By Abraham Malinga
ICPAU
The 30th Annual Seminar of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) turned the spotlight on the future of work, as Benon Kasenene, Country Director of Verbatoria Talent Quotient Uganda, delivered an inspiring presentation on “Nurturing Talent: Empowering Future-Ready Professionals.”
Kasenene emphasised that while education imparts knowledge and training develops competence, it is nurturing that produces resilient, grounded human beings.
He defined nurturing as a holistic process that goes beyond academics to include emotional, psychological, social, and moral support.
“Through talent identification, encouragement, safe environments and role-modelling, we create professionals who are not just skilled, but inspired,” he told participants.
Addressing the disruption posed by Artificial Intelligence, Kasenene cited global studies projecting that by 2030, up to 300 million jobs could be displaced, particularly routine roles such as data entry and basic accounting.
However, he noted that new opportunities will emerge in fields like ethics, neurotechnology, creativity, and innovation.
“The future belongs to those who nurture innate talents,” he stressed.
Highlighting the cost of misalignment, Kasenene pointed to burnout rates as high as 66 per cent, with an estimated global economic cost of $438 billion annually.
He urged professionals to align careers with intrinsic talents to restore motivation, purpose, and resilience in workplaces.
Drawing from practical applications of the Verbatoria Talent Quotient (VTQ) approach, he demonstrated how aligning talent with learning can transform both classrooms and workplaces such as teaching Mathematics through rhythm for musically gifted learners, literacy through drawing for artistic talents, and using movement to boost memory for kinesthetic learners.
Dr Naomi Namanya, the Dean, School of Liberal and Performing Arts at Makerere University, described talent as a natural aptitude or inborn capability unique to each individual, and a strength that drives success not only in accounting but across professions.
She underscored the importance of mentorship, continuous learning, and ethical development as strategies for empowering future-ready accountants.
The session closed with a powerful reminder that the future of work will not be defined by obsolescence, but by transformation.
“Neurotech will amplify innate talents, but human creativity, empathy, and judgment remain our competitive edge,” Kasenene affirmed, leaving participants with a renewed call to align skills with purpose for sustainable professional impact.
The ICPAU Annual Seminar is a three-day event that blends technical learning with soft skills development, team building, and recreation, creating a platform for both professional advancement and personal enrichment. The seminar was being held from 3 – 5 September 2025 at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe and online.
