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Kenyan Woman Finds Success in Consultancy After Leaving 6-Figure Salary in the US

Kenyan Woman Finds Success in Consultancy After Leaving 6-Figure Salary in the US

Brenda Anzeze ditched her lucrative job in the US and returned to Kenya, where she has established a successful consultancy company.

Brenda says she was earning a six-figure salary before she quit in 2018 after having worked for top US multinationals including JPMorgan Chase, Fidelity Investments, and the Bank of America.

Shortly after relocating to Kenya in July 2018, she formed a company named Brenda's Diaspora Consultancy, which helps Kenyans abroad to invest in real estate in Kenya.

“It was established as a solution provider for the Kenyan diaspora living across the world to enable them to invest and resolve their local issues using a trusted source while providing employment to the local businesses,” Brenda told Business Daily in a recent interview.

Brenda, who holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Ohio, says failure to secure employment in Kenya motivated her to start the consultancy.

Ironically, she could not find a job in the country despite having a decorated resume and over 15 years of working experience in the US.

“I mean I managed a whole region of seven branches in Texas for JPMorgan Chase and offered Bancorp products across the US market. I had high expectations upon arrival in Kenya, but I was very disappointed as the rate of unemployment was high even for skilled workers,” she says.

Before she formed the consultancy, Brenda ventured into the business of supplying avocados and other organic vegetables to vendors and retailers but she faced hurdles—supermarkets delayed payments or failed to pay entirely.
 
“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.”

“I realized the gap and struggles diaspora have in trying to achieve some of their local projects and took advantage of it,” she adds.

Brenda mentions racism as one of the reasons that prompted her to return home, noting that being a black African woman in the US double jeopardy.

“Companies had started hiring black people just to meet their tax quarters then turn around and fire them once they meet their government needs,” she explains.

“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.”

A real estate project in Kiambu is one of the major projects she has worked with. Her company outsources two employees who help her in projects thus saving her cost.

“Some of the other projects I am currently working on with the Kenya Commercial Bank is assisting diaspora to purchase apartments and land while they get loans since I am a licensed agent with KCB,” she says.

“I assist my clients to select the best development projects in town because there are a lot of issues with some developers and sometimes the issues arise when it is too late.”

Since she formed the consultancy, Brenda says she has worked with more than 100 clients across the US, Canada, UAE, Qatar, UK, Australia, South Africa, and Italy. 

“Diasporans need to identify a gap in Kenya and other African countries such as Botswana then they can work on market share in their area of interest. Africa is the new future,” she adds.

On her future plans, Brenda, says: “I would like to expand my business network and establish one of the best investment companies in Kenya.” 
 

Comments

Mercy (not verified)     Fri, 01/15/2021 @ 07:13pm

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How do you quantify someone’s accomplishments while the business is about one year old with 100 customers? Any new business takes at least five years to be well vested!

“Black and beautiful” does not put anyone above others! Every one has a different taste when it comes to physical appearance! Most men prefer tall and skinny women, regardless of the skin tone! Well, it is good she is so beautiful for your taste!

Your limited experience and exposure just locks you in to your scanty opinions @kk!

Mwinzadi (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 02:14am

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Oohhh here she comes with @kk desires of black and beautiful dreams met like a instant decaf cup of coffee! Surely she is right at your level Johnny boy @kk! Several notches above your @kk. Have fun!!

Settled Nomad (not verified)     Fri, 01/15/2021 @ 12:41pm

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There must be more to this story. It does not add up. Why leave a six figure salary in the US to go and struggle selling avocados and vegetables in Kenya?

liz Gaki (not verified)     Fri, 01/15/2021 @ 03:49pm

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Totally agree with you... yaani l am making 6 figures here and pack and leave to come to kenya and struggle. Let me tell you six figures in USA is sweet l can tell you. I will be helping the entire world. May God help me to get the six figures and yes you will hear from me. Will check-in to one of the Best Hotel in kenya and order Nyama choma to all AMEN and AMEN

Wario (not verified)     Fri, 01/15/2021 @ 06:53pm

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She posed an attitude with the institutions she worked for (reading between the lines), and so they showed her the door! Her story does not add up because right now she is talking of 100 diaspora customers! You do the math!

