two wonderful gentlemen who've put in money you know how do I sit with them like guys I know we had pang to reach coast but we only sultan hammud
and I want to get off the bus. to get off the bus, man.
Yeah. If you'd allow me, I mean, just tell me what you want. I mean, I'm

21:23
Yeah, I owe you. [snorts]
Then this gentleman told me, "Yeah, so let me call this other guy. I'll let you know when we'll meet." So he called me back, said, "Come to my place on Friday at 4:00. We have tea." Went to his house. A nice manicured lawn, tea served there. I mean, I'm peeing on myself for lack of better words. So I explain so I just I'm expecting a shambo or something.
Mhm.
But they they listened said okay makes sense with COVID and stuff sour. So you let us know how you want us to close this arrangement. So I said my initial thoughts is we sell the hardware. It was a lot. see what we recover and then you guys tell me what you want. Even if they said we'll take all of it, you know, like I feel like I have no grounds to say mine is this one. They said no. Uh we'll just go back to the percentages.

22:30 We what we bring in from the sale, we do the percentages. Yours was 10, mine was five, this one was 20, this one was 30. And then we say sour. So that's what happened. So I remember 20 yeah in that 2020 2021 21 actually yes um thought who will buy event equipment in a pandemic but those things went up like something I don't know I realize [clears throat]
but tell me
so so that's how it kind of [snorts] now came to closing the the doors.
Your two investors
um if you don't mind my asking were they entrepreneurial themselves?
Uh yes, one was purely and he had done quite some impressive work.
Yes.
The other one was a a big corporate guy but through his corporate gig used to do investments.

23:38
Okay.
Yeah. So they they they had they you you are probably not their only investment.
I don't think so.
And do you think that's what gave them grace because they were quite gracious to you?
Yeah. Yeah, they were. They were. Yeah, I believe so because I guess I was expecting like Yeah. But almost they they responded as if you know like you lose some, you win some. So this was just like next,
you know, and stuff. Yeah.
But I felt horrible about it.
Yeah. myself like you know like almost not even deserving of that
whatever I am and I still not feel a part of me like today
but it's interesting and and I I I like I like what you you you've brought up because it is an interesting topic yeah

24:28
um and it it is the journey of building enterprise
on the African continent is Yeah.
And I feel one of the things, one of the reasons why we started this podcast is so that we can tell the stories and in the stories people can begin to see themselves
so that when we define our enterprise, I don't think our lessons are going to come from benchmarking with the west or with the states. M
I think our lessons will be taking the learnings from them all over global learnings plus local context
and putting that and if for example
um as gracious as your investors were Yeah.
if they put money in KCB shares Yeah.
and then for a season for whatever reason as we have seen the stock market happen in many places. Yeah. Shares go up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up sometimes they go down. Yeah,

25:30
no one would have lost any sleep including them who put their money. Mhm.
Yet you you still you still say today that you're carrying an element of guilt
because but it's the same. It's an investment and and
I I I think I have a a a defining comment from a friend of mine early in my entrepreneurial career
and it made so much sense to me. Maybe it's because of the season I was running Blanos
and we'd reached a place because we had a watershed moment uh which was post election violence and it really affected our business negatively. We were brand new. We were not even a year old.
So especially where you were that
and then ODM house and guys used to run up and down
and then one day uh she was also she had also gone into an entrepreneurial space. So we used to sit down and talk a lot

26:25
and she says to me, you know, Leonard, she says, the shareholders primary responsibility is to fund the business they own.
Now most of us don't think about shareholding from that perspective.
We think that shareholding is an investment for a return. M okay
but it starts with the it totally flipped my thinking
said the shareholder's first responsibility is to fund the business and so the shareholder can pay a price for overfunding but can also pay a price for underfunding a business and so in Kenya we have a lot of underfunded businesses and because of exactly what you say
uh people view the businesses as an extension of themselves so It's you.
The happening ventures was Lucas. The checkbook was in your glove compartment. It was you.

