Latest news with #humility
Mail & Guardian
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mail & Guardian
The spiritual hustle of Young Stunna
Channeling sound: Young Stunna comes from the streets of Daveyton and his music has taken him to the world, but he remains grounded in humility, his roots and his beliefs. In a time when algorithm-driven trends can snatch the spotlight, Young Stunna is a refreshing blend of street-bred honesty, spiritual grounding and artistic finesse. His music doesn't beg to become viral. It doesn't chase gimmicks. Instead, it lingers. Like the taste of your mother's dombolo or an old hymn. It's music that stays. It carries the perfume of home, dusted with gold from the grind. When Young Stunna, born Sandile Msimango, speaks, it's with the cadence of someone who's lived many lives in one, an East Rand prophet cloaked in tracksuits and township slang, his verses emerging from joy, pain, faith and youthful stubbornness. The connection with Swayvee (Nigerian singer Ezekiel Georgewill), for instance, wasn't some boardroom strategy or a forced vibe. It was born of what his generation now calls digital divinity, Instagram DMs. 'It was casual,' he says, 'but it got deep fast.' The remix of Us was never done in a shared booth or with chest-thumping announcements. It was born in virtual silence but pulsed with a loud energy. Remote, yet not removed. Why does Us sound different? Why does it hit you where your emotions are softest? Young Stunna answers not with industry jargon, but with heart: 'The song is about love, but I wanted to show how work takes us away from our people. I'm always busy, flying, recording, performing … but the love never fades.' There's a sadness and a celebration in that answer, a duality he navigates with the ease of someone raised in the paradox of township life. He knows what it means to not have enough, and still make space for joy. He says this remix wasn't about dropping bars or trying to impress the streets. It was fun. 'I just wanted people to fall in love more.' And that's the Young Stunna blueprint right there: make music that reminds us of our humanity. Still, if you listen closely, there's a spiritual labour happening in his sound. You hear it in how he balances kasi edge with ancestral softness. 'When the beat needs me to go street, I go street,' he says. 'When it needs spirit, I channel that too.' It's not about code-switching, it's a shapeshifting rooted in emotional fluency, cultivated by a life raised among elders and churchgoers. What guides this process? Prayer before the session? No. 'I pray when I wake up,' he says. The rest of it? Vibes. Real-life inspiration? 'I don't have a routine,' he says. 'I just get in and work. Stop playing.' It's raw, unscripted, led by feeling and guided not by trends, but by truth. Young Stunna's next sonic wave is already brewing. Think nineties nostalgia, but refracted through new-age soul. 'It's another spiritual journey,' he says. 'Just listen with your heart — the rest shall follow.' That sentence alone feels like a mantra. Something you might paint on a wall in Daveyton for dreamers walking to school with dust on their shoes and music in their bones. Fame hasn't changed him. If anything, it's taught him to be quieter. 'Keep your mouth shut,' he offers when asked about his biggest lesson from the limelight. Not out of fear but because when your music speaks this loud, your mouth doesn't need to. Although Amapiano carries him from township corners to international stages, Stunna remains rooted. 'We don't forget where we come from,' he says. 'We just add sounds to make it better. But we can always go back.' He's not just referencing home geographically, he's talking about soul, community, the origin of rhythm. And it's that depth that's unexpected from someone who wears the name 'Young Stunna'. His maturity didn't come from books or studios. It came from growing up in a home steeped in hlonipha (respect). 'Everyone who comes out of my house is respectful,' he says. 'So, I make music that doesn't disturb the peace. It's beautiful music, led by guidance from legends.' When it comes to collaboration, he isn't chasing clout. He's chasing connections. 'We don't just make music. We love making music,' he explains about the culture at Piano Hub. It's a sentiment that mirrors the spiritual work of music-making, each beat treated as an offering. And then there's his dream team: Aymos, Focalistic, Murumba Pitch, with Scorpion Kings and Vigro Deep on production. 'Different cultures, one rhythm.' You can almost hear the future dancing its way through that lineup, music not just for radio, but for weddings, taverns and church halls. What does he want to leave behind? 'Nothing. I just want people to carry on changing the world.' That's it. No grand ambition to be remembered as a pioneer or a king. Just someone who gave everything and left space for others to do it 10 times better. And if he wasn't doing music? Fashion. Styling. 'I love clooooothes.' The origin story of Young Stunna is no fairy tale. Daveyton wasn't soft. 'It's either you fall for the corner, or you discipline yourself and get out.' He talks about schools, dedicated teachers and church services held in sitting rooms. The moment he knew music was it? Grade 5, stomping feet with his friend Tumelo in a school bus, making beats with nothing but rhythm and imagination. 'Paid for our first studio session that same year,' he says, 'and my life changed.' That image of two kids turning a bus ride into a jam session seems the most accurate metaphor for Young Stunna's music: movement, laughter, struggle, community, spirit and noise turned into art. There's no pretence in him. No mask. Just a man doing what he's born to do. And in doing that, he reminds us that even in the chaos, we can find rhythm. We can still fall in love. We can remember home. And we can sing our stories loud enough for the world to hear, but quiet enough to stay grounded in who we are. And for Young Stunna, that's more than enough.
