
Brandon Samba ’20 came to the U.S. at an early age, fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of civil war and genocide. He grew up in an environment where, he says, “financial literacy was scarce.” Needing to earn money to help at home, Brandon discovered business out of necessity. In middle school, he started a dog-walking company called Perfect Paws to pay for his youth football fees and equipment.

In high school, Samba shifted from playing sports to focus more on business, especially finance. He started an investment club at his San Diego high school to teach students about the financial markets and connect with others who liked business. Samba believes many low-income children haven’t been taught basic financial principles, which hampers their chances of success in life.

It was a natural progression when Samba came to Bentley: In 2015, the Finance major founded Captains of Capital to help kids in underserved communities learn financial literacy and money management skills. Samba recently presented on the entrepreneurial mindset at the Financial Fortitude Expo and Economic Development Conference in Boston, explaining entrepreneurial traits such as teamwork, resourcefulness and leadership. In addition, Captains of Capital has worked with the Boston Mayor’s Office to host an all-day event at an inner-city elementary school.

Captains of Capital also provides networking opportunities. Samba landed an internship at an asset management firm after the program introduced him to people working in the industry. Collaborating with global organizations such as Junior Achievement, the group often teaches alongside top financial professionals, including employees from UBS, State Street and Eaton Vance.

Samba is proof that knowledge is power. And he believes it should be shared. Through the Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center, he worked with America Clicks!, a one-on-one tutoring program that teaches technology skills to elementary school students. He was also a mentor at the Watertown Boys and Girls Club. He believes that life is a miracle, and that every individual has the power to do wondrous things, regardless of their external circumstances.

Brandon is just one example of a Bentley student making a difference in the world. Are you ready to join him?