Josiah Muriuki, an Aspire Leaders Program alumnus and Social Impact Seed Fund winner from Kenya, shared his story of resilience, giving back, and creating an initiative focused on mentorship. His story began from humble beginnings in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Muriuku’s charisma, hard work, and determination allowed him to find opportunities outside of his community – but he continues to return to make sure he supports his family.
Early Life and Education
Growing up in a small community at the base of a mountain, he helped his family run their farm. He recalled how he walked two kilometers to school barefoot and never received breakfast in his home.
His parents always provided him with encouragement to continue to study hard to bring his family out of poverty.
During his final year of primary school, he received a four year scholarship from the Equity Group Foundation’s Wings to Fly program. He went to a private boarding school away from his home. Here, he had to wear shoes and a uniform – and he began eating breakfast every day since there was food provided for every meal. He felt this shift and began to feel a sense of privilege for this opportunity.
Academic and Leadership Development
He excelled in English and Chemistry, but he worked hard to overcome his initial shyness and fear of public speaking.
Muriuki’s leadership skills blossomed as he took on various roles, including serving as the president of the Equity Leaders Club when he went on to study at the University of Nairobi. He transformed the club from a simple Whatsapp group into a registered organization that garnered support from the university administration.
Founding BetterMentor and Becoming an Entrepreneur
While he was studying toward his degree in industrial chemistry, he also founded BetterMentor Africa. This initiative aims to develop young leaders, providing resources on personal branding, career mentorship, and access to global opportunities. This initiative also received resources from the Aspire Institute Social Impact Seed Fund.
Recently, they started providing driving school scholarships to students as driving is a key skill that will allow them to expand where they can work and study. They also launched a school feeding program to ensure students always get breakfast and don’t feel hungry after lunch as Muriuki often did while growing up.
Continuing Education and Building Global Networks
Muriuki continues to show determination and an ability to connect with others, leading to numerous accolades and scholarships. He currently studies at the University of Pretoria in South Africa on a scholarship from the Mastercard Foundation. He has represented his university and country at international conferences and continues to network with others in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Experiencing the Aspire Leaders Program and Continuing Engagement With Aspire Institute
The Aspire Leaders Program provided another opportunity to expand his network and develop his leadership skills.
“Everyone who knows me, knows that I always say, ‘your network is your net worth,’” he said.
Muriuki enjoyed the structured and immersive program, allowing him to have consistent engagement over several months. He engaged in cross-cultural exchanges and learned from his diverse cohort of young, global leaders. The fact that the program was online made it very effective in connecting across countries.
“I have a friend from Ghana now because of Aspire,” he shared.
During the program, Muriuki reflected and thought deeply about the value of education and mentorship, shaping some of the work he has done to develop BetterMentor Africa.
Muriuki was able to visit our team in Cambridge, MA over a year ago as well before he completed the program. This allowed him to further engage with our team and learn more about the upcoming Extended Leadership Program.
Ongoing Mentorship and Giving Back to His Community
Muriuki continues to mentor others who express interest in the Aspire Leaders Program and encourage others to pursue opportunities to expand their network, leadership skills, and global perspectives.
Josiah Muriuki also received a social impact seed fund award this year to continue his mentorship activities in Kenya through BetterMentor.
In addition to the activities he conducts to mentor peers and other young leaders, he also continues to give back to his family. Earlier this year, he was able to help build his parents a new home. He hopes that as he continues to find success, he can share his knowledge and support with family and community members who supported him throughout his early years.
