Margaret Nyamumbo, a Kenyan who owns a Ksh881 million Coffee Company in the US, made headlines after she left millionaires jostling over a stake in her firm, Kahawa 1893.
Appearing on the Shark Tank Show, she wowed potential investors with her pitch, demonstrating a grasp of knowledge of the coffee she sold and the business world.
However, convincing the multi-millionaires to invest in a product from a country most had not been to required more than a good story.
Kenyans.co.ke looked at Nyamumbo's educational and career background which immensely contributed to her sealing a Ksh44 million investment deal.
Nyambumbo has training in economics and statistics and attended some of the best schools in the world. This equipped her with the theoretical skills to start and run a successful business.
Between 2007 and 2011, she attained two degrees, a Bachelor of Economics from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Economics and Statistics from Smith College, Massachusetts.
She then joined Analysis Group, an American-based economic consulting company, as an analyst in economic, financial and strategy consulting.
Nyamumbo then left for the World Bank in September 2013 and joined the Financial and Private Sector Development as an analyst for a year.
In 2014 the entrepreneur returned to class for a Master's degree in Business Administration at Harvard Business School, which is arguably the best in the world. She graduated in 2016.
She then joined Citi Bank as an investment banking associate then banker before she established Kahawa 1893 in 2017.
Her education and career helped her seal a great deal, despite several attempts by the 'sharks' to convince her to surrender more stake in her company for the same amount she requested for.
When she walked into the room, she planned to sell only five per cent of her company for Ksh44 million. While the investors were impressed, they demanded 12.5 per cent of the company.
At one point two investors agreed to combine their money to pay her Ksh88 million for 25 per cent of her company. Nyamumbo however countered their offers and managed to seal a deal.
After a series of proposals and counter-proposals, she agreed to surrender eight per cent of her company for the investment she required.
In addition, she was selected to work with Emma Grede, one of America's richest self-made women as listed by Forbes magazine, with whom she hoped to learn a lot from.