Forbes
23-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Ego Is Not A Strategy: Why Humble Leaders Outperform In The Long Run
Dr. Andriana Eliadis, Executive Education Facilitator & Coach at Cornell University, NY, USA and President at Executive Communication. In boardrooms and corner offices around the world, ego is often mistaken for strength. Assertiveness, decisiveness and confidence are prized—and rightfully so. But when confidence tips into ego, leaders may stop listening, stop learning and stop growing. The truth is, ego is not a strategy. It may produce short-term wins, but it undermines long-term effectiveness, innovation and trust. In my coaching work with senior executives, I have seen firsthand how humility—far from being a sign of weakness—is often the most reliable foundation for influence, resilience and sustained performance. Humble leaders ask better questions, invite dissenting views and adjust their course when needed. They do not diminish their authority—they elevate their team. What Humble Leadership Really Means Humility in leadership is often misunderstood. It is not self-deprecation or indecisiveness. Rather, it is the capacity to acknowledge one's limitations, remain open to feedback and prioritize the mission over personal status. Humble leaders do not need to be the smartest person in the room—they strive to build a room full of smart people who feel safe to contribute. A study published in the Academy of Management Journal found that leaders who exhibit humility are more likely to foster engagement, learning-oriented cultures and high-performing teams. These leaders model teachability, which signals psychological safety and encourages others to speak up without fear of judgment. The Neuroscience Of Humility From a brain science perspective, humility activates a different set of cognitive and emotional processes than ego-driven behavior. When a leader practices humility, they engage the prefrontal cortex, the brain's executive center, associated with self-regulation, empathy and long-term thinking. By contrast, ego-driven reactions—such as defensiveness, status-seeking or 'being right'—can activate the amygdala and other parts of the limbic system associated with threat detection. In these moments, leaders may interpret feedback or disagreement as personal attacks, reducing their capacity for open dialogue and triggering behaviors like micromanagement or withdrawal. In short, humble leadership keeps the thinking brain online. Ego shuts it down. A Coaching Case: From Control To Connection A recent executive client—let's call him David—was leading a high-stakes digital transformation at a global technology firm. Bright, ambitious and strategic, he had risen quickly through the ranks. But his team had stopped offering feedback, deadlines were slipping and exit interviews revealed a culture of quiet frustration. In our sessions, it became clear that David equated 'strong leadership' with always having the answer. He rarely admitted mistakes and frequently interrupted team members mid-sentence to redirect the conversation. Though well-intentioned, his behavior stifled innovation and eroded trust. We worked on building his awareness of ego-driven triggers, practicing intentional pauses in meetings and reframing questions to invite dissent. Instead of dominating the conversation, he began asking, 'If you were in my role, what would you be paying attention to right now?' and 'What would feel most helpful for us to explore further as a team?' These subtle shifts in language signaled openness and respect. Within months, his team's engagement scores improved, and two top performers who had considered leaving decided to stay. His humility did not dilute his credibility—it deepened it. Why Ego Fails In Today's Workplace Ego may offer momentary clarity and control, but it is fundamentally unsuited to the complexity of today's organizations. Leadership is no longer about issuing orders from above; it is about orchestrating collaboration, aligning diverse viewpoints and adapting to change. In this context, ego becomes a liability. Research from Google's Project Aristotle found that the most successful teams shared one key trait: psychological safety—the belief that one can speak up without fear of ridicule or punishment. Humble leaders cultivate this environment by admitting what they do not know, actively listening and valuing input over status. Five Practices To Lead With Humility 1. Ask more, tell less. Use curiosity to replace certainty. Ask open-ended questions such as 'What would be a better way to approach this?' or 'Where do you see opportunities I might be missing?' 2. Pause before reacting. When receiving feedback or criticism, pause. Acknowledge the emotion, breathe and then respond with appreciation or clarification. 3. Normalize mistakes. Talk openly about your own missteps and what you learned from them. This sets the tone for a learning culture rather than a blame culture. 4. Share credit generously. Celebrate team wins and highlight others' contributions regularly. This reinforces trust and psychological safety. 5. Audit your intentions. Before speaking or deciding, ask yourself: Am I leading for the mission or for my ego? The answer often shapes the outcome. Confidence Without Ego Humble leadership is not about playing small. It is about playing smart. It is confidence without arrogance, influence without dominance and authority without alienation. In my experience, the most respected leaders are those who can step back enough to elevate others—and in doing so, achieve more together than they ever could alone. Because in the end, ego may impress, but humility transforms. Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
Khaleej Times
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Selfies with residents, mall stroll: 5 moments of UAE President being a people's leader
