By Angela Osodo

On Wednesday, November 2, 2022, the Placement and Career Services office (PACS) hosted the Joyride Podcast, Dairyland Campus Tour, and Creatives Workshop as part of its ongoing effort to support students in the creative industry. The Joyride Podcast is run by renowned Kenyan content producers Wanjiru Njiru and Ben Cyco, and it aims to inspire, educate, and entertain by sharing stories about life and its journey.

The event's moderator, Nyawira Gachugi, kicked things off with a jigsaw puzzle competition for the students, with prizes for the victors. Dairyland Marketing Manager Milan Kabata, who was also present, gave a quick overview of the nature of the contest for content creators and the rewards for the winner.

Ben and Wanjiru, the event's main speakers, led the discussion by outlining their backgrounds and early careers in the creative sector. Wanjiru astounded the audience by sharing that after earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance, she ran a lentil and chapati delivery service to make ends meet while saving money to pursue her passion of content production. The same is true for Ben's work; it took him more than 5 years to land his first job, secure sponsorship for his career as a content creator, and earn his first KSH 200,000.

The Q&A session was especially interesting because it was clear that a large number of students at USIU-Africa are already involved in content creation and are looking to expand their involvement as a form of business. Some of the topics covered included how to make a brand unique, the financial sustainability of the content creation business, beginner problems, and so on.

The highlight of the event was the awarding of the best performers in the Podcast competition, with the top ten winners receiving a variety of Dairyland goodies. Teddy Otieno finished third, Otieno Issa finished second, and Ashley Mambo finished first. Aside from being the Joyride Podcast's brand ambassador, the winner received a content creation toolkit, training on influencer marketing, and membership in a networking group of other brand ambassadors.