2017 Top 40 under 40 Woman-Nelly Tuikong

Today I shift the focus of this Top 40 Under 40 series to an entrepreneur. She was inspired to start her makeup line in 2009, while she was working as a critical care nurse in the US. She quit her job and moved back home to Kenya to drive her new cosmetics brand. And so, Pauline Cosmetics, the brand, was born.

Introducing to you Nelly Tuikong, 33-year old Founder and CEO of Pauline Cosmetics.

C: What do you consider as your greatest achievement to date?

N: I am incredibly proud of having developed and built Pauline Cosmetics brand into a household name in Kenya! It hasn’t just been about having an idea and talking about it, or simply starting, because there are many people who have started something. It’s been about weathering the storms while still holding on to the dream. Now my brand stands tall amongst international brands, competing neck to neck. I am very proud of that! My next goal is to build Pauline Cosmetics into a household name in Africa. I am not sure how I will do it yet, but I know I will die trying!

C: What has your career path been like as you have navigated through your chosen field leading up to your current role/position?

N: I have a life story that I think can make a great movie (Haha). I started out with zero prospects after high school. I quickly, but painfully realized that my parents could not afford to take me to university. All the while, I used to have this feeling that I was destined for more. Then, I received a miracle and a blessing that changed my life! I got a sponsorship to study in USA! I knew my life, would never be the same again! I got accepted into one of the Top Nursing schools in America at that time. I was one of the 100 applicants selected out of a whooping 3000 applicants.

While I was there, I was president of the University Student Council (student government) and became an Ambassador of the University. I was once selected to be on a board discussing the construction of a new student centre, and among the board members was the Dean of the University! So here I was, this simple village girl! I figured I had been handed a clean slate and I was going to live it fully, and I did just that!

It wasn’t all smooth, but I tried not to complain a lot! After graduation, it was quite hard to get a job as the US was going through a bad recession. People who had graduated ahead of me were still looking for jobs. I put out so many applications and ended up getting a job in Critical Care! I wasn’t prepared for that! After a while I decided to leave it all behind and move to Kenya to pursue this dream that had been eating at me since my last year in university… and now I run one of the most sought after makeup brands in Kenya!

C: What advice would you offer to young people on figuring out the balance between work, family life and social life?

N: I don’t believe there is such a thing as work-life balance! There is work-life integration! I am the kind of person who will go for Sunday brunch with my husband and then after we eat we both burst out our computers and get caught up with work! Work and social life are all interconnected! I think it’s mostly what you have to do when you are running a business. There is the notion that when you run a business you have more flexible time! It’s a lie! When you run a business you can never fully disconnect! But you find a way to integrate your work into your life. I am not perfect at it, there are things I am definitely terrible at, but I am working on being better.

C: What is your greatest piece of advice to the young upwardly mobile individual?

N: Your ambition has to match your action! You cannot say you want to be successful and you spend the entire weekend getting “turnt” or getting “lit”! We are an insta generation, but some things remain the same; focus, dedication and patience are the only way! If you work for 4 hours a day, you will get a ‘’4hr a day’’ type of result. If you work 12hrs a day you will get a 12hr a day result. It is law!

Secondly, employ patience! If you bust your ass for 1yr and don’t see results, DO NOT GIVE UP! That’s the other thing with our generation, we are chasing after other people’s highlights on social media! We want to be successful in 1, 2 or 3yrs! I am not even halfway there to where I am going! 

C: What is the greatest lesson/ nugget that you have picked up in life?

N: I have learnt that we cannot do it alone. We need people to give us a hand, to push us, to encourage us, to talk to, to partner with! More than ever, this year has taught me the power of partnerships, collaborations and co-creating! I am the most introverted person I know, but I fully understand that I cannot live in my cocoon! 

‘‘Success is within someone’s own well- being. It’s having a passion.’’ Adam Vanunu

As always, see you next week Tuesday. J

Calibrated Blossom- Top 40 under 40 women series- Iddah Asin

She holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from Makerere University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law, a Master’s in Public Policy and Management from Strathmore University and Certification in the International Module on Global Leadership from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.  

Her career has largely been carved out in Kenya’s male dominated aviation industry, but this is perfectly attuned to her personality of being a ‘’go-getter’’. When she was 30, she was selected to represent Kenya Airways at a high-level meeting. But when she walked into the meeting, her counterparts dismissed her as inexperienced. “The host asked if I was accompanied by a senior colleague. It was more amusing than offensive,” she says. In her free time she enjoys mentoring a group of young ladies on career growth. She’s also a fitness enthusiast and enjoys yoga and gym workouts.

