This summer, we’re spotlighting the outstanding contributions of our Mentors-in-Residence (MIR) both within OIE and throughout their careers. Our first feature spotlights Nazlin Bhimji, the Chief Partnerships Officer at the Global Good Fund and a dedicated mentor to our office for nearly eight years.
Nazlin, who has dedicated her career to social innovation initiatives spanning the course of two decades, now works with organizations around the world at the Global Good Fund. As CPO, she leads the GGF’s social impact consulting side, providing leadership training and tailored solutions to a diverse range of clients, including small and mid-size businesses, nonprofits, and for-profits.
Nazlin has also worked as a strategic consultant focusing on CSR, sustainability and responsible management while also co-founding her own company with her mom, a start-up day spa in Nairobi, Kenya. Although Nazlin initially hoped to be mentored on her idea by a former boss, the experience ultimately led her to begin her journey at GW.
“I worked in international development at that time on women's rights. And I asked my boss. I said, can you mentor me through this business idea that I have? And she's like, I know nothing about business. You need to go to business school, ”. From there, she decided to pursue her MBA in Business Administration, but quickly learned there was a gap in resources available to aspiring entrepreneurs.
“But again, there was no NVC. There was no OIE. There was no place to incubate a business idea…fast forward to when I did join as a mentor, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh! This is what I wanted when I was a student.” Years later, after finishing her MBA, Nazlin began serving as a mentor after an OIE team member reached out to speak at an event.
Over the past seven years, Nazlin has mentored countless teams through our programs, with many of whom she still keeps in contact with, whether to stay involved in their business or to guide them in their careers outside of GW. This ongoing connection with teams and continued mentorship has served as a source of hope in the midst of challenging times.
“The ones that come to OIE are different. They want to do more than just get their degree. You know they have some super interesting ideas and helping them think through that…whether it's that idea or something else. They will be fine, you know. There's just something special about them.”
Nazlin shared the most rewarding part of not only working with the GW community but being able to reinforce OIE’s greater mentorship philosophy. She shares that she loves the energy and passion the teams bring, especially when they channel their own ambitions into their work. Also citing how our lean startup methodology sets the foundation for students to learn and grow in their entrepreneurial journeys,
“Part of why I like the lean startup methodology, and just being a mentor, is just asking them the right questions so that they can come up with the answer themselves.”
Her advice to students? Embrace the innovator’s journey, seek out feedback, and immerse yourself in the opportunities around you, especially at OIE.