The Different Voices of Kenya

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The Different Voices of Kenya

By Adam Best and Tanner Boshart

“The rain rains on the good and the bad, and the sun shines on the good and the bad” Anthony Mwolo

The fourth day of the Kenya Cultural Immersion Trip was focused on the different voices that make up the vibrant culture of Kenya. The team was grateful to attend a panel of unique individuals who spoke about a range of topics regarding Kenya, including global management, societal culture, personal philosophy and supply chain management. The panel was crowned, “Legacy Talks,” because each speaker had a distinct past that affected how they viewed not only their own personal legacy, but Kenya’s as a whole. The panel was composed of the co-founders of Merging Mundos, Zaynah Khanbi and Justo Casal, Isuzu managers Anthony Mwolo and Dr. Michael, and two Kenyans with similar redemption stories, Priscilla and Daniel. We were also joined by Tomas, a volunteer.

The event was hosted on Isuzu Eastern Africa grounds, which was an incredible example of what the sprouting automobile industry in Kenya looked like. There was a tour of the facilities prior to the talk, and the team watched as trucks were assembled before our eyes. During the tour, there was a noticeable camaraderie between the workers, which the team deemed as being a “Kenyan Vibe” within the factory, something that the team had not yet experienced in this environment. Questions were being thrown back and forth between the team and the Isuzu staff, with both sides of the conversation being almost equally as curious. While the tour was quick, it was extremely informative, and set the stage for the transition to the Legacy Talks held in the Isuzu offices.

Before the first word was even spoken, there was a sense of curiosity in the room as the team was eager to listen, engage, and learn from the lineup of incredible panelists that sat before them. Each member of the team got the chance to talk about their unique experiences that led them to this moment. For some, like Dr. Michael and Anthony, it meant juggling passion and interests with career choices. Despite their different backgrounds, they both have thrived at Isuzu East Africa. They emphasized to always look forward and to be comfortable with mistakes and stress. Despite many hardships in their lives, they both were incredibly wise and welcoming, and the advice they gave us left a lasting impression on how we approach international management.

In contrast, Daniel and Priscilla highlighted the importance of a second chance, as both of them forged a new life after having spent time in Kenyan prisons. Both Daniel and Priscilla gave valuable insight into how as humans we should look to connect with one another, as conflict and division can lead both a nation and an individual down the wrong path.

Justo shared the enlightening lessons from his life abroad. Justo has spent most of his life working on humanitarian efforts in many countries. The team learned to look in different ways on the path to completing a goal. Justo warned us against blinding ourselves in one viewpoint and to always keep an open and curious mind. As future business leaders and global citizens, we really appreciated his unique insights.

The second stop of the day was Mr. Green Africa, an innovative recycling facility based out of Nairobi. The company was founded based on the ideals of social impact, smart technology and quality products. We saw all of these core values shine through as we saw what used to be litter turned into quality products used by major corporations like Unilever. This stop emphasized how a modern business in any country can be sustainable and profitable. The day finished off with the ever-hospitable Homecare Retreat staff inviting us into the kitchen as we helped prepare dinner. Once again, we are blown away by how welcoming Kenya and our partners are. We are incredibly grateful for the hard work that went into organizing these events, and to the partners that graciously hosted us.

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