We are Shahe Murrizi and Nicolò Meneghello, Master’s students in Business Management at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.
We learned about the opportunity to do an internship at the E4Impact Entrepreneurship Centre in Nairobi thanks to Prof. Mario Molteni, lecturer in the Corporate Strategy course. An unusual proposal, but an irresistible one. What convinced us was our curiosity and hunger for discovery: the chance to explore a new country, a new culture, and above all, to become part of E4Impact’s mission. Both professionally and personally, it has been an incredible journey, far exceeding our expectations.
Arriving in Kenya is like stepping into an explosion of life—vibrant, intense, and full of daily surprises. Living there means embracing new emotions every day; it challenges and transforms you in ways you don’t expect.
At first, building relationships in this high-context culture can take time, but once bonds are formed, they prove to be deeply rewarding. Kenya is a land of contrasts, balancing tradition and innovation, where every encounter reveals the richness of its diverse tribes, languages, and histories.
At E4Impact, we had the opportunity to work on impactful, multifaceted projects. From the beginning, we were given real responsibilities and included in meaningful tasks, which allowed us to contribute directly to the mission of empowering local businesses.
One of the programs we followed closely was AYuTe NextGen, supported by Heifer International. Shahe was actively involved through every stage, working daily with Isabella Tenai – the Accelerator Manager – to prepare training materials, coordinate meetings, and monitor the progress of selected candidates. She accompanied the entrepreneurs throughout the process, up to the final pitching event.
Another central project was AFR100, in collaboration with FAO, where we both dedicated much of our time. We worked together on the preparation of investment teasers and pitch decks for participating companies. Nicolò, in particular, focused on planning and managing the budget to ensure smooth project execution, while Shahe took on coordination tasks and event logistics, including creating flyers, drafting the program, and supporting guests on the ground. Both of us were deeply inspired by meeting farmers and entrepreneurs engaged in restoration and sustainable agriculture, gaining firsthand insight into their challenges and opportunities.
In addition, we supported other initiatives such as SKIES, where we prepared operational documents and learned to manage activities involving different partners, and Arabika, where we both contributed to the planning and organization of the final event, supporting the team during the sessions.
Alongside our projects, we also carried out field research for our Master’s thesis. The conversations with entrepreneurs and farmers not only enriched us on a personal level but also laid the foundation for a deeper academic inquiry into informal entrepreneurship and resilience within Kenya’s emerging ecosystems.
The work environment at E4Impact is welcoming and dynamic, every day in the office became an opportunity to learn. We were guided and supported by our patient and kind Kenyan colleagues, which was essential for us as newcomers in a professional context of this magnitude. Thanks to them, we felt part of something bigger from the very first day.
Looking back, this internship has been both a professional and personal turning point—a rare blend of challenge, growth, and inspiration. After four months, we return more curious than ever, with Kenya’s contrasts and richness etched into us, and grateful to be able to call this country home.
Shahe Murrizi and Nicolò Meneghello