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Leadership Development Workshop at Hope Community School with Co-Founder Rich Johnson

Written by Colin Kuker

For the third year in a row, Rich Johnson, Co-founder of Spark Ventures and Senior Vice President of People at Spaulding Ridge, spent a week in Zambia to facilitate a leadership development workshop for more than thirty of Hope Community School’s leaders, teachers, staff and farm workers. These experiences are especially meaningful to the Hope team, as workshops like these are not easily accessible locally.

Rich worked closely with Executive Director Charles Mumba and Head Teacher Chimfwembe Ng’oma to focus the sessions on practical, everyday challenges. Together, they explored developing a growth mindset, creating SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals, leading with emotional intelligence, and resolving conflict. Each afternoon they applied lessons from their morning session. Participants chose personal takeaways they plan to focus on over the next few months.

One of the most memorable moments came during the conflict resolution session, when groups created skits to demonstrate what they had learned. With improvised props, costumes, and plenty of laughter, the staff brought the lessons to life in a fun and insightful way.  

Rich shared how inspiring it was to see leaders ranging from ages 20 to 70 so eager to grow, calling it one of his favorite weeks of the year. Teacher Ng’oma said the sessions “made a massive difference,” and Charles Mumba noted that the staff “learned so many new lessons.”

By the week’s end, the sense of growth and connection was undeniable. The team returned to their roles with new skills, renewed confidence, and a shared commitment to strengthening Hope’s impact in the community.