Strengthening the SBS Network: Inaugural Alumni Class Presidents’ Roundtable

Strathmore University’s Business School (SBS), renowned for its commitment to developing ethical and transformative leaders, continues strengthening its ties with alumni through strategic engagement initiatives. Recognizing Africa’s immense and largely untapped economic potential—spanning natural resources, youthful populations, and emerging markets—SBS has positioned its alumni as key stakeholders in driving sustainable development across the continent.

In line with this vision, the inaugural SBS Alumni Class Presidents’ Roundtable was held on Friday, 28th March 2025, at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, convening alumni class leaders for a high-level engagement with the Executive Dean, Dr. Caesar Mwangi. The forum offered a unique opportunity to reflect on the evolving role of business education, reinforce alumni collaboration, and co-create pathways for meaningful impact.

In his keynote address, Dr. Mwangi highlighted Africa’s urgent need for ethical and transformational leadership. Using compelling global comparisons, he underscored the continent’s potential: Africa, with 1.4 billion people and a GDP of $2.7 trillion, remains resource-rich yet lags behind Japan (GDP of $4.5 trillion, 125 million people) and Texas, USA (GDP of $2.7 trillion, 30 million people). He stressed that Africa’s advancement hinges on three critical pillars: trust and accountability, which form the foundation of sustainable development; ethical leadership, essential for combating corruption and promoting equity; and the inspiration of future generations to uphold integrity and drive meaningful, long-term transformation.

The roundtable was rich with dialogue, yielding actionable insights. Key among them was the proposal to establish an Alumni Endowment Fund dedicated to supporting scholarships for financially disadvantaged students. This initiative would cement the alumni’s legacy of giving back. Participants also recommended acknowledging alumni contributions in lasting ways, such as naming library wings, classrooms, or specific seats in honor of key donors.

The alumni passionately advocated for increased participation in CSR initiatives, reinforcing the school’s ethos of service to society. They also called for the revitalization of mentorship programs, encouraging closer partnerships between alumni and students across undergraduate, postgraduate, and master’s levels to enhance career development, networking, and industry exposure.

A recurring theme was the need to strengthen support during the research and dissertation phase, often cited as a critical barrier to timely graduation. Vinita Saini shared her personal experience as the only student in her cohort to complete her master’s program on time, emphasizing the challenges of balancing academic, professional, and personal demands. She urged the school to find innovative ways to ease this process for future cohorts.

Alumni also expressed enthusiasm for reintroducing alumni interaction trips, reflecting on the deeper bonds formed during past leisure trips, which fostered lasting connections beyond the classroom. Another innovative idea was the creation of an Alumni-run Incubation Center to nurture business ventures and facilitate collaboration, mentorship, and accountability among alumni.

Alex Munyao offered a powerful testimony, detailing how his SBS experience emboldened him to enter public service by vying for a parliamentary seat. Though unsuccessful, he remains committed to transformative leadership within government. He stressed the importance of alumni holding one another accountable to uphold SBS’s values and maintain integrity in their respective spheres of influence.

This event underscored SBS’s commitment to harnessing the power of its alumni network in shaping Africa’s future. As SBS continues to grow its global impact, alumni leaders reaffirmed their dedication to advancing the school’s mission of developing ethical, innovative, and impactful leaders across the continent.

Article by Joseph Wanjohi