Life Lessons and Inspirational Quotes from Bob Collymore That Will Change your Life

Born 13th January 1958 in a country known as Guyana, South America. Bob Collymore was officially named Robert William Collymore and was raised by his grandparents. However, at age 16, he moved to the United Kingdom to live with his mother.

From an early age, Bob Collymore started working to earn money and although he did not attend university, he raised from being an office boy to becoming a CEO of the most dominant telecommunication company in Kenya in 2010.

From the arising humble young man to the most influential person in the telecommunication sector, here are the top 10 most amazing lessons and quotes we can learn from Bob Collymore.

10. Think Beyond Your Education Level

Talking to all youths, Bob Collymore emphasized on thinking beyond our level of education. Having not joined university but raising to be a CEO of Safaricom Company in Kenya, he believed in being resilient.

He encouraged the youths to continue learning through the internet and also to read a lot of books. Being a go-getter, he was once quoted saying, “If you have the right vision, and take the right steps, then success is inevitable,”

9. Always Value Women’s Opinions and Their Economical Contribution

Quoted saying in one of the local interviews, “The person that you see here today was made more by the influence of the women in my life than the men in my life.” Bob talked openly about how his grandmother played a crucial role in his young life and how his mother pushed him to be a better man.

He admitted to having called Ms. Nonkululeko Merina Cheryl Nyembezi-Heita from South Africa after being appointed the Safaricom CEO. In his interview, he said he had called her to ask some advice on how to run the company.

Apart from making Safaricom score highly in promoting women at the workforce, the company was also the first in Kenya to introduce a child care program for working mothers. This program gives nursing mothers the chance to bring their children to work. The kids are taken care in a daycare room situated in the Safaricom offices thus enabling the mothers to takes breaks to feed them.

8. It Is Good To Be Adaptable

Speaking mostly about today’s youths and their work ethic, Bob candidly spoke about the long line of jobs he previously worked. Wanting to be a painter, he told a news reporter who was interviewing him that he was not able to pursue it to a professional level since his mother insisted on him getting a formal job. She even used her networks to get him a position at the British Telecom. 

However, his hard work and determination saw him rise up to various positions in the telecommunication industry. The countries include the United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa and finally Kenya.

When asked about his career journey, he usually replied, “I have done many different jobs but I never anticipated that I would become the CEO of a mobile phone company in Africa.”

He always insisted on the youths to be adaptable in nature no matter the course they may have taken in school and take any opportunity that came their way.

7. Always Acquire New Skills

According to Bob Collymore, it is essential to acquire new skills if you want to stay ahead. This is because apart from competing with other humans to get jobs we are also competing with robots.

That’s why he emphasized on always finding ways to learn more. He was found telling his team, “I should not know more stuff than you. You have to be smarter than me.”

Note that, this motto did not only apply to his team but also to Safaricom job applicants. Therefore, before applying to any job, it is advisable to ask yourself if you are smarter than the boss and if employed how will contribute to the development of the company.

6. Aspire To Always Be Humble

No matter how much you earn or which position you hold, always be humble. Having come from a humble family, Bob never forgot where he came from. Although he admitted to wanting the finer things in life like everyone else, he said when living in Japan with his children, he got to pause and think of what really mattered in life.

Although he was a CEO in one of the leading company in Kenya, many people from his employees to the media personality commented on how humble and friendly he was.

The day Bob Collymore decided to visit Airtel Kenya

When asked how he freely interacts with everyone who crosses his path, he usually replied “What I always say to people is just have a memory of where you come from,”

This statement was there to remind the people around him that, yes you can achieve a lot but it’s good to remember your roots.  

5. You Can Use Your Position To Uplift Others

For the nine years, Bob was the CEO of Safaricom; he has used his position to uplift many people. By forming the Safaricom Foundation, numerous ventures have been undertaken the company.

The ventures include education programs, collaborations with local health facilities to improve health care. This initiative has led to women, youths and the society at large to benefit immensely.

On his personal time, Bob was only known to help people in need by organizing or attending fundraising events. Asked what brought about the Safaricom foundations, he always replied that “Being a big company in Kenya, the company comes with a big responsibility,”

4. Always Be Unique

When Bob Joined Safaricom, all eyes were on him as on how he was supposed to fit in the shoes of the great leader Michael Joseph. However, this did not intimidate Bob and as the years went by, he proved himself to be a great leader too.

Being unique has made Bob to be celebrated in his own ways and his unique way of leadership raised Safaricom to better heights.

3. No One is Perfect

From the mistakes he admitted doing in his personal and business life, Bob was always candid to admit he was not perfect. He usually referred to how his predecessor Michael Joseph once said to him concerning making business decisions, “Look, just make decisions. If 60% of your decisions are right, then you will probably be doing better than me.”

He took that to heart and steered the company through stormy weathers and to everyone surprise, the company became better and better.

Furthermore, he demonstrated that all is not lost when he married his third Kenyan wife, Wambui Kamiru. By admitting his imperfections, he got to live a fulfilled life where there is always second chances, or is it third?

2. No Matter the Circumstances Never Give Up

Even after Bob Collymore was diagnosed with cancer, he still remained productive in his position until he passed away.  This becomes an encouragement to us, that no matter what you are facing, you can still, be courageous and be productive.

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1. Always Remember Nothing is Permanent

From the passing away of Bob Collymore, we are reminded that our life on earth is temporary. Therefore no matter how wealthy or successful we become, we should be grateful for what matter most.

Asked by one of the Kenyan writers, Jackson Biko how his illness changed his perception of mortality, he replied.

“Death is inevitable and I have made the decision not to cling on the thought of it because it will eventually come; I just do not know when. I have chosen to focus on the things that are more important to me. Now I know it’s kind of impossible for somebody to live for 200 years.”

 We will miss you Bob!

Comment below on what important Life Lesson you learn from Bob Collymore