Providing business acumen with the Acumen Fund in Kenya

We have started working with the Acumen Fund who are based in New York,  they deliver developmental training and opportunities across a variety of countries. To give you a taste of how our work fits in, we invite you to check out their blog for a chatty overview of their activities. Below is an excerpt that captures the spirit of their approach:

Excerpt from the Acumen Fund Blog

"Early on the second day, a tall, bespectacled lady stood and introduced herself. She was the leader of 'the death squad'—the Financial Skills Trainers.

But something was different here. First, she was jovial—unlike most financial management lecturers, who tend to wear a scrunched face as they slowly overwhelm you with jargon and calculations.

Our dear lady introduced herself as Ms. Winnie Ouko. Along with the other trainer, Eliza Helweg-Larsen, Winnie was there to guide us through a basic financial skills course. Our expectations ranged from learning how to read financial statements to even healing from the trauma inflicted by traditional financial lectures.

The training was unlike most financial courses—it was delivered through a game, somewhat akin to Monopoly. Little did we know that Eliza was the co-founder and inventor of a family of simulation games designed to teach finance. Each group received a board and “cash” ($80,000) representing our equity. We bought land, machines, and launched production. We then ran our companies for “12 months,” closing our books each month to produce financial statements. Learning finance had never been this sweeeeeeet!

By the end of the day, terms like ratios, balance sheets, net worth, and cash flows were at our fingertips."

Our Perspective

At our organization, we are truly delighted to work with engaged professionals who are passionate about making the world a better place through the commonsense realities of business. Our mission is to provide financial literacy and solid business acumen—grounding learners in practical, experiential approaches that cut through the usual jargon.

Whether you’re an individual seeking fresh insights or an L&D professional orchestrating company-wide training, our collaborative efforts with partners like the Acumen Fund help us ensure that learning remains dynamic, relatable, and immediately applicable.

Conclusion

The whole world is in front of you, ready and waiting for your energy and ideas. We believe that embracing practical, game-based financial training not only sharpens decision-making skills but also paves the way for more innovative, inclusive learning experiences.

Go for it, my friends!

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