Sue (not verified)     Fri, 01/15/2021 @ 01:44pm

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These people share stories of their business but fail to provide the contact information. How can we reach out to you?

Settled Nomad (not verified)     Fri, 01/15/2021 @ 06:47pm

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The failure to provide information is deliberate. It is how conmen and conwomen work. They rely on your ignorance to con you. If they give you information on how you can contact them, you will be able to investigate everything else about them, and realize that they are not who they say that they are. Right now, no one can verify that anything that this lady is saying is true. To me, that is a red flag. If you don't have anything to hide, then there is nothing to be hidden.

Salim (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 02:08am

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She got some some, yes some going out there in Nairobi, the city in the sun, dude. She is trying my friend but she appears kinda rough!

The six figure salary in America ain’t adding up though! Mama Mbogo will do just fine over time with that conquering attitude!

But for me, i prefer a tightly wrapped up chic cause I’m 6.2 feet tall and nicely build! I want a sexy mama and not my body guard!

Settled Nomad (not verified)     Fri, 01/15/2021 @ 07:28pm

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... and she is good enough to provide a link where you can safety communicate with her, as she cons you. @Mwakilishi, this lady does not even look Kenyan. She looks Nigerian or West African. Which village is she from in Kenya?? Who are her parents and relatives? What evidence do you have that she has actually ever even been in the US, apart from her saying so?

Mishek (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 02:40am

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Hope she is not selling “air space” property constancy services. Everything looks legitimate in Kenya until you get conned. I’m still fighting for my five acres I bought 7 years ago! Invest near you to save yourself terrible heals aches! And yes, you can curse @nomad for being suspicious, but he is trying to open your eyes here! It is not the same Kenya you left five years ago! Conning others is a real profession in Kenya.

Trudy (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 04:31am

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Why so rude? The sister is 100% from Kenya. Im a Kenyan residing in USA. She is a personal friend of mine. I know exactly where she is from in Vihiga county. She came to USA over 20 years ago lived in Ohio and Dallas. Got her degrees here. Worked here. Be kind to others.

MzeeMoja (not verified)     Fri, 01/15/2021 @ 07:22pm

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With six figure you mean over $100K? If so, many of us have gone beyond that and more. The story does not add up. Nobody discriminates employment here! Your papers and skills go ahead and speak for you. There is more than meets the eyes. For example, if her papers were well in order, she could have just come back and applied for jobs that are in galore in these United States.

Mishek (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 02:53am

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@moja - I tend to agree with you here. One will live a decent lifestyle when netting $100k in salary. She says she worked for all these reputable banks, right? Those same banks offers stock options and employee mortgage loans, etc. You just don’t quit a job of over a $100k to return to Kenya for cabbage selling jobs! You use that money wisely to employ others in Kenya so you can return to a well established business. Something is not adding up here! Beware folks!

Mushina (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 03:07am

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I want Brenda to become a very successful business owner in Kenya! It is good for Kenya to have trusted consultants. It is good for all of us worldwide!

But, if you decide to start investing back in Kenya, you must chose who you are consulting with wisely. Consultancy firms are all over Nairobi and other places! Unfortunately most of them are owned by cons who sole purpose is to steal from others in the diaspora.

The sound of mbeca (money in whatever form) have corrupted many good people in Kenya. You can’t even trust your bloody relative these days. They have all become cold hearted smooth operators who con and go underground.

All in all, do a thorough research and investigate your contact before you end up broke!

Jackson (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 03:19am

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@brenda - people think you are adverting the body building weights in the gym and not your consultancy business!

As a holder of business administration degree, surely you took marketing 101, etc. You catch the drift; don’t you?

Selling a business (your product) also means selling yourself! Appearance and perception matters in everything! I wish you well!

Morris Menye (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 09:59am

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The lady might have tried to work the Kenyan-corrupt way but was deported on being cought instead of facing some years in jail.