Introducing Iddah Asin, Director of Government Affairs and Policy at Johnson and Johnson.

C: What has your career path been like as you have navigated through your chosen field leading up to your current role/position?

I: It’s been a really interesting journey. When I was growing up, I remember leafing through the business pictorial pages of the Nation and picturing myself being featured there. My journey started out as the Legal officer in a local regional airline, Jetlink Express Limited. In my tenure I was instrumental in setting up and running the Legal department. My entry into the aviation industry was very unconventional and totally out of my comfort zone. Remarkably, I literally learnt everything about aviation regulations on the job, under the mentorship of the late Mr. Peter Simani, who was an expert and authority in Aviation Law.

I then moved to Kenya Airways, in charge of Government and Industry Affairs where, amongst other achievements, I successfully supported KQ’s expansion to its latest routes by helping them secure the necessary rights and permits. I also engaged with industry stakeholders, legislators and policy makers on favourable tax regimes for the aviation industry.  I was also part of the team that successfully lobbied for the removal of VAT on aircraft spare parts.

I moved to Johnson &Johnson early this year and was instrumental in the successful launch of its offices and Global Public Health East African operations in March 2017, building on an 85-year presence in Africa. My responsibility at Johnson & Johnson entails developing, driving and executing the Government Affairs & Policy strategy for our three business sectors (Consumer, Pharmaceuticals and Medical devices) as well as our Global Public Health, Corporate Citizenship Trust and Global Community Impact groups. 

C: What is the biggest challenge you have faced and how did you overcome it?

I: Being in a position of influence, in a corporate world, at a young age and as a woman comes with the challenge of one’s opinions being dismissed as inexperienced or irrelevant.

I remember an interesting experience in KQ whereby I represented the airline in a very high level meeting and the host asked if I was accompanied by a senior colleague.  It was more amusing than it was offensive. Against the backdrop of my erudite wealth of experience and knowledge, I said pointedly that I was capable and competent enough to handle the meeting on my own.

C: What inspires you?

I: The one word that summarizes me is “Go- getter”. I’m hardworking, self-disciplined and also a stickler for order and time .When something needs to be done, it has to be done, and on time! Reading inspirational books is my favorite pastime, and earlier on in my life I read two books by Norman Vincent Peale that I can attest to having shaped my career and personal growth – “The Power of Positive Thinking” and “You Can If You Think You Can”.

I’m also determined to show the African child that it is possible. No matter your background, skin color or where you come from, if you keep dreaming big and working hard then your dreams can come true. I also desire that women continue to aspire and achieve and for daughters to be cherished as much as men.

C: What do you consider to be the turning point in your career?

I: I believe each decision I’ve made with regards to my career path has been a turning point because each door opened created another opportunity. However, I will single out taking on the combined Regulatory and Government Affairs role at the Pride of Africa, Kenya Airways at 29 as a major highlight. This was a highly critical department in the airline. I became the link between the airline and the Government and this highly demanding role greatly exposed me to the workings of both the private and public sector. I was stepping into the big shoes of my predecessors, including the immediate one, Mrs. Phyllis Wakiaga, CEO of Kenya Association of Manufacturers and the pressure to deliver was immense. Consequently, the Government Affairs role and exposure opened doors to my current role at Johnson & Johnson as its Director of Government Affairs and Policy for East Africa.

C: What is your greatest piece of advice to the young upwardly mobile individual?

I: Managing to remain relevant at the helm of an industry mostly dominated by males has taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears from me. I have constantly been fueled by an unassailable determination to overcome challenges that appeared insurmountable. Moving from aviation to health comes with having to now focus on matters of health and the numerous legislation surrounding this sector, which is an equally-complex legislative environment. Young people should not be scared to get out of their comfort zones. This world is ours to conquer - do not be afraid to take risks!

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” — Goethe.

Please join me on Friday where I shift the focus to an entrepreneur. She was inspired to start her makeup line in 2009, while she was working as a critical care nurse in the US. She quit her job and moved back home to Kenya to drive her new cosmetics brand. And so, Pauline Cosmetics, the brand, was born. See you on Friday J

2017 Top 40 under 40 Woman - Caroline Mtai

As promised, this week I deliver a second interview with a trailblazer in Kenya. The year is about to wrap up and we need that last needed nudge to get us through to the finish line and realize those ambitious dreams we set for ourselves, right? So going forward this December, I will share not one, but TWO interviews a week; every Tuesday and every Friday! J

I am pretty excited about it so let's get right into it, shall we?

