A Spark of Inspiration
While working part-time for one of our business mentees, Miriam watched firsthand as her employer expanded and brought on a new staff member. Balancing work and school, she found inspiration in that success and reached out to our mentor, Lilian, to begin her entrepreneurship journey.
With guidance from Lilian, Miriam launched an online business selling men’s hats just two months ago. The encouragement and clarity she received in goal-setting and planning soon enabled her to stop working part-time and focus full-time on her venture. Already she’s seeing positive momentum.
Miriam has mastered online promotion using WhatsApp and other social platforms to drive sales and build her customer base, all with Lilian’s support. Learning digital marketing fundamentals has allowed her to scale quickly, even with limited capital.
She plans to expand into women’s shoes next. Her long-term vision includes opening a physical boutique once she can afford rent and additional staff. Growing her client network remains central to increasing her income and achieving sustainability.
At just 25 and from a low-income background, Miriam has already overcome high unemployment barriers in Kenya’s tight job market. Launching a business with just $100 of startup capital took courage, especially when many young Kenyans hesitate to try.
Lilian describes Miriam as a determined and proactive mentee who consistently completes assignments and applies feedback: “She responds with positivity, follows advice diligently… I love her spirit. She will go far.”
Miriam’s story embodies the transformative impact of mentorship: it isn’t just about business advice, but about igniting ambition, building skills, and sustaining momentum. With each new client and product line, Miriam moves closer to her dream of owning physical boutiques across Kenya.
