My passion is to impact lives positively using tech

Osman Varwani, my passion is to impact lives positively using tech

Education: Memon Academy Nursery & Primary in Mombasa, Starehe Boys Centre, Nairobi, and Minnesota, USA, for a degree in Information Technology and Business Management. 

Experience: I have taken up senior and regional management roles with Aga Khan Health Services Kenya, MTN Business Kenya and the Wananchi Group before founding the Innovus Group, a business consultancy and technology solutions provider with presence in Mombasa and Nairobi. I have served the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology under TVET as Council Chairman and presently Council Member of the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic. I serve as a member of the Advisory Board of SwahiliPot Hub Foundation, a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rotary Club of Mombasa and Chairperson of the Memon Community in Mombasa.

Awards/recognition: I was awarded the Wilson Shield of Computing Excellence. My paper “ICT & Flexible Skills Training & Life Long Learning” presented at the Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA) Conference in Maseru, Lesotho in 2010. I was among the Top 100 Most Influential Muslims in Kenya in 2019, and did a TEDx talk, which was published by TED.

First job/salary: My first job, as a high school leaver was at International Computers Limited, Sarit Centre Nairobi as MS-DOS trainer where I used to get about Sh3,000.

Worst/best job: My best job is what I do now, self-employed and practicing what I am passionate about whilst giving back to the community. I would never tag any employment as ‘worst job’ for every job and position of service has taught me, groomed me and empowered me.

First/current neighbourhood: My childhood memories are mostly in Moons and Stadium Area of Mombasa and presently, I reside in Mzizima (Bondeni), not far off from where I was born. Life’s journey brought me back to my hood!

One thing you can’t give away: My passion to touch lives and create social impact through technology and be of service to community, our nation and humanity at large.

Best advice: My mentor says - Niyyah (Intention), Imaani (Faith), Bidii (Effort). Do what you love most, believe in yourself, work extremely hard and in the process, try and touch, even if it were, one life positively.