My next interviewee is very passionate about children’s matters and advocates for the improvement of services offered to children in the Juvenile Justice System. In 2016, she implemented the first plea bargaining at the Milimani Children’s Courts as an alternative to trial in some cases. Her efforts earned her a nomination to the International Visitor Leadership Programme in America— a platform which allows upcoming leaders to interact with American counterparts in their field of expertise.

In her free time, she runs a book club campaign called #OperationJazaShelf . Her and I spoke about this and her passion about the project completely shines through! She hopes to get the community interested in what happens in borstal institutions and remand homes.  The institutions are meant to rehabilitate children who have been on the wrong side of the law but she says she was heartbroken to discover that the school had a library with no single book in it!!! And that is how the project came to be. (I absolutely love her passion about this!)

Meet Caroline Mtai, Senior Prosecution Counsel at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

C: What do you consider as your greatest achievement to date?

CM: Aside from being a proud mother of one wonderful and intelligent teenage daughter, my greatest achievement was discovering my purpose in life. I always enjoyed my career as a lawyer but my life changed when I joined the Children, Victim’s and Witness Support Division of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in 2014. It is then that I discovered exactly what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing and my work began having a positive impact. Making it to the Top 40 list is a humbling recognition of my efforts and my biggest motivation yet to keep pushing on. I still have a long way to go but I am encouraged by the positive feedback which means I am on the right track!

C: What has your career path been like as you have navigated through your chosen field leading up to your current role/position?

CM: I signed the Roll of Advocates in 2009 but did not immediately practice law as I opted to take time off to support my best friend and life partner who had been diagnosed with kidney failure and was planning a kidney transplant. After a failed kidney transplant late in 2010 I travelled back home from India where the transplant took place, and took up an opportunity at the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice where I started work early 2011. There I worked as a Litigation Counsel in the very busy Civil Litigation Department and was later moved to the Land and Environment Division.

In 2014, I made the move to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and was deployed to the Children’s Victims and Witness Support Division as a Senior Prosecutions Counsel where I serve as a Prosecutor at the Children’s Court. I am an active member of the Milimani Children’s Court Users Committee, always eager to find innovative ways to improve the services we offer to children in the Justice System. I took an active role in the implementation of plea bargaining in the Children’s Court to help shorten the period spent by children in the justice system. It is also a means of incorporating restorative justice and promoting reconciliation to encourage more peaceful problem solving mechanisms even as the perpetrator takes responsibility for their crime.

Carol and her husband

 

C: What advice would you offer to young people on figuring out the balance between work, family life and social life?

CM: My advice is the same for both young men and women. I have learnt over time that family and friends are our biggest back- up and support system. It is always possible to have enough time for your work and still have a social life or time for family. Time management and planning is key.

Carol and her beautiful daughter

C: What is your greatest piece of advice to the young upwardly mobile individual?

CM: Go for it!! Do not be afraid of criticism. Test your ideas and keep improving on them. Learn from those before you but do not be afraid to challenge them and improve on the standards set. Most importantly, find something you love doing and do it with all your heart, speak from your heart and pursue your passion with all you’ve got.

C: What is the greatest lesson/ nugget that you have picked up in life?

CM: It is never too early or too late to pursue your dreams; just be consistent, persistent, patient and resilient. The challenge will not get easier, criticism will be overwhelming but never lose sight of your ultimate goal. Surround yourself with people who exude positive energy, people who support, encourage and nudge you to be more than what you hoped to be. I also strongly believe in the power of prayer and have navigated through my worst of days in prayer.

‘’When you intersect a lot of curiosity, passion and drive, you can come up with something truly incredible. Maybe some people define that as genius.’’ Austin Russell

See you bright and early on Tuesday for another riveting story… from a lady who honestly personifies boldness and passion. She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Makerere University, a Post Graduate Diploma in Law, a Master’s in Public Policy and Management and Certification in the International Module on Global Leadership from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.  

I know, Wow!!! See you then :)

2017 Top 40 under 40 Woman - Margaret Achieng' Oyugi

Kenya only has a handful of qualified actuaries country-wide and my next interviewee is among the few women actuaries in Kenya. She is a recipient of the prestigious Young Insurance Achievers Award, a recognition for her outstanding contribution to the insurance sector through mentoring young talent. At 33, she is currently the Head of Actuarial at Resolution Insurance. She rose to this plum post last year having set up the department from scratch three years earlier.

