Isuzu East Africa has hosted students and faculty staff from New York University’s Stern School of Business Executive MBA (EMBA) program, reinforcing the company’s commitment to providing specialized knowledge and solutions in the automotive and business sectors.
The Executive MBA (EMBA) students comprising 58 executive-level leaders, accompanied by three staff members visited Kenya for a week-long Global Immersion Experience (GIE), an immersive learning opportunity taken abroad.
(TOP: Isuzu East Africa board chair and MD Rita Kavashe speaks to students and faculty staff from New York University’s Stern School of Business Executive MBA – EMBA – program visiting the company for an immersive learning opportunity. The 58 senior leaders in the GIE were from industries spanning financial services, sales and marketing, healthcare, consulting, media, and entertainment).
The senior leaders in the GIE – organized as part of a for-credit course – were from industries spanning financial services, sales and marketing, healthcare, consulting and media/entertainment.
The visit to Isuzu East Africa aimed to introduce the students to leading and innovative companies and organizations that have ‘’contributed to and remain important to Kenya’s economic growth.’’
Speaking during the event, Isuzu East Africa’s board chair and MD Rita Kavashe, said: “Kenya and Africa have a young population, which presents opportunities for business growth. We are pleased to host you so that you can gain a deeper understanding of the business landscape in Kenya and East Africa,” Rita said. “We are thankful to New York University for giving us this special visit in the region.”
The executives were presented with an overview of Isuzu East Africa’s brand partnership with Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge. The discussions also covered the region’s trading blocs and tariffs, the company’s production capacity, challenges and opportunities within the automotive industry. Additional topics included skill development and acquisition, as well as the initiatives of the Isuzu East Afrca Foundation, focused on corporate social responsibility in road safety, education, and environmental sustainability, guided by Dr. Fred Wasike, Isuzu East Africa Director of HR and Corporate Sustainability.
As a leader in transport solutions, earning customers for life, and carrying out sustainable business, Isuzu East Africa is dedicated to corporate hospitality and education, aiming to enhance knowledge and industry best practices while fostering strong relationships.
In July last year, Isuzu East Africa hosted 25 executives from the CEO Apprenticeship Program (CAP) Uganda, visiting the country for a one-week leadership course culminating with industry engagements. The executives were drawn from diverse sectors in Uganda including agriculture, telcos and media, banking, insurance, pharmaceutical and healthcare, education, parastatals and Uganda Airlines.
In August 2024, Isuzu EA also welcomed 40 Executive MBA students from the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), experiencing a comprehensive look into the regional automotive landscape. The students were participating in a one-week module on Doing Business in Africa at Strathmore University Business School.
In January this year, Rita welcomed Hisayuki Fujii, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, to the Isuzu East Africa Plant, accompanied by Hiroshi Matsuura, Japan’s Ambassador to Kenya, and a delegation of 50 representatives from various Japanese companies.
The visit showcased Isuzu EA’s assembly operations, industry leadership, and contributions to Kenya’s automotive sector.
“Company visits are central to the Global Immersion Experience (GIE), and provide valuable real-world applications to the theoretical concepts and skills they learn in the classroom,” said Dr Erin Tanaka, Associate Director, Global Immersion Experience, NYU Stern School of Business.
“I have been in many GIE, but this one has been extensive and fascinating to understand the full scale of the company’s processes. There has been so much grace in each interaction. We were happy to meet you and visit Kenya. It is a beautiful country,” she concluded.
The visit closed with a guided plant tour of the assembly process.
Isuzu East Africa is the leading motor vehicle assembler in East Africa, selling a wide range of Isuzu vehicles. The company is starting out from a solid foundation established by the Isuzu brand’s automotive excellence over the last 50 years. The brand has attained strong leadership in this market, selling over 150,000 units since the first Isuzu vehicle rolled out of its Nairobi assembly plant in 1977.
With over 15 models in its line-up, the Isuzu brand has dominated the new vehicle segment for 13 years in a row since 2012, achieving a market share of 60.2% in the commercial vehicles segment by end of 2024. This is a testimony to customer confidence in its vehicles and excellent aftersales service. With the financial and technical support resources behind it, Isuzu East Africa is well established to meet customers’ needs through an extensive dealer network (Sales, Parts, and Service) in all the major towns in East Africa.
In 2024, Isuzu East Africa became the official importer, assembler, distributor, and full-service provider of UD Trucks brand in Kenya.
NYU’s Stern School of Business Executive Programs was founded in 1982, and the programs have been rated by the Financial Times among the top Executive MBA programs in the world. The students are all fast-track business executives. The average EMBA student is 39 years of age with 17 years of work experience.
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