From Chico to Nairobi: Entrepreneurship Class Gets Immersive Global Taste of Business

When Cherie Higgs first stepped onto Chico State’s campus in 2020, the Oroville native was just hoping to earn a degree.

Over the years, the lead recruiter for Chico State’s College Corps Program has achieved this and much more—taking on leadership roles at the College of Business’ Center for Entrepreneurship Club and the Black Student Union, interning at a local business and tech incubator ChicoStart, and founding her own business Beautiifully Blended Essentials—by constantly pushing herself to be an authentic leader.

This past summer, Higgs (Public Health, ’23) reached another peak in her personal development thanks to a lift from Sarah Kimakwa’s groundbreaking upper-division business management course, Social Entrepreneurship. The hybrid format course combines topics that ignite the creativity and passion of Gen Z (social impact, sustainability, community building) with international travel, making it a first-of-its-kind in the College of Business. Higgs joined six students from Chico State and others from California State University, Los Angeles, and California State University, Northridge on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, where they spent two weeks collaborating with a cohort from Strathmore University.

As a united group, they toured a range of businesses, attended workshops, visited markets, and bonded over meals—with the goal of co-creating social enterprises that address the biggest challenges in their respective communities while also adding economic value. They discussed issues ranging from food and housing insecurity to climate change and public health resources, looking at ways these manifest in both Kenya and the United States. Their comprehensive itinerary included visits to coffee plantations, textile and jewelry manufacturers, recycling startups, and the nation’s premier wildlife viewing destination, Maasai Mara National Reserve.

“We toured a complete range of businesses—big, small, rich, starting up—and learned from all of them,” said Higgs. “There’s a real sense of community there, where people are working together to make things happen, and it reminds you of what we get wrong here in the States.”

As an entrepreneur, community builder, and working professional, Higgs said the opportunity to step outside her comfort zone like this was life-changing.

“It was truly amazing—I learned so much in two weeks and just want more of what I experienced there,” she said.

The first portion of the course connected students from California and Nairobi via Zoom. They discussed business models and case studies and learned more about the core principles of social entrepreneurship—a term referring to business ventures prioritizing social and environmental impact.

“I developed this program in partnership with Strathmore University in Kenya so that students from both Chico State and Strathmore University become one cohort,” said Kimakwa. “We’re living in a global economy, so students need to have a broader perspective of how to do business globally with different cultures. They also need to understand that social issues are not unique to one region. Climate change has become universal. Food insecurity exists in all communities.”

The second half of the course takes lessons from the classroom to the field. On June 28, Kimakwa and her students joined their counterparts in Africa.

“This generation cares deeply about social issues, and this class is about helping them bring their ideas to life in a way that’s sustainable, profitable in the long run, and focused on addressing issues they care about,” Kimakwa said.

It took over two years to build the curriculum, partnership, and funding pool to make this course a reality. For Kimakwa, one of the most satisfying aspects of the trip to Kenya was the instant connection between students from the United States and Africa.

“Once we were there and students met face to face, it was magical,” she said. “All of the international barriers between them came down and they were instantly talking and sharing ideas. It’s like they could naturally speak the same language because this generation is so passionate about similar things. Their shared values can shape the future of business.”

Higgs and her counterparts found the experience exhilarating to collaborate with peers from Strathmore and learn in a fresh environment.

For Higgs, the trip also allowed her to connect with her ancestral history.

“Being an African American in Northern California, there’s a serious sense of loss and need and longing for knowledge and wanting to know where I come from, what tribe do I come from,” she said. “To be on a campus with so many Black students was liberating and powerful for me, and I hope others are willing to take that trip to experience what it feels like to be in that environment.”

To make this trip possible, the students received some financial support from the University Foundation, the College of Business Advisory Board, and Student Learning Fees, which were used to offset some of the travel costs. Suzanne Zivnuska, interim dean of the College of Business, also joined the cohort.

“This course is a pivotal step forward in our expansion of international education. Programs like this help our graduates become culturally competent global citizens,” said Zivnuska. “Students were transformed by their experience in this course. They came away with a deeper sense of purpose regarding the power of social entrepreneurship to improve lives.”

For many students, the course allowed them to travel internationally for the first time.

“What makes it exceptional is the chance to engage firsthand with global perspectives and challenges, further broadening my understanding of business dynamics on an international scale,” said Sirena Rios, a junior majoring in business. “As a first-generation student, I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to travel across the world, let alone for such meaningful work. I hope that my cohort and I can inspire more students to participate in this course, and to continue to offer transformative experiences for other Chico State students and beyond that.”

For Kimakwa, who grew up in Kenya and earned her doctorate at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, this class builds on her broader goals.

“I want to see poverty eradicated from the world. That’s my passion and personal mission,” said Kimakwa. “Poverty is about so much more than money. It’s about access to information, community, and resources. Our students already understand this and want to change the world through socially conscious businesses—we need to provide the mentorships and opportunities to fuel their passions.”

For more information and to support students wanting to enroll, please contact Kimakwa at skimakwa@csuchico.edu.