I once watched a man wrestle his own shadow. It was evening, and the sun cast a long, dark figure ahead of him. Each time he moved, it moved. He swung at it, stomped on it, even ran away, only to find it still there taunting him.

Most leaders do the same. They fight themselves, sabotage their own growth, and stand in the way of their own success. Not because they lack intelligence, but because they refuse to face the truth: their biggest enemy is within.

The silent killer of leadership

Some time in 2011, I consulted for a CEO who had everything going for him-money, influence, a growing company. You could even see swagger in his gait. But something was wrong. Employee morale was low, innovation was stagnant, and competitors were catching up. He wanted answers. Read more >>

"True leadership isn’t about choosing the easy path. It’s about managing external pressures while standing firm on principles. Communicate your decisions openly, and even those who disagree will respect your consistency. What are your value system? How do you create an ethical culture?"

Have you ever been accused of a crime you never committed? Imagine waking up to a letter demanding that you refund $590,000 from transactions that happened over a decade ago, which you believed were legitimate. Now, you’re being labeled a fraudster. Welcome to the real world of forensic investigations, where stories are rarely black and white.

The case of the ‘missing’ money

Let’s call him Subject 1, a former hospitality business owner who walked into a bank in 2022, brandishing copies of old cheques and a mandate letter that allegedly required two signatures for withdrawals. His claim? Between 2006 and 2010, his former manager, Subject 2, single-handedly withdrew funds without his approval. His demand? A full refund from the bank, which, according to him, failed to uphold his company’s mandate. Read more >>

Too many boards are still playing checkers when the game is chess. What game are you teaching your children? Your staff? Checkers or Chess?

Strategy gets discussed in one room, risk in another, and global disruption? That’s the awkward elephant no one wants to talk about. Yet, as Secretary Emeritus of the Institute of Corporate Governance, I have seen what happens when boards ignore these connections. It’s not pretty.

Take a page from a local NGO. In 2023, their governance was a cautionary tale. Fragmented oversight meant they weren’t ready for operational shocks like COVID-19. Donors raised the alarm about outdated risk frameworks and demanded reforms or else. It took a crisis to wake them up.

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This thought-provoking book offers an incisive examination of corporate governance from both a historical and contemporary point of view…I highly recommend it for your useful and sustainable leadership benefit” – Michael Mugabi, Former President, Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda.