Strands of Genius: What Am I What I Could Be, Genius, The Peril of Averages
Guest curated by Kuria Mburu
Each year we aim to highlight 50 creative thinkers that have inspired us by giving them the opportunity to guest curate this newsletter, Strands of Genius. This edition is guest curated by Kuria Mburu, Strategy Lead at Tessera
:: A BIT MORE ABOUT GUEST CURATOR, KURIA MBURU::
LOCATION: Nairobi, Kenya
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Tessera
Hey there! I'm Kuria Mburu, from Kenya. In over two decades of my working life, I've sold building materials, worked at a customer care desk at a bank, ran a production studio, farmed sweet and hot peppers, dabbled in vermiculture, and ran a trucking business. These were stints while building a life around advertising, first in account management then as a strategist some four years back. The strategy life has been good to me; I've travelled all over Africa for work and met smart generous people on other continents, including the generous Sweathead One, Mark Pollard, who introduced me to SoSG. I live in Nairobi, Kenya with my wife and 3 kids who constantly remind me that the best way to share oneself with the world is through impromptu karaoke, squeals, giggles, Nintendo Switch, and speaking in simple sentences.
Editor’s Note (Genius Steals): As Kuria mentioned, we were introduced to each other via Mark Pollard, and we're so glad that happened! What a life you've lived, Kuria and so many incredible experiences! Thanks for the wonderful links and wisdom. Maybe one day we'll find ourselves in Nairobi where we can sing karaoke and play Nintendo together!
:: THE LINKS ::
WHAT I AM, WHAT I COULD BE
In this longish short story, Biko Zulu, a Kenyan writer once again takes Africans on a familiar journey of our condition and challenges us to meet all that comes with being African, with empathy. If you're interested in how a misunderstood part of the world lives, Biko's writing is a great start.(Blink and Lose)
GENIUS
Imagine. Build. Fail. Re-imagine. Rebuild. Fail again. Make the not-so-obvious...make people wonder, and laugh. Just like the process and outcome of great strategy. (YouTube)
THE PERIL OF AVERAGES
This article - and the podcast episode - from 99 percent invisible is an entertaining take on the concept of averages. It's a reminder that averages keep us away from the mavericks, the fringes, where creativity - even in strategy - usually happens. (On Average)
Looking for more from Kuria Mburu? Those enrolled in The School of Stolen Genius will receive a deep dive from him in their inbox shortly! You can access all our expert interviews for SOSG here.
:: AND NOW… SOME FAST FAVORITES ::
:: Game :: Whatever my 4-year old son is into on Switch…and, the occasional skirmishes in CoD :-p
:: City :: No. More like some places I'd love to visit again sometime soon: Mauritius, Zanzibar.
:: Book :: Strategy Is Your Words by Mark Pollard & Mirrors, Stories of Almost Everyone by Eduardo Galeano.
:: Podcast :: 99 per cent invisible
:: LIFE AS WE KNOW IT::
Why Kuria thinks Strategists need hustles… here is an interview on Sweathead with Mark Pollard:
Things Could Be Worse?
Kuria Mburu
Portfolio
ben.mburu@gmail.com
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It's called Genius Steals because we believe ideas are new combinations and that nothing can come from nothing. But copying is lazy. We believe the best way to innovate is to look at the best of that which came before and combine those elements into new solutions.
Co-Founders Faris & Rosie are award-winning strategists and creative directors, writers, consultants and public speakers who have been living on the road/runway since March 2013, working with companies all over the world. Our Director of Operations is nomadic like us, our accounting team is based out of Washington, our company is registered in Tennessee, and our collaborators are all over the world. Being nomadic allows us to go wherever clients need us to be, and to be inspired by the world in between.
Hit reply and let’s talk about how we might be able to work together :)