“I chose Karisimbi Partners over working with a Fortune 500 consulting firm in the United States and I’ve never regretted it. Working with this company has helped me to understand ‘doing business’ as opposed to ‘learning a job,’ and I know that this will pay dividends for my entire professional career… Not to mention the opportunity to contribute to the development of one of the poorest countries in the world which has been extremely meaningful.”
– Jon Porter
2012 Karisimbi Fellow
“Although I was passionate about problem solving and working in the consulting world after college, I wasn’t excited about opportunities in San Francisco, New York or D.C. My time as a Karisimbi Fellow has been an incredible combination of challenge, responsibility, and meaningful work. I often feel like I’ve joined a family, and, looking back, I’m so thankful that the values and priorities of Karisimbi Partners are the ones that are shaping my experience in the working world.”
– Mary Lansden Brewbaker
2014 Karisimbi Fellow
Karisimbi Fellows
Program Description
Rwanda-based strategic advisory and investment services firm, Karisimbi Partners, is currently receiving applications for intake into our 2020 Fellows Program. We are excited to provide a challenging leadership position with one of Rwanda’s fastest growing professional services firms in a dynamic emerging market environment. This opportunity is ideal for young professionals with a recently completed undergraduate or graduate degree in business administration or related field, looking to get hands-on experience assisting businesses and entrepreneurs in the developing world. Karisimbi Fellows have the unique opportunity to work directly with management and leading CEOs, senior government officials and many of the most influential international organizations and donor organizations in the world. This Fellowship offers a strong reputation and unique platform to help grow private sector capacity in Rwanda and East Africa. Since 2014, Fellows have moved into permanent roles with Karisimbi Partners, started their own business or social enterprise, entered high-level positions at leading global firms like Facebook and received scholarships to leading graduate programs, such as Columbia Business School and the University of London.
Program Details
- Location: Kigali, Rwanda
- Duration: 9-12 months with cohorts starting in August 2020
- Travel: Occasional local and regional travel required depending on project assignments
- Compensation: A stipend will be provided to the Fellow to cover housing and offset some costs of living
- Reports to: Director
Job Description
- Research: perform various types of primary and secondary research for client engagements ranging from interviewing farmers to online market research to interviewing suppliers
- Client Deliverables: contribute to the creation, quality control, and presentation of findings through client deliverables or client presentations
- Client Engagement: assisting client communication and managing project expectations
- Analysis: consolidate research and lead excel-based financial and market analysis
- Project Management: building and managing basic project management/budgeting tools and holding internal teams accountable to deadlines and targets
- Internal Projects: manage internal initiatives and firm-building projects
- General Administration: basic administrative tasks, including: printing of materials, managing client requests, creation of proposals, data collection, etc.
Personal and Professional Characteristics
- Alignment with Karisimbi Partners’ vision
- Self-starter with demonstrated ability to succeed with limited oversight and direction
- Comfortable living and working in a multi-cultural environment (developing country experience strongly preferred
- Ability to navigate ambiguous information environment while maintaining a results focus
- Clear and professional written/verbal communication skills
- Solid analytical and financial aptitude and effective project management skills
- Strong proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel; advanced skills preferred
- Strong capacity for relationship building related to clients, partners and other senior officials in the private and public sector
- Ability to analyze and document complex business processes
- Management consulting experience highly desirable
- Professional and/or academic references that speak to high level of integrity, honesty and humility
Education and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or any related field
- Master’s degree in Business Administration or any relevant field is an added advantage
*Applicants should be no more than six months beyond graduation when starting*
Rolling admissions. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to [email protected].