Lessons on Leadership: Interview With Kapsule’s Chief of Staff (Part 3)
Nothing worthwhile happens alone. For that reason, I believe that Leadership is the most important skill to develop in a startup, at all levels.?
Aristotle wisely said “He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.”?
In that spirit I’m constantly looking to learn from my team, and create an enabling environment where I can take their lead.
In my previous interviews with Laurence Umuhoza , Kapsule’s Chief of Staff, we discussed how her entrepreneurial background helps her in her role. We also covered some of the strategies and tactics that she uses to train healthcare professionals in Urban, Per-Urban and Rural settings.
Ultimately, these techniques resulted in Laurence being an incredible leader that has helped our teams to deliver high-quality services to our clients.?
What leadership strategies have you found most effective for managing a team of in-field researchers?
Number 1! Clear communication. I define roles, responsibilities and expectations clearly from the outset. I ensure everyone understands their tasks and the overall objectives of the project
Secondly, I ensure team members receive adequate training and resources to perform their tasks effectively. This includes technical training, tools, fieldwork techniques, and data entry training.
How do you maintain team morale and motivation, especially in challenging or resource-limited environments?
We have to focus on the bigger picture!
I help team members understand how their contributions fit into the larger context and the positive difference they are making.
I also do my best to Incorporate elements of fun and enjoyment into the work environment to keep spirits high, even during challenging times. For example, there are many times when a project requires working on weekends. I organize the break time so that we can go somewhere and play some games to refresh the mind.?
I focus on regular feedback like providing constructive feedback regularly, focusing on both strengths and areas for improvement.
Can you share an example of a successful team initiative or project that you led?
I was a project lead on Needs Assessment of Health Post Digitalization for 71 Health Posts in 4 provinces of Rwanda and Kigali city. I had a tight timeline of 28 days.?
In another past project I led was a child Immunization project by Gavi Vaccine Alliance.?
How has Kapsule helped you to develop your own leadership style?
Kapsule helped me in boosting visionary thinking. Learning from the founders, I have adopted a forward-looking perspective, ensuring that my decisions align with long-term goals while remaining adaptable to changes in every project I am involved in.?
I was empowered by Hannan, Femi, and David, they encouraged me to delegate effectively and foster a sense of ownership and accountability within the team.
I was able to feel free to bring my ideas and innovation because Kapsule's focus on innovation has led me to value creativity and continuous improvement.
The Kapsule approach is to use open and clear communication, this inspired me to prioritize transparency and active listening in my interactions.
What advice would you give to other researchers or practitioners working in similar contexts?
I advise them to address not just medical issues but also the social determinants of health such as education, nutrition, and economic stability.
They have to be prepared to adjust the strategies based on feedback and changing circumstances. Also,they have to celebrate small victories and stay committed to their long-term goals.
They have to use data to identify gaps, track progress, and make evidence-based adjustments.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experiences and insights in community healthcare research?
Often your approach will need to go beyond medical care to include social and environmental factors, if you want to have more comprehensive and lasting health improvements. Education and economic stability are key components of health.
Reliable data is crucial for informed decision-making, It helps in refining strategies and improving outcomes.?
Another insight is that simple, low-cost solutions can have a significant impact. You don’t necessarily need to build complex high-tech solutions to get reliable data.
Clients are always shocked when they learn about Kapsule’s scale.
We seemingly got to over 5000 healthcare facilities and over 35 million patients overnight.
What’s important to note is that we have been able to do this through a mix of innovative solutions, creative thinking and sheer hard work from experts like Laurence.
What we haven’t done is build yet another software solution in Africa. We found a way to leverage the great work that has been done on the ground already.
Our unique insight was that we can bring all of this data together, rather than try to deploy our own solution.??
If you have any data projects in Africa and you’d like to learn from people who have successfully handled many data projects, please feel free to reach out to me directly, or leave a comment.?