30growth <strong>an</strong>d <strong>in</strong>creased sales. I go over next quarter targetswith <strong>the</strong> team <strong>an</strong>d recommend bonuses for ourtop performers.At 7 am, I have my weekly one-hour project m<strong>an</strong>agementcall with my team currently work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Maryl<strong>an</strong>d. Theassignment is a multi-million dollar logistics m<strong>an</strong>agementproject for a big telecom comp<strong>an</strong>y that has saved <strong>the</strong>client almost $150 million nationwide. I receive <strong>an</strong> emailfrom Accenture expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g that my team atta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>the</strong>fastest deployment nationwide for a second time. When I<strong>in</strong>form my team, everyone is very excited <strong>an</strong>d motivated. Ilet <strong>the</strong>m know d<strong>in</strong>ner is on me after work.Its 8:15 am now, <strong>an</strong>d I quickly drop <strong>of</strong>f my four <strong>an</strong>d fiveyear old children at school. We chat about <strong>the</strong>ir artprojects along <strong>the</strong> way.At 9 am, I arrive at <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> healthcare comp<strong>an</strong>yI consult for <strong>in</strong> Fairmont Park, where I oversee a programthat helps people with disabilities become ga<strong>in</strong>fullyemployed. It is very reward<strong>in</strong>g <strong>an</strong>d challeng<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong>same time. I meet with a potential employer to advocatefor <strong>an</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividual <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> program. With one more jobsecured this morn<strong>in</strong>g, we are at 90 percent success rate<strong>of</strong> match<strong>in</strong>g our <strong>in</strong>takes with <strong>the</strong> right employers.It’s 12 noon now, <strong>an</strong>d I feel hungry, so I drive down toKilim<strong>an</strong>jaro Restaur<strong>an</strong>t <strong>in</strong> West Philly for lunch. I ordermy favorite lamb special which really tastes good. Overlunch, I chat with a friend who is start<strong>in</strong>g a new bus<strong>in</strong>ess,go over his two-page executive summary, <strong>an</strong>d make somerecommendations on access<strong>in</strong>g citywide resources.At 1 pm I return back to <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice respond<strong>in</strong>g to emailsfrom clients. At 2:15 pm, I receive a call from <strong>an</strong> unknownnumber on my cell phone, which I pick up <strong>an</strong>yway. It’s aclient whom I helped complete his gr<strong>an</strong>t application for<strong>the</strong> merch<strong>an</strong>t fund a while back. He calls to say th<strong>an</strong>k youas <strong>the</strong> gr<strong>an</strong>t has been approved for $10,000.<strong>an</strong>d addresses preventive health issues <strong>in</strong> Africa <strong>an</strong>d <strong>the</strong>United States. We approve four scholarships for youth atfour different schools <strong>in</strong> Philadelphia <strong>an</strong>d decide to make<strong>the</strong> donations at <strong>the</strong> schools next Tuesday. I also give aprogress report on a new community water system <strong>an</strong>dschool build<strong>in</strong>g WiN has just helped rebuild <strong>in</strong> EasternNigeria that accommodates 100 students.I look up, <strong>an</strong>d it’s 5:30 pm. I quickly drive down toCourage Center <strong>in</strong> Overbrook Park where I teach <strong>an</strong> artclass to help children develop <strong>the</strong>ir creative abilities,underst<strong>an</strong>d money m<strong>an</strong>agement <strong>an</strong>d entrepreneurship.Today I am teach<strong>in</strong>g about 20 students (ages four totwelve) how to make collage pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>an</strong>d t-shirts. We allvote on <strong>the</strong> best shirt, which earns a $20 gift card fromme. The kids are really excited, <strong>an</strong>d it’s a high po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong>my day even though I am tired. After <strong>an</strong> hour pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g,we come toge<strong>the</strong>r as a group <strong>an</strong>d make one big piece<strong>the</strong>med “Peace, Love <strong>an</strong>d Happ<strong>in</strong>ess.” The kids love it <strong>an</strong>drecommend we h<strong>an</strong>g it <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> hallway, which we do.By now, its 7:30 pm. I drive home with my two boys <strong>an</strong>dwife, who have been part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> art class as well. Overd<strong>in</strong>ner we crack jokes <strong>an</strong>d recap each person’s day.After this, I take a quick shower <strong>an</strong>d get a little rest