In yet another familiar display of accessibility and humility, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan continues to demonstrate his closeness to residents, reinforcing his reputation as a leader deeply connected to his people. From casual strolls through malls to taking selfies with residents, Sheikh Mohamed —often hailed as the people's leader— consistently displays a down-to-earth attitude that never goes unnoticed. Known to work up to 18 hours a day, with annual leave reportedly never exceeding a single week, Sheikh Mohamed has always found time to interact with residents despite his busy schedule. 1. Taking photos in Hungary During his recent trip to Hungary, Sheikh Mohamed used a camera to take pictures of beautiful scenery. Like a normal tourist, he is seen capturing scenes from nature after being handed a camera. View this post on Instagram A post shared by UAE Royal Family ð��¦ð��° (@emiratesroyalfamily) 2. Selfies with residents In another obvious instance of humility, Sheikh Mohamed stopped was seen in a previous video walking towards his car and stepping in, when he notices something and stops. The UAE royal is then seen calling someone over as he steps back out of the car. The camera pans to two men who were earlier at the sideline. They are seen wearing big smiles as the President notices them. Both expats then take a selfie with the President. Sheikh Mohamed is also seen indulging in a short conversation with them and greeting them with a smile. 3. Mall stroll The UAE President was also captured in a video casually strolling through a bustling mall in Abu Dhabi. The clip showed the royal t descending an escalator accompanied by a notably small entourage. It also showed him leisurely walking past cafes and shops. What struck onlookers and viewers alike was the unassuming demeanour of Sheikh Mohamed, as many shoppers and cafe customers seemed unaware of his presence. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ù�ØبÙ�Ù� Ù�ØÙ�د بÙ� زاÙ�د / بإدارة: عبداÙ�Ù�Ù� اÙ�راشدÙ� (@shkmbz) 4. Meeting foster mothers During a meeting with a group of foster mothers who have been taking care of children with all their hearts, Sheikh Mohamed shook the women's hands one by one, thanked them for providing a nurturing family for the kids and giving them the love and support that they need. Starstruck children were seen smiling from ear to ear as they got the chance to greet - and even embrace Sheikh Mohamed. The UAE President, being the loving and down-to-earth leader that he is, gave big hugs among the youngsters, even kissing the hand of one child. 5. Heartwarming gesture An Emirati girl called Aisha Mohammed Mushait Al Mazrouei was among the scores of children who were part of an official reception hosted for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz back in 2019. Unintentionally, Sheikh Mohamed missed Aisha's stretched-out hand during the programmem but he made sure to make it up for her The people's leader realised the girl's disappointment and visited her at her home on the UAE National Day. There, he gave the little girl his undivided attention, repeatedly kissing her hand and forehead. Have a look at the video of the inadvertent slip and how Sheikh Mohamed made up for it after: — Ù�ØÙ�د بÙ� زاÙ�د (@MohamedBinZayed) December 2, 2019
The Guardian
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘Such a kind kid': former neighbours and all Portugal grieve for Diogo Jota
Ana Oliveira can barely get through a sentence before breaking down in tears. She has lived most of her life across the street from Diogo Jota's family home in Gondomar, a small city on the outskirts of Porto in northern Portugal. The sorrow that has engulfed the nation since the Liverpool forward's death is felt particularly acutely there. Ana can still picture Diogo clearly as a boy, dropping his backpack after school and spending hours kicking a ball against the wall of his house. His younger brother, André Silva – who perished in the same car crash in northern Spain on Thursday – quickly followed in his footsteps, sharing his love for the game. The brothers would often invite Ana's brother, ngelo, for a quick match in the street before dinner. 'The family came from very humble beginnings,' Ana says, her voice trembling. 'Diogo was always such a kind kid – the ball never left his feet. But even with all that passion for football, he was an excellent student. His mother always reminded him to stay focused in school, and he took it seriously. He knew that not everyone makes it in football.' News of Jota's death sent shock waves through Gondomar, where the brothers were raised. But the grief spread far beyond the city limits. Jota was a core member in the Portuguese team, earning 49 caps and scoring 14 goals. Known for his quick wit, grounded personality and love for family, he became a fan favourite. Those who knew him speak of his humility and generous heart. In the early hours of Thursday, Ana began receiving messages from friends and colleagues – people who knew of her close ties to the Jota family – asking if the heartbreaking rumours were true. 'A lot of people messaged me asking if it was fake news,' she says. 'It wasn't. We knew by sunrise. It's an unimaginable tragedy. Just days ago, he got married in a beautiful ceremony. He has three children: one is five, the other three and the baby is only nine months old. One moment you have everything and in the blink of an eye it's all gone. As a mother myself, I still don't have the courage to write to his mum. I just don't have the words.' Thursday was meant to be a historic day for Portuguese media. For the first time since the country's return to democracy, a former prime minister was facing trial on corruption charges. Every major outlet was covering the landmark event, which was expected to be the story of the week, if not the year. Dozens of reporters were stationed outside the courthouse in Lisbon. But that story all but disappeared when the death of Diogo Jota was confirmed. Politicians, football clubs and public figures rushed to express their sorrow. 