Meet the exceptional woman, Margaret Achieng’ Oyugi; Talented, brilliant and definitely conquering the world… one number at a time.

C: What do you consider as your greatest achievement to date?

M: My greatest achievement to date (without taking away from the other achievements received) would be the Young Insurance Achievers Award which I received in July 2017 at the annual Insurance Awards. The top 40 under 40 recognition comes very close…very closeJ. Why the Young Insurance Achievers Award is very close to my heart is because it is the first award I received from the insurance industry recognizing my passion to shed light on areas where insurance companies have been struggling to find solutions. The award recognized my continuous effort in proposing futuristic solutions not only to the Kenyan insurance sector but to all insurance companies world-wide.Also this was the first time the award category was introduced and it came with a lot of excitement from very brilliant minds in the insurance industry making it extremely competitive. I felt extremely humbled and very privileged to be the first recipient of this award and this has since compelled me to think about upholding this award by doing more…not just for the insurance industry but for the financial sector at large.

C: What has your career path been like as you have navigated through your chosen field leading up to your current role/position?

M: I have over 8years work experience in the Kenyan insurance industry. I have worked in Actuarial departments of several insurance companies as well as worked closely on several valuation and audit projects with leading actuarial consultancy firms including PWC, Alexander Forbes, Actuarial services (Actserv), Deloitte and EY. I am currently the Head of Actuarial at Resolution Insurance Group where I lead a team of 6 Actuarial technicians across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Previously I worked with Jubilee Insurance Company, Octagon Africa Ltd and Blossom Insurance brokerage Company.

As you can see my journey started way further from my choice of career – Actuarial. Back when I graduated there were very few companies with actuarial departments. It was impossible to even get unpaid internship to get training on the job. I ended up in a small insurance brokerage company doing everything including cooking tea, washing dishes, following up on claims…but don’t get me wrong it was so much fun working there. What I dint know at the time was that all these skills were to going to be very essential (including cooking tea J ) Haha!

This is partly where I got my passion for mentoring young actuarial graduates through training and internship because I wished someone had done this for me back then. As head of actuarial, I have never employed someone through poaching, I believe in training and creating new talent. I get very happy seeing my employees moving to better and bigger positions in other companies and growing their professions even further.

Throughout my career journey I have been at the forefront of futuristic solutions; Giving numerous talks and presentations at international conferences held locally in Kenya, in South Africa, Washington DC, West Africa (Togo) and Uganda on various insurance topics. I have also been called upon severally to speak in insurance industry forums addressing health matters in East Africa. 

Academically, I hold a BSc in Actuarial Science degree from Makerere University and I am a member of both the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, UK and The Actuarial Society of Kenya. I am also a CFA level 2 candidate.

C: What advice would you offer to young people on figuring out the balance between work, family life and social life?

M: Well…I am not sure if there is a time I have felt confident that I have totally figured out how to balance books, work, family and social life J (Notice I added books as number one lol) I think the whole essence of life is about prioritizing. 

There have been periods where my focus was purely on books and other areas suffered…this was a very long period considering I am an actuary and the series of exams suck up so many years of your life (it’s not even funny) But in the last 2 years my focus has been on family and with that I put a conscious stop to education; which led to me getting married in July of this year to someone I met way back in campus over 10years ago!

My advice would be that young people need to ensure they are in control of their journey. The truth is, everything that stands a chance to increase value to your life will unbalance the time you have currently allocated for family, work and social life in ways that will cause you to re-evaluate your priorities. The trick then is to know your timelines, when to do what and keep re-evaluating these decisions from time to time.

C: What is your greatest piece of advice to the young upwardly mobile individual?

M: There may be people who have more talent and are more brilliant than you (and that’s perfectly ok) but there is no excuse for anyone to work harder than you. I know I am an actuary and so most times people think I am who I am because I am bright…well, no, I wasn’t considered bright till literally the other day in high school. In my entire primary education I was below average, infact in lower primary I was ranging as one of the last student in my class. I just made a decision to work harder than I was doing before. My secret weapon has always been to put in more effort..

My other piece of advice to young people is to focus more on possibilities and not on limitations. They have to recognize that their life will be defined by opportunities (even the ones they miss) and so if they always focus on why they can’t do something they will miss a lot of possibilities.

C: What is the greatest lesson/ nugget that you have picked up in life?

M: I am a very big believer in the fact that life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage which makes me able to dream big with all my goals in life. However my greatest lesson especially for this year is that if things seem under control then I am not moving fast enough. This has definitely cost me a lot of migraines and sleepless nights as well, Haha!

