For Margaret Mutura, communication has always been about people. Long before she arrived at Strathmore University, she knew she loved language. She loved reading. She loved writing. Most importantly, she was fascinated by the way ideas connect people to one another. What she did not know was where that passion would lead. Unlike many students who arrive at university with a carefully mapped-out career plan, Margaret’s journey began with a simple decision: follow a path she genuinely cared about.

“I decided I didn’t want to do anything that I wasn’t passionate about,” she says. That decision eventually led her to Communication. Looking back, Margaret describes university as a process of discovery rather than certainty. Her cohort was small, creating an environment where everyone quickly became familiar with one another’s strengths, personalities, and perspectives.

The intimacy of the programme taught her one of communication’s most important lessons: relationships matter. Whether in classrooms, group projects, leadership positions, or friendships, she found herself consistently drawn to the human side of every experience.

That insight became even clearer during her Service-Based Learning placement. Rather than entering a conventional office environment, Margaret spent time working at a retreat centre, where her responsibilities ranged from laundry services to kitchen preparation. The work was demanding and often unexpected, yet she embraced it wholeheartedly. There was satisfaction in learning practical skills. There was dignity in serving others. More importantly, the experience deepened her appreciation for people whose work often goes unseen and unrecognised.

Most of all, it gave her perspective. The experience reinforced her belief that meaningful communication begins with understanding the realities of other people’s lives. Back on campus, Margaret found herself increasingly drawn to the subjects at the heart of her degree. Courses in public relations, ethics, critical thinking, and communication strategy expanded her understanding of the field and its possibilities.

One lecturer, in particular, left a lasting impression. “She opened my mind to the fact that communication is everywhere,” Margaret recalls. It was a simple idea, but one that transformed how she viewed her future. Communication was not limited to media houses or corporate offices. It shaped institutions, relationships, communities, and cultures. It influenced how people worked together and how organisations built trust.

It was, in many ways, the invisible architecture behind human connection. That understanding became especially important during her time as Head of Programming at the university radio station. Leadership came with its own challenges. Expectations were high, resources were often limited, and progress sometimes felt slower than people hoped. Yet the experience taught her lessons no textbook could provide.

She learned how to manage teams, navigate competing priorities, resolve disagreements, and bring people together around a common goal. “I think I learned a lot about handling people and being in charge,” she reflects. Those lessons continued through internships and workplace experiences, where she encountered different organisational cultures and began exploring where she might fit within the industry.

Rather than rushing to specialise, Margaret discovered the value of remaining curious. “I want to learn how different organisations work before deciding exactly where I belong,” she says. That curiosity also shaped her research project, which explored the influence of micro-influencers among young audiences. Drawn to creators who build communities around authenticity rather than fame, she found herself returning to the same theme that had followed her throughout university: relationships.

How do people build trust? Why do certain voices resonate? What makes communication meaningful? By graduation, Margaret had developed her own answer. Communication is not simply about sharing information. It is about creating understanding. It is about helping people feel seen, heard, and valued.

As she looks toward the future, Margaret sees herself continuing to grow as a communication professional while remaining open to new possibilities. Whether working with international organisations, creative agencies, or pursuing entrepreneurial interests of her own, she hopes to keep doing what she has always loved: bringing structure to ideas and meaning to relationships.

For Margaret Mutura, organised creativity is more than a personal strength. It is a philosophy.

Article written by: Briege Mwangi