From a Student to a Thriving Businessman

A St Jude's alum from three years ago, Livingstone has recently graduated from university and is already managing a thriving business he co-founded as a student. His story is one of determination, confidence, and daring – a true personification of St Jude's motto: Challenge yourself.

Livingstone's love for entrepreneurship goes back to his student days at St Jude's. While in secondary school, he teamed up with a friend to start a poultry business, marking the start of an exciting entrepreneurial journey. Over the years, Livingstone explored several ventures in various industries, such as food and agriculture.

"I am grateful that I was able to start my entrepreneurship journey from a young age. This provided me with many opportunities to learn from my mistakes, build my confidence, and explore my interests," reflects Livingstone.

St Jude's holistic approach to education provided Livingstone with an ideal space to cultivate his skills. The extracurricular activities at the school, including the Entrepreneurship Club and the promotion of student-led initiatives, create a fertile ground for students like Livingstone to develop and pursue their business ideas.

"At St Jude's, they teach us to use our talents and skills to create solutions to existing problems within our communities," explains Livingstone. "As an aspiring entrepreneur, this opens up opportunities to develop businesses out of the solutions," he adds excitedly.

A good application of this mindset came during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As with most cities, residents of Arusha limited their movements, inspiring Livingstone's next business idea.

"I launched a food delivery business that became very successful," says Livingstone. "At its peak, I was selling up to 50 plates a day of makande (a traditional Tanzanian meal of beans and maize)," he adds proudly. 

After completing his secondary school education, Livingstone joined the Beyond St Jude's Scholarship Program (BSJSP), which supports graduates with tertiary education. While at university, Livingstone launched his most successful business yet.

"I noticed that students at the university wanted to eat healthily, but they didn't have much choice because they were busy," explains Livingstone. "So, my business partner and I came up with a brilliant idea of delivering healthy, nutritious porridge in takeaway cups around campus," he adds.

Livingstone put all his marketing and management skills behind this idea. He spent weeks researching and developing a signature formula for his product, followed by special branding and free offers to first customers. Within only 13 weeks, the business grew tenfold, enabling Livingstone to expand its operations and employ others to assist with production and supply chain.

"It became so popular that even my lecturers were calling in to place their orders," says Livingstone with a smile. "More and more people were replacing their morning breakfast with a handy cup of porridge," he adds proudly.

The business opened up more opportunities for Livingstone and his business partner. The pair were provided an office at the university's Business StartUp Centre, a special incubation program for promising entrepreneurs and start-ups on campus. As the business grew, so did his reputation, and soon enough, Livingstone began receiving invitations to workshops, seminars, and spaces for emerging entrepreneurs within and outside the campus.

"I had to figure out how to balance my time as a student and an entrepreneur wisely," says Livingstone. "This experience hasn't just been about building a successful business but my character as well."

Livingstone recently graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Insurance and Risk Management. He plans to continue growing his business and has expanded his products to include porridge flour, soya milk, and tomato paste. His strong business acumen, determination, and strong foundation at St Jude's will surely make him a successful entrepreneur.