27:23
Yeah. And so when you when the two investors gave you money, your feeling was that they have given Lucas money.
Yeah. And so when you the guilt even you carry is probably coming from there.
I think so.
But let's take a break from happening ventures and and you know you you are a wearer of many hearts. Yeah. and and then you decide now you um um you've always you have a passion for golf.
Yeah.
But you've taken that passion a bit further than most in the sense that you are not just an avid golfer.
You went into golf administration. Yeah. M
and then um um probably one of the few um tournament directors for golf tournaments in Kenya. So let's speak about that because that's another

28:17
journey of building and of learning something that's completely many people in this country uh play golf but not many people have
the ability to if
I think you are the tournament director for the last Kenya Open. Is that correct? Yeah. Yes.
So, how does one find themselves in that place? And why I ask this question
is I really like to showcase what can come out of a sport
cuz nowadays um you know as you become a parent and you're growing older, your kids start talking about careers and what they think about and most people most young boys want start as young boys. Yeah. H saying I want to be a footballer and we pay for them or I want to swim and you know you you support them in this

29:03
but then they don't we don't do as well
in showcasing the ecosystem.
Yeah.
Yeah. So how do you move from just being an avid golfer to ultimately being uh the tournament director of Kenya's premier golf tournament?
[snorts]
Uh I think before I respond to that let me just say one thing yes about previously just to close on the happening ventures
even why the heing you on this conversation.
Yes. This one you've been refusing to come for. Yes.
You know is because of that shame.
Yes. Yes.
Cuz to me stories like this are like yeah then I went to Malawi then we expanded to South Africa then
but the most recent document you have is the one from registra saying
youard

29:52
that you fungard you know like
so what are you saying
what are you coming to tell people here you know
so carry that shame for a long time and dressed it in other ways
you know
until now looking back in what I'm doing now cuz apart from golf I'm in the coaching space and seeing that life is funny that what to me I'm seeing are scars
of failure
um became have now become stars.
Yes.
Is what I'm using to help someone transition especially folks in midlife cuz you've been there have interacted with this shame and failure in whatever shape or form it comes in. So it's it's almost like just ancou an encouragement to our to whoever listens to this uh podcast. Yeah. Yeah. At time there's that there's value in that shame or there's value in that failure. And we had a recent conversation with you.

30:46
Yes. Yes.
At the Silver Fox event.
Yes.
You know so like okay maybe I'm more useful now in my life. you are
cuz of a
you know I I I I it's like it's like like I I told you when when you told if you told me the amount of effort I put in in running in setting up Blanos
and you are one of my customers so you know and how I had personalized that thing
if you asked me then what will happen if this thing closes I told you I'll die [laughter]
you'll die dead
I say if this thing closes
I'll die
and here we are
I'm here we Yeah man.
So yeah
anyway. Yeah. So so I just thought maybe it's important it is very much so that Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So there can be that can grow out of that soil of shame in many ways. Um yeah. So golf again.

31:38
It's almost a random journey. Yeah. I see it like that thing of one set of footprints on the sand and it's not yours. You're being carried. Yeah. It's it's almost a god journey if you ask me. cuz joined Leuru Country Club in 2006. Uh six years later I was golf captain and director at Leuru.
Six years later I joined the premier governing body of golf in Kenya, Kenya Golf Union.
Yeah.
Six years later I am its chair of of Kenya Golf Union. And that's how I got into Kenya Open, you know, cuz Kenya Golf Union being the majority the biggest shareholder of magical of Kenya Open Golf Limited which is a body that was formed to particularly run the Kenya Open being a very big event. you sit there as chair because again back to that shareholding thing