'More than dismay, it's a shock,' said president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in an impromptu press conference outside his official residence. 'It's a shock because a 28-year-old man dies, and his brother André dies with him. He was living a very happy moment in his family life, and he was progressing as an exceptional footballer, both internationally and with the national team. He had his whole future ahead of him. We expect the elderly to leave us – not the young.' The president recalled the last time he embraced the Liverpool player: a hug shared after Portugal's win over Spain in the Nations League final. 'None of us imagined it would be the last hug. Him, myself, all of us – we thought it would be just one of many more to come, for all the success we believed he still had ahead of him.' In the quiet village where Diogo's grandparents lived, 82-year-old Cosme Silva is struggling to find the right words. A former football coach, Cosme once managed Diogo's father in a local team. He says the father's discipline and humility were passed down to both sons. 'They're such good people. Always generous, always willing to help. It's like I always say: the good ones go, and the rest stay. Diogo was a great student, from a family of footballers. His uncle Jorge was also talented – though with a bit of a temper.' He ends his sentence with a chuckle. The success and money that came with Jota's move to England never changed him, Cosme says: 'He stayed grounded. The fame never went to his head.' Ana Oliveira agrees. 'He was always trying to help. He sent boots to my brother. If you needed something, it might take some time but he always came through.' On Saturday morning Diogo and André will be buried in Gondomar. Family and friends will be present but really all of Portugal will be there, united in grief, to give one final goodbye.
The Sun
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Diogo Jota's classy act of humility left me and my U13s team stunned – he was a credit to his family and football
I CAN'T claim to have known Diogo Jota particularly well. A few post-match interviews, grabbed in mixed zones at Molineux and other grounds. 10 10 10 One or two one-to-one interviews while he was with Wolves. The odd passing nod of the head, handshake, brief cordial greeting if we happened to cross paths. But a few things stood out about the Portuguese striker. His friendly nature, his humility and his kindness shone through. He never treated the media as the enemy as so many modern players do. He was genuinely pleased to share his thoughts with journalists. He was utterly charming. I remember him apologising to me for his poor English when we chatted on the pitch after Wolves Europa League tie against Crusaders in Belfast in 2019. I told him, as a Scot, I should be apologising to him because his use of the language was a lot better than mine! I asked him how he had become so fluent, so quickly. He just shrugged and said: "In Portugal, we teach English in school from an early age. I'm not special." 'Heartbroken' Ronaldo leads tributes to Diogo Jota as football mourns Liverpool & Portugal star But he was special. A special player. A special human being. I've coached kids football teams for all of my adult life and my Under-13s had reached a local cup final. It was a big deal for the boys and we wanted to make it a big occasion for them, knowing for many of them, this would probably be as good as it got. We were a village team - Premier League scouts weren't exactly flocking to our games in search of the next Diogo Jota. I asked Diogo if he would be kind enough to send a short video message to the lads, wishing them luck in their first ever final. He graciously agreed and we showed the team his personal video message in the dressing-room before kick-off. That was nice of him - especially as we went on to win the final 3-2 against a club we'd never beaten before. A couple of weeks later I bumped into Diogo at Wolves' Compton Training Ground. "How did your boys do in the final?" he asked me. He was genuinely pleased when I joked that his words of encouragement made the difference between winning and losing. I couldn't believe such a superstar would even remember giving a few seconds of his time to a bunch of kids he'd never even met. But it summed up the man for me - a true gentleman and a credit to himself, his family, his club, his nation and to the game of football. Football can be a cut-throat business at times but Diogo Jota was proof that nice guys do win sometimes. The game will be so much poorer without him and my thoughts are with his family and friends following the loss of Diogo and his brother Andre. The Liverpool star, 28, died alongside his brother in a car accident in Spain on their way to catch a ferry to the UK. Only 11 days ago, he married childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso in a beautiful ceremony. The couple had three children - Dinis, four, Duarte, two, and a daughter who was born in 2024. The Portuguese FA shared a heartbreaking statement that read: "The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, this morning, in Spain. "Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 internationalizations for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself. "On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, lined up the players. "The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute's silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women's European Championship, lost to two champs. "The disappearance of Diogo and Andre Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honour their legacy." 10 10 10 10
