Benson Mwangi: Learning to Fly Without the Weight
My name is Benson Mwangi. The hardest thing right now is balancing ambition with peace. I am building Air’tage, a lifestyle brand inspired by my love for flying. And I feel the urgency-like this is the moment to go all in. But at the same time, there is this whisper: what if I am not moving fast enough? It is a tension between patience and urgency. Exciting, but heavy.
I have been lucky to live and work on four continents-Africa, Asia (Middle East region), America, and Europe. Each one has shaped me differently.
America gave me ambition and opportunity, but also showed me the stress and loneliness of being far from family.
Europe gave me beauty and culture-bike rides through history and summers filled with art and scenery.
The Middle East region-I saw a lot of me in that part of the world. But first, it made me think of heat and the way it forces you to slow down. It is a culture that feels rich and deeply ingrained, with layers of tradition. At the same time, it is a place of contrasts- multicultural, full of modern ambition, yet still carrying the weight and beauty of old heritage. And often, it is a region that is misunderstood-much like my own path, which is vast and different, not easily related to by many, and one that has forced me to chart my own way forward.
And Africa? Man, Africa is my root. It is where resilience lives.
Together, they have taught me to see the world as a mix of ambition, heritage, and grounded progress.
I was born in Nairobi, BuruBuru. I grew up near a military base, and I still remember the sound of planes flying overhead. I did not know what a cockpit looked like back then, but I knew I wanted to fly. That sound carried me into my dreams, and years later, into building Air’tage.
I also work in corporate America. That experience has shaped how I see business-fast-moving, demanding, and deeply competitive. But my first job taught me something no office could: no one hands you the blueprint. You figure it out fast, own your mistakes, and take responsibility. That lesson still drives how I lead and build.
If I could talk to my younger self, I would say: Bet on yourself earlier. Do not wait for perfect timing or permission. Fear fades. Regret lingers.
My values are my compass: Freedom, because choosing your own path is priceless. Legacy, because what you build should outlive you. Courage, because nothing else works without it. Connection, because people matter more than milestones.
But I still carry rocks I need to drop: comparing myself to others, fearing scarcity, and waiting for perfection before I move. Those weights slow me down. And I know the only way to fly is to let them go.
If this story speaks to you, I would love to hear yours. “May The Day Break” is a series capturing real people, real moments, and the lessons that shape us. If you would like to be featured, send me a message to info@awmagazine.org