Team

Meet the team driving Ascend Africa.

A youth-led team combining economics, programme design, partnerships and on-the-ground delivery to make financial education more accessible across Kenya.

Leadership

Meet the people behind Ascend Africa.

Aaran Patel

Founder & CEO

Strategy · Partnerships · Financial education

Aaran founded Ascend Africa and leads its strategy, partnerships and financial education. Winner of the 2026 Kenya Economics Olympiad, he represented Kenya at the International Economics Olympiad and became the first Kenyan to qualify for the Economics Olympiad International Final Round. He brings practical experience in finance, business and community workshop delivery.

Completed courses & certifications

  • Yale University · Financial Markets
  • Yale University · Narrative Economics
  • University of Michigan Ross · High Stakes Leadership
  • Wharton · Understanding Your Money
  • INSSA · SRMP-C

Rashaad Khawaja

Co-founder

Economics · Partnerships · Outreach

Second place nationally in the 2026 Kenya Economics Olympiad, Rashaad brings a strong foundation in economics to Ascend Africa. As co-founder, he helps drive partnerships, outreach and financial education opportunities for young people across Kenya.

Imaan Abji

Project Lead

Programme coordination · Learning materials · Delivery

Imaan helps turn Ascend Africa's plans into organised programmes. Her work spans workshop coordination, delivery logistics and reviewing learning materials to make financial concepts clearer and more accessible to different learners.

Next step

Work with a young team building practical financial education.

Ascend Africa is open to serious school, partner, sponsor, and community conversations.