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Putting one foot in front of the other

Ester Kamati

Denver Kisting believes in setting clear goals and aiming higher for himself. He values consistency and doing the best work possible, “bearing in mind that when I’m ill or emotionally unwell or when I’m tired, my best won’t be the same as when I’m physically healthy, emotionally healthy and energised.” He believes in doing the best you can in the circumstances that you find yourself in.

Very appreciative of the recognition, Kisting shared with Careers that the employee of the year award came as a surprise. He was grateful to have been announced as the journalist of the year, but did not expect to receive the employee of the year award from the company which employs about 300 people.

Having been in the world of journalism for quite some time, Kisting is dedicated to the craft and says he loves his job. “I love storytelling and I love to have access to this platform to be able to tell these stories.”

He says the career has become increasingly exciting as not only one medium is used but rather many platforms exist that can be used to tell stories. He believes in mentorship and learning from other people and internalising what he has learnt.

“It is important to honour the space that we find ourselves in,” says Kisting, who has learned to welcome challenges and challenging the people that he encounters.

Kisting adds that honouring the tough moments ultimately makes us stronger. Having run seven half-marathons, the NMH employee of the year says that running has saved his life, which he means quite literally.

“Running has taught me that the basics are super important: taking one step after the other and breathing while you are at it,” he says, adding that running has helped him to emerge from “a dark place”. He emphasises the value of getting enough sleep, setting healthy boundaries and taking charge of his own toxic traits. “Victimhood is not going to get you anywhere,” he says.

Kisting believes in learning from his mistakes. “It is only through making mistakes that we can learn,” he says, adding that it is important to make mistakes because that is how we stumble upon growth.

“Before I get out of bed every morning, I say thank you,” says Kisting, who religiously believes in gratitude. He also has a great support structure, which he appreciates wholeheartedly.

He says in the new media landscape characterised by the speed of social media it has become increasingly difficult to write stories that are already in the public domain, as the journalist has to find a new angle while simultaneously maintaining high ethical standards. Kisting believes that various factors such as society and family play a part in one’s success, but he has come to an important realisation: “Only I can determine what amounts to my success. I am the champion of my journey.”