22 yr old student CEO makes a mark in career mentorship

At just 22 years, Isaac Gabantu, a Communications student at Daystar University, is making a name for himself. As the General Manager of Sketch Careers, Isaac is leaving footprints in the lives of young students still weighing their career options.

”Sketch was started by my good friend called Edwin Maganjo back in 2009. He came back to Kenya after completing his A Levels in the Uk and tried looking for internship during the year before joining uni,” Isaac explains.

According to Isaac, his friend found it hard to secure an internship. ”This is when he came up with the idea to start a company that would help young people get internships. He was only 18 years old but he was focused and driven.”

Isaac recounts seeing the first Sketch Careers event being advertised on TV in December 2009.

”I couldn’t believe that such a young guy could start a company. I remember thinking to myself that I had to meet him. I was so unfocussed at that point in my life (it was right after high school). I went out of my way to contact Edwin and set up a meeting for early 2010.”

Isaac justifies his actions by saying that most successful people have to be go-getters. ”They see an opportunity and they take it.”

”During our first meeting, I pitched an idea to Edwin and he told me to go back to his office the next day. Before long, I became part of the Sketch team and soon Edwin appointed me as the GM before he flew out of the country.”

Sketch Careers has been in collaboration with a number of high schools.

”We help high school students make prudent career choices and to get some job experience. We’ve worked with schools like Makini, Moi Girls and Riara Springs,” explains Isaac.

”We offer a number of services at Sketch such as training forums and talks. By getting involved in this, high school students are able to network and get professional exposure. Most of them manage to get jobs right after high school.”

What’s the future of Sketch Careers? Isaac closes by simply saying, ”We want it to continue as it is, clear and simple: Sketching young people’s careers.”