Leadership: The Personal Lens of Morlai Kargbo

[00:00:00] Paula: Welcome to TesseLeads with your host, Tesse Akpeki, and co-host me, Paula Okonneh. TesseLeads is a safe, sensitive, and supportive place and space to share, hear, and tell your stories and experiences. We at TesseLeads get super curious about the dilemmas that shape your future, our future, and the journeys that we all are on.

[00:00:30] Paula: Our theme today is leadership: the personal lens of Morlai Kagbo, who’s our guest and what I’ll do today is as I welcome him to the show, I’ll let Morlai tell you all about himself. And what I mean is that I’m not going to read his bio. His bio is going to be him telling us about him. So welcome to the show, Morlai, and can’t wait to hear more about you.

[00:00:57] Morlai: Thank you very much, Paula, and also to you, Tesse. It’s always a pleasure to meet people like yourselves. My spirit, told me that this was going to be special, and I’m here to really make it special, because there’s so much to share.

[00:01:14] Morlai: My name is Morlai Kagbo a Sierra Leonean. Yes, born, and I would say bred in Sierra Leone. I was in Sierra Leone till I was my early thirties. So I know what it feels like, to be in Sierra Leone, in Africa. I went to school in Sierra Leone and obviously after my primary school, yes, born as a Muslim. My mom and dad were Muslim. I learned, and studied the Quran and I was actually calling prayers, in the mosque, in this community that I lived in. And then, fast forward, I went to secondary school.

[00:01:58] Morlai: My parents, mom and dad, never went to school. So they wanted me to do so well. My mom was always, there with me, taking me to schools, and went to secondary school. And it was a Christian secondary school I love singing. Went into the music and into the band, and then into the choir. So I started singing in the choir, and my mom was with me wherever I went, my mom was there. And then fast forward, I fell in love with, Christianity, singing songs, and whatever it is. And I find myself, moving from the Muslim, way of doing things, and to the Christian. Because, I wanted to be, educated, and that’s how I moved from being a Muslim to a Christian. And my parents allowed me to do it. Yes, they supported me. So there I was unable, to afford, university in Sierra Leone. My parents were, they cannot afford it, after my secondary school. So finding a job in the formal sector down there was paramount for me. And I was so lucky, I met one of our neighbors who had contacts and the contact was his cousin who had an accounting practice in Sierra Leone, but also had a restaurant.

[00:03:14] Morlai: And I was going one day and she called me and said, Morlai, what are you doing now? And I says I’m looking for work. And he says, okay, come, and he wrote, he gave me a letter and I said, go and give it to my cousin. And I took this letter to Hackers in the city. And one day this guy said to me, when do you want to start? Start what? I’m saying, start what? He says, when do you want to start? Not qualified, no experience. And I said, okay, whenever you want me to start, sir. And he said, why don’t you come on Monday? And that’s how I got my first break in Sierra Leone. And then what he did was, from the accounting practice, which I did not do much, he moved me over into the restaurant and then because there was some kind of turmoil, in the restaurant. And I went down there, and an opportunity opened up for me, to manage. A young man like me to manage, and I thought, okay, that’s really good. So maybe I’ll put the, the accountancy, whatever it is to hold. And I did that for several years, I was able to save money and that gave me the opportunity for me to be able to sponsor myself, to go and do my AAT.

[00:04:29] Morlai: I had to leave my full-time job, to go and study ACCA, the AAAT, then. And my family thought there was somebody, this guy, something’s wrong with him. Yeah, leave a job, to do what? To go and study full time. Yes, and I did. And you know the result, a success. It was success. When I finished my exams in Sierra Leone, yeah, I got my AAT and I did the AAT in the Institute of Public Administration Management, which was under the University of Sierra Leone, and then I got employed. Yes, by the Institute as the finance manager, oh boy, then, and I thought this is just the beginning. Yeah, it didn’t stop there. Now I knew what he meant, to have a qualification, and I thought what’s the next, qualification for me?

