Twelve fourth-year students stepped into the world of management consulting to demonstrate they have what it takes. The Nawiri @BCG Fellowship is one of the most sought-after opportunities at Strathmore University, with only a handful of students selected each year. For the sixth cohort, the road to those coveted 12 slots was as much about teamwork as it was about individual ability. During the Case Challenge, students came together, tackled complex problems, tested ideas, and learnt how to work under pressure, all while competing for a place in the fellowship.

Some of them eventually made the cut but had hardly expected to. Hellen Nzisa expressed that she was pleasantly surprised when she was selected. What began as a pursuit of knowledge would, in her words, become something that genuinely changed her life. That element of surprise was shared by others. The selection process pushed students to put themselves forward, collaborate with people they had just met and demonstrate what they could do.

Over eight weeks, the 12 fellows worked together on real-world challenges spanning the private, public and social sectors, guided by professionals from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). They wrestled with ambiguous problems, analysed data, built presentations, received feedback and learned to turn complex information into clear, compelling stories. And, as anyone who has worked on a demanding team knows, things did not always go according to plan.

At one point, one team discovered that they had lost all their work because they had not backed it up. Their only option? Start again. It was frustrating at the moment, but it became one of the fellowship’s more memorable lessons. In consulting, just as in life, resilience sometimes means taking a deep breath, going back to the beginning and getting the job done.

The experience went beyond technical skills. Again and again, fellows found themselves being challenged to speak up, defend their ideas and communicate clearly, even when the pressure was on. Okwudili Ujubuonu shared that this was one of the biggest transformations of the fellowship.

“My confidence grew so much through this programme,” he says. “Interacting with a diverse group showed me how differently people think based on their backgrounds. I learned to communicate my thoughts seamlessly and defend my perspectives even under intense pressure.”

Others found the power of the experience was in the people around them. “Collaborating with such articulate and effective peers was inspiring,” Mukundi Witness Chingwena says. “By taking intense corporate hurdles head-on, I have walked away with lifetime lessons that have prepared me for the challenges of the professional world.” The transformation was professional and personal as well. The fellowship helped them embrace feedback as a tool for growth.

“I learnt the importance of the human element, meeting peers who truly cared about my perspective and learning how to embrace feedback to grow quickly,” shared Hellen.

These snapshots capture what makes Nawiri @BCG distinctive. In Swahili, Nawiri means “to thrive” and the fellowship is designed to help talented young people do exactly that. A partnership between Boston Consulting Group and Strathmore University, through the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences (SIMS), Strathmore University Business School (SBS) and the Strathmore School of Computing and Engineering Sciences (SCES), the programme gives students an opportunity to experience the realities of management consulting first-hand.

They learn how to approach problems without obvious answers, make sense of imperfect information, use data to build an argument, create compelling presentations and respond constructively to feedback. More importantly, they learn to trust their voices. The ability to walk into a room, organise your thoughts and articulate an idea clearly, whether you are completely confident or figuring it out as you go, is a lesson that extends far beyond consulting. The eight weeks also reinforced another truth: great work rarely happens alone for the fellows.

The journey that began with students competing for 12 places ultimately became a shared experience of learning, supporting one another and growing together. The pressure of the Case Challenge was replaced by the pressure of delivering as a team. The people who began as competitors became peers, collaborators and, potentially, lifelong members of the Nawiri @BCG community. The 2026 cohort now joins a growing alumni network at Strathmore. Since the fellowship began in 2021, more than 10 Strathmore graduates have secured professional roles at Boston Consulting Group through the programme, while others have joined the firm independently. Alumni continue to give back by returning as mentors, coaches and guides for the next generation.

The sixth cohort comprises Abdullahi Issa Mohamed, Abraham Mugwe, Austin Muendo, Azhar Abeid, Hellen Nzisa, Jason Wachira Kamwaro, Mukundi Witness Chingwena, Najma Wanjiku Ahmed, Natasha Neema Mwangi, Okwudili Ujubuonu, Sandra Chebet and Zyll Terryline Osogo.

According to these 12 fellows, completing the programme is evidence of how far they can go when they are willing to step forward, work with others, speak up and keep going when things don’t go according to plan. They entered the fellowship competing for an opportunity. They leave it equipped to create opportunities of their own.

Article written by Chrispinous Omondi