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George Wachiuri is a born-again Christian real-estate entrepreneur, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and published author. He was born and grew up in Kieni, Nyeri County in Kenya from a peasant family whose main bread winner was his mother. This is after his father, who was a teacher by profession, died in 1978 leaving him and his siblings with their mother who had not gone through formal school. The family would thus result to menial jobs in the village in order to make ends meet.
George later graduated from the University Of Nairobi School Of Business with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Master’s in Business Administration in 1997 and 2005 respectively, he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. Degree at Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology (JKUAT). Today, George is the Chief Executive of Optiven, a diversified Kenyan firm with investments in real estate, hospitality, insurance, and recreation.
As a philanthropist, George is the Chairman and Trustee of Optiven Foundation, the soft arm of Optiven. The proceeds of his three books ‘Soaring like an Eagle’, ‘After the Plunge’, and ‘Unleash your full Potential’, go to Optiven foundation. The three books are available on Amazon. George sits as a Board Member at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) where he serves as an advisor of the land sector board. He is also a board member of Brook Hurst International School. George has three children, two sons, and a daughter.
Values
- Hard Work: George is a hard-working business leader. Through his hard work, he managed to build the Optiven and all the other 8 brands under the company.
- Passion: His passion to give back to the community and the less fortunate has seen him establish the Optiven Foundation which is a charitable organization.
- Integrity: As an iconic business leader, George is one who has always acted in accordance with his words by being honest, trustworthy, and reliable.
- Ambitious: George is an ambitious entrepreneur with a strong desire and determination to succeed in everything that he does.
- Commitment: Without commitment, George would not have achieved his goals in life nor those of his brands
Some of the Awards and Appreciations that he has so far received include
- 2021: Winner in the Leadership Category – Utumishi Bora Awards
- 2021: Business Leader of The Year: 1st Runners Up – The National Business Leadership Awards
- 2018: 1ST Runners Up – National Diversity & Inclusion Awards (DIAR Awards)
- 2017: Best Entrepreneur – Africa – Diaspora Entertainment Awards & Recognition (D.E.A.R) awards
- 2016: Executive Leadership Network Appreciation (Business Leaders Forum)
- 2015: Mashujaa Awards (USA) – Best & Most Innovative Entre¬preneur, Business & Entrepreneurship
- 2015: Ernest of Young (EY) Appreciation of Contribution during the year 2015/16 Budget Seminar
- 2014: KEPSA & Ministry of Devolution and Planning honorary recognition for invaluable contribution as a mentor to Kenya Youth Empowerment Project (KYEP) Training and internship Program.
- 1997: Entrepreneur of the Year – University of Nairobi (UoN)
Academic Achievements
- Currently Pursuing PhD Degree at Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology (JKUAT)
- Masters of Business Administration from University of Nairobi
- Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing Option) University of Nairobi
- Certified Public Accountant – CPA (K)
Brands Founded
1. Optiven Real Estate – https://www.optiven.co.ke
Optiven Real Estate is a trailblazing African real estate brand whose main vision is to empower property investors and transform Society. Optiven Real Estate is focused on offering transformed plots of land to customers, by enhancing them to suit immediate residential settlement, commercial purposes, and futuristic capital gain. Optiven Real Estate is a one-stop-shop offering a two-step model for homeownership solutions to its customers.
This real estate firm has the over the years continued to provide reasonably priced properties for the Eastern Africa communities and has been playing a critical role in helping to bridge the housing deficit in the market.
The firm under the able stewardship of its founder and CEO, George Wachiuri, is on a mission to create an environment that positively transforms the staff, customers, and other stakeholders through offering state of art products and services.
Guided by core values of professionalism, honesty customer obsession, and innovation, Optiven aims at creating over 30, 000 direct employees by the year 2030. The Firm’s achievements continue to be distinguished and trusted both in Kenya and internationally.
As a market leader in the property sector, Optiven has received numerous accolades, such as; The Best Employer in East Africa 2019 by East Africa Best Employer Brand Awards, overall winner’s trophy in the Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies Survey, 2014/2015 by KPMG, and Nation Media Firm and the Best Company in Customer Orientation & Marketing in Kenya (COYA AWARDS) – 2015.
2. GMC Fun Place – https://www.funplace.co.ke
GMC Fun Place based in Kitengela, along the busy Namanga Road, just before Acacia Junction is George Wachiuri’s brainchild, offering a perfect answer to the human need of being happy. This friendly facility seeks to generate the highest form of fun, happiness, transformation, and family love.
