A Harvard alumnus, Ken Gichinga is the epitome of an ivy-league educated Kenyan. As such, it is no shocker that he has kickstarted ‘Ivy Plus Group of Kenya,’ a group that seeks to bring together Kenyan Ivy-League alumni. The Sauce sat down with the entrepreneur for a candid conversation on the movement, and what its future looks like.

1. What motivated you to kickstart the movement?

I have had the opportunity to experience some wonderful moments with several Ivy League alumni residing in Nairobi. It felt like the natural next step was to create a formal network that could nurture and serve the needs of this community.

2. The recent edition was dubbed ‘March Mixer.’ Have you devised a longterm working name for the movement?

That is always an interesting discussion point within our group. In the strictest definition, the Ivy League universities are only 8 in number – Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Brown and Dartmouth. We also have 6 highly competitive affiliate universities – Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Stanford, University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Because of this dynamic we are currently using Ivy Plus Group of Kenya

3. As an ivy league alumnus yourself, how did the ivy league experience shape the trajectory of your career life?

It has been a gift that keeps on giving, not least with the incredible people and experiences that have come my way. My outlook on so many issues has been forged within these networks. My wish is that more younger students have access to these spaces and conversations as they chart their career path.

4. What is your vision for these alumni events, both short-term and long-term?

The short-term objective is to build a vibrant close-knit community. Once we have achieved that, we can thereafter pursue strategic initiatives such as joint mentorship for students who are considering pursuing higher education abroad. We will also be keen to explore ways we could help those returning from abroad to better integrate in the Kenyan environment. 

5. What did the December and March meet-ups entail?

The December mixer was our first event. It took place at The Social House and a lot of people were meeting each other for the first time. Also, being December we had a number of alumni visiting Nairobi for the Christmas holidays. We also had the good fortune of having a corporate sponsor – Wowzi – a digital advertising platform. The March event was equally fun. We held the mixer at the Nairobi Street Kitchen and many new alumni joined our network.

6. By your standards, what are the factors that make up a great ivy league university?

It really starts with the people. Most Ivy League universities are keen on building a diverse, talented and vibrant student body who will take advantage of the resources available. The quality of instruction is also very critical. While many universities prefer to “reserve” the top professors for the graduate programs, Ivy League universities are very intentional about exposing undergraduates and particularly freshmen to the very best minds in the profession. I fondly remember my introductory economics class at Harvard being taught by Martin Feldstein – a former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisor to President Ronald Reagan. I was also in freshman seminar on the United Nations that was conducted by Samantha Power- who would later become the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. 

7. What advise would you give young Kenyan students who envision joining the Ivy League universe?

I would advise them to ensure that they allocate enough time to each part of the application. These include taking the SAT exams, getting good recommendations from teachers and most importantly writing a thoughtful essay or personal statement. If possible, getting in touch with an alumni of the desired university can be immensely useful.

8. Which are the top 5 ivy league universities according to you?

This is a difficult question! They are all have their areas of strength. Perhaps from my lens as an economist, one would say that the University of Chicago, Harvard and MIT have produced the most Nobel Prize winners in Economics. But that is only one metric.

9. If you could attend another Ivy League or affiliate university, which one would it be and why?

Possibly the University of Chicago. Over the years, they have build a reputation of producing some highly influential scholars such as Milton Friedman, Eugene Fama and Allan Bloom.

10. Who is eligible for coming to these events and where can they sign up? (Contact details)

Anyone who holds a degree from the Universities mentioned above is more than welcome to join. We are still setting up our communication infrastructure but they can reach me on kgichinga@gmail.com

Ken Gichinga is the Chief Economist at Mentoria Economics. His primary role is to provide clients with strategic, independent insights on the global, regional and Kenyan economy. Prior to this, Ken served as a Senior Economist at Commercial Bank of Africa (now NCBA) as well as Equity Bank. Ken has also served as a Business Analyst at Microsoft Corporation in Seattle, USA. He holds an Economics Degree from Harvard University and has been a recipient of the inaugural Business Daily Top 40 under 40 award  in 2011. Every Tuesday, Ken hosts a weekly radio/podcast show on Capital FM titled Financial  Forecast