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In the buzzing heart of Nairobi, where glass towers pierce the sky and traffic flows endlessly below, an unlikely emblem of resilience soars above the noise: the Marabou Stork. Towering, bald-headed, and often dismissed as unsightly, these birds have quietly become symbols of survival, adaptability, and leadership under pressure.
Recently, as I cruised along the Nairobi Expressway, I noticed them again, perched high atop the lampposts, surveying the city from their new aerial thrones. If you’re a local or a frequent visitor, you might remember the iconic acacia tree that once served as their home. From there, they had a front-row seat to the city’s daily rhythm, dawn to dusk, rain or shine.
When construction on the Expressway began, I found myself wondering: What would happen to the storks? Their nesting grounds were being uprooted. Would they disappear? Would we miss their presence?
I didn’t give them much thought after that, until three years later, when I saw them again. Only now, they were perched even higher. The very infrastructure that once displaced them had become their new habitat.
The storks didn’t just survive, they adapted. And in doing so, they offer powerful lessons for leaders navigating disruption and change.
Adapt or Perish!!!
When their environment was altered, the storks didn’t cling to what was lost. They adjusted quickly and chose new vantage points.
Leadership Insight: In today’s volatile world, sticking to outdated models can cost you relevance. Adaptive leaders anticipate shifts, respond decisively, and chart new paths with clarity.
Leadership Insight: When the landscape changes, your metrics for success must evolve too. Reinventing your approach may feel uncomfortable, but it might be exactly what’s required now.
These birds have boldly taken up space on rooftops, street corners, and towering poles, often in places no one expected them to thrive.
Leadership Insight: Leading well often means stepping into the unknown. Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Step forward with courage, even if the territory is unfamiliar.
Marabou storks aren’t adored. But they play a vital part in Nairobi’s ecosystem, cleaning up waste and maintaining balance.
Leadership Insight: Real leadership isn’t always glamorous. It’s about doing the necessary, meaningful work, especially when it’s thankless. Purpose should always outweigh popularity.
As a leadership coach and psychologist, I’ve witnessed the power of resilience coaching in helping leaders thrive, especially when the going gets rough.
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back. It’s about bouncing forward, with greater clarity, confidence, and capacity. Through coaching, leaders develop:
So… What Kind of Leader Are You When the Landscape Shifts?
As a leadership coach, I often ask clients:
When the terrain changes, do you freeze, flee, or adapt?
The storks didn’t wait for restoration. They reinvented themselves. They didn’t mourn the past, they maximized the present. Their identity didn’t dissolve. It evolved.
In the face of disruption, we all have a choice:
Leadership Reloaded isn’t about soaring higher for show. It’s about staying grounded, adapting fast, and leading with insight.
If the storks of Nairobi can do it …..so can you!
Dr Tazmin Alibhai, PsyD, PCC is a leadership coach, facilitator, and organizational consultant with over 30 years of experience helping leaders create psychologically safe, high-performance cultures. She works with senior teams to turn insight into impact, and strategy into sustainable action.