Nyambura and her sister Wachuka are the founders of Ikigai, a co-working space that has redefined offices.
Nyambura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, US. She also has an MBA from Columbia Business School.
“Wesleyan University is a liberal arts college and attending a liberal arts school taught me how to think critically and dream. At Columbia, I learned the principles of business. I believe the culmination of critical thinking, imagination, and dreaming allowed me to work together with Wachuka (sister and co-founder) to create a vision for Ikigai,” she says.
She is fascinated by social interactions and the role of physical spaces and how the two come together.
"Do not let anyone tell you that you are too ambitious, too loud, or too anything. I would encourage women to trust their power, trust their intuition, trust their strength, and embrace their authentic selves."
“I make spaces that create opportunity for connection between people because that is what life is about: Connection. We also think about how to bring nature into our spaces whether they are garden locations or spaces in commercial buildings,” she says.
Ikigai has focused on wellness from day one, but her sister and co-founder’s chronic illness inspired her to focus more on wellness and entrench it in business, broadening the spectrum to include the eight dimensions of wellness.
Standing inside looking out, what would she tell younger women coming into the business? “Do not let anyone tell you that you are too ambitious, too loud, or too anything. I would encourage women to trust their power, trust their intuition, trust their strength, and embrace their authentic selves.”
Giving back? “I think education can grow the mind of an individual and afford them the chance to take advantage of opportunities that come up, so I support several children through school in Kibra and beyond. I also have supported waste management initiatives in Kibra. Those two (education and the environment) are very close to my heart,” she says.
Ndugu Abisai