WOMEN IN BUSINESS

In this section, we feature alumni who have started their own business and learn how they have successfully navigated the world of entrepreneurship.

My Name is Caroline Nyambura Wanjugi, Year of KCSE 1994, I am a Business Executive by Profession and the Founder/ CEO of Caarel Quality Services & Solutions.

We are experts in offering Consulting Services to organizations implementing ISO Standards in readiness for ISO Certification. We also offer Training in ISO Standards which is our core business. We are also venturing into Statutory Compliance Audits and Training in relation to Nema and DOHSS ACTS.

My experience in Mugori was all-round exposure and nurturing, in the sense that despite gaining education, it offered me strong spiritual knowledge and a strong foundation which is why I am a very staunch Catholic up to date. The school nurtured me to be a leader. I was the House captain of the cleanest Dorm called Usambara House. The experience also shaped me into a very responsible, principled lady with a strong personality and character. I embrace leadership roles well and above all, fitting in very well in the society at large. With regards to entrepreneurship, I have always wanted to have an entity of my own i.e. being my own boss-lady. Having worked for several years in the corporate world, I started feeling a gap and the need to developing my own brand. Hence, Caarel Quality Services & Solutions was born.

The top 5 lessons I have learned in business over time are:

1. Patience is key - no overnight success. It is a gradual but a sure journey

“The school nurtured me to be a leader. I was the House captain of the cleanest Dorm called Usambara House. The experience also shaped me into a very responsible, principled lady with a strong personality and character. ”

2. Consistency - You have to keep doing what you got to do consistently 3. Focus - You must put all your mind into your business for it to flourish. 4. Commitment: You must be ready to sacrifice more time for your business. 5. In business you keep learning new things, hence reading is a must to keep up with new trends in the market.

Some of the pitfalls one can avoid are procrastination which is a dream killer. If you have something you want to do, do it anyways and avoid pushing to a further date. Customer retention is also key, hence how you deal with customers determines more future engagements with them. Thirdly, when venturing into a business you must be ready to take risks or else you will never know if you are worth the risk.

Would I advise anyone to take the big plunge into entrepreneurship? Personally, my Mantra is everyone has their own destiny, desires, preferences and above all plans. I would urge my fellow alumni to have some entity attached to them in the long run. One cannot be employed forever, but business can be passed on to children and generations to come.

Contact details:

Caarel Quality Services & Solutions Website: https://caarelquality.com. Ongata Rongai, Rescom House, the National Bank Building, 5th Floor after Masai Lodge Tel No. 0721 253499