Living Emphatically: How Jackline Muriuki is Building an Army of Problem Solvers Across Africa

Jackline Muriuki describes herself as a pan-African education and youth development practitioner and enthusiast. She is currently the Head of Youth Programs at Timeless Women of Wonder and is building a movement of young problem solvers.

I am a storyteller and embracing my story has really helped me find my purpose in this life.

What is your origin story?

I am the daughter of an elderly couple from a humble background. My mom and dad are 73 and 81, respectively. The village I grew up in was an alcohol brewing environment and my experiences growing up there shaped me.

I grew up believing that one day I would transform the situation for my family and for my village. With exposure, I realised that my mission is not unique to my village; it extends to a wider world, starting with Africa. I realised that I could not achieve it alone; so now, I am building an army of problem solvers across the continent — people who fearlessly take the bull by its horns and want to leave wherever they are better than they found it. Since I gained this consciousness, I have endlessly pursued opportunities that lead me to achieving that mission, however disguised they may be. I am a storyteller, and embracing my story has really helped me find my purpose in this life.

What key steps should one take towards finding their passion and working on their mission?

I believe working out one’s mission and purpose is a personal exercise, and every individual should find the formula that works for them. These are some steps that have helped me:

1. Embrace who you are by acknowledging your story. This doesn’t mean wallowing in your past though. Your past environment and story might have shaped the current you, but you can redefine your future.
2. Try out as many things as possible and be aware of everything that happens to you and how it makes you feel. As vague as it may sound, it will help you figure out your passion if you haven’t already.
3. Be deliberate about your life choices, and for whatever passions you have, find spaces to learn more. Learning is lifelong; if you stop learning as an adult, you are not entitled to sit at a table of learning children.
4. Look for your ‘tribe’ — people with whom you share values and, to some extent, a vision. They can serve as a bridge to unidentified opportunities and a source of accountability to ensure you reach your goals.
5. Seek mentors. I can’t emphasise enough the need for mentorship. You may find yourself on virgin paths sometimes, so having mentors who can guide and support you can make a great difference.
6. Keep God in the equation. I have found enormous peace in connecting with God, even when things don’t turn out as I wish.

Holistic education is a vehicle for youth development, and ultimately, economic development.

When you are introduced as a keynote speaker at events, you are sometimes introduced as “Ms. President”. Why is that?

That title comes from an EU-sponsored leadership reality TV show of the same name that I partook in. I emerged the top contestant in my home county, ultimately joining the final 70 women leaders selected to participate in the highly competitive project.

However, a label I prefer to that and my other titles is “pan-African education and youth development practitioner and enthusiast”. I prefer this because the end goal of whatever I involve myself with is youth empowerment. This is strongly tied to education, because holistic education is a vehicle for youth development, and ultimately, economic development. For me, the most important factor of production is labour. Unless we unlock the potential of human capital, the rest are just passive factors that can’t work on their own.

There is no better time to acquire advanced knowledge than now.

What are you working on now, and how does it fold into your mission?

There are two major things;

1. Building young people and processes: As the Head of Youth Programs at Timeless Women of Wonder, I am building a movement of young problem solvers called Timeless Champions of Change. We have chapters across Africa and are building innovative processes that will help young people proactively champion change in their own countries and spaces. Afterwards, we will create systems to run the processes efficiently. We aim to build sustainable models that will outlive the builders. The synergy will bring out endless ripples that could potentially see Agenda 2063 achieved earlier.
2. My Masters application for an MBA at ALUSB: There is no better time to acquire advanced knowledge than now, while I am developing myself as a young leader on the continent. I can’t think of a better institution for pan-African, leadership-oriented, innovative and quality education than ALUSB? I have many hurdles to jump over but I am hoping for the best.

You don’t need to have everything figured out. Start with what you have; the rest will fall into place.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given and by whom?

Many people have advised me on various occasions, but my parents’ advice has seen me through many challenges.

My mother often tells me, “You don’t need to have everything figured out. Start with what you have; the rest will fall into place.” I have observed her put her own advice to practice, tried it, and it works!

My father has also told me, “Never fear speaking your mind, even before a President, as long as you can defend what you say.” That statement has a lot of weight and wisdom for me. It speaks to the values and culture I have grown up with.

If you fear making mistakes…you will never gain the courage to do anything meaningful.

What advice would you give other young professionals?

Whatever you can visualise, you can do. Be daring enough to start even when you have not figured everything out, and allow yourself to make mistakes. Just make sure you learn from them. If you fear making mistakes or losing, you will never gain the courage to do anything meaningful.

In all things, do you empathetically. The world will adjust.

Keep up with Jackline Miriuki and her audacious mission, by following her here.