Ep #121: What It Takes to Build What Doesn't Yet Exist, with Faisal Kiwewa

Some ideas don’t fail because they are wrong. They fail because the world has nowhere to put them yet.We often assume that if something is good enough, an audience is already there, waiting. But sometimes what you are actually building is the audience itself.That idea runs through my conversation with Faisal Kiwewa, founder and Artistic Director of the Bayimba Foundation in Uganda.Faisal began as a musician himself. But when performing became too expensive to sustain, he realised the problem was much bigger than his own career. So, over twenty years ago, Faisal set out to create opportunities for Ugandan artists who had talent but few places to perform, collaborate or build sustainable careers. Today, Bayimba has helped shape Uganda’s thriving arts landscape, from live music and festivals to training and art forms that simply weren’t there before.We talk about what it takes to keep building before the market exists, why Faisal chose to stop performing himself, and what becomes possible when fresh perspectives enter a world you know almost too well.And I love the thought that Faisal ends with: you can achieve a mission. But if you can achieve your vision, perhaps the vision wasn’t big enough. So, whether you’re heading out for a run or settling in with your favourite drink, here’s Faisal.👉 In the meantime, don't forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here.If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that here.