A Year of Completion, Growth, and New Beginnings
At the beginning of 2025, I chose a simple but demanding mantra: We Transition.
This year was not about starting everything new, but about moving deliberately from ideas to impact, from presence to influence, and from participation to leadership. Looking back, each month carried its own lesson and momentum.
January: Laying the Intellectual Foundation
The year opened with a strong focus on knowledge, learning, and credibility. January was about strengthening the intellectual backbone of my work. New research on mHealth and health literacy was published, and my NCDs for Public Health course officially received CPD accreditation, marking an important milestone in translating research into learning. I also prepared for a new season of the NCD Champions and Afropreneur podcasts, setting the tone for a year of deeper conversations.
Theme: Evidence, learning, and preparation.
February: Entering Global Advocacy Spaces
February marked a transition into high-level global advocacy. At the 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum, I opened the pre-conference for people living with NCDs, participated in panels on law, data, and social movements, and saw my advocacy story represented at the Our Views, Our Voices exhibition. This month reaffirmed the power of lived experience in shaping global policy conversations.
Theme: Visibility, lived experience, and global platforms.
March: From Advocacy to Policy Action
March was intense and deeply policy-oriented. From alcohol tax reform to climate and NCDs initiatives, and from sport and health strategies to obesity advocacy, the focus shifted from dialogue to implementation. World Obesity Day and the WHO Technical Package launch reinforced a key belief: obesity must be addressed through policy and systems, not blame.
Theme: Policy leadership and systems thinking.
April: Entrepreneurship and Growth
April represented entrepreneurial transition. Lifesten Health joined the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship, and I spent time in Accra engaging with innovation ecosystems and refining our vision. The launch of Lifesten Health 2.0 symbolized a move from pilot thinking to scalable preventive health solutions.
Theme: Building, refining, and scaling.
May: Global Health Diplomacy
May was shaped by global health diplomacy. From ECO 2025 to the World Health Assembly in Geneva, I represented Africa in conversations on obesity, pediatric NCDs, and equity. Moderating and contributing to global dialogues reaffirmed the importance of centering rights, stories, and solutions in health governance.
Theme: Representation and global equity.
June: Media, Measurement, and Mental Health
June blended evidence with storytelling. Over 1,000 lives were reached during May Measurement Month, while media engagements, including Al Jazeera panels, expanded the reach of obesity and mental health advocacy. Conversations on identity, students, and mental health highlighted the human side of policy work.
Theme: Impact measurement and narrative change.
July: Research Breakthroughs and Community Voice
July was a defining research month. My first Lancet paper and a highly viewed Obesity Reviews article marked a major academic transition. At the same time, community-centered work continued through podcasts amplifying youth voices and policy wins such as Kenya’s alcohol policy progress.
Theme: Research excellence and community grounding.
August: Continental and Global Influence
August was about continental leadership. From WHO Africa Regional Committee meetings in Lusaka to publishing my first BMJ paper on obesity, the month reinforced my growing role in regional and global health governance. Mentorship, climate–NCD work, and reflections on belonging through the Dalai Lama Fellows community added depth to the journey.
Theme: Regional influence and personal growth.
September: The World Stage
September was one of the most defining months of the year. At UNGA 2025 in New York, I represented lived experience at the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs, engaged global health ministers, and was interviewed by The Economist. Simultaneously, I completed the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship in London, pitching Lifesten Health and championing entrepreneurship for health.
Theme: Global leadership and transition to influence.
October: Innovation, Media, and Reflection
October centered on innovation and communication. Lifesten Health partnered with WHO at the Africa HealthTech Summit, while I engaged Kenyan media forums on shaping public health narratives. Travel reflections reminded me of the importance of rest, creativity, and perspective in sustaining impact.
Theme: Innovation, communication, and balance.
November: National Impact and Youth Leadership
November brought the work back home. From presenting mHealth research at Kenya’s first National NCD Conference to strengthening health financing dialogues and AU–EU youth collaborations, the focus was on institutional impact and youth leadership across borders.
Theme: National systems and youth empowerment.
December: Recognition and Completion
The year closed with affirmation and completion. Being named UHC Champion of the Year, contributing to new WHO obesity guidelines, and advancing tobacco control campaigns marked the culmination of years of advocacy. December felt less like an end and more like a handover to the next chapter.
Theme: Recognition, accountability, and closure.
Final Reflection
2025 was not a year of noise. It was a year of movement.
From research to policy, from entrepreneurship to advocacy, and from participation to leadership, this was the year I truly transitioned.
As I step into what comes next, I carry forward one lesson:
Transition is not about leaving things behind, but about carrying them forward with greater clarity, courage, and responsibility.
STEPHEN OGWENO 
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