[00:05:24] Morlai: And that was ACCA. And I started, studying for ACCA in Sierra Leone. But then it was really, challenging and difficult, to achieve the ACCA certification. That later led me to the UK, where I am today. Yes, and I came to the UK because, access to proper exam structures, including, lectures and seminars. But after I finished my ACCA exams, to my dismay, I struggle, to find work. And despite my education, despite the promise that I will find effective full-time employment once I’m satisfied, it didn’t happen. But you know what? I did not give up. This lasted for about 10 months, knocking on doors. Yes. And finally, when one door opened, I never looked back. By the time I realized I was, 11, 12 years in this role, where I’d gain much knowledge, much exposure, much experience and money as well. Cause I made a lot of money at the time. And I decided now it’s the time for me to do, my own thing.

[00:06:38] Morlai: In 2008, when the world was going through financial turmoil. That was the time Morlai decided he wants to go and do his own thing. To leave his full time job again, yes, to go and do what? Morlai? What do you want to go and do? Now, when I want to go and do my thing. I don’t, I’m not sure what I want to do, but I just want to go and do my own thing. What is that thing? And this is how Moracle was born in 2008. And what was bubbling inside me, it was more to come and provide training and practical work experience to disadvantaged accountants. Who had, the necessary qualification, yet, like myself, at that time, struggled to find work in the fields of accounting.

[00:07:24] Morlai: It’s really, it was, what I found when I started was something I did not bargain for. I thought it was just going to be, a handful of these guys out there, just like myself. But then I realized, my goodness, the need for, this is huge. Yeah. Fast forward two years after that, I decided I was going to start Moracle Foundation. Because in the accountancy profession, just two things, volunteering, training within an accounting and auditing practice, yeah, did not, sit in well. I thought, no, sorry, I am not going to give up. I really want to do this. So what I’ll do is, I will set up, a foundation. And there. Yeah, it’s a vehicle for me to do, and give back. And that’s how Moracle Foundation started in 2010. So Moracle, the firm, the auditing firm, started in 2008 and Moracle Foundation in 2010. Yes. So when I established Moracle Foundation it was more to offer, this training, to graduates, to university students, to provide hands on practical work experience whilst they were getting their ACCA certification. And still, you know, Moracle is still doing that and doing quite a lot of stuff. But at the time, I felt was, it was an injustice. Yeah. So unfair for people, particularly coming from working backgrounds. And I remember, when I came to the UK, my community, everybody knew I was doing the ACCA.

[00:09:07] Morlai: Yes, they knew when I was taking the exams, they knew when the results were out, and so when you finish your examination, the expectation that everything was going to be, big and beautiful, yes, never happened. So now I was in a position where I’ve gone through it and I can see other people, caught up in this. A situation, and I thought when I saw it, I want to do something about it. Yes, and today, we’ve helped over 500, such accountants, whether it be, you’ve passed your exams or you are a student, coming into the accountancy profession. Yes, and we’ll be so really proud, to have done this.

[00:09:51] Morlai: But as the years go by, you realize this is more. Because particularly, this is not an issue just only for the UK. But it’s outside of the UK. Where I came from? Sierra Leone. Africa in general. And what can we do about it? And this is where the idea came to me, to go and then begin to forge relationships. So I used to travel, go to Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone Uganda, Cameroon, and then talk to other accountants down there. Those days you had to fly, to have this conversation, now it’s all digital. And that’s where this idea of, touching the lives of not only in the UK, but guys, in Africa and wherever they are. And digital way of doing this actually lends itself now, yeah, compared to those early years when Moracle Foundation was set up. We were based on, a digital way of working, but it was not generally accepted. Yes? You go have the face-to-face meetings. Even though we were set up in order to do all of these things.

[00:11:00] Morlai: But now, it’s no excuse, I say, for us to restrict, this, the number of people. When I started, in my small office, you go about five people who will come in with me, yes. At any one point in time, five, students. But now, could do a thousand. Yes, and this is the beauty about the world that we live in, with the digital way of working.

