Development Dynamics with MaqC

John (Jking) Ngare is the co-founder and executive director of the Lepta Community Organization, which builds leadership, employability, and entrepreneurial skills to enable youth-led community transformation. Lepta has programs across East Africa, offering training, mentorship, and hands-on leadership practice to young people, especially those from underserved communities.

JKing is a multi-talented individual who runs a graphics design firm, NuWave Creation. He is also the director of Mathare Children's Education (MCE), which provides education, food, shelter, and health to disadvantaged and orphaned children living in Nairobi's informal settlements.

On this episode of #DDWithMaqC, JKing shares his life story, including his childhood memories and how the consciousness of his gifts from an early stage kept him alive in a place where boys his age died from criminal activities. He also talks about how the male figures around him kept him anchored and his passion for lifting others from the same background he hails from.

Pauline Wanja is an accomplished alumni engagement expert with over a decade of experience designing and implementing programs supporting public schools in the UK and Kenya. She joined Future First Global in 2012 to spearhead an alumni engagement pilot program to enhance alumni involvement in school activities.

During her tenure at Future First Global, Pauline has played a crucial role in shaping alumni engagement conversations and strategies in Kenyan high schools and institutions of higher learning. Her efforts led to the launch of the Association of Alumni Communities in partnership with the Cabinet Secretary of Education office in 2017, which aimed to mobilize Kenyans to give back to their former schools. In 2018, Pauline helped convene the first local industry gathering of alumni professionals from local universities, further cementing her alumni engagement thought leader role.

Before joining Future First, Pauline designed and implemented youth programs for various international organizations, including ActionAid International, MS Denmark, the World Bank Institute, World Youth Alliance, Ashoka Youth Venture Program, and British Council's Global Changemakers. She is an Acumen Fellow and African Visionary Fellow and has served on the boards of CIVICUS World Assemblies. Pauline also receives the Nelson Mandela-Graca Machel Innovation Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities.

On this episode of #DDWithMaqC Nerima Wako-Ojiwa, a Kenyan political analyst and the executive director of Siasa Place, shares her life story, including her childhood memories, experiences with bullying in school, and her move to the United States at the age of 17.

She also talks about her college years and downplayed experiences with racism, as well as her career path and the lessons she learned along the way, including losing her job and finding true friendship.

Nerima shares her experience with an internship in Washington DC, where her proficiency in Kiswahili helped her land a job. She also discusses her return to Kenya and the birth of Siasa Place, an organization focused on educating young Kenyans about governance, the constitution, and electoral processes. Nerima opens up about her brother's diagnosis of kidney failure and the impact it had on her life.

Join us on a new season of #DDwithMaqC as we sit down with #NyakeraIrungu, the social entrepreneur, businessman, politician, and dynamic Chairman of the Farmers Party. Discover the story of his captivating journey, from his childhood in Murang'a and Starehe Boys Centre to his overseas university days, his globetrotting investment banking career, his public service career, development initiatives, and his entry into Kenyan electoral politics. Get a glimpse into his life's lessons and how they have molded him into the leader he is today.

#SheilaMasinde speaks through different programs and projects that TI-Kenya is conducting to transform society and institutions by supporting the development of high integrity leadership in all sectors and at all levels.

#SheilaMasinde's ED journey with TI-Kenya came right at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As an organizational leader, what are the challenges she had to deal with? How did she steer the organization and its important mission through the turbulent and unprecedented times?

#SheilaMasinde rose to become the Executive Director at Transparency International Kenya with a focus on leading the charge on national accountability and curbing corruption.

You make a living from what you get and enjoy life from what you give. #SheilaMasinde discusses different lessons she learned as she moved back to @@Transparency International Kenya from @@bbcmediaaction. Learning and leadership are truly indispensable to each other.