Interview with Jed Van Sciver

Passionate entrepreneur and EFAC supporter Jed Van Sciver recently visited Kenya. In addition to asking him about the many trip highlights, we focused on the entrepreneurship workshop Jed held for EFAC scholars during the Bridge-to-College Workshop, encouraging them to think critically and creatively to imagine a business that provides a solution to a current problem.

EFAC: After knowing about EFAC from your parents, EFAC’s Co-Founders, and being involved as a sponsor for so many years, what things surprised you the most during your visit?

Jed: Having spent three months in Kenya in 1998, I had a good understanding of what the rural infrastructure, and culture looked like, but surprisingly this was my first EFAC visit to see the Nairobi operations, and I was very impacted by the community, conviction, and impact of the organization.

EFAC: What organizations did you visit?

Jed: We visited Wepro, an organization created by an EFAC alumnus, which is a community organization focused on providing a football (soccer) program aimed at creating a safe productive environment for the youth. We also visited St. Mary’s Boys school, The Kibera School, Alliance Girls School, and a potential new school in the Mara.

EFAC: Did you get to meet the any of the students you sponsor? What was that like?

Jed: Yes, I currently sponsor two students and was fortunate to get to spend time with both. Nicholas has just graduated High School and is going to University to study education. He was participating in the entrepreneurship workshop, so I got an opportunity to see him in action. My son Miles, who is eleven has been writing back and forth with him for years and didn’t leave his side the whole time we were with him.

Hadassa is a student at Alliance Girls School and we got to visit her school and meet all of the current EFAC students there. She is the captain of her volleyball team, a top student and also involved in extracurricular clubs. Her positivity and gratitude for our support was touching to say the least. She gave me what I call “the hug that changed my life.”

EFAC: You held a workshop on Entrepreneurship for the students who are headed off to college. What were your impressions about their enthusiasm for innovation, especially as they were all in a big transitional moment in their lives.

Jed: I’m passionate about entrepreneurialism and tend to talk a lot when I get started. I felt like almost all of the students were generally interested in what I had to say. They were interactive, they asked questions, and I saw glimpses of my advice in their presentations. I think that given the employment situation in Kenya [high unemployment], educating these students on how to create opportunity with the skills they are learning is critical. I can’t wait to do another one.

EFAC: Was the workshop tied to changemaking (ie, in addition to developing a business, it was to be a business that would create change for the better)?

Jed: It was impactful to me how important the role of social contribution and addressing the issues that negatively impact their community and culture is to these students. My impression was that they truly care about the improvement of Kenya and do understand that they have a responsibility to take the skills they have had the opportunity to develop under EFAC, and apply them to the improvement of their community and betterment of their peers. My father has always spoken of the EFAC butterfly effect and how that has been his true goal and measure of program success. From my experience during this trip that has been achieved.

EFAC: What impressed you the most?

Jed: Getting to spend time with the students was humbling. The work ethic, integrity, ambition, and commitment of these young men and women was inspiring. I had an opportunity to work with some of the recent high school graduates and spent about an hour with each of the groups one on one as well as getting the honor of participating as a judge in the entrepreneurship competition.

EFAC: Many of the students didn’t even know yet what they would be assigned to study in university. Do you think that hindered their thinking/participation at all?

Jed: Honestly I would say that the percentage of students who knew what they wanted to do was much higher than you would have found with my graduating class in New Hampshire. I was impressed with the focus and direction I witnessed.

EFAC: What would your advice be to students who are assigned to study something based on test scores, if that something ends up not being their passion? 

Jed: I am partial to the adage “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” The caveat is that you have to plan and be patient. You need to take jobs based on what pays the bills, but always learn from that and try to tailor it towards the long-term goals you have set for yourself.

EFAC: What’s next? Do you imagine you will return to Kenya? Any students you connected with who might now become mentees?

Jed: I will be taking a more active role in supporting EFAC as a result of this trip and its impact on me. I will be returning frequently and am considering another potential trip in October. I did meet up with an alumni who was sponsored by one of my best friends and college roommates. He and I have communicated about his career over the years. I got to meet him at the graduation celebration at ANU. He is engaged in starting his own business and he and I have had a call since to provide guidance in building out a formal business plan to be used for a capital raise. I’m excited to continue working with him and other young entrepreneurs that come out of the program.

EFAC: Anything else that you’d like to add about your visit?

Jed: I just keep bragging about the people I met, but Id like to give a special shout out to my new friend Ian Odhiambo who also spoke to some of the graduates about the journey he had through EFAC. He was nice enough to invite me to his place of work and to meet his boss at a really cool company called Elewa. Ian has a bright future ahead of him and is a shining example of what a Kenyan student can do with the EFAC opportunity.

Student Reflections on the Entrepreneurship Workshop:

My perspective on Jed’s entrepreneurship session was that an entrepreneur will face a lot of challenges, especially the capital, but one has to be determined and strong-willed to make it through. Being outgoing and networking well, for example attending seminars and workshops, and selling your idea to the market are some of the ways you can increase your chances of success. - Eve A.

The session was an eye opener. One has to find sustainable measures to ensure they remain in the market long enough, and offer better services than others to ensure they remain at the top. One must be flexible enough to see every opportunity to make money. Identify a niche in the market and turn that into a business. - Esther M.

When we were first doing design thinking, it sounded like a complex topic, but as we went on it kept getting easier. Jed pointed out missing details in our project and gave us a new way of thinking about it, out of the normal way. His session was on point.” - Loise W.

From the first session, I learned that even if we are coming up with a project to help others, we should make sure that we get the largest share of the profit since we are the ones who came up with the idea and contributed the most resources. This will keep the project growing and motivate us.

From the second session, I learned ways to increase one’s chances of success:
1. Market Yourself. No one else will market you as well as you.
2. Make Yourself Relevant. Keep up with the trends.
3. Identify a Gap. Seek a way to fill it.
- Braise M.