When Gerald Zirimwabagabo sat down with us to talk about his new book "Foundations Matter”, the conversation quickly became more than a discussion of parenting.

It was an intimate journey through a life shaped by exile, education, and hard work, a story that mirrors Rwanda’s own transformation.

Born in Nyabihu in the 1950s, Zirimwabagabo spent the first seven years of his life in Rwanda before going into exile in 1959. His childhood, he recalls, was a delicate balance between the familiar comforts of home and the harsh realities of refugee life abroad.

"Growing up in exile made me more self-aware,” he says. "I had to work extra hard to survive because I did not have the privileges of being in my own country. Normally, growing up in your country, you expect the government to provide peace, security, and access to education, but I grew up without that certainty.”

Early lessons in hard work and responsibility

Zirimwabagabo’s early experiences of hardship became the foundation for resilience and a deep sense of responsibility. "I was preparing myself to work hard to survive under all circumstances,” he explains. "It was difficult, but looking back, it shaped who I am today.”

Schooling in Uganda offered a structured education, yet it was intertwined with work, a requirement uncommon in primary and secondary education at the time.

"From a young age, I was learning the value of diligence, responsibility, and contribution,” he recalls. "Students were required to work, and the money earned went toward their school fees. On top of that, I was responsible for growing food to feed the students. That combination of teaching, managing, and working instilled in me a sense of accountability and service.”

It was this ethic that drew the attention of international organisations. The World Food Programme noticed the efficiency and organisation of the school’s food program and offered Zirimwabagabo opportunities to expand that work to other institutions.

While he could not take up the international role in Uganda due to nationality rules, it marked the beginning of a career spanning education, agriculture, and aviation.

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"Leadership is not something you acquire overnight,” he says. "Your childhood, education, and work all develop a sense of responsibility. Being a refugee taught me to value work and develop a strong ethic, which later shaped my approach to leadership,” he adds.

He also reflects on how contributing to school programs early on helped him understand the broader impact of service. "We didn’t only grow food; we taught students to manage themselves, to take ownership of their responsibilities. That was leadership in practice, long before anyone told me I was leading.”

From agriculture to aviation

After his studies in agronomy, Zirimwabagabo began teaching agriculture in Uganda. He combined education with practical work and managed food production for the school. "It was about contributing to society while learning to manage resources and people,” he notes.

His work eventually led him to Rwanda’s Ministry of Transport, where he found himself overseeing aviation operations. "Nothing drew me to aviation; I just happened to work in the ministry, but I was fascinated by how a heavy object could soar through the sky for hours. I couldn’t reconcile physics at the time, but it sparked a lifelong curiosity.”

He would later serve as chairman and CEO of RwandAir, leading the airline during critical years of expansion and modernization. His tenure coincided with efforts to strengthen the fleet, streamline operations, and place Rwanda on the international aviation map.

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During his tenure, the national carrier underwent a modernisation phase, including fleet acquisition and operational reforms, reflecting the airline’s new ambitions under his guidance.

Zirimwabagabo recalls those years as a natural extension of his curiosity and sense of duty. "It was a pleasure to work in a sector that intrigued me, and I felt I could contribute meaningfully because of the experience I had in education, management, and logistics.”

Values as the core of leadership

Underlying Zirimwabagabo’s professional journey is a strong foundation in values. Raised in a Christian household, he learned early the importance of humility, respect, and ethical conduct, principles that naturally extend into professional life.

"The way you are brought up, the values you develop from childhood, from your parents, siblings, and society, which require you to live by them,” he says. "There is rarely a separation between personal and professional ethics if your values are well-rooted.”

He recounts examples from his career: handling disputes, overseeing budgets, and mentoring staff, all guided by the principle that ethical conduct is inseparable from effective leadership. "If you don’t practice what you believe in, others won’t follow you. Leadership is moral as much as it is managerial.”

It is this philosophy that informs Foundations Matter, a book that is both a reflection on parenting and a practical guide for nurturing children in an increasingly complex world. Zirimwabagabo hopes that readers take the lessons not only for themselves but for society.

