Hello, Long time no speak! Don’t fret, we’re back. This month, we’re tackling entrepreneurship. This is the first of many entrepreneurship issues, as I realise that it is multifaceted and there are so many different experiences and dynamics to running a business. In the past, the advice was always to finish school, get good grades and get a fabulous job. However, with increasingly high job insecurity and unemployment rates, there is a global transition towards entrepreneurship. Further, the environment has changed and we no longer need large conglomerates to succeed in business. In Kenya we see it everywhere. People are going out to set up business in every industry, in some cases, disrupting the industry as they go. We’re seeing SMEs in tech, real estate, FMCG, farming, event planning, beauty and fashion. New industries are coming up as well such as social media content creators and influencers. The list and opportunities seem endless. The move towards entrepreneurship was further accelerated by the COVID pandemic with several choosing to turn to business when the job market was at a near crash. 24 months in, there’s a lot to unpack about this movement, the lessons learnt and the basic things to look out for when starting a business. In this series, we have a varied list of contributors who offer a wealth of knowledge from their respective disciplines. Naomi Kirungu in her article “3 things fictious drug dealer characters can teach us about growing a business” drops some invaluable wisdom with an interesting twist playing on fictional drug dealer characters. Carolyne Mwaura, a seasoned People & Culture executive discusses building company culture. She expertly discusses talent attraction and retention and the role played by culture of the business in decision making. Tirath Singh, from Nothing Like It – Hair, Nails & Body Spa shares his insights on how to sustain a business long-term and continue to grow in the ever-changing tides that one must ride working in the beauty industry. Shamsa Gathoni, takes us on a tour of family empires, why they are successful and provides a positive spin to running businesses with family. William Githui, a Finance and Investment Specialist, takes you through raising money for your business. Other gems on starting a business, running a business with family and turning your creative interest into a business are included in the issue. If you’re here solely for our take on the fintech scene, Fiona Rasanga’s article on the Kenyan Micro-insurance landscape is exactly what you’re looking for. We look forward to hearing from you about your ventures into the business world or any questions you may have as you consider starting a business, seeking funding or growing your business. Love and light, Fatma