32:32
and so I left when when I finished my time at Kenya Golf Union not with popularly known as KGU um also I left the board of Kenya Open Golf Limited but then again I was asked to come back you know in my personal capacity as Lucas not as representing KGU and stayed on it's been a couple of years h then last year after the AGM some changes happened uh the tournament director then became our chair um really nice and then I was appointed tournament director and uh so this February was the first one at um at at at Karan Country Club. So it's been a journey of [snorts] positions and appointments that I didn't plan strategize position like yeah it wasn't like this is my plan on my golfing journey like something finds you you know kimongu

33:27
and what what does tournament direction entail
basically just to deliver the event you know like to put it in summary you know you have a venue you have many moving parts you have players coming from all over the world you have big TV coverage age. So, how do you deliver this event from golf course setup to make sure that all your players and visitors have places to stay and that's arranged their transport, the practice plat range, the practice areas for the players are well arranged. Um, catering uh there's media coverage, you have sponsors, sponsors is a big one. you know that what they're giving you a check for you try all you can do that they get the value back for what they want
so you're like at that center of all those things you know yeah you know like chief km if you ask me really

34:22
yeah but it was an appointment I was very scared about cuz I didn't think I could do I mean it's a global event it's easily the
biggest golfing event in Africa after out of essay if you remove essay if you add maybe it's top three still so quite sizable. Quite sizable. Again, there's government funding that comes in. So, also there's an element of managing that stakeholder there.
But, uh we have a good board.
So, everyone kind of pulled their weight and we made it happen. Yeah. So, it's like really it was a stretch I must say.
Is that a huge opportunity as a nation for us
curating events like that?
It is. It is Leonard. And we've had this [snorts] a lot of these conversations with just other stakeholders in the Gulf ecosystem. But if there is a way like again when you best practice a benchmark from the west they have that thing of you know race to Dubai you know whereby there and this main jewel of of an event. So we've been trying to do a local one race to Kenya Open which is through the our local and regional professionals coming

35:31 to play and then they they grow the sport or rather they play and then whoever scores or aggregates points maybe top three or four or eight depending on the positions which are available at Kenya Open they play there. Yeah. But that's almost like one area of it which I don't think is of really much interest to this conversation because these are established pros also well advanced in years. So growing you want to look at the young ones you know and there has been some some progress there could be more work but there's been some progress in terms of juniors playing in Kenya Open and also having now local organizations sponsoring junior events cuz you want to get to a point whereby a good critical mass of kids who love golf and are good at golf are supported to play it and play it to the best level possible. So that has begun and where we

36:25 were when I got into golf management is definitely not where we are. You know, we have kids who've gone here and there like we had a recent event at Windsor and I think some of the kids are going to play in Japan. So that kind of thing. Yeah. Yeah. But then of course you know this is against the backdrop of this game was paid played by Moibbaki and two of his pals. So coming from that mindset golf
you know if my son tells me I don't play. So now demystifying that that you don't have to be from a family of means although right now truth be told a lot of that is but then how do you have people put in sponsorship that just a an average kid from an average background who's good at this can get a really good shot.

37:09
Okay.
And not just playing well but eventually monetizing.
Yes.
Yeah.
Excellent.
Yeah.
Now let's pick off from where we left off with that brief segue into golf. But now let's come back to happening. Ventures has closed
um 2021 you have sorted out your investors, sold your hardware, closed the company.
What have the last 5 years been like? So first of all it's funny that now that closure also happened with my dad passing away
you know and I remember one time when I was standing that warehouse then I told him hey you know this story then he asked me he's your daughter yeah his granddaughter very Yeah. I'm thinking this go down that we have here of converting it into rental or something. So you have something coming into Shikilia before you get your footing on the next [snorts] and he said yeah that's a good idea. So that meant a lot to me because that

38:24 project now began I think in July last year and had passed away in May
almost like he said you know there was a thing about that here.
Yeah.
So I did that but it took long even what we got remember from the sale wasn't optimal selling stuff during so there's value definitely that you lost
and for sure those words came to pass. Um so I started asking myself I just feel yes I know I'm supposed to be in this country and in this continent but doing what? So I into this journey of just use those boring common words soularching [snorts] and I started feeling that I want to help people with transitions just this life transitions. I was introduced to a book called Halime which uh heavily impacted me and uh