Builder (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 03:04pm

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Why would someone who claims to be in the West judge another based on looks instead of character. Primitivity?
To get a job in Kenya isn't easy for those over qualified like her and many masters grads have no jobs anyway. People leave high paying jobs for many reasons to go home: family, health, calling of God (Pastor Kyula), parents, ignorance, stress etc. Money isn't everything. America corporate world is a male club.
I think she's done well so far doing something different and taking risks at that age. Creativity wanes with time for many. Congrats!!

Mkenya halisi (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 07:04pm

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Hehehe listen to manegativity black Kenyan slaves in usa who r talking shit about the sista who decided to return home n they r not happy she left the slavery job in states now she is earning leaving way way beta than them.It’s a big big shame to this stato slavery mentality pple to think one cannot leave such a job to return to kenya.Wr many here in kenya who left the west n wr fooling way way beta than majority who r still struggling in states with racism/working 2/3 jobs slavery/ fear of immigration juu many r illegal/broken marriages juu wife n husband have married nyeuthi for papers??Breda I love your story n please ignore this USA brainwashed despots with their negatives bullcrap.Wr happpy for you

KK (not verified)     Sat, 01/16/2021 @ 09:49pm

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I echo your sentiment. There’s a lot of hate coming from Kenyans in the US on this sister.
By the way, you write like a pre-teen. Write like an adult in full and complete sentences.

Settled Nomad (not verified)     Sun, 01/17/2021 @ 04:26pm

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To me it is not hate. She just is not saying the truth. When I first came here and stayed for a month or two, my strongest desire was to go back to Kenya. Fortunately or unfortunately, I did not have the airfare to go back. That was until I found my first Job. I think that she is hiding the real reason for her return to Kenya, and faking success in Kenya.

Ex diasporan (not verified)     Sun, 01/17/2021 @ 02:06am

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Let people be. We have different perspectives and personalities, so one shoe can't fit all. If someone wants to live in USA, with racism and all, it's their choice. Kenya has equivalent in tribalism and a non functioning economy, unless you are stealing taxpayers money. So, let the lady. Wishing her all the best

Mkenya halisi (not verified)     Sun, 01/17/2021 @ 02:50am

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Sorry for my language thou it’s sickening for the stato pple that they feel bad or talk negatively about many of us who have returned n doing well.

Lordin (not verified)     Mon, 01/18/2021 @ 05:49am

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There is a place for every body all over the world! You have your own reasons why you returned home!

Please don’t insult others who are living and working outside Kenya! There are many Kenyans living in Kenya but they are not doing well financially. My buddy and I live overseas. We started small and now we are doing great with our businesses! We also have huge investments in Kenya and have employed many people. We leisurely trot the globe regularly! So don’t insult those working hard elsewhere because I do know so many who are building huge estates and other businesses in Kenya through toiling abroad. Their net worth is far greater than yours. Do making it comes in different packages. Don’t assume others are worse of because you couldn’t make it wherever you lived overseas!

Muriithi (not verified)     Mon, 01/18/2021 @ 06:12am

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Mkenya halisi - You made your decisions to go back to Kenya on your own merit! No body cares how you are doing or what you are doing there! Every Kenyan is “halisi@!

Not sure why you are so concerned about those you left in America. Everyone got to work to make a living, and no body is asking you to feed them - both in Kenya and overseas! Do you want people to be lazy and not work!?

The issue here is those in states have a good barometer feeling/sense of the business environment in Kenya. Most of those living in America have huge investments in Kenya, and in United States as well! We just don’t brag about it in prints!

They have no reason to be jealous of your successes in Kenya because you should succeed! We are sending over 300 billion shillings to Kenya every year to build the economy! Why have you not done the same since you are so successful!? You can share your successes with Somalia or elsewhere!

You sound bitter and insecure in most of your comments here! Do your thing and let others be wherever they are in this beautiful universe!

Working is part of human endeavors no matter where you live! Success is not a one person affair like you want others to believe! It is a shared blessing to all humanity!

Measure your perceived success wisely and don’t chastise those who are working hard across the globe! They are doing monumental things in Kenya too. Only that they don’t take loud speakers to brag about their contributions!

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