And since I just got married this year, my greatest lesson in marriage (so far) is that every next level of life will demand a different you. What makes you successful in one area of your life may not necessarily be the requirements for success in the next level of your life. I have also since embarked on a journey to learn the wisdom of compromise lol..its always better to bend than to break and this is easier said than done I can assure you. J

But throughout all this, consistency is a big deal for me. Remaining a pacesetter is something I am committed to but consistency is harder for days when no one is clapping for you or cheering you on!This means my faith in God is continuously renewed with every big challenge I face and I have had to learn how to cheer myself up in those days that no else sees the sweat and tears; I have learnt how to take care of both my physical and mental health. At the end of the day I don’t believe success is about piling up the money. I believe to be successful I will have to be rich in faith, health, ideas, as well as happiness, and have successful relationships with family and friends…a little money wouldn’t hurt too. J

“Be clear on who you are and what you’re serving with your life. Then, get ready for the world to relentlessly test you on how much you really mean it.” Shari Ballard, President of Multichannel Retail, Best Buy

This week, I will be posting a second interview on Friday. The year is drawing to an end, and I am here to give you that last needed kick to close your year phenomenally and supersede your targets. So join me on Friday where I will introduce you to another trailblazer in Kenya. 

2017 Top 40 under 40 Woman-Caroline Somba

How many 29 year-olds do you know who head up the finance function of a multi-national organization, manage to find time to run an amazing blog and a mentorship program to inspire young people to pursue their careers and passions concurrently? Not too many I believe!

I am delighted to introduce you to a fantastic lady who fits this bill, her name is Caroline Somba.

At just 28, Caroline was appointed as the head of the East African region’s finance division at National Oilwell Varco, a global oilfields equipment manufacturing company present in over 65 countries. 

When she is not being a kick-ass professional, Caroline feeds her love for travel and the outdoors. She started a blog called ‘My Global Attitude’ where she talks about her travels around the world and gives advice to young people on how to plan trips without breaking the bank. At 10 months old, her blog was nominated for the prestigious 2017 Annual Bake Awards. Twice a year, she donates sanitary pads to girls through partnerships with Children’s Homes within Kayole and Ruai areas.

CB: What do you consider as your greatest achievement to date?

C: Starting a Finance department at National Oilwell Varco Kenya from scratch and running it to become the best managed unit in Africa is my greatest achievement. This was my first ‘start up’ to work with. Setting up the Kenyan unit and the rest of East Africa from scratch and seeing the portfolio we have built in the last 3 years brings us (the team) great satisfaction! I also take it as an achievement when I see my team succeed; especially the fresh graduates who I’ve trained and have now become experienced team members.

I am also fortunate to have started a Travel Blog and Mentorship programme. I run a blog called www.myglobalattitude.com where I write about my passion (Travelling) and give pointed advice on how to plan trips without spending too much. My blog was nominated for the Best Travel Blog 2017 in the Annual BAKE Awards at 10 months old.

Using the blogging platform, I mentor young people on pursuing their careers and hobbies concurrently with utmost success in both. I’m currently running a programme at Multi-Media University where I give mentorship talks dubbed Career+Hobby with an aim to inspire young people to pursue their careers and passions concurrently.

CB: What has your career path been like as you have navigated through your chosen field leading up to your current role/position?

C: I began my career at Galana Oil Kenya as an Intern, and  worked as an Assistant accountant until 2014. I later joined National Oilwell Varco as a ledger controller where I was hired to start up the company’s Finance department in Kenya, and expand to East Africa. Two years later, I received a promotion to  Finance Controller, which is my current role.

Climbing the corporate ladder as a young African woman in an international company requires a lot of hard work. I have learned to speak candidly and pay attention to my leadership style. It’s only through this approach that I have been able to beat the outdated perception that some positions can only be occupied by men.

CB: What advice would you offer to young people on figuring out the balance between work, family life and social life?

C: Striking a balance between work, school and life has always been a challenge which I have learnt to manage over time. I’ve overcome this by only doing things which I think add value to my projects.

Climbing the corporate ladder is not an easy path and I am genuinely grateful to God for what I have achieved in life.

I also believe that young people can pursue their careers and passions concurrently. It is possible to be a great professional and still pursue your interests and hobbies, and thrive at it all!

CB: What is your greatest piece of advice to the young upwardly mobile individual?

C: Start building your career as early as possible. Talk to people in the industry you would like to work in, and never sell yourself short when given the opportunity.

