Reflecting at the 6 year mark of DevLearn

DevLearn turned six last month. To mark the occasion, we’re reflecting on how it all started - and where it might go next.

The origins of DevLearn

DevLearn was born in Harar, a beautiful city in Eastern Ethiopia. Nayeem and Adam, colleagues at Enterprise Partners, were talking about their next steps. Over drinks in a small bar, Nayeem suggested they start a consulting firm. Adam agreed, and the initial working title of the company was ‘Purple Turtle’. The color purple made it to our logo, and “Turtle” became the name of our company’s shared OneDrive.

As they became more serious, the two spent more time searching for a name for the company. A lengthy list of potential names included Marinade, Meridian, Tortoise, and Polaris. Ultimately, they settled on DevLearn, a mashup of Development + Learning. “Not the most thrilling choice,” Adam admits, “but it fits our mission well.” And honestly, the team is relieved they don’t have to explain to their families what Purple Turtle does!

Growth and Flexibility: The Heart of Our Approach

From the start, flexibility has been at the heart of DevLearn’s approach. “We’ve always tried to shape our approach to the context, rather than forcing the context to fit our approach,” Nayeem explains. This adaptability extends beyond technical work to how we operate as a business.

Flexibility was particularly valuable when COVID-19 hit. With the two business partners based in different countries, DevLearn was set up to be remote. This allowed us to support our clients during the shift to virtual operations, which reinforced our belief that remote work could be more than a temporary solution.

The development of a diverse, global team was not part of our original plan, but it has proven invaluable. “We weren’t trying to build a global team from the get-go,” Adam explains, “but once we started, we quickly saw the value in having different perspectives from different parts of the world.”

Looking Ahead

One area of particular interest is the intersection of environmental and market systems resilience. This space holds significant potential for making a real difference - Nayeem and Adam are eager to see where it leads the company.

“For us, it’s always been about staying flexible, staying honest, and continuing to work with a sense of purpose. That’s how we’ve grown so far, and we believe it’s what will keep us going in the years to come.”

Cover photo credit: Newsbyteapp on Harar, Ethiopia

Adam Kessler Nayeem Kashem Catie Crowley Naomi Falkenburg Yuni Chairani Rahaf Saad Baphiwe Roji Deepa Manichan Ramisa Tasnuma Muhammad Bilal Victoria Carter Stephen Berson