39:23 based on that and a few other things that have happened since then becoming a halftime coach, a halftime facilitator and transitions and all of that it every every exploration I went into confirmed that maybe there are many guys struggling who are those crossroads like you like what next? What next?
Yeah. And the medium of that would have been coaching.
So some little left up 2020 went to coaching school.
Mhm.
So you don't become those guys who print cards and you're there coaching too and you've not learned this skill properly.
So did that and since then I've been trying to grow some thought leadership on on transitions. I'm curious about midlife transitions.
Yeah. and I've done a couple of things since then. So, that's what I do. That's what I do. Um, I'm also probably digging in a bit more even in my wife's business. She runs a beautiful outfit and um in consulting

40:26
and also how then can I use this skills and experience and talent and even social capital to also activate that
you know.
Yeah. Ah so to answer your question directly it's been that coaching space and now of course this golf thing but this golf thing is voluntary. Yeah. But still
I like it.
No but you also I I think it's a bit more than just the coaching because you've started you you went down a journey of photography. [laughter] You you you you have a blog and you tell stories and you you're writing quite a bit. I think you also went to learn how to write. You know you took a course if I'm not wrong.
Yeah. With our friend
with Bo. Yes. Yeah. So maybe just give us that whole picture and how those little things now are all coming together. Maybe when you did them they did not

41:13
they were you did not do them for them to come together but now you find like just like your entrepreneurship and the closure of your business has now become an asset in your coaching life and then you do coaching training and so on so forth. Yeah.
Yeah. So for the photography again back to those nyas my mom was selling way back primo
around that time.
Yes.
She bought me a camera.
Oh wow.
Yeah.
Mhm.
And I must have asked her cuz to Yeah.
So taking photos photos photos then took them over through even maybe a bit of high school. It was an films you know you buy and then you go and process.
If one of my electives in campus was photography that whole those dark rooms and be quite fascinated

42:03
and so it's funny that now later on 2019 comes and I'm like I also want to go back to this thing it's nudging in my heart again it just dropped like a reminder a window that has open after many years and I just decided if I'm going to do this I'm going to do it well so I went to photography school
yeah here in Nairobi it was called versatile with a by a guy called David Masharia so I was in class with guys who are almost can almost qualify to be my kids. Yeah. [laughter] You know, I love them. So, got my first digital camera, nice Canon 250D, then just started. Then, it's funny how life is. Life is actually beautiful despite the many horrible things we see about it. The next year, COVID kicks. So, how is it that escaping cabin fever

42:54 Nairobi National Park?
Yeah. to practice this thing.
Photography, this skill you have been learning. Yeah.
Yeah. Like cuz you're allowed to go, but you don't leave your car. You alone.
I would leave my guys asleep at 6:00 a.m. to go and try and catch a sunrise
and stay there for hours.
That was 2020, 2021. And out of that, actually, I took one photo that 2022 got recognized in a global competition.
Wow.
You know, called Benjamin. It was a big unveiling here at National Museum. And since then I've continued doing it. I've done photo safaris at the Mara Savo and a few other places. Um and yeah, I've just it's just something I love doing. I've sold some images. I still would want to unlock more of that talent through the of maybe growing tourism or conservation on our continent because I think again that's still part

43:51 of this purpose of my life unfolding here. Yes. you know and stuff. Now I use when I started my blog almost 10 years ago after Bo's class, it was Bungapala. You remember Yungapal?
Yes, I remember. Yes.
Yeah. In fact, we we spoke recently and guess he's a coach now. He's also a coach.
He's also a coach, you know. So, we had a chat not too long ago. So, when I start my blog, of course, you go to those shutter stock images to do it. Now I use my own images for my blog, you know, which added which added more value, you know,
and so I enjoy the photography. I use it for for this blog. So it was called Lucas Marang, a man at 40.
Okay.
Yeah. And again, it was purely for trying to put down this my thoughts of that are feeling like my life is being choked, you know, that I can't describe.

