Leadership, in my experience, involves learning from those more experienced and taking it a step further

to better yourself and become someone that people can look up to. I recently joined my current place of
employment as an Assistant Engineer and for three months, I had to work with low-level employees who
have had over 20 years of experience and some, were not comfortable with my training with them so that
I could be their manager. During this period, I learned that most of my subordinates were looking for a
manager who would understand that they are more than just employees at the workplace. My primary task
became to learn to draw the line between personal and professional. It came as a shock to me and some of
my colleagues that something as simple as asking how someone is doing before delegating tasks boosts
employee morale and they are more enthusiastic to carry out their duties.

Leadership, especially for a young leader, becomes more than being in charge but also understanding that
there is life beyond the workplace. Some circumstances tend to be unwelcoming to many people and
taking time to appreciate that a person's performance is affected by more than just the workplace is a
minor but important leadership quality.

Mechanical engineering is a broad subject with several areas of specialization. I specialized in Thermo-
fluids and Energy management. While on campus studying for my undergraduate degree, I developed
networks by joining societies, attending award ceremonies and seminars promoting renewable energy in
Africa. I met my mentor (Mr. Anthony Gitahi)during The Energy Management Awards in 2016 and he
encouraged me to look beyond the energy sector while I was still young in the profession. After
graduation, Mr. Gitahi introduced me to some local engineers working in various other industries
including automotive and robotics, manufacturing, research, and academia.

I decided to test the waters by interning at the various industries before settling for my current
specialization, Manufacturing Engineering. My most rewarding connection to date is with Professor
Kaoru Maruta of Tohoku University, Japan. I first interacted with him while researching alternative fuels.
In the process, he offered me an internship at his laboratory for three months in Japan, where I worked
closely with experts on the subject.

Mentorship and working under experienced engineers has been the most effective form of learning and
growth for me. In 2016, I started mentoring young girls from my former high school in STEM-related
subjects and most of them went ahead and pursued courses in Science, Engineering, and Technology. The
wisdom passed on to me by my mentors helped me be a better mentor.
My father owns a small capacity milk processing plant in my hometown. He purchases and processes
fresh milk from local farmers and produces cheese and yogurt.I would like to help him increase the
capacity of the plant so that the company can reach out to more farmers for fresh milk and a wider market
for the finished product.
In the long run, I would like to open a metal fabrication shop. I intend to produce fittings and fixtures
used in construction and manufacturing sectors including sheet metal, an assortment of nails, bolts and
nuts, and construction beams. The main aim of the plant is to provide high-quality products at low costs
as well as offer employment opportunities.

I would also like to start a proper mentorship program for students and young graduates. This will be a
program that will offer candidates an insight into their future career paths and open up networking
opportunities for them. Eventually, through proper partnerships and mentorship, the program will be able
to place graduates to suitable jobs and positions to create employment for others.

A post-graduate degree in Engineering with Management would go a long way in helping me achieve
these goals. I also believe that the Chevening program will help me become a more all-rounded engineer
and entrepreneur for my mentees and community.

Having worked in various engineering sectors in the last four years, I intend to take my technical skills to
the next level as well as develop and enhance my managerial skills. For these reasons, I would like to
pursue a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering with Management in the UK. I have applied to three
various institutions to better my chances of admission.
My first choice is MSc Mechanical Engineering and Management at The University of Glasgow in
Scotland because of the flexibility of the engineering units as well as the wide range of management
courses offered. The management part of the course encompasses marketing, operations, human resource,
and project management units which help develop an all-rounded manager whereas the engineering
content advances the design and problem-solving skills already acquired at the undergraduate level.
My second choice is MSc Mechanical Engineering with Management at Queen's University Belfast in
Ireland. This program entails modules such as Manufacturing Technology and Sustainable Engineering
Systems which explore modern engineering techniques that are versatile across all engineering fields, as
well as Business Management and Enterprises that are advantageous to an aspiring entrepreneur.
My third choice is MSc Mechanical Engineering with Management at the University of Exeter in
England. This taught program is backed up by world-class research in modern engineering problem-
solving skills as well as strategic and competitive management modules that form an all-rounded
engineer.
I would like to study in the UK because in addition to having some of the best universities in the
world,Scotland,England and Ireland have an abundance of cultural,historical and social activities that I
would like to experience during my study period.