The establishment is an oasis of family transformation, offering hundreds of families an amazing, state-of-the-art, convenient, and fun-filled children’s park, where children indulge in the best games, as their parents enjoy well-cooked meals.
GMC Fun Place also has a restaurant, meeting rooms, a swimming pool, events gardens, and a carwash, all targeting various needs of the clients, such as; weddings, birthday parties, concerts, festivals, Firm parties, kids Christmas parties among others.
3. Eagle Peak Spur , The Hub Karen – https://www.facebook.com/SpurAtTheHubKaren
This is the best steakhouse and burger restaurant in Nairobi. Bases at The Hub – Karen, this hospitality stablishment offers a warm, relaxed, family-friendly environment; generous portions of great tasting food; and a hearty helping of quality. The establishment is well known for its great tasting steak, ribs and burgers. Eagle Peak Spur – The Hub, Karen, also undertakes deliveries, just to help its customers enjoy a tasty experience right at the comfort of their home.
4. Optiven Homes – https://www.optivenhomes.co.ke
Optiven Homes aims to providing 100% satisfaction to those keen on building their dream homes. This strategic business unit endeavors to deliver to its customers; solid expertise and outstanding experience. Optiven Homes is focusing on developing residential homes within Nairobi Metropolis and surrounding counties.
The projects under Optiven Homes include; Winners Gardens, Kenol / Makuyu; Love Gardens, Kajiado Township, Amani Ridge; The Place of Peace, Kiambu, Victory Gardens Phase 3, 4, 5, Kitengela; Garden of Joy, Machakos County; Shalom Gardens – Kantafu; Vision Gardens, Konza, Abundance Gardens – Konza, and Furaha Farms – Kajiado County.
5. Optiven Foundation – https://www.optivenfoundation.org
Optiven Foundation is a private charitable organization registered in Kenya to advance ideas and support institutions to promote a better world. The foundation works through donations and volunteer work. Over the last 6 years, Optiven Foundation has supported initiatives to advance education for needy students, preserve the environment, improve lives and livelihoods for senior citizens, provision of food in marginalized counties, and promote health.
6. Optiven Go-Green Initiative – https://www.optivengogreen.com
The Go-Green initiative is propelled by Optiven Foundation, which is a soft arm of Optiven. The initiative recently hosted a successful Optiven Go-Green Awards 2021, which sought to catalyze the push for a cleaner and sustainable planet. This first edition of the awards focused on 9 essential Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and sought to honour and recognize friends of the planet.
Winners for this first edition of the awards were involved in efforts that align with either one or some of the nine SDGs (curved off the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals for these particular Awards) including; Goal Number 13 on Climate Action; Goal Number 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy; Goal Number 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities; Goal Number 15 on Life on Land; Goal Number 14 on Life below Water; Goal Number 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Goal Number 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation; Goal Number 1 on Poverty Eradication and finally Goal Number 2 on Zero Hunger.
7. George Wachiuri’s School of Mentorship – https://www.georgewachiuri.com/school-of-mentorship/
George is one person who believes in mentorship and for that reason, he started his school known as George Wachiuri School of Mentorship. The 6 months mentorship program targets young and focused people with a certificate, diploma, or degree in sales and marketing. With his 22 years-experience, George is thought to be one of the best in the sales and marketing field.
Launched on August 1st, 2020, the program offers a mentorship program that covers 26 key topics and Q & A practical sessions of 3 hours per week. The mentees are privileged to meet professionals in the sales and marketing field under his company, Optiven. These professionals train them and give them a chance to familiarize themselves with the Optiven process.
The program aims at boosting entrepreneurship, job creation thus reducing crime rates in society. Currently, because of COVID, classes are done via zoom and the first and second cohorts have already graduated, with the third one starting 1st November. For one to graduate, they must have attended 70% of the classes and submitted all assignments on time. Aspiring mentees will require only Ksh 1,000 for the registration fees and, graduation is free.
“The best leader is not the one who manages people but one who develops people, and for you to develop people and manage resources, you need to understand these people. The rule of a leader is to inspire people and, once you inspire them, they will come together, buy the vision and be able to buy the brand and market it.” As the leader of Optiven, George offers inspirational leadership to his team and, this has helped market and sell the brand with success.
George also offers free mentorship to colleges, schools, forums, workshops, and through his YouTube channel, Blog, and Facebook page.
