Cytonn CEO urges youth to embrace entrepreneurship

Zetech was graced by Cytonn Investments CEO Edwin Dande during an exhilarating public lecture held at the main campus. One of our main goals at the institution is to ensure that our students acquire both soft and hard skills, having determined to hold three entrepreneurial talks every semester.

Mr. Dande is Managing Partner at the Investments firm and was among the Institut Choisel top 200 business leaders in Africa in 2014 and among the top 40 under 40 men in 2012.

Starting off the talk, Zetech Vice Chancellor, Prof Njenga Munene said that he was humbled to be engaged in a life changing talk. “Our hope is to compete globally and ensure that our students get into industries within six months of graduation. We want our students to be proactively involved in the industry’s real life situation and through engagement with such brilliant minds as Mr. Dande, we will achieve this.” Prof said.

Focusing on the topic, Developing an entrepreneurial mindset, CEO Edwin Dande began by cautioning that it takes more to build an entrepreneurial culture than a money making culture. For one to gain the right focus, one ought to focus on four pillars; pain points, team, strategy and executive results.

Identify the main reason you want that sought of investment and the impact it will make in the sustainable world. “Entrepreneurship does not always mean bringing a new thing in the industry. For an existing business, you could possibly bring easiness into it. Look at Uber for example; there has been great change in the taxi industry.”

Encouraging the students to beat the odds of discouragements, he said that when you have people identifying the impossibilities in the gap you want to fill, it is a sign that you are in the right track. “Working alone may give you negative results, therefore it is important to identify your co-team. Learn to work along better than getting along.” said the established business leader, who holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennyslyvania.

During the lecture, he reminded students and faculty that you cannot manage others if you cannot manage yourself, lauding the University for establishing a dressing and grooming matrix that teaches students to prepare themselves for the entrepreneurial and professional.

Commenting on the event, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, Research, Extension and Student Affairs, Dr, Alice Njuguna appreciated Cytonn for the comprehensive talk that was refreshing and informative. “We expect our students to implement the wise words shared with us today which are timely contribution to our ongoing deliberations on sustainability and entrepreneurship.” said Dr. Njuguna, who added that the University is gearing up for another engagement with business leaders this October as we work towards being the best Business university in Kenya.

Compiled by Rahab Watare