The NST Chair Kelvin Kuria (dressed in the yellow t-shirt) leading from the front, or is it ‘being the show stopper’
One chilly Friday morning I was walking down the streets of Nairobi. My normal curious self notices a group of people hurdled in front of a public notice board scribbling notes and copying contacts frantically on their phones. Out of curiosity, I walked towards the board rest I missed out on some “once in a lifetime become a millionaire opportunity”. Imagine my surprise upon realizing that they were job adverts on a colorful public board. While walking away, I couldn’t help thinking how effective the board would have been if it was online.
Two years ago, I was just a random guy walking in the busy streets of campus. This was not till I met this great organization called AIESEC and my whole life literally changed. Just like the board, the benefits of being in AIESEC are both Public and somewhat disturbing.
Somewhere down the AIESEC journey, I stumble upon a role so profoundly labeled as NST (acronym for National Support Team) and off go applying with my curiosity at the fore front again. An empowering review and an acceptance email later, I am part of the team that supports the National Board of AIESEC Kenya in operations. (I wish this was a conversation so that someone can ask me how it’s been so far but I will answer the question all the same.). Working in the NST has been an enormous challenge that brings with it a satisfaction and learning experience so great you can hardly imagine.
Imagine a seventeen person team gathered deep from the most experienced of AIESEC points, all with a deep passion for personal development but possessing a specific and developed talent skill set. Now stop imagining and try remembering the notice board story. That is the NST team for you, very visible yet with a very simple job role to it. Aid the National leadership board in implementation of strategy and overall development of the AIESEC organization.
An enthustiastic Kelvin Kuria during the NIS 2011 photo session.
As the chair of this amazing team, my role is not supervisory but supportive, not management based but direction oriented. Mine is to make sure that these prolific individuals do their jobs effectively and have fun while at it. In more diplomatic terms, my role in the team is that of a driver, the car is owned by the rest of us (but please note that I have a share in the ownership as well)
In conclusion, the NST team is one that has been thought out with the precision of a surgeon and the design of an automobile. Without the engine, the car is pretty much just an idea. Without YOU, the NST is just a cool acronym without any real impact and meaning. This, my dear friends is my little way of saying thank you for being with us this far and my great way of asking you to keep on keeping on because as some of us will tell you” the rest is still unwritten”
Yours CHAIRly,
Kimani Kelvin Kuria
NST 2012 TEAM CHAIR.
AIESEC Kenya NST 