Where You Grow Matters: How Environment Shapes Potential

I genuinely believe that to live the best version of yourself, and the most fulfilling life possible, you need to be in an environment that brings out the best in you - an enabling environment.

I grew up in a small village—a quiet, close-knit farming community on the foot of Mount Cameroon. It was a place people knew each other, where life felt predictable and familiar. But beneath that comforting predictability was a quiet, subtle limitation. Dreams there were modest, bound to the familiar paths of farming, teaching, or sand mining. Our ambitions rarely stretched beyond the visible horizon, and honestly, I didn’t realize how restrictive this was until I stepped outside of it.

At thirteen, my parents sent me to the capital city to learn French and suddenly, everything changed. The bustling city, vibrant with activity and alive with possibility, was a stark contrast to the calmness of my village. For the first time, I was surrounded by people whose dreams were boundless—who talked about becoming doctors, entrepreneurs, and global citizens. They spoke of places I had never heard of and ambitions I had never imagined possible. In this bustling, noisy city, something in me stirred. I began to dream differently, more expansively.

The people and opportunities I met here, eventually led me to apply for and win a scholarship to study at one of the most prestigious private universities on the continent.

Moving abroad to university further widened my perspective. Living in another country opened doors I hadn’t even known existed. Immersed in diverse cultures, ideas, opportunities, and viewpoints, I discovered new passions and strengths within myself. I saw firsthand how an environment filled with ambition, curiosity, and mutual support could significantly alter one's trajectory.

Talking to a group of Ashesi students during a campus event.

Reflecting on these experiences, I realized an enabling environment isn’t limited to geography. Yes, the places we live can shape us tremendously but the emotional and psychological landscapes we cultivate are equally powerful.

Emotionally, it’s about having people around you who genuinely believe in your potential—friends, mentors, family members—those who inspire and encourage you even when your own confidence falters. It's important to find people who make you feel seen, heard, and supported.

Psychologically, it's about nurturing a mindset that embraces possibility and curiosity rather than limitation. It’s recognizing that your environment—physical, emotional, psychological—can either nurture your growth or quietly stunt it. If you find yourself feeling stuck or constrained, consider changing where you are or who you're surrounded by. Perhaps it’s time to shift your surroundings—to seek environments and communities that challenge and inspire you.

I often think about the young boy from that small village who never imagined a life beyond its borders. He didn’t lack talent or ambition; he simply needed the right environment to flourish. Today, I work to create enabling environments for other young Africans, environments that offer the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Because I’ve seen firsthand the incredible transformations that can occur when you're in the right place, surrounded by the right people, with the right mindset.