For many fresh university graduates, completing their studies is only the beginning of another difficult journey: finding a first opportunity to enter the world of work. By joining the NCBA Go Getter Internship Programme, that transition is being made more structured, practical and purposeful, with the bank placing youth development at the centre of its talent and corporate citizenship agenda.
From classroom to corporate world
Launched in 2023 as part of NCBA’s Education Citizenship Agenda. Go Getter Internship Programme allows fresh graduates to gain practical experience while working alongside professionals across different areas of the bank.
Interns typically spend between 8 and 11 months rotating through business units, including Retail Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, Human Resources and Culture, Finance, and Regional Business.
Rather than limiting participants to observation, the programme exposes them to real business challenges, mentorship and coaching, helping them understand what it takes to build a career beyond the classroom.
In May 2026, NCBA welcomed its latest cohort of 50 graduates drawn from 16 universities across Kenya. Since its launch, the programme has supported approximately 200 graduates, with about half transitioning into permanent or contract roles within the Group.
For young people navigating a competitive employment market, such opportunities can be the difference between possessing a qualification and gaining the experience needed to turn that qualification into a career.
“Through the Go Getter Program, we are empowering ambition by trusting young talent early, providing real-world exposure beyond the classroom, and opening clear pathways into meaningful careers,” said Monicah Kihia, Group Director of Human Resources and Culture at NCBA, during a past event.
Read more: Building a personal brand beyond the CV
Go Getter experience goes beyond technical skills. One of the programme’s notable elements is its Personal Branding session, where interns are challenged to think about how they present themselves, communicate and build professional relationships.
During one session, Daniel Makau, Deputy Director of HR, and Jacquie Muhati, Deputy Director of Marketing and Group Head of Brands, guided the young professionals through the relationship between personal and corporate branding.
The conversation encouraged the interns to reflect on how intentional communication, authenticity and consistency can influence both personal growth and professional success.
The participants were subsequently tasked with developing a nine-month personal brand action plan, encouraging them to deliberately shape the professionals and leaders they aspire to become.
For a graduate entering the workplace for the first time, the exercise offers a lesson that extends beyond securing a job: a career is also shaped by reputation, confidence, character and how consistently one communicates their value.
“At NCBA, we believe that investing in young talent means equipping them with more than technical expertise. It means helping them build the confidence, character, and mindset to thrive because when people believe in their potential, they are empowered to achieve more,” the bank said.
Ubuntu and the Top Employer advantage
The youth programme is anchored in NCBA’s Ubuntu 2026–2030 Strategy, whose purpose, “Banking on Belief, “Empowering Ambitions,” places people, purpose and shared growth at the heart of the organisation.
This people-centred approach also feeds into NCBA’s corporate identity as an employer.
The bank was recognised as a Top Employer 2026 by the Top Employers Institute following an assessment of areas including talent strategy, leadership development, learning and development, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and organisational culture.
Group Managing Director John Gachora said the recognition reflected the “discipline, commitment and collective effort” of NCBA Go Getters across the organisation.
The young graduates entering the Go Getter programme, the Top Employer environment provides more than a workplace. It offers exposure to a culture where learning, mentorship and professional growth are deliberately built into the employee experience.
Ultimately, NCBA’s Go Getter Programme connects youth empowerment with corporate brand building. By opening pathways from internship to employment, while equipping graduates to build strong personal brands, the bank is investing not only in its future workforce but also in a generation seeking the confidence and opportunity to build meaningful careers.