Global Influences in Kenyan Companies

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Global Influences in Kenyan Companies

By Max Nicholson

Today has been both a productive and busy day! We spent the morning exploring the production locations of two businesses, Bush Princess and Sandstorm, as well as checking out some interesting coffee spots. In both of these companies, the owners have come to Kenya from another country to start their businesses; they shared their understanding of global business and how their backgrounds influence their strategies.

We had the opportunity to reconnect with Lotti, the owner of Bush Princess, after shopping at her store at the beginning of the trip. We toured her factory, saw how products are made, and learned about her future marketing plans.

To recharge for the rest of the day, we went to Matbronze Cafe, which sells numerous bronze figures of elephants, zebras, and other local animals. We never expected this cafe to have so many eclectic products, but we ended up spending almost thirty minutes browsing the artwork, including the life-size bronze lion!

The team then headed out to Opportunity Factory, a collaboration space for businesses powered by Sandstorm. Sandstorm is a high-end bag producer in Kenya that uses quality Kenyan leather to create its products. Mark, the CEO, began his career in advertising, had Sandstorm as a client, and eventually bought the company. Sandstorm is set apart from many other businesses because of its philosophy on the treatment of employees. For example, Mark noticed that one of his employees frequently struggled with eye strain, which prompted him to offer his workers eye tests and glasses to ensure they were as comfortable as possible. He wants to ensure this company thrives in Kenya before considering international retail expansion. Our time at Sandstorm reminded the team that empathy is the key to creating a strong business culture.

The last stop of the day was at Muthaiga Tea Company, which was the company we completed our final projects on for SOM 354. We were given a three-course tea pairing where we got to sample delicious dishes and pair them with a tea which shared a similar flavor profile. With every course, we learned about the tea and how it was grown. The owner of MTC, Tee, was welcoming to all of us and enthusiastic to share her vision of how tea should be an experience, not just a beverage. The team was moved by the entire MTC team’s hospitality and knowledge of the tea, as well as their appreciation for each individual blend.

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