This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
On a quiet Sunday morning, Navalayo Osembo, 31, sat under a tree, enjoying the sunshine and the shade. She was the co-founder and CEO of Enda Athletics, a Kenyan brand that specialized in making sportswear.
Published on November 9, 2019, by Business Daily's Top 40 Under 40, Navalayo's journey with Enda began when she was nominated for the prestigious award. The first time I met her, we settled for an interview outside her office, where she works most of the time. She prefers the outdoors, where the ambiance is great and there are fewer distractions, except for her cat, which wants a cuddle.
As we caught up, a man approached Navalayo and complimented her shoes. The shoes came in red, green, and black, with white midsoles representing one of the colors on the Kenyan flag. Navalayo humbly took the compliment, not introducing herself as the proprietor of Enda Athletics. Instead, she shared her vision: "I don't want fame. What I need is success. I want people to familiarize themselves more with the shoes and less with me."
Navalayo's LinkedIn page described her as a runner-in-training, but she revealed that she was also a sports fan who started a sports academy in Bungoma, her hometown. She wanted to create a product that would give nuance to the Kenyan story, beyond their reputation as a running nation. "I wanted to change that narrative," she said.
In 2015, while Enda was still in its formative years, Navalayo moved to New York City with her family, where she worked as an accountant. Three years later, they returned to Kenya, and Navalayo had to make a difficult decision: leave her job or abandon the business. She chose to stay with Enda, citing her business partner, Weldon Kennedy, and her own determination to succeed.
Navalayo's journey with Enda has not been without challenges. Raising capital has been a significant hurdle, as the business requires significant resources for production and marketing. Additionally, some customers have complained about the cost of the shoes, which retail for Sh10,000. Navalayo acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the importance of quality and intentionality in every item produced.
As we concluded our conversation, Navalayo shared five lessons she had learned from her journey with Enda:
- Character exceeds genius: it is better to work with someone of integrity than a dishonest genius.
- Fear of failure should never stop you from pursuing your passion.
- Life is one, and you should not settle for mediocrity.
- Your environment impacts you, so seek an environment of excellence.
- Work both smart and hard, being tactical and aware of the winds of change.