[00:11:23] Morlai: In 2019, having done, several years work in the Foundation itself. And I thought something was missing. And I said what is this? You know how, you are, you’re hustling. You are out there, there’s so many low hanging fruits. I can see them, but I was not able to connect them and I decided what I was going to invest in myself. And the investment was pointing me to personal development. And I took it on. And that was one of the best investments I’ve ever made. And I’m telling you, this is where the mindset came from. I finished that personal development course and to put, just to put perspective to this.

[00:12:07] Morlai: I registered for that course sometime April 19, 2019, and then I got the ACCA award in November 2019, okay? So it tells me that, all this low hanging fruit, all this work I’ve been doing, I’ve not been able to have this, what you call it now? Put it in a kind of a way that you can present it. This blessing, this specialized knowledge that one has acquired, you’ve done so much, but you’re not able to bring it together. Yes. And then, and direct it, to a particular, cause, that will produce the outcome. This mindset helped me to be able to do that. And that’s how ACCA reached out to me, and said, we recognize the work that you’re doing, yeah, it’s time for us to, to give you this award and I’m so honored. And so blessed as well. And every time I touch this badge, the ACCA badge, I think about my parents, my mom, yes, particularly my mom.

[00:13:10] Morlai: And I say, this is for you. And the one thing that I always say. If only I could be allowed, to go and then, get them to come up for just five minutes, for them to come and see, this troublesome boy, that’s what he’s doing now. That would have been my best thing. I’m telling you, yes. I know where they are right now. They, they can feel it. And this is what they were trying to do, and they knew, yes, they were going to be successful, it’s just that they’re not going to be here to see it in person, yes. But they had invested and, in their prayers, and everything that they did, and for this to happen.

[00:13:46] Morlai: I’m so grateful, I’m so grateful to God, for this to happen. But for me, It’s this mindset, that you bring to bear. Yeah, to be able to serve, to be able to use your profession to serve. Accountants we’re not trained, to know how to serve, yes? We act like we are gods, sometimes.

[00:14:06] Morlai: We know everything, I tell you this way or the highways, so to speak, I’m the accountant, so there you go. But no, that’s not how it should be, in our world. But I think it’s all about the mindset, that helped me, to be able to know who I am, to be able to serve clients, to be emotionally involved in what you do, yeah, when you’re serving. And when you’re serving, there’s no reservation. Yes, you don’t hold anything back. When I decided, I was going to, to go back, to, to Africa to set up the Moracle, project. Which is the initiative where you identify women, who are ACCA qualified and want to own their own accounting practice.

[00:14:50] Morlai: And people say hold on, why do you want to do that? And I said, I really don’t know, but I just have this, this idea, to go and do it. But you can see there’s a gap here, so many women now, are doing so well, in accounting, but, the ownership, of their own business, is very few. And today I’m glad, when you look at the profession itself. The top three, are women in the profession. And I’m saying what can we do? So again, it’s another initiative. Yeah, and if you ask me the reason why I want to do it or I’m doing it, again, probably it’s because of my mom. And I can see my mom there, will be saying, I’m so proud of you, to be doing this. And I’m so chuffed,to be able to find the time to do that, with women. To empower women. To work with women, it says you, you train up, a woman, you train up the whole village, you understand? And that’s what it is, and today, I was just reminded, I think it was Paula, who said, men make the rules, but you know what, it is women, who bring forth, men,

[00:15:49] Paula: Yes. That’s the truth.

[00:15:51] Morlai: You know what? I totally agree with you, Tesse, and I’m sure you would agree with me, yes, but it is women, we bring forth, men we need to listen.

[00:16:01] Tesse: This is very beautiful; the flow of your story is so encouraging. It is inspiring. Your perseverance, sticking with things and also how your faith, were footsteps for you. And that’s really beautiful. However, you said about connecting the dots. For people who are hearing this story that you’ve told. Your story, because we call this a personal lens. How will you summarize? From your perspective, some of the steps to success? We in the UK, and then I’m sure in America, we have all these Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. We have celebrity this, celebrity that, we have all that. But your story was a slow burn. Yeah. So what would you say to the majority whose stories are usually slow burn, that to encourage them from your story?