44:40
Then you realize you have a whole tribe of guys who are in the same position as you. Yeah. But now it changed when I turned 50. Yeah. So it's called Lucas Maranga. A man after 40, you know. So yeah. So after 40 is good cuz whether 60, 70, 80, it will remain.
So the blog is is there again. So through just sharing my random stories every Friday. In fact, the last two Fridays have been on reflecting on a portfolio life. A portfolio life is whereby Leonard, you do two, three, four things that marry beautifully
into who you are. Yeah. you know, and so I'm a portfolio guy and how many of us here
again back to that kid think and maybe those two things are meant to be together, you know, how then do you create a space and encourage someone

45:26
who's featured one
passion or talent or skill to magnify another that you can actually have both.
Yeah.
And they'll be like kids who get along in the house,
you know. Yeah. M
so Lucas let's let's dream a bit about this future in this continent. First of all you you committed yourself to it. Yeah.
Um very early and said that this is where your your portion is. Yeah.
So what do you see in your future? You have now recognized I I I believe by the way that failure is the most underrated teacher. We didn't from it.
I love it. I And and and it sounds men don't dress it well.
Exactly. Exactly.
So what does the future you you're now uh you have this
you have a lot of business knowledge. You know, you have 20 plus years of entrepreneurial enterprise building under your belt. You know, you have successes. You're a coach. You're a photographer. You you have a gift in storytelling. M

46:34
so what does the future look like or where are we going Lucas?
I think I would just summarize that in what is my what I find as my mission statement personal mission statement. Yeah. Which is to help people find and live meaningful lives.
Yeah. Yeah. So I don't know that this premature but I'm attempting a book.
Yeah. Yeah. Introduction. I remember when I was asked by my publisher and I said I just want [snorts] if this thoughts and book from the research I've done from the coaching I've done and from my own story if I can help just high impact men and women on this continent know when to exit the stage of a season that's over and exit beautifully and embrace the next one even if it has little knowledge of what it looks like.

47:30 M
then Allah succeeded because many of us exit poorly
and the effect is magnified when the one exiting poorly is at a very high position.
Yeah.
All of these presidents who are here began well saved their country then a CZA
you know
and so I'm seeing that also as part of that impact of my life unfolding on this continent.
Yeah. If I can start a narrative whereby you can be able to be equipped to to see the signs that a season is coming to an end and start preparing for the next one. Then the ripple effect will be positive for your community for yourself and for the people you serve. So I find myself doing that and any other thing uh this other talent that I have of storytelling or even photography and the coaching which I really do enjoy

48:27 to help people find and live meaningful lives and consequently impact their communities positively.
Wow.
That's quite a journey and and that gives you quite a a blank canvas.
It does. It does gives a a blank canvas but also it probably has helped me realize that this thing of connecting dots is overrated.
Mhm.
Yeah.
Mhm.
You just tell us a bit more.
You just start with the dot that you have.
That one dot.
Yeah.
And start walking forward. You you'll reach somewhere.
You'll reach somewhere. you know there's a guiding thing you know for me it could probably be the version of the faith that I have you know that okay I can see back to that set of footprints
you know that they are not yours you're being carried alone you know and stuff

49:20
so yeah and many of us stall even in business because and then I can't see where it is of I'm not saying live carelessly especally when you have responsibilities like a family but there's a point of unknown that shall not be shown to to
you know there's something that I want to maybe plant a seed for you to go with as you're thinking about all these things. Yeah. Um I I now say this often. And I said it in the last recording I had and uh I'm saying it again that this podcast has changed my life
from the perspective that I have seen how important for it is for us to just be
because I feel that we we are we are Kenyans but or we are Africans. But we don't own Africa.
We don't own its nar. We are starting now