CB:  What drives you?

C: Ambition.  When I read about people, especially women who have achieved a lot and continue to push for more, I get inspired. I have a role model who is Ory Okolloh Mwangi. She is one woman who does it all and succeeds while at it; from blogging, to career especially at Google Africa, to digital activism to family… she does it all!

CB:  Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

C: The Oil and Gas industry is still very young in Kenya therefore there are fantastic opportunities to rise further career wise. I am looking at rise to the CEO/Country Manager position in the next 5 years.

I would also like to expand the Career+Hobby project to other Universities and reach out to as many young people as possible.

I believe nothing is impossible!

‘’Be prepared to spot growth opportunities when they present themselves- because they are the key learning opportunities. You’ll know because they make you uncomfortable, and your initial impulse may be that you are not ready. But remember: Growth and comfort never co-exist’’ Ginni Rometty, Chairlady, President and CEO, IBM

See you same time next week.. I will introduce you to one of the few women actuaries in Kenya.  In case you didn’t know, Kenya only has a handful of qualified actuaries country-wide! She is also a recipient of the prestigious Young Insurance Achievers Award, a recognition for her outstanding contribution to the insurance sector. Talented, brilliant and definitely conquering the world… one number at a time!

2017 Top 40 under 40 Woman - Carol Ng’ang’a

Courage, strength and resilience are some of the words that instantly come to mind when I think about Carol Ng’ang’a. Carol was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2013. At the time it was discovered, it had spread into her uterus and she made the decision to undergo a laparoscopy hysterectomy, an operation which led to her uterus been removed. She says that it was a personal decision that she admittedly knew would end her child-bearing. Throughout this incredibly difficult experience she realized how much the support and encouragement from her family kept her strong. This led her to found the Hold Every Lady in Distress Foundation (HELD Sister) as a way to offer support and care to cancer patients.

HELD Sister spearheads the fight against cancer by amplifying the need for prevention and supporting cancer patients in order to ease their journey. The foundation offers voluntary community service through which 170 people diagnosed with precancerous cells have been saved from cancer and in aggregate; the organisation has assisted 270 patients in accessing medical attention.

Her humble, honest and tireless efforts have seen her receive the Women Inspiring Change in Africa Award from Eco Bank in 2014, the Timeless Woman of Wonder (Health Category) Award in February 2016 and the Red Chilly Spiced Social Change Maker Award in 2016.

Meet the phenomenal woman who suffered a devastating diagnosis but has handled it with grace, resilience and strength.

C: What do you consider as your greatest achievement to date?

CN: What I would consider as my greatest achievement is being able to impact lives directly from my painful personal experiences. Through God’s grace, being a source of hope to so many people whose hope is diming is my greatest achievement.

C: What has your career path been like as you have navigated through your chosen field leading up to your current role/position?

CN: My Career (hmm), I need to think about this one! To be honest, I do not really know how to answer this question. Throughout my education, the word ‘career’ was a heavier term than it is today. I worked towards achieving a lot – I have always been a high achiever.

When I landed my first job as a field officer for a USAID youth funded program at Mercy Corps, I had huge ambitions of growing up the ladder. However little did I know that with God, it’s possible to skip the stairs from an entry level position at an NGO to founding and running one. 

My career goal posts shifted the day I chose to help women via an NGO that I blindly founded. I say blindly because I knew what I wanted to do but I didn’t necessarily know how I would achieve this. When I started HELD Sister Foundation, I had no idea how I would run it but I knew what I wanted to do through it, and that was to help men and women with cancer. My career goals shifted and what I thought was previously viewed as ‘’achievement’’ was redefined when I quit employment to help people who could not pay me back. Four years on and I have learnt so many lessons. I have failed, I have touched lives, I haven’t had any financial gain but I am the most fulfilled woman on earth and I would still pick this line of work over and over again given the chance!   

C: What advice would you offer to young people on figuring out the balance between work, family life and social life?

CN: Do you. When you do you, you are in touch with the real YOU. You know what you are made of and therefore, you allow yourself to live a full life. You will be hard on yourself if need be and you will celebrate your smallest milestones hence building confidence in your mission, a mission that everyone around you will have no choice but to believe in. I always tell my mentees that the best gift you can give yourself is being YOU!

Finally I would say; stop rushing. Stop being in a hurry to nowhere. Take deep breaths, life is not an emergency and you have no control over your life. If you were in control, you would do away with what seem like misfortunes not knowing that they are meant to define YOU. For instance if I was to choose, I would not have chosen to be diagnosed with cancer..but little did I know that if that had happened, I wouldn’t be saying these words today.