[00:16:50] Morlai: There are so many things that jumps out at me, and the phrase that just stand out, it says bold moves create extraordinary outcomes. Bold moves. Yeah, for you to make a bold move, then it is believing in yourself. Know who you are. Yes. It’s a Be Bold. Yes. Why? Because the Lord, thy God, is with you.

[00:17:18] Morlai: Yes. Be bold. Yeah. I always, go back again to that, the spirituality. If you take that out of me, then, who am I? So I will encourage, everyone who is looking, for that success factor. It’s not out there. It’s within. Why is it that you want to do something?

[00:17:41] Morlai: Yes. What is it? That actually makes you wake up every morning. Wanting to go and do this stuff, over and over. I tell you what, and I get a nudge. And it’s well, you love working so much, and I say. Think about it, I do! I love what I do. And I love it. I love accounting.

[00:17:59] Morlai: I love, talking about accounting. But you know what? I love the people that I work with. My clients, my staff, my contacts, sorry! Because, everyone that I meet, I want to leave them with the impression of increase. And that, I’m telling you, for anyone listening out there. Yeah, if you hold that, if you can do that to leave everyone, you come in contact with that impression of increase. They know that you have met them. The contact capital, the value, that you generate. Oh, that’s the compensation. I call it the law of compensation. No choice about that. It’s so clear.

[00:18:41] Tesse: Paul, I’m going to hand over to you because sometimes I have a weak point, which is that I get too excited for my own good. But the point I have is that I also get too excited for my own good. So you know, I’m going to handle it, that, I love that word contact capital because people usually talk about social capital, economic capital. You’ve mentioned people, capital, contact capital, and I am loving this conversation, Paula.

[00:19:09] Paula: Yes, your life story bowled me over. You started us from the very beginning, primary school, secondary school, Finishing. And here you are today. The CEO of multiple companies, giving back. They were listening to your stories. I could see there were high points, there were low points, but you didn’t give up.

[00:19:33] Paula: And so when people don’t use the word, I didn’t give up, that means there must have been some failure in between. You can call it challenges. What have you learned from that? That you can share with our people? Because we’ve heard, as I said, I’m bowled over the your story and look at you today. But there’s something that you learn from your ups and downs, the goods and the times that weren’t so good.

[00:19:58] Paula: Some people call it failures. Some people also use the acronym First Attempt In Learning. What have you learned from that, sir?

[00:20:06] Morlai: Failures, ups and downs is part of the equation. I wish I can share all my mathematical formulas with you. I love, as a numbers person, I love formulas.

[00:20:17] Morlai: So do I. But really, as a true professional and a business person, a human being. Yes, and one thing I will not let, yes, in my mind right now is this self doubt. Yeah, that self doubt, that cloud, one’s ability to make decisions and end up, being stuck. Yes, and It’s something that, I have learned, in all my dealings, even when I’m down. I look at myself, who is down?

[00:20:49] Morlai: It’s this Morlai who is down? Or is it just the situation that is down? Yes? And slowly, whatever that circumstance is, or whatever the situation, I’m moving from it. This is nothing to do with Morlai. It cannot be Morlai. God made me in his own image and likeness. Yes? No. I am who I am. God says I am. So I move myself out of it and then stand somewhere and look where I was standing and say, oh! Yeah, it is over there. Yeah. But you cannot. You cannot stop. A moving trend. Yes? The environment. There are things happening, out of your control. Yes? And we all face that every day.

[00:21:38] Morlai: But all we got to do. Yeah, is to be able, to look after oneself. To be able to look at yourself in the mirror and says hold on? Is this the Morlai that I want to be? And if we do that, it takes time to do it. It takes the discipline, not just about that. It takes, the consistency. It takes the imagination, and I, once I was told, by my mentor. He says,Morlai?

