Some dreams are inherited while others are chosen. But for Shalyen Gichuru, who is graduating with a Diploma in International Relations (DIR), it was a little bit of both.

Long before she walked through the gates of Strathmore University as a student, the institution had already become part of her family’s story. Her father had spent years consulting for the Strathmore Business School, her brother graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (BCOM) degree in 2022 from the same school, and her mother, a public university lecturer, never seriously considered another institution when it was time for her daughter to pursue higher education. It was a no-brainer.

However, when Shalyen enrolled for DIR in 2024, she wasn’t simply following in familial footsteps. It was the beginning of a journey she believes will one day allow her to make a meaningful difference in the lives of marginalized communities globally.

Two years later, she is graduating with a diploma while simultaneously pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce (BCOM), which she started in April 2026. Although many would never think to combine the two disciplines, Shalyen is deliberately blending them, and she tells me that to her, the connection is obvious.”I’ve always been interested in world issues,” she says. “I wanted to work with international organisations and businesses that contribute to development, so pairing International Relations with BCOM felt like the right path.”

Her ambition extends beyond building a successful career in international business development. She dreams of working alongside international organisations to support vulnerable communities, particularly women and migrants navigating unfamiliar environments and the discrimination that often accompanies them. Whether that future leads her to the United Nations, an international NGO or eventually her own firm, she knows the common thread will always be helping people.
“I genuinely enjoy seeing people thrive,” she tells me. “Everyone deserves an equal chance, but that’s not always the case. I want to be part of changing that.”

That desire to serve was shaped long before university. Growing up, she watched her father collaborate with organisations supporting communities across Western and Northern Kenya and listened to stories of the challenges women and marginalised groups faced. This further deepened her understanding of global inequalities and strengthened her resolve to contribute to solutions rather than simply observe them.

Ironically, for someone driven by compassion, Shalyen says Strathmore’s demanding academic culture has helped sharpen qualities that will prove equally valuable in the workplace. “The environment encourages you to learn,” she explains. “Everyone around you is working hard, and it pushes you to do the same.”

She particularly appreciates the University’s interactive approach to teaching. Rather than memorising content, students are encouraged to research independently, present ideas confidently and engage in classroom discussions. For someone naturally curious, it was exactly the kind of learning environment she needed. “It’s not about cramming. I have to understand something for it to stay with me.”

Those countless presentations, collaborative projects and discussions have also strengthened her public speaking and leadership skills. As an ambivert, she credits group assignments with pushing her beyond her comfort zone and teaching her how to work with and lead people from different backgrounds.

Looking ahead, Shalyen has become less concerned with mapping every detail of her future. “As a perfectionist, I realised life doesn’t always go according to plan,” she reflects. “Now I focus on what I can control.”

One aspiration, however, has remained constant. After gaining experience in the professional world, she hopes to return to Strathmore, not as a student, but as a guest lecturer. Teaching runs deep in her family. Her grandparents were teachers and established a school, her mother lectures at a university, and several of her relatives have dedicated their lives to education. Continuing that legacy, she believes, would be another meaningful way of helping others grow.

As she celebrates her Diploma in International Relations and continues her Bachelor of Commerce journey, Shalyen leaves fellow students with advice shaped by her own experiences. “The end of something is the beginning of something new,” she says. “Don’t hold on to things for too long. Let them go, keep growing, and trust that something better could be waiting for you.”
For someone whose greatest ambition is to help others find opportunity, it is fitting that she views every ending not as a loss, but as the beginning of a new possibility.

Article written by Maurine Kirambia