C: What is your greatest piece of advice to the young upwardly mobile individual?

CN: Believe in you. Invest in You. Appreciate people, things and circumstances that push you to the next level. They are served in good and bad measure; people could be your cheering squad or your naysayers.

C: What is the greatest lesson/ nugget that you have picked up in life?

CN: Be resourceful and of good character; the rest will fall into place. Resources will always find your resourcefulness and should therefore not be a reason why you are not doing what you have always wanted to do. Most people who have ever done great things had NOTHING or VERY LITTLE when they begun. For a very long time, I viewed this the other way around. If you have resources and are not resourceful, you will only make very few steps before you fail miserably. However if you are resourceful and you find resources, you will build an empire. Talent, resources, knowledge and education may move you up the ladder, but character sustains you up there.  

"The truth is I have from the very beginning listened to my instincts. All of my best decisions in life have come because I was attuned to what really felt like the next right move for me."

Oprah Winfrey

How many 29 year-olds do you know who head up the finance function of a multinational organisation overseeing a pool of countries, manage to find time to run an award- winning blog and run a mentorship program to inspire young people to pursue career and passions concurrently? Not too many I believe! See you next Tuesday where I will be introducing you to another phenomenal lady who fits this bill!

2017 Top 40 under 40 Woman-Dr. Borna Nyaoke- Anoke

She has a superb career in the field of medicine and has built a fantastic name for herself. She oversees an initiative that promises to solve one of humanities biggest challenges—HIV/Aids. Imagine for a second a world without HIV or Ebola? Now imagine a woman who works tirelessly day and night to achieve this! This is exactly what my second interviewee for the Top 40 under 40 women series does for a living..

Introducing the phenomenal woman, Dr Borna Nyaoke-Anoke!

Borna received the honourable title of Top 40 woman for a host of reasons… her passion in the pursuit of vaccines for tropical diseases such as Ebola ranks TOP among these reasons. She is the Clinical Trials Manager at Kenya Aids Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) Institute of Clinical Research at the University of Nairobi. She is a Harvard Medical School scholar and Master’s degree graduate in Public Health from the University of Liverpool. At 30, her achievements are more than impressive to say the least. She lives and breathes medicine and gets a kick out of successful development of vaccines! 

I hope you draw a ton of inspiration from her story.

C: What do you consider as your greatest achievement to date?

B: Founding together with two other doctors Health and Wellness Solutions Limited. It is a personal and corporate health solutions company that focuses on preventative care. We conduct home based care, health talks, medical camps and provide mentorship programmes to students.

C: What has your career path been like as you have navigated through your chosen field leading up to your current role/position?

B: After graduating from Medical School I did my internship at Kenyatta National Hospital then went on to work as a Medical Officer at the Nairobi Hospital. I felt a need to expand my career beyond the clinical work I was doing and decided to venture into clinical research specifically clinical trials. Treating patients was great but I felt I could impact more lives by venturing into clinical research. I proceeded to do the Global Clinical Scholars Research Training (GCSRT) Program with Harvard Medical School that provided me with invaluable knowledge and skills in this particular line of work.

I currently work as a Clinical Trials Manager at KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi where I am mostly involved in clinical vaccine development. We have worked on HIV vaccine clinical trials and I am now managing an Ebola Phase II vaccine clinical trial sponsored by Janssen Vaccines and Prevention B.V. This was after successfully completing the Phase I Ebola clinical trial.

 

C: What advice would you offer to young people on figuring out the balance between work, family life and social life?

B: Work-life balance is a misnomer that I believe is used to make individuals especially professional women feel more inadequate than what they are already experiencing. Most corporate 9-5 jobs do not end when you clock out and if you include meetings and travelling then this is a big chunk of your life. This becomes more difficult when you have to add your role as a spouse and a parent; for women this is a bit more negatively skewed. (I rarely hear men at conferences being asked who they left their kids with! Haha! ).

There is also your role as a daughter, sister and friend. Thus my belief is, do not strive for an unattainable goal, instead look for work that makes you happy and fulfills you, look for a spouse that you truly love and is supportive of your career and goals and is willing to walk through ‘life’ with you. Give all your other roles in this life your best but always remember that your best may never be enough to everyone, and that is okay!

C: What is your greatest piece of advice to the young upwardly mobile individual?

