BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering. Class 2017.
Owner/Managing Director Name Lamoxi LTD (Kenya).
Your Career
I am currently the owner of Lamoxi LTD. A startup, currently at the seed funding stage, based in my Home country, Kenya. After spending time in the resin manufacturing industry, I decided to set up my own company. My vision is to transform my country's manufacturing landscape as it relates to resin production. I come from a continent that contributes to less than 3% of global GHGs.
Despite contributing minimally to climate change, Africa is considered one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change and its impacts due to factors like its huge dependence on agriculture for livelihood and limited adaptation capacity. With a growing young population, I hope to help leapfrog traditional forms of development by banking on green technological modes of development and catapulting my country and continent at large to be a green development benchmark. I hope to use my expertise and academic background to make this possible.
How would you summarise your Swansea University experience?
One word to describe it would be 'transformational'…
My time at Swansea University gave me exposure to what is possible and what I could achieve. The academic journey was immersive, and I felt fully supported through my journey. I honed my skills which are still useful today.
What are your top 3 favourite things about Swansea?
The fact that I was at a university quite close to the beach is an understatement. The campus facilities were well maintained, and it was easy to get any resource possible at the huge University libraries. During the summers, my friends and I would visit the pier by Mumbles and have ice cream all afternoon long. The city was also vibrant and international. I was able to make friends quite easily and the Welsh natives were very welcoming...not just at the university but even off campus...
Why did you choose to study for your degree at Swansea?
Swansea University is ranked as one of the top universities in the UK. I felt it was a good choice for my chosen field of study. The city where the university is located is affordable to live and study in. The university was also very responsive and supportive during the very first encounters I had with them via email. They would be fast at responding to any questions I had. I felt accepted from the start.
Would you recommend Swansea University to someone thinking of going to University?
I would recommend Swansea University as the best place to study. Apart from the quality education the university provides, the team at Swansea have been able to mould the campus to accommodate everyone regardless of where you come from. The facilities are top-notch, and the academic team is fully supportive from the start till the end. The courses are well mapped out and easy to follow through as long as you put your mind and effort into it. The two campuses. Singleton and Bay Campuses are in serene environments.
How did your degree prepare you for your career?
My chosen field of study gave me exposure to chemical processing principles. This knowledge was fundamental in forming my love for the subject and industry. The transferable skills I also learnt along the way are still useful to me today. I can express my thoughts verbally and on paper clearly. My critical thinking skills also come in handy whenever I am faced with huge manufacturing/day-to-day business development problems in my professional career. My field of study is also applicable in several industries and this me great flexibility to fit in despite the varied business products.
What advice would you give to students who want to pursue your career?
Be always hungry to learn beyond the classroom. One of the things you will quickly notice is that things are a bit different in the industry. The fundamentals you learn in class will come in handy, but you need to go the extra mile and learn more when you are in the industry. You will be entrusted with projects that need more outside-the-box thinking. Aim to have sustainability at the forefront of everything you do. Also, use your time in university to build up a network of friends who you can help each other out in future.
