Brian Ongwae stands at the threshold of his life at twenty-four, with a world of possibilities ahead of him. Born and raised in Kisii, Kenya he journeyed to the bustling metropolis of Nairobi in search of new opportunities. Luckily, his two sisters and brother were already established in the city, making the transition less daunting.
When he arrived, he bought eggs from farmers and resold them but the profit was tiny. He heard about Solar Sister and the opportunity of being a Sales Agent and decided to try selling clean cookstoves. He liked the product and was enthused about the business training.
Brian’s effervescent personality and love for meeting new people were tailor-made for salesmanship. However, he soon discovered that the art of persuasion required more than just charm and wit. The Solar Sister training program helped him develop the patience and empathy to connect with his clients. He learned to listen actively and communicate persuasively through role-playing and hands-on exercises.
“The training from Solar Sister has helped me to be patient and let people talk. We did role-playing in class, and that helped me to have the courage to talk to people about my products.”
The customers who’ve purchased Brian’s clean cookstoves have been impressed with their efficiency and reduced harmful emissions. Brian takes pride in knowing that he’s making a tangible difference in the lives of his customers and the environment.
While he enjoys his current work, Brian would like to attend business school. But for now, he understands that he needs to save up for tuition fees and take one step at a time.
“If you are over eighteen, you depend on yourself,” he says. “I have to save money for school fees. Right now, I am excited about going out and talking to people and selling the clean stoves.”