Dunstan Stober’s journey as a writer began after his grandmother opened him up to the world of books. He now writes his own books and essays as a way to reflect on his life and share the resulting lessons.
Dunstan Stober, CFO of MTN Rwanda, has always used words to make sense of the world. As a child, he often spent afternoons reading with his grandmother at their home in Freetown, Sierra Leone. They would read encyclopaedias, and she would explain everything he saw.
“She was very educated despite not going to school. So that’s how I got my love for books, because we were just buying books just to keep learning. The habit of looking to books for answers has stayed with me to this day,” he says.
In 2021, Dunstan published his first book, Joy Has Come Home, which he calls an ‘adapted memoir’. The book celebrates the lessons he learnt from his mother, Edith. She was forced to leave school when she fell pregnant with him but later returned to complete her education. Her determination to keep going was a defining lesson for Dunstan.
“It was important to me to put her influence into words, because those lessons have been a guiding light throughout my career. Writing the book gave me the chance to honour her story and to share it with others,” he explains.
Distilling meaning
Writing allows Dunstan to understand difficult experiences and turn them into lessons. The book, which was intended to pay homage to his mother, turned into a broader journey of reflection.
Dunstan is already working on a second book, which he hopes will capture personal memories and experiences that shaped him along the way. He also intends to explore lessons that transcend his family story.
“It’s still early, but it’s something I want to put out because writing has become a way for me to reflect and share. The first book was about lessons from my mum, but this one is going to go deeper. I want it to be honest and useful, not just for me, but for anyone who reads it,” he reveals.
Even with his demanding role, Dunstan turns to the written word to clarify his thoughts and find meaning in events that might otherwise pass without notice. He sees it as a way to gain perspective and share the things he has learnt throughout his life with others. It has become a second calling that complements his work life. Although he enjoys cycling, squash, padel and football, writing gives him the greatest satisfaction. He hopes it will be an enduring part of the legacy he leaves behind.
“Writing is my favourite thing to do outside sports. It can be a cathartic outlet. I work on my books and post articles on Facebook, Medium and my newsletter on LinkedIn. Writing allows me to reach and connect with people I would not be able to reach directly,” he says.
