Ritchard Ouma – Charity Insights

The End of My Time at PureLeapfrog

25 July 2016

Ritchard Ouma

It is always amazing to seat at the end of a journey and look back at the road you have traveled. This four weeks have blazed by and I am now left to reflect on my time at PureLeapfrog.

When I started this internship, I had many preconceptions of what working in a formal setting would be like and indeed a lot of misgivings surrounding the current political climate that Britain surrounds itself in.

I had imagined that the biggest pain points of working would be related to project planning, and execution but I discovered more importantly that building the proper environment and team spirit may be the single biggest challenge of a CEO running a company. Furthermore, that I as worker would have to contend with some give and take. Nonetheless, before we move on to the ideas that I have come to it is good to take a look at the work that I have done.

When I started I was giving a mission to develop a conceptual map of the community energy landscape. The beginning was like this:

Unreadable scribbling

After consulting with my CEO Alex Germanis, I was able to refine my ideas and arrived at the following map:

On further inputs from a Master student in Sustainable energy, I was able to construct the final map that best illustrates the key plays, inputs, and processes of this landscape:

This process was fruitful as I developed new graphic and design skills, I was able to research and synthesize community energy, and I learn how to interact with superiors.

Nonetheless, in the midst of all this, I have come to understand that subordination with an organization created by the passion and perseverance of others is not me. The truly challenging work that CEO Alex and the team does is invaluable to the British community now and in future however as I chart my road in future I too want to enjoy the pleasure of not only birthing ideas but also being able to execute on them in a sustainable way and successfully.

Within the uncertainty of the short term political situation in the UK as well as the long term uncertainty surrounding such things as AI, Climate Change, and demographic imbalance there is no better time to strike for the fences and become a creator. The world we live in is non-linear and the best toolkit to counter that is the resilience to implement on perceived opportunities even in conditions of extreme uncertainty.

As I move forward from PureLeapfrog, I can only wish them the best and hope that they will thrive even under the circumstances that we find ourselves in. Furthermore, I would like to thank CEO Alex, and the team for all the support that they have provide and all the unsolicited advice and conversation that they have provided.

To any student Imperial student reading this, I would highly recommend the charity insights program.

Nothing beats the experience of work for a small team with strong passions with the support of the Charity insight team including Barnaby and Jessica.

Good luck.

Second week at PureLeapfrog

Ritchard Ouma

22 July 2016

Ritchard Ouma

I am more than half-way through this four week journey and it seems that time is escaping. So much of consequence has occurred between the last blog post and now.

In terms of project, I have learned new skills mainly to do with designing and synthesizing new ideas. The map (see image) that I was tasked with constructing is now nearing it’s finishing touches and I am glad for the opportunity to have been part of a team.

The initial scribbling of the map.

After watching the day to day ebb and flow of the office, it has become more apparent that it is the people that surround you that matter to a much greater extent than any idea ever could. The sense of camaderie and togetherness in pursuing our goals and vision is trying fascinating and it is this feeling that I will seek in future.

Speaking of the future, where do I see myself next year, or in three, or five years? The United Kingdom was to become my new home, where I would “make my dent in the universe”, now it seems the country is headed inextricably towards uncertainty, pessimism and division. My future has become a whole lot more uncertain since the first blog post.

My CEO Alex, as well as my Horizon’s mentor Martin have been an important source of comfort and groundedness in this new up in the air world. Alex has told me not to worry too much aas he figures that for the most part things will continue as they always have. Meanwhile Martin gave me some sanguine advice about the tyranny that is our own mind. How crisis often has a way of starting in the mind and propagating through our bodies and into the wider world. He told me that solutions therefore have to come from within as we seek the optimism and excitement within the world no matter the events of the past weeks, months, or years. I hope that I can embody that spirit.

(Unfortunate) First Week on the Job

Ritchard Ouma

30 June 2016

Ritchard Ouma

My first week at Pure Leapfrog.

The first days were filled with the excitement of new days, people, and feelings as I was, for the first time, thrust into life as an “adult”. I have never held down a full 9-5pm job and Pure Leapfrog will be my make or break foray into life as a worker bee.

When I first walked in the startup vibe was impossible to miss. The long labyrinthine route to the little nook in Shand Street that gave way to a cavernous work-space remade underneath a working train line (Oh there goes the 4:30 train). The place is makeshift, and endearing in the way that only a place made by people can be. As I settled into my desk space surrounded by startups, and cool young people engaged in their passion and desire to change the world for the better, a message pops up on my phone “Leave vote gaining”. I push it aside and get ready for the tasks at hand.

During the week, I had to adjust to the people, and picked up the habit of tea drink (see Image above) and talking politics with my co-workers.

I was tasked with creating an infographic/map for the company that clearly demonstrates the state of community energy today. In addition, I have to work with a team mate to prepare a dossier for the CEO to aid in attracting funders for a meeting in two weeks.

I threw myself at these tasks(at first).

Nonetheless, the week progresses, holes appear in roof of the workplace letting water from the harsh rain above pour into our work space (see below attempts to fix the issue) as if mirroring the holes that have appeared in my enthusiasm and drive allowing the laziness and drift to seep in. Nonetheless, progress is good and tasks are being completed.

It is now the after on Thursday 23 June 2016 and my tea has run out and so too have the tasks for the day. It is 4pm and the late day procrastination has set it and with it the discussion of the future of the United Kingdom’s place in the superstructure that is the European Union (EU).

I overhear a conversation between my co-workers and decide to ask: “Hey guys isn’t weird that this whole campaign has been called ‘Brexit’, as if to frame the choice in the voters mind to leave?” My co-worker replies “Huh, I’ve never thought about that… though I do think it stems from the fact that people are being asked whether they want to leave.” I counter by mentioning ” Wouldn’t it have been better to call the vote ‘Bremain’ to frame it as a choice of whether to STAY or go rather than to GO or stay?”. “After all one only needs to read a page of Daniel Kahneman’s Think Fast, Think Slow to see how susceptible we are to framing and conditioning”. She looks at me puzzled and says “Huh, I’ve never thought about that. Anyways I don’t we will vote to leave” . That was where we left that conversation.

It is Friday morning and we all know just how wrong she was. The pound risen then fallen, the markets swooning, and financial experts nervously muttering “Is this another Lehman”?

What about Pure Leapfrog, this charity nestled amongst the many startups on 26 Shand Street. What of my dreams of innovating within the community energy sector and trumpeting the advantages of community ownership and initiative. What of my CEO, and co-workers? And indeed, what of these now embittered unions?

I turn to my fellow co-worker and ask looking for reassurance, “What do you think will happen?”

He looks back and says “What right-wing government has ever voted for community energy?”