Professor Simon Gicharu, founder of Mount Kenya University, is a top nominee for this publication's annual honor. His entrepreneurial journey began with humble ventures like renting a turntable for school dances and managing his high school canteen. These early experiences built a foundation for his later work in education and media, which now includes universities in Kenya and Rwanda, along with Cape Media, owner of TV47 and Radio47.
After university, a teaching position gave him time to author a textbook. He later started a nonprofit focused on small business training, an endeavor that led to an international study. Losing his teaching job after that trip cemented his resolve to become an employer himself. He transformed his nonprofit into the Thika Institute of Technology, which eventually became Mount Kenya University. Gicharu credits his success to focus and viable ideas rather than initial capital, securing small loans to grow the institution step by step.
He emphasizes identifying market gaps and building resilience from failures, viewing setbacks as partial lessons. For Gicharu, the true reward is impacting over 173,000 alumni, not financial gain. His future plans for MKU involve embracing advanced fields like artificial intelligence and robotics while maintaining traditional campus experiences. Outside his professional life, he enjoys reading, swimming, and his church community. He is currently writing a book about his experiences.
After university, a teaching position gave him time to author a textbook. He later started a nonprofit focused on small business training, an endeavor that led to an international study. Losing his teaching job after that trip cemented his resolve to become an employer himself. He transformed his nonprofit into the Thika Institute of Technology, which eventually became Mount Kenya University. Gicharu credits his success to focus and viable ideas rather than initial capital, securing small loans to grow the institution step by step.
He emphasizes identifying market gaps and building resilience from failures, viewing setbacks as partial lessons. For Gicharu, the true reward is impacting over 173,000 alumni, not financial gain. His future plans for MKU involve embracing advanced fields like artificial intelligence and robotics while maintaining traditional campus experiences. Outside his professional life, he enjoys reading, swimming, and his church community. He is currently writing a book about his experiences.
