For most of us dropping out of school may seem like the end of the world but this man took to it to himself to make the world better as a high school dropout; not from inheritance but by building the Mara Group of companies from scratch.
Ashish Thakkar began his journey as a high school student in Uganda where he sold computers to his schoolmates and friends.
“I dropped out of school after finally convincing my family that selling computers was temporary and I was just testing the waters . After some intense convincing, my parents agreed to let me start my own business on the condition that I would go back to school if it didn’t work out. The rest, as they say, is history.” he recounts.
With the help of his parents, the last born with two elder sisters, Ahuti and Rona, branched out and started offering credit to other businessmen.
“Today, Ashish is the founder of Mara Group, which has more than 10,000 employees across 22 African countries (as well as UAE and India). The company’s annual turnover is in excess of $100 million (Sh8.76 billion), and according to the Financial Times, the Mara Group is valued at “slightly above” $1 billion (Sh87.6 billion),” read The Standard.
The 32 year old, who studied in Kenya at St Mary’s along Nairobi’s Raphta Road, is a man passionate about the growth and development of Africa and focuses most of his energy on commercial and philanthropic initiatives across the continent. The company now has tentacles in everything from real estate and tourism, financial services, information and communications technology, renewable energy and manufacturing.
According to The Standard, Ashish has won a tonne of accolades, most recently the MTV Base Leadership Award at the June MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) held in South Africa. He also became East Africa’s first astronaut and only the second African after South Africa’s software mogul Mark Shuttleworth.
Are you wondering if he considers going back to school? Here is what he says,
“Education is good. However, informal education is much more important and valuable in life than formal education. Mentorship and vocational skills training build up an individual.”
Ashish advices entrepreneurs that, “The only way you are going to grow is if you keep on planting. if I feel I have succeeded I do not let it get to my head, I go out and see what others are doing and I get back to working. I have never settled.”
He also feels that success should never be measured by wealth but by the impact one has made and the lives they are changing.
“Ethics, making an honest living and giving back are what make you successful. I am saddened by the fact that many of us have got the wrong perception and associate money with success,” he adds.
The market worth of his bank which is listed on the London exchange is worth $850 million (Sh74.5 billion).
Now, that is something to challenge you to get out of your comfort zone and work harder.
Courtesy: The Standard
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