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Lucy Quist: The Bold New Normal - A Transformative African Manifesto
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In this season opener, we host Lucy Quist, author of The Bold New Normal and a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley serving as the Global Head of Firm Resilience, about the imperative to instigate a mindset shift to overcome Africa's challenges.
Lucy begins the podcast advocating for STEM as a critical component of Africa's success. She highlights the invaluable problem-solving skills possessed by engineers and their relentless determination to accomplish goals, traits that transcend industry boundaries. In her view, cultivating a society with more problem solvers and individuals driven to take action is vital for Africa's progress.
The conversation takes a profound turn as Lucy reveals the inspiration behind her book, "The Bold New Normal," and the dire need to confront deep-rooted issues plaguing the continent. She points out that a prevailing mindset accepting scarcity often hampers progress. To usher in change, Lucy emphasizes the significance of presenting a compelling vision of what can be achieved and rallying people around this vision. Crucially, she emphasizes the imperative of shifting mindsets and changing behaviours, transforming mere survival into thriving.
Isaac and Lucy further explore strategies to catalyze widespread mindset shifts. They discuss the importance of an extensive information campaign, a revamped education system, and cultural reinforcement to instil confidence and foster a shared vision for the future. Lucy passionately emphasizes that transformation is feasible within our lifetime, emphasizing the critical role of hard work, consistency, and active participation. While acknowledging that progress may occur at varying speeds, she cites Rwanda's astonishing transformation within a decade as a tangible example.
As the conversation unfolds, Lucy evokes the spirit of Ghana's independence movement, where a collective vision galvanized a nation and its people. She believes that similarly powerful visions can be conceived today, inspiring and mobilizing individuals toward positive change. Reflecting on her own experiences leading teams in Africa, Lucy underscores the significance of empathy and fostering deep connections among team members. While accountability and timeliness remain crucial, she advocates for striking a balance between congeniality and holding individuals responsible. Notably, she underscores the importance of time management, exposing the detrimental effects of wasted hours and urging a paradigm shift toward timeliness as a form of accountability, igniting heightened productivity.
Lucy emphasizes the urgency to transcend tokenism, urging intentional efforts toward diversity encompassing both visible and invisible characteristics. Lucy highlights the transformative impact of diverse teams, the unique perspectives of women leaders, and the necessity of inclusive policies that cater to the diverse needs of all.
Links and Resources:
- Find Lucy Quist on LinkedIn
- Buy the book, The Bold New Normal
- Attend the Bold New Normal Conference
Do you have a question for our hosts, email us at hello@changeafricapodcast.com
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