At the Coalface

Derreck Kayongo - From Soap to Soul: on Legacy and Leadership

Philippe Rose and Derreck Kayongo Episode 94

In this episode, I speak with Derreck Kayongo, founder of the Global Soap Project, which recycles hotel soap for communities in Africa without access to basic sanitation. In a conversation that moves between the idealistic and the deeply personal, we explore the trauma that fuelled his entrepreneurial drive and the lessons he's learned as a change-maker. We talk about how embodying a brand—through clothes, words, and gestures—can inspire a movement. Derreck also opens up about confronting the shadows in his inner closet, and how the spectre of legacy continues to shape his path.

Connect with Derreck on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/derreckkayongo and on Instagram @derreckkayongo.

Derreck mentioned the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

People on this episode