Dylan Odera

Penn World Scholars
Class of 2030

Kenya

Academic Areas of Interest

I am interested in why some economies create lasting opportunities while others struggle to translate their potential into better lives for their people. Coming from Kenya, questions about economic growth, inequality and access to opportunity feel close to home. At Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences, I plan to study Economics with a particular interest in development economics and how businesses and public policy shape people’s possibilities. I am also considering a minor in a computing-related field to develop the technical skills to turn ideas into practical solutions. I want to understand how economies work and become better equipped to build within them.

Activities & Hobbies

My interests tend to sit at opposite ends of the timeline: I am fascinated by both emerging technology and the ancient world. I enjoy reading about technological advances, such as improvements in AI, as much as learning about the civilizations and ideas that came long before us. I also love the challenge of teaching myself something new. I taught myself how to play chess and am currently learning the piano, so a fair amount of my free time involves figuring out my next move or my next note. Basketball, debate and conversations that send me down a rabbit hole are other things I enjoy because they give me opportunities to learn alongside others and build a sense of community.

Future Plans

I hope to begin my career in consulting, learning how organisations solve problems, make decisions and turn plans into results. In the long term, I want to build businesses that create jobs and expand opportunities in Kenya and across Africa. I am still exploring the specific form that ambition will take, but I want to bring together economic understanding, leadership experience and technical skills to build something useful and lasting. At Penn, I look forward to meeting people who challenge my assumptions and introduce me to possibilities I have not yet considered.