50:27
but we haven't really,
you know, we've always looked to someone to
ask for permission to be something, you know.
Uh we it's great to see people writing business books
on Africa by Africa, you know. uh it's great to see uh people funding
and I think those are going to be very powerful things. So it's something that I encourage uh all of us to think about.
Give uh give yourself and the others that you're coaching or you're helping permission to be themselves
that you're enough.
Yeah.
As as you are,
you know, you don't Yeah. [laughter]
You don't have to
100%. You don't have to benchmark. You know, I really struggle with like now I really struggle in in our local government scene where guys are going to benchmark how to to keep the streets clean. See, just start by sweeping by sweeping the road and then it'll be clean.

51:31
You know,
what are you going to benchmark for?
We had a similar conversation some guys in that that whole wildlife photography cuz that's actually my photography is more about wildlife and nature.
Yes. and all of this contest and what and conservation and I remember having a chat with some guys one day and I was like okay is there a need to decolonize
that space yes
yes yes
because the things are happening big that are being done and these initiatives are not from you and I
but they're being done in our shak [laughter] yeah yeah
to us they affect us the most
yeah yeah you know and stuff like that so there's work to be done. Yeah. Yeah. But but for me, I I'm committed to living the rest of my days

52:18
to create a dent on
Excellent.
this contin.
There you go, Lucas. It was not that painful. We have come to the end [laughter] of this journey.
But maybe give the audience a a chance to to to tell them where they can find you. Um transition coaching, where do they look for you, your blog, you know, your photography? Um Towards the end, at the end of every episode, we do give our guests a chance to tell the audience where they can be found so that those who want to go and read your blog and those who feel inspired by your story and want to learn more about you, your photography, and the other things that you do,
please.
Yeah. Yeah. So, all this portfolio work is on my website. Yeah. Just www.lucasmaranga.com and that one is Maranga. He didn't have the thing.

53:08
He didn't have the He didn't agree. It didn't. Yeah. So
they refused it.
Just lucasaranga.com. Blog is there. There's an art gallery there called Lucas Shorts and also plus my email. Just Lucas again at lucasmaranga.com.
Okay. And they can also find you there for your your coaching if people want to contact you. Are you part of any coaching cohort? Is there somewhere?
Are you part of a a body or you're just Lucas Maranga the coach? Well, uh I don't know what you mean by part of a body, but
is there like a coaching, you know, like a is there like a corporate
um or where does your coaching work come from? How do you get your coaching clients?
Uh funny enough, this referral thing is a big thing.

53:56
Refals referrals.
Yeah. Yeah. And also, I was very skeptical for a long time about LinkedIn, but actually [laughter]
LinkedIn. Okay.
Yeah. It has it has it has led. Yeah. But the referral whereby
this you know kind of thing. Yeah. Yeah. And also funny enough also from my Friday blogs cuz I speak a lot about transitions and and how they affect us.
So so yeah still again on LinkedIn.
Excellent.
So so it's not too hard. It's not too hard. It's not too hard.
So mine is to thank you one for sharing your story with you with us [snorts] and two uh for walking this journey and taking on others. I think it's a very noble goal
to take on the help of others and I I hope the audience will confirm what you are fighting for a long time that this was

54:46
a worthy a worthy episode. So, thank you very much for um I always say that the reluctant guests end up being the best because yeah people the ones
but I owed you after after I dragged you for my
the ones who the ones who say I don't want to come on your podcast. Yeah. So, thank you very much. Thank you very much for coming and we look forward to watching your channel.
Excellent. So, ladies and gentlemen, that was episode 71 of the African Do podcast. We thank you very much for continuing to support us through our YouTube channel. Please do subscribe uh share um also follow us on Tik Tok, on uh Tik Tok, on Instagram, on LinkedIn, on Facebook as the African do podcast. Share our stories. encourage you to watch the full episode, but if you can't watch the small clips that we share on

55:38 other social media handles. So, thank you very much and look forward to having you in the next episode.