A CEO asked me something recently that I haven’t stopped thinking about:
“If Uganda really grows at 10% next year, what does that mean for my payroll?”
That’s the right question. Growth doesn’t just move revenue lines — it changes who you need in the room.
When an economy accelerates — oil production coming online, exports at record highs, infrastructure spending in the trillions — three talent gaps show up fast:
People who can manage scale, not just survive it.
People who understand compliance in regulated sectors.
People who can sell into opportunities that didn’t exist eighteen months ago.
Here’s the hard part: most organisations only discover these gaps after they’ve lost a deal, a licence window, or an entire season.
The firms that will own this growth cycle are quietly building their benches now — while the talent market is still calm.
Hiring ahead of the curve feels expensive. Hiring behind it always costs more.
If your growth plan for the next two years doesn’t have a talent plan sitting beside it, it’s not a growth plan. It’s a wish.
So let me ask you what that CEO asked me: what does 10% growth mean for your payroll?