Mother had many names—Mummy, Mom, Ma, Amme’. She passed away a decade ago, leaving us with memories of her unwavering support after Dad died when I was 16.
In today’s entrepreneurial world, Mom was a pioneer. She learned shorthand and typing on an old typewriter from the verandah of our house in Dar-es-Salaam. Though finances were tight, she eventually established The Institute of Commercial Arts, where she, along with her staff, taught shorthand, typing, accounts, and writing. After I graduated from Kerala University and became an educator in Tanzania, I saw that her business had already scaled multiple folds.
Mom’s guidance was constant, subtly influencing critical moments in my life. She often advised me never to be just a supplier or vendor, but to understand the challenges a brand faces so deeply that the visual assets I create achieve an all-encompassing effectiveness. Only then do they become true marketing assets.
I personally immerse myself in the competitive landscape for long enough that what I need to do for the brand becomes a script that writes itself. Hence, Mom’s remark—“Why be a cog in the wheel when you can be the wheel?”—carries a different sense of responsibility, competitive understanding, and strategic sculpting of visual assets based on attributes rather than pain points.
Today, I feel at home among entrepreneurs, thriving on their energy and creativity. Several times, my team and I relocate for months to large co-working spaces so we can experience the rarefied atmosphere of building value-based dreams. We also learn the importance of failures. Every moment carries Mom’s spiritual intellect, reinforcing my present existential being. I am so blessed! 🌈💫