Fellowship

I worked with ADMI to develop processes for monitoring and evaluation and grant writing. Monitoring and evaluation allows ADMI to best meet the needs both of their students and the rapidly changing digital landscape in Kenya. It also provides data that enables ADMI to tell their story about the impact they are having on the lives of young creatives and the creative economy. Grant writing is an opportunity to generate additional funding to grow their amazing programs. It is both exciting and rewarding to be involved with such a dynamic group of people bringing innovative, jobs-focused education to the creative community.

I joined ADMI in late 2015 to help set up the Foundation and work on the first Digital and Creative Media Accelerator boot camp, which was targeted at startups that were about to scale up. One of the most critical lessons from this experience was not only understanding how individuals, from students to entrepreneurs, can be assisted in their own personal journeys towards success; but how that individual success goes on to do the incredible work of building Kenya’s creative economy. ADMI does invaluable work in carving out space for creatives to develop their skills, and helping them situate their vision within a greater framework. ADMI dares to dream big, and teaches all in its community to do the same.

I left London in October 2016 ready for a new challenge, in a new country. I came across ADMI soon after I got to Nairobi, and was inspired by its vision and ethos. After nearly four years in corporate London, it was a real breath of fresh air. My background was in communications, so we’ve focused on helping refine the school’s messaging to drive new recruits and to promote ADMI globally. In three months, I’ve seen so much progress across the board- ADMI is growing rapidly, to even bigger and better things. It’s been fantastic to be a part of this movement and inspiring group of people, while also getting a taste of working life in Nairobi. The passion here is contagious, and the results are plain to see with more and more students getting placements in digital and creative industries. ADMI is transforming opportunities for Africa’s digital generation!

As I was planning my relocation to Nairobi in early 2017, I joined ADMI as a Partnerships Fellow. In this short-term role, I crafted ADMI’s global outreach strategy, setting up the Foundation and Advisory Council. I also helped ADMI secure investment and accreditation partners worldwide. My assignment gave me a fresh appreciation of the African creative media industry and the benefits of providing youth with the skills they need to become self-supporting entrepreneurs or professionals. I also enjoyed the chance to work with the young, dynamic, and motivated ADMI team. I recommend this experience for anyone looking to understand Nairobi’s exciting entrepreneurship space. Come ready to be inspired!

I took a career break to join my partner in Nairobi for 3 months and was fortunate enough to be connected with the Africa Digital Media Group. I was exposed to all three entities through project management of process mapping for Africa Digital Media Institute and visioning sessions for Africa Digital Media Studios and Africa Digital Media Foundation. I took away a huge amount of knowledge about the creative industry and the challenges and opportunities of operating a start up in Kenya. I loved the energy of the founders and the team and continue to follow their success in building a sustainable creative ecosystem across Africa!