𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒂 2050?

𝑰 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚

As a scholarship student, I knew what it meant to go without. I remember skipping meals and

picking up pennies on the street just to afford a bag of crisps. My relationship with money was

complicated, not because I was reckless, but because I simply didn’t have enough to begin with.

And when I did, I lacked the tools to manage it well.

But I was never fuelled by the pursuit of wealth. I didn’t chase it or obsess over it. I focused on

survival and doing the best I could with what I had. That same mindset shaped Empower. From

the start we refused to operate transactionally. Our priority was impact. We believed that if we

poured into people and purpose, the returns would follow. And they did.

Even now, I feel far more joy making a long-term investment than I ever would buying anything

flashy. Designer bags don’t excite me. I’ve never felt the need to prove myself through possessions.

To me, true wealth lies in alignment, fulfilment and the quiet confidence of knowing that I have

enough.

My twenties as a young professional were all about grit. Building a business, becoming a mum, and

figuring things out (the hard way, mostly). Money wasn’t part of the plan; impact was. I

bootstrapped Empower from scratch with no capital investment, zero base. What I did have was

conviction, a vision, and a relentless belief in the ripple effect and Tanzania’s limitless potential.

Over the years, something unexpected happened. My Partners, Team and I built a business that

delivered results. We poured energy into people and culture and refined our methodology into

something powerful. Today, Empower delivers transformational consulting tailored for Africa’s

potential. Guided by our proprietary Theory of Transformation©, we empower people, enhance

processes, and position brands strategically to drive sustainable growth.

We’ve never chased money. That would be transactional, and it’s not sustainable. Instead, we’ve

focused on solving problems and delivering impact at every level of the value chain. Money follows. It’s the triple bottom-line theory of equally focusing on People, Planet and Profit.And because abundance is not abundance unless it is shared, we do just that. At Empower, we conceptualised and continue to fund Generation Empower (GenEm), our youth programme that equips university students with 21st-century skills nationwide. We fund it intentionally from our net income as part of our collective responsibility to building the Tanzania we want. Because when you believe in abundance, you build ecosystems around you to multiply it.

I’ve come to learn that true abundance is a mindset. It’s the inner knowing that you have enough.

These days, I find joy in the simplest of luxuries. Like sipping coffee with my husband in the garden;

an intentional pause to connect and soak in the morning sun.

Abundance is not just a personal mindset, it is a national imperative. If we are to realise Tanzania’s

Dira 2050, we must each reject the limits of scarcity and instead lead with vision, courage, and

collaboration. A future rooted in prosperity and inclusion will not be built by chance, but by

leaders who are grounded in purpose and fuelled by belief in our shared potential. That’s why, in

August, we launched the Visionary Leaders Program ; a first-of-its-kind initiative co-created by

Empower and The University of Dar es Salaam to nurture the kind of multidisciplinary executive,

leadership Tanzania needs (email vlp@empower.co.tz to explore joining the next cohort).

Now in my forties, I am in my optimal state. My work feels aligned, my family is grounded, and my

peace is undisturbed. I’ve built a life that reflects who I truly am, not the wealthiest by anyone

else’s measure, but deeply rich in all the ways that matter to me.

So, if you’re wondering whether abundance is possible, it is. But it begins with a choice. A mindset.

A refusal to chase what you can instead align with. Abundance isn’t out there, it’s already within

you.

Take a moment to reflect:

• What does abundance mean to you?

• Are your current choices aligned with the life you want to attract?

• Where in your life are you chasing, instead of choosing?

• Most importantly, what are you attracting right now?

Miranda Naiman is the Founder & Board Chair of Empower; delivering transformational consulting tailored for Africa’s potential. 

Miranda@empower.co.tz