whilewatch<strong>in</strong>g my son’s favorite program, “Octonauts” on <strong>the</strong>Disney Ch<strong>an</strong>nel.It’s 9 pm, <strong>an</strong>d I am doz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>f a little, ready to retire for<strong>the</strong> night. Suddenly, a th<strong>an</strong>k you text hits my phone froma happy client, which simply says, “Th<strong>an</strong>k you for all yourhelp. The b<strong>an</strong>k has approved our f<strong>in</strong><strong>an</strong>c<strong>in</strong>g.” It made myday. The signature l<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> text is Aristotle’s quote:“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, <strong>the</strong>n, is not<strong>an</strong> act, but a habit.” I fully agree. My life is about giv<strong>in</strong>gback. A busy day, but worth every m<strong>in</strong>ute.It’s 4 pm now, <strong>an</strong>d I go to <strong>the</strong> conference room to meetwith my team at When <strong>in</strong> Need (WiN) Foundation, aPhiladelphia based non-pr<strong>of</strong>it where I volunteer. WiNawards educational scholarships to disadv<strong>an</strong>taged youthsA DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEUR
PITTSBURGHWE GLOBAL NETWORK 31Two Paths One DreamLAVENDER WACHIRA AND MAY LEBOCountry <strong>of</strong> Orig<strong>in</strong>: KenyaComp<strong>an</strong>y: MayLav Elite Cle<strong>an</strong><strong>in</strong>gmaylav-cle<strong>an</strong>ers.squarespace.comNumber <strong>of</strong> employees: 5Years <strong>in</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess: 2We are May Lebo & Lavender Wachira, <strong>an</strong>d we are<strong>the</strong> faces beh<strong>in</strong>d MayLav Elite Cle<strong>an</strong><strong>in</strong>g, a residential,commercial, post-construction <strong>an</strong>d party/eventcle<strong>an</strong><strong>in</strong>g comp<strong>an</strong>y.May was raised <strong>in</strong> a small farm town called Kitale, alsoknown as <strong>the</strong> gr<strong>an</strong>ary <strong>of</strong> Kenya because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> largescalemaize/corn farm<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>y do. Lavender was raised<strong>in</strong> Nairobi, Kenya’s Capital -we like to describe it as m<strong>in</strong>iNew York.May left Kenya <strong>in</strong> 2004 to pursue a degree <strong>in</strong>communications at Po<strong>in</strong>t Park University <strong>in</strong> Pittsburgh PA.She enjoyed <strong>the</strong> experience that a new city brought <strong>an</strong>dwas happy to start a new life here. Lavender was work<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong> Kenya for a few years after her undergraduate degree<strong>an</strong>d decided to pursue <strong>an</strong> MBA to fur<strong>the</strong>r her career, <strong>an</strong>d<strong>in</strong>cidentally picked Po<strong>in</strong>t Park University.We met on campus <strong>in</strong> 2009, <strong>an</strong>d a friendship sparked<strong>in</strong>st<strong>an</strong>tly. May had also decided to pursue her master’sdegree, <strong>an</strong>d we cont<strong>in</strong>ued to forge our friendship <strong>in</strong> class.After graduat<strong>in</strong>g we sought employment <strong>in</strong> order toexperience work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> corporate America. We workedfor two years <strong>an</strong>d that gave us <strong>the</strong> experience, capital <strong>an</strong>dconfidence needed to start our own bus<strong>in</strong>ess.We live <strong>in</strong> two different parts <strong>of</strong> Pittsburgh, Lavender<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> West End <strong>an</strong>d May <strong>the</strong> East End, which is goodbecause it has allowed us to underst<strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>ticipate<strong>the</strong> needs <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> neighborhoods we reside <strong>in</strong>.The <strong>Day</strong>...A typical MayLav <strong>Day</strong> would probably start at 5 a.m. withus messag<strong>in</strong>g each o<strong>the</strong>r back <strong>an</strong>d forth over ideas thatwe may have. We bra<strong>in</strong>storm over <strong>the</strong>m, knock some <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>m <strong>of</strong>f but keep <strong>the</strong> ones that are more feasible. We<strong>the</strong>n discuss jobs, walk-through appo<strong>in</strong>tments, pick-uptimes, or meet-up times, <strong>an</strong>d which crew member isavailable. Then probably compla<strong>in</strong> about <strong>the</strong> cold. See,we grew up <strong>in</strong> a country with only two seasons: ra<strong>in</strong>y <strong>an</strong>ddry season. Several years <strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Pittsburgh <strong>an</strong>d weare yet to get used to <strong>the</strong> chill.STORIES FROM AMERICA’S RUST BELT
Change language