Ep 14: #Laikipia to #Morocco, Working for a $12B Revenue Firm & the Climate Space -Joseph Wambugu

Joseph Wambugu is climate specialist for Eco Securities, a global carbon consulting firm. He was born and raised in rural Laikipia, where he attended local schools. His life took a surprising turn shortly after completing high school when he was awarded a last-minute government scholarship to study in Morocco. With only two weeks to prepare, no knowledge of French, and very little information about the opportunity, he found himself navigating a foreign country on his own. Despite these challenges, he persevered, learned the language, and eventually earned a Master’s degree in Agronomy and Rural Development. Upon returning to Kenya, Joseph spent seven years working in the agriculture sector, supporting large-scale farm projects across Africa. Driven by curiosity and determination, he later made a fully self-taught transition into the climate change space—a shift he describes as far from easy, but entirely possible. His commitment to continuous growth led him to a competitive two-year management trainee program at Strathmore Business School, sponsored by Massey Ferguson, a Fortune 500 company (USD 12B revenue in 2024). He later joined them in full-time employment during the program, which only took up half of his time, Joseph began driving for ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt to supplement his income, as the stipend was just $300 per month. Surprisingly, he earned twice as much from taxi driving, which opened his eyes to its income potential. This side hustle evolved into a family-run business—he has since purchased several vehicles and hired drivers, mostly from rural areas, whom he finds more dedicated and appreciative than seasoned Nairobi taxi drivers. Today, his passionate about climate finance and carbon credits, viewing them as powerful, untapped assets for Africa—assets that offer a more dignified and sustainable alternative to traditional foreign aid and charity models. His journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and a deep belief in the untapped potential of young Africans when given the right opportunities. #morocco #carbon #innovation #resilience #uber #EXPLOETV To find out about him and connect with his work   / joseph-wambugu-9a953a59   Media reference: https://www.the-star.co.ke/sports/bas... Time stamps Scholarship to Morocco 5:59-9:28 Opportunities for scholarships 9:44-11:25 Planning in two weeks 11:33-14:09 Life in Morocco 14:23-18:37 Engineering in Agriculture 19:17-22:28 The ingenuity of Morocco 22:34-24:48 AGCO Fortune 500 firm 29:18-31:58 Uber business 33:46-35:50 BYD, e mobility opportunities 37:50-40:08 Climate 43:13-45:51 Aggregation of projects 51:43-54:45