Next Stop: Kenya

If someone were to ask me two years ago, "Can you picture yourself working for a non-profit in East Africa upon graduating CMU?" I most likely would have responded by a drawn out "hmmmmm..." Knowing that I am passionate about social innovation in emerging markets, the idea to pack up my bags for a couple years and move to Kenya is intriguing yet difficult decision nonetheless.

Fast forward two years.

After two degrees and countless conversations with peers and professors, I slowly but surely drafted an identity of myself.  This identity is not a sum of characteristics that comprise my interests and strengths, rather it is formed from taking a passion and multiplying it by experiences and education.  The resulting formula equates to working with entrepreneurs in Nairobi for 16 months to help them discover new ways to grow their business while attracting new equity capital.  The ultimate goal: build companies in a sustainable fashion in order to reduce poverty in East Africa.  This class and others I have taken by Prof Zak will be tremendously beneficial throughout the next couple years for me, and I am sure will pay dividends throughout my career in international development.

So lets discuss Kenya and the challenges the country is currently facing.   I came across this article by the Economist and thought it would be a great read for anyone reading this blog.

Upwardly Mobile Africa: Boomtown Slum

One of my favorite quotes from the article states: Kibera may be the most entrepreneurial place on the planet. 

Some will question, "how can one of the biggest slums in the world be so innovative?"  Resource scarcity can have the ability to spark innovation, but a better question to ask should be "How can we take the innovation created in slums and spread it to the rest of the world?"
  
I am hoping to have an answer to that question after experiencing social entrepreneurship in the field.  The challenges facing developing countries may not be the same ones facing developed ones, however learning how individuals go about solving complex social problems can be easily transferred.  I am not sure what the future entails for me after my time in Nairobi, but I can be sure to use the skills and knowledge I have gained in graduate school to help navigate my next adventure.