B: Work hard, but more importantly work smart! Use your 20-30s to burn the midnight oil and put in the hours you need to. Amass as much knowledge and skill that you can acquire during your youth and let it work for you when you are older in your career! Another important thing to remember is that despite the obstacles you may face, believing in what you want is the surest way to achieving it!

C: What is the greatest lesson/ nugget that you have picked up in life?

B: The world is your oyster...you just need to figure out how to deal with the sand!

‘’One can be beautiful, strong, confident, a great wife and mother while still being a kick-ass professional all in a day. We need to remind girls that all they need is within them and hard work doesn’t kill’ Dr Borna Nyaoke- Anoke.

Gentlemen, this statement applies as much to men as it does to women! 

‘Always take on new challenges- even if you are not sure you are completely ready’ Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook

See you same time next week Tuesday.. I will be introducing you to a woman who suffered a devastating diagnosis but courageously rose above it and went on to receive the Women Inspiring Change in Africa Award, the Timeless Woman of Wonder (Health Category) Award and the Red Chilly Spiced Social Change Maker award. See you then! 

2017 Top 40 under 40 Woman- Umra Omar

Umra Omar kicks of the 2017 Top 40 under 40 women series, and deservedly so. When I approached her to be a part of this, she was more than willing to do it and she struck me as a very humble woman. She is bold and utterly phenomenal.

Umra Omar is the Founder of Safari Doctors, an organisation she started in 2014 to provide accessibility and mobility of health services to remote villages in Lamu, Kenya. Umra was last month nominated as the most influential person of African descent by the United Nations, under the humanitarian category, in recognition of her organization Safari Doctors. In 2016, she was listed among CNN Heroes and earlier this year nominated for the African Leaders for Change Awards in South Africa.

She has certainly set the tone for this interview series... Buckle up and enjoy! J

C:   What do you consider as your greatest achievement to date?

U: Of course number one is the cliché but severely underrated - the earned title of Mama. This means the joy of building a roof over my children’s lives and a little schooling to go with that- being constantly on my toes to nurture healthy babies full of grit and joy. That aside, my greatest achievement to date is being able to sit down at the end of every day, stare into the endless sky and feel like I am making a difference in my world and get to fully engage with friends and family.  It is both rewarding and scary to put together a committed team for whom work is more than a job, it is a purpose. All in all, it is more than an achievement - it is a major blessing!

C:  What has your career path been like as you have navigated through your chosen field leading up to your current role/position?

U: My so-called career path has been super windy. I felt like I had to study the sciences to qualify as smart and have a job as a doctor yet I preferred swimming classes and hoped to be an 100m Breast Stroke Olympian. I had a hard time studying for my exams because I wanted to learn salsa dancing instead. Haha!

And not to mention, my best performing class in University was visual arts. What I was yet to discover deep down is that I am a creative at heart with a spirit that feeds on everything to do with serving humanity. This is something that a lot of the ‘prescribed/chosen fields’ do not offer at an early age. You can study medicine and become a doctor. Or go the legal route and become a lawyer -  so on and so forth. A chosen field - begs the question of ‘chosen by whom?’ This is because you can only choose from a set of options set by someone/thing else.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with a Masters in Social Justice and worked at the American Psychological Association. A couple of years later I moved from the United States to Kenya to work with the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa.  These were both very promising jobs supporting societies to thrive. However, the biggest missing element in my previous jobs has been community connection. This is what led me to quit and a year later, I stumbled upon a conversation about a medical initiative in Lamu that had come to a halt. And that is how I founded Safari Doctors. I never studied medicine, but I now have the pleasure of sharing the pursuit of health with those that have limited access. 

C: What advice would you offer to young people on figuring out the balance between work, family life and social life?

U: It is very easy to feel like you do not have the time for certain aspects of your life. The problem is that you are not making the time. I am yet to master this process (if there is anything like mastering time management). Haha!  I have been fortunate to be living in a place and with a group of people with whom work, family and social life intersect rather well here in Lamu. I am sure once you add 2 hours of traffic in the equation then balancing that becomes a different beast all together.  One of the best culprits in figuring out this mix is technology, aka the smart phone!

(Cant we all relate?)

I am working on a personal policy that if I am in the middle of something and the phone rings - if it would be inappropriate for the person calling to be right in front on me at that given time - then I should not be picking up right then. I should text if I can or call them back later. 

C: What is your greatest piece of advice to the young upwardly mobile individual?

U: Animal biology is a class that is not on any school curriculum in Kenya where wildlife tourism contributes to more than 14% of our Gross Domