Young Observer sat down with May Nghipondoka a chartered accountant turned purpose-driven planner creator to unpack the journey behind Thrive — a Christian-based life-navigation tool designed to help young people move from inspiration to execution. In the conversation, she reflects on how her background in finance shaped her discipline, how faith guides her ambition, and why intentional planning is key to living a meaningful and grounded life in a fast-paced world.
YO: You are a Chartered Accountant by profession. How did your journey in finance and structure shape the way you think about purpose, discipline, and personal growth?
MN: My training and career as a Chartered Accountant instilled in me a deep respect for structure, discipline, and accountability. Finance teaches you that results are never accidental, they are the outcome of deliberate planning, consistent execution, and honest reflection. That mindset naturally shaped how I view life. Purpose requires structure to be realised, discipline sustains growth, and personal development flourishes when intention meets consistency.
YO: Was there a defining season or moment in your life that made you realise the importance of intentional planning rather than drifting through goals?
MN: Yes. During my post graduate studies, I realized that talent and hard work alone were not enough to create the life I envisioned. I saw many capable people stagnate simply because they lacked clarity and direction. That season forced me to move from hoping to planning from drifting to deciding and it fundamentally changed my trajectory. Pursuing purpose helped me hold on tight.
YO: Many young professionals struggle to integrate faith with career ambition. How have you navigated that balance in your own life?
MN: Having been a devoted Christian since the age of 15, I learned that faith and ambition are not opposing forces. Faith provides the moral compass and inner anchoring, while ambition provides momentum. When ambition is guided by faith, success becomes meaningful rather than hollow. I consistently invite God into my planning, decisions, and leadership, allowing faith to shape both the destination and the journey.
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. This is one of the scriptures that assists me to be diligent at work, derived from Colossians 3. In a nutshell its actually my faith that shapes my career.
The Birth of Thrive
YO: What gap did you see that led to the creation of Thrive?
MN: It was in 2020 during COVID where due to the fear of going to grocery shops, I then decided to design a planner for self-consumption. Stemming from the previous scrambling in a normal notebook that I acquired from the grocery shops. As I was going through the motion, I then realized that this would be a good tool for others to utilize in bring structure and discipline to their goal setting and bring to fruition their goals and dreams.
I noticed a gap between motivation and execution. Many people were inspired but not equipped. Existing tools focused heavily on productivity but neglected purpose, faith, and inner alignment. Thrive was created to bridge that gap. To help people plan their lives holistically, not just their schedules.
WO: How is Thrive different from conventional planners or productivity tools on the market?
MN: Thrive is not just a planner; it is a life-navigation tool based on Biblical principles. It integrates vision, values, faith, reflection, and accountability. Rather than merely managing tasks, it helps users understand why they are doing what they do and who they are becoming in the process. Thrive breaks down one’s life into facets such as career, finances, love life, health, education etc. to enable the user to compartmentalize their lives in order to dive into them holistically and ensure success. Thrive strategically and assist you in mapping out the road map towards your goals.
Thrive encompasses scriptures to motivate the user that what their planning and desiring of their lives are the creator of heaven and earth has already given it to them. It’s not a rare request and thus it shouldn’t be impossible for them to become or attain that which they aspire.
YO: Why was it important for you that Thrive be explicitly Christian-based, rather than faith-neutral?
MN: Faith is not an accessory in my life, it is foundational. I wanted Thrive to reflect that reality authentically. A Christian-based framework allows users to align their ambitions with God’s purpose, anchoring planning in prayer, scripture, and spiritual reflection rather than self-reliance alone.
Vision, Planning & Faith
YO: Some people associate vision boards with wishful thinking. How do you understand vision-setting from a faith and discipline perspective?
MN: Vision-setting, when done correctly, is not wishful thinking. it is intentional alignment. Faith provides belief, discipline provides action, and vision provides direction. Writing and visualising goals simply trains the mind to recognise opportunities and commit to consistent steps.
Hence in Habakkuk 2: The Lord said Write down the vision, and make it plain upon the tables, that he may run that reads it. Being a visionary is God’s idea, and many a times He instructed people of faith to have clear vision. Today, all Christians are called onto the blessing of Abraham because when the Lord asked him to look at the stars and imagine the quantity of his offsprings, he saw the whole world.
A vision is only wishful thinking of one does not pursue it.
YO: Why do you believe writing down goals and visualising them consistently has such a powerful impact on follow-through?
MN: An often-cited research study carried out by Dr Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University of California found that you are 42% more likely to achieve your dreams and goals by writing them down.
This is due to the mental liability one creates as your subconscious has noted it. It provides stamina to pursue the goal as at some point it requires to be cleared forcing you to act. Written down goals also create more clarity and direction.
The other technique that most do not embrace is positive affirmation towards one’s goals and dreams. Words have power and thus it’s important that they are not just written down but one affirms them in their quiet time, it can be in the shower, in the car, in the morning in the mirror and most importantly in prayer.
YO: How does Thrive encourage accountability — not just inspiration?
MN: Thrive embeds regular reflection, progress tracking, and honest self-assessment. It invites users to review their actions, adjust their strategies, and take ownership of their outcomes. Accountability is built into the design, not left to chance.
YO: In your view, how does clarity of vision influence daily decision-making, especially for young people?
MN: Clarity acts as a filter. When young people know where they are going, they make better decisions about time, relationships, finances, and habits.
Vision reduces distraction and empowers intentional choices.
Its imperative when one realizes that your vision is not only for your benefit, but to benefit humanity and your offsprings. Once this is embedded in ones heart as a principle it is hard not to make decisions that have long term positive impact.
Relevance for Young People Today
YO: Young people today face pressure to succeed quickly and visibly. What risks do you see in pursuing success without a clear internal compass?
MN: Without an internal compass, success becomes fragile. It can lead to burnout, identity confusion, and compromised values. External validation without inner clarity often results in achievement without fulfillment.
YO: How can tools like Thrive help young people remain grounded while still being ambitious?
MN: Thrive encourages balance and ambition anchored in values. It reminds users to pursue excellence without losing themselves, to grow both internally and externally while remaining spiritually and emotionally grounded.
YO: What would you say to someone who feels overwhelmed and unsure where to even begin with planning their life?
MN: Start small, but start intentionally. You do not need the full picture to take the first step. Clarity unfolds through action. Begin with reflection, write honestly, and allow progress to replace pressure. Be true to yourself.
YO: Reflection & Forward Vision
How has creating Thrive changed the way you personally approach your goals and faith?
MN: Creating Thrive deepened my own discipline and self-awareness. It challenged me to live what I teach that is to plan prayerfully, act boldly, and reflect consistently. It strengthened my faith by reminding me that purpose unfolds through obedience and consistency.
YO: What does “thriving” genuinely mean to you, beyond career milestones and material success?
MN: Thriving means alignment. Living in harmony with purpose, faith, and values. It is peace, impact, and growth across all areas of life, not just professional success.
YO: What kind of legacy do you hope Thrive leaves in the lives of its users?
MN: I hope Thrive leaves people more intentional, grounded, and courageous. A legacy of individuals who plan wisely, live purposefully, and pursue success without losing their soul. Thrive carries their life stories as they build their legacy and one day those stories can be told to their generations to empower them.
YO: Looking ahead, how do you hope to continue contributing to conversations around purpose, discipline, and faith among young Africans?
I hope to continue creating platforms, tools, and conversations that empower young Africans to lead intentional lives. Through writing, speaking, and mentorship, my desire is to help shape a generation that is disciplined, purpose-driven, and deeply anchored in faith.