Parenting as leadership

The inspiration for the book arose not only from his own experiences as a parent but from observing broader societal challenges. He recalls a meeting in Kigali that discussed the future of youth. Young people expressed frustration with their parents, and parents confessed to struggles in guiding their children effectively.

"I realized there was a need to make a holistic contribution to parenting and education. This book is about both,” Zirimwabagabo says.

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Two lessons form the backbone of his work. First, children thrive in loving homes. Zirimwabagabo is candid about the challenges parents face, noting that many enter marriage without guidance or skills to manage relationships.

"You cannot provide love to a child if the parents themselves don’t have it. Society has failed us. My grandparents’ generation, my parents’ generation, my generation, and now my children’s generation—we all stumble through marriage without learning from past mistakes.”

Second, work at home is vital, not only for productivity but for cognitive and character development. He emphasizes the importance of children engaging in chores and physical activity from an early age.

"All play, all chores, build the brain,” he says. "Even before they can speak, children benefit from language, conversation, and engagement with their environment,” he says.

Zirimwabagabo also highlights the critical role women play in child development. "God gave women the ability to speak more than men because they stay with their children more. So, women being able to speak a lot is not a negative thing; it’s a tool to build the brain and nurture a child. It is a positive, not a negative.”

He draws on decades of observation. "In households where women communicate, supervise, and guide children consistently, you see early learning, discipline, and resilience. This is what builds the next generation.”

Retirement as a new chapter

Even after a distinguished professional career, Zirimwabagabo demonstrates that life does not end at retirement. Over the past 15 years, he has dedicated himself to teaching Rwandans about healthy living and preventive care, reaching over 700 participants.

"Most people think retirement is a time to do nothing and start declining. I have realized that life after retirement can be more productive and fulfilling than life before it if you know how to live it,” Zirimwabagabo emphasises.

He also mentors young leaders, sharing lessons about resilience, diligence, and ethical conduct. He believes leadership starts at home, through parenting and mentoring.

"The people under your custody, more than any other people, are your children. You learn to support them, to counsel them, to encourage them, to guide them for leadership qualities that help them improve wherever they are.”

Reflections on Rwanda

Returning to Rwanda in 1995, Zirimwabagabo confronted a nation in ruins after the genocide. "The stories were horrific. The economy was shattered, and people were disillusioned. But the right leadership emerged to mend the different parts of our national fabric, that is security, education, unity, from the ground up. Today, Rwanda is a country with hope and promise for all its citizens.”

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He sees a parallel between building a nation and building a family. Both require values, commitment, and resilience. "If we want children to grow up in loving homes and become responsible citizens, we need to invest in their upbringing, not just leave it to chance.”

He emphasizes that leadership is cumulative. "What you learn as a child, in exile, in work, in service - those lessons compound. They shape the way you interact with society and guide the next generation.”

Advice for the next generation

Zirimwabagabo’s advice to young professionals and aspiring leaders in Africa is simple: work hard, be diligent, and uphold values. These are the foundations of a meaningful life, both personally and professionally.

"There are no shortcuts. If you need something good, you must work for it. Be reliable, respectful, humble, and hardworking. These are the values that give you worth in society and allow others to trust and depend on you.”

Through Foundations Matter, Zirimwabagabo leaves a legacy that extends beyond his own family. It is a call to action for parents, leaders, and citizens alike; a blueprint for raising generations capable of navigating life with resilience, purpose, and compassion.

A life in perspective

Zirimwabagabo’s journey, from exile to national service, from education to aviation, from parenting to mentoring, illustrates the profound impact of foundational experiences. Foundations Matter is not only about parenting; it is a reflection of a life shaped by resilience, values, and responsibility.

"I want future generations to learn from our experiences. They should not discover lessons at the end. They should learn them before, so they can build better families, communities, and countries,” he says.

From exile to legacy, Zirimwabagabo’s journey exemplifies how a foundation built on love, work, and values can create a life of impact, a life that continues to inspire, even long after retirement.