By Nixon Chege

From the time I was a young child in Nairobi, Kenya, I felt like something “out there” was calling me. I don’t mean it in a spooky sense (‘tis the season) but I mean something in the sense of a higher purpose and a higher calling than that which was presented to me at the time. For context, I was thinking about this seated under the tree of a school that had only one computer which was at the principal’s office and there was no internet access in a 15 mile radius. This was barely 8 years ago. Despite how crazy it sounded to others around me and even occasionally to me, I persisted that one day my dream to travel the world and gain knowledge from all its expansive corners would come to pass.

Eventually this young dreamer passed his examinations and broke the previous record of the highest marks in the district, went to the best school in Kenya and went on to travel to more than 60 cities from all across the world with only one continent (South America) remaining in the tally. Before I could dream of all of this to happen, I had to get something. Someone or some experience that would shift my perspective to see this as possible and know how to make this dream a reality. To that end, my first experience with this was back in 2015 when I was shopping with my Mom and saw a very well designed Forbes Magazine in the shelf. There and then I knew what I wanted granted I could afford it.

Therefore, when one of my uncles came in to the country bearing presents in form of a cash handout, I sacrificed the small pleasure of buying something perishable to buy that very magazine I saw on the shelves and boy did I tear it up! I read, re read, researched and dreamed all summer and it is through the foundation of the dreams I dreamt through access to something small like that magazine that led me to where I am today.

I was in a similar predicament this year when I got an exclusive invite to attend the Forbes under 30 summit this year in Detroit. It was yet another time and chance to shift my perspective and dream beyond what my eyes could currently see. Just like in the previous example, someone had to be involved to make that dream a reality and, in this case, it was through the support and sponsorship of Ain Centre for Entrepreneurship that I was able to attend this program from October 2^nd to October 5^th 2022.

I was really struggling with figuring out how I can integrate technology in my value disciplines and evolve as an entrepreneur through various scaling methods and this conference taught me just that. By listening in from Josh Silverman who highlighted the importance of selecting the vital few needs if a business as compared to the considerable many and getting first hand insight on midday squares’ growth story I was able to understand how I can leverage my networks, technology around me, and social media to provide services to a wider audience and achieve operational excellence, service leadership, and achieve high levels of customer retention through CRM. The insights I have gotten will potentially propel me into my next chapter of growth as a budding entrepreneur and even in my career in finance.

All this would not have been possible without the guidance and support of the staff and faculty of Ain Centre of Entrepreneurship believing in me, supporting me and rooting for me. I also extend my gratitude and appreciation to the University of Rochester who through Ain Centre for Entrepreneurship has supported me through this journey of intense growth as well. I also encourage other students to continue dreaming big and know that the UofR community is here to see you through your dreams and help you achieve your highest ‘Meliora’ version in all contexts.

Nixon Chege ’24 is a Kenyan entrepreneur, environmentalist, and management enthusiast. He is a junior at the University of Rochester pursuing his dual bachelor’s degree in Business Finance and Entrepreneurship with a minor in Organizational Psychology. He has had vast experience in management and leadership, including being the CEO of Umfana Global and Strategic Planning Manager for the Union for Business and Entrepreneurial Development in Africa (UBEDA). He was selected to be a 2021 and 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 scholar and is also the recipient of the 2019 Diversity Award presented by the African Leadership Academy, 2018 Global Ambassador for Children’s Environmental Rescue and 2017 Global Debate Ambassador for the Trust for Sustainable Living. For leisure, Nixon enjoys curating creative works, writing, and mentoring others.