Awards
George Wachiuri has so far bagged dozens of awards that include:
- 2021: Winner in the Leadership Category– Utumishi Bora Awards
- 2021: Business Leader of The Year: 1st Runners Up – The National Business Leadership Awards
- 2018: 1ST Runners Up – National Diversity & Inclusion Awards (DIAR Awards)
- 2017: Best Entrepreneur – Africa – Diaspora Entertainment Awards & Recognition (D.E.A.R) awards
- 2016: Executive Leadership Network Appreciation (Business Leaders Forum)
- 2015: Mashujaa Awards (USA) – Best & Most Innovative Entrepreneur, Business & Entrepreneurship
- 2015: Ernest of Young (EY) Appreciation of Contribution during the year 2015/16 Budget Seminar4
- 2014: KEPSA & Ministry of Devolution and Planning honorary recognition for invaluable contribution as a mentor to Kenya Youth Empowerment Project (KYEP) Training and internship Program.
- 1997: Entrepreneur of the Year – University of Nairobi (UoN)
George Wachiuri’s Books
George Wachiuri is a published author, and has so far penned 2 best-selling books, Unleash Your Full Potential and Soaring Like an Eagle. His third book, The Optiven Way, is in the pipeline.
1. Unleash Your Full Potential
‘Unleash Your Full Potential’ is the perfect book for those who are struggling to know how prepared they are to start a business or grow their existing businesses. In this book, George offers critical nuggets to anyone who wishes to grow their business into a successful empire. He shares the exact steps he took in building Optiven to what it is now.
Inside the pages of this book, the CEO discusses the effects of social media, power of teamwork, place of vision, time management, marketing, and innovation in building a business. Reading ˜Unleash Your Full Potential’ will help you to know what you must consider in starting, running, and expanding your business. By the end of the read, your passions to realize your full potentials will all be sweltering.
This book is for anyone who dreams of building a business empire and creating jobs in a country where unemployment is a norm. If you are stuck and do not know what to do with that idea that you are obsessed with if you are anxious about what your business will resort to, if you do not have the information to start a business, ‘Unleash Your Potential’ will surely be your trusted reference point.
Why unleash Your Full Potential?
If you are yet to start your business, this book will guide you to start your business right away. It will help you in getting ready to begin your Startup. This book is thought-provoking. It will not only charge you to evaluate your entrepreneurial skills but also turn you into a great critical thinker.
The ins and outs of building your own venture: George takes an in-depth analysis of every aspect of an organization; from idea development, selecting a winning team, organizational structure, building the product, marketing strategy, and implementation.
At one point or another, we have all been exposed to some form of adversity in our lives. Depending on our attitudes and how positive we handle them, these hardships have the capacity to make or break us. This is what life teaches us.
2. Soaring Like an Eagle
Soaring Like an Eagle is the story of George Wachiuri, aptly narrated in his memoir. It is the story of a determined young man from some little village called Laburra, who is stopping at nothing to break all the shackles that suppress him. It is about breaking from endless poverty and hopelessness. It is about the epic rise of a young but focused man, from the lowest levels of paucity to the highest levels of academic excellence and top corporate leadership in Kenya.
‘Soaring Like an Eagle’ is about helping people to learn how to make the right decisions even when faced with difficult challenges in life. It is a book that overflows with wisdom for those who dream of attaining great success in life.” says Mr. George Wachiuri. Soaring Like An Eagle is a book that will motivate you to pursue your dreams regardless of any obstacles along the way. Your success depends on your attitude towards life!
This is a classic book authored by Mr. George Wachiuri, the CEO, Optiven. The greater news is that 100 percent of the proceeds from this book go to charity work under the soft arm of Optiven’s Optiven Foundation.
A copy goes for only Ksh 1, 000 or USD 10 at Text Book Centre, KU Bookshop, Prestige Bookshop along Mama Ngina Street, or from the author at Optiven Limited offices at Absa Towers, 14th and 15th floor.
What Can We Pick From Soaring Like an Eagle?
The first take-home from the book is that your success depends on your attitude towards life. Throughout the book, George highlights major areas in his life where a positive attitude has helped him achieve success and be who he is today.
This book will inspire you to become a go-getter who can achieve whatever envision. It will help you realize that you have an inherent capacity to become a person of great success and positive influence. Soaring like an eagle will leave you all fired up and exceptionally encouraged. More importantly, it will lay bare, the hardships that George faced to be the great and Philanthropic person he now is.