In this piece, I reject the modern drift toward elevating identity over ability and grievance over merit. I call out a culture that penalizes excellence in the name of fairness and clarify why Kaamfu charts a different course. Here, we champion contribution and outcomes, not entitlement. What matters is the work. That’s how we compete, grow, and endure.
Across modern institutions, a deep cultural shift has taken hold—one that prioritizes grievance over merit, identity over achievement, and entitlement over excellence. This isn’t a fringe phenomenon. It’s mainstream, entrenched in many elite circles, and increasingly shaping how decisions are made in hiring, education, and leadership.
In today’s prevailing narrative, merit is often treated as suspect—something to be corrected or balanced rather than celebrated. Competence is questioned if it comes from the “wrong” background. Hard work and success are often reframed as signs of privilege rather than performance. Meanwhile, those with the most compelling claims to disadvantage are elevated, not necessarily for what they contribute, but for what they represent.
Let’s be clear: fairness matters. Opportunity matters. But fairness does not mean lowering standards. It does not mean penalizing excellence to redistribute status. When we prioritize grievance over capability, we hollow out the institutions and organizations that depend on performance, discipline, and results. This isn’t just a cultural concern—it’s a practical one. Institutions built on anything other than merit will eventually fail. They’ll fail because they can’t execute. Because they can’t compete. Because they’re built to appease, not to perform.
At Kaamfu, we’ve chosen a different path. We hire based on ability. We promote based on outcomes. We reward those who take initiative, solve problems, and move the mission forward. Background, identity, and personal history do not dictate success here—contribution does. Our culture is not indifferent to people’s stories. But we are unapologetically committed to performance. That’s how we grow. That’s how we serve our customers. That’s how we create something enduring.
As CEO, I can’t fix what’s happening in academia or the public sector. But I can ensure that inside our walls, the only thing that matters is what you bring to the table. The work, the results, the ownership. That’s our north star. Let others build on grievance while we build on grit. And we will see who is here tomorrow.
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