Brenda Anzeze made an unexpected decision to leave her lucrative six-figure salary in the United States and return to her homeland of Kenya.
Armed with a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Ohio, Brenda’s impressive resume included working with some of America’s leading multinational corporations, such as JPMorgan Chase, Fidelity Investments, and the Bank of America.
However, upon her return to Kenya, Brenda faced unexpected challenges in securing employment despite having hopes that getting a job in Kenya would be easy in regards to her qualifications.
Despite boasting over 15 years of experience in the US, the high rate of unemployment was high.
Armed with a colorful resume, she was optimistic of getting a good job. She told BD that she managed “seven-branches in Texas for JPMorgan Chase and offered Bancorp products across the US market,” she told Business Daily.
“I had high expectations upon arrival in Kenya, but I was very disappointed as the rate of unemployment was high even for skilled workers,” Brenda added.
Consultancy
Determined to make a difference, Brenda took matters into her own hands and established Brenda’s Diaspora Consultancy in July 2018.
Brenda’s Diaspora Consultancy was born out of the need to provide solutions for Kenyans living abroad.
“I decided to venture into this diasporan consulting business because I wanted to bridge the gap between diaspora and Kenya while applying my skills and creating employment across the nation in different sectors.” She added.
The company’s primary focus is to assist the diaspora community in investing in real estate back home.
By collaborating with trusted corporate lawyers such as Valentine Khaminwa from Khaminwa and Khaminwa Advocates and Lawrence Madialo from S.O. Madialo and Company, Brenda aimed to offer a reliable source of support and guidance for her clients.
The consultancy firm not only aims to bridge the gap between the diaspora and Kenya but also strives to create employment opportunities for local businesses.
Brenda recognized the struggles faced by the diaspora in trying to achieve their local projects and saw an opportunity to leverage her skills and expertise to help address those needs.
One of the motivating factors for Brenda to return to Kenya was the experience of racism she faced in the US.
Being a black African woman, she encountered discrimination in the job market, where companies would hire black individuals to meet diversity requirements but would let them go once their obligations were fulfilled.
“I remember applying for a vice president position at Morgan Stanley and asked for the same salary as my white friend and they denied me the job and were clear that it was because of my salary request,” Brenda Anzeze recalled.
Her decision to start her own business was fuelled by a desire to create a fair and inclusive environment for herself and others.
Brenda’s consultancy has successfully worked on various projects, including a significant real estate development in Kiambu.
By outsourcing two employees, she manages to optimize costs and provide efficient services to her clients.
Additionally, she has collaborated with the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to assist diaspora clients in purchasing apartments and land, leveraging her licensing as a KCB agent.
While her consultancy has faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with project progress slowing down, she remained optimistic about the future.
She encourages diaspora individuals to identify market gaps in Kenya and other African countries, positioning themselves to take advantage of the emerging opportunities.
Brenda firmly believes that Africa is the future and that diaspora investments can contribute significantly to the continent’s growth.
Looking ahead, Brenda’s plans include expanding her business network and establishing one of the leading investment companies in Kenya.
