Mwende Kamau is deeply passionate about early childhood education, grounded in the belief that giving children a strong start yields immense and measurable benefits throughout their lives. This conviction led her to establish and successfully run an early years school, an experience that not only strengthened her commitment to the foundational years but also deepened her insight into the vital role of early learning environments.
She is currently pursuing a PhD in Child Development and Family Studies, with her research focusing on parental involvement in the middle years of education. Her academic work is driven by the belief that collaboration between the home and the school is essential to a child’s overall success. Through her research, she seeks to explore and strengthen the structures that support this vital partnership.
In her current role as Head of Education Practice in Africa, she plays a strategic role in shaping the continent’s education landscape by identifying and placing transformative leaders in education organisations. For her, this work goes beyond executive search—it is about ensuring that the right people are in place to drive impactful, mission-aligned outcomes for learners across all levels of education.
In addition to her work in early and basic education, she is also actively engaged in strengthening leadership in higher education. She recently was part of the successful placement of a Vice Chancellor at the United States International University–Africa and is currently supporting a search for a Vice Chancellor at a leading university in Southern Africa.
If you’d like to connect with Mwende or learn more about our work in the education sector across Africa, you can reach her at mkamau@oxfordhr.com