[00:22:07] Morlai: Your way is not working. Why don’t you follow my way? Morlai, your way is not working. Why don’t you follow my way? And until you can prove my way is not working, I’m saying to you, follow my way. And I’m telling you, as simple as that advice. It means that, you know what, when I get stuck, yeah, I’m always going to find somebody out there. There are people out there, and all we got to do, just be bold and ask the question. I need help. I need help. Yes. And I’m telling you this world of abundance. Sorry, you cannot be alone.

[00:22:48] Tesse: There are things that happen and somehow I love what you were saying about using opportunities from hardship. Using opportunity from adversity. Seeing things as stepping stones, even when it’s not looking good.

[00:23:06] Tesse: And I love that. I think what comes to my mind is the people talk about, resilience, very few people talk about hardiness, how can we actually not be so fragile? How can we actually build from that place of things that challenge us? Of people that challenge us? From situations that challenge us? So in relation to a proverb that you might think of, because Africans, and I see myself as one of those, Africans, we like the proverbs. Do you have any proverbs that come to mind as we wrap up on this whole piece about your personal lens?

[00:23:45] Morlai: That’s a good one. African Proverbs. Oh gosh, that is yeah, nothing comes up now. But I’m a proverb person as well.

[00:23:55] Paula: How about it takes a village to raise a child? You’re talking about how moms are the world.

[00:24:00] Morlai: Yes. I think I would go for that. Yes. Because it’s true though. It’s true. It’s true. In terms of just empowering, as I said, people is my people. Yeah. You go to a hotel and take the people out. You don’t have a hotel anymore. It’s just a structure.

[00:24:20] Morlai: It’s all bricks and mortar. Yes. All you get is just bricks and mortar! There’s no hotel anymore. Yeah? So you need the people aspect. It’so so important.

[00:24:33] Morlai: Thank you so much. Wow. Outro:

[00:24:35] Paula: That’s a good note for us to end this because without people, where would we be basically you’re saying. And that’s why we do Tesse Leads because people’s precious stories and their lives matter to us. And so we come on every time on TesseLeads and ask you, our audience, to share these stories with us. Because when people hear them, they feel supported, they feel encouraged, and they feel nurtured. In other words, Tesse Leads is to ensure that people don’t ever feel alone. And so we always encourage our listeners to head over to Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, anywhere else that you listen to podcasts, and click subscribe.

[00:25:22] Paula: And if you have found Tesse Leads helpful, who wouldn’t? Especially with Morlai’s story. We ask that you let us know in a review, hopefully, preferably at Apple Podcast review. If you have any questions or topics that you’d like us to cover, we ask that you send us a note. And last but not least, if you’d like to be a guest on our show, Tesse Leeds. Please head over to our website, which is www.Tesseleads.com to apply.

[00:25:53] Paula: This has been awesome! Thank you so much, Morlai.

[00:25:56] Morlai: That’s okay. That’s all right. Thank you very much,

[00:26:00] Tesse thank you very much. Thank you Paula. And nice to meet you guys, and it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful just to catch up with you guys. But also I feel, talking to you guys. I feel special. I’ve known you guys for so long. I’ll pray for whatever it is that you guys are doing there. Because to create this awareness, through podcasts, engaging people shows there’s so much good you guys are doing out there. Remember, the world needs to hear people like ourselves, talk about their experiences, connect and relate, too. But also be there, as a signposting.

[00:26:38] Morlai: I used that word there, that phraseology, contact capital. I believe in so much contact capital. We accountants, we like to put value, to things that we see physically. The bank account, or yeah, money coming in and stuff like that. But try putting value to contacts. They say, hold what you talking about?

[00:26:58] Morlai: I’m saying contacts is so much capital, you’re tied into it.

[00:27:04] Tesse: How beautiful.

[00:27:06] Morlai: We need to be able to explore it.

[00:27:07] Tesse: Beautiful! Exploring capital contact capital. That’s wonderful. Is a joy that you’ve reached out to us and we wanna have you back so, we are not leaving you like this. Come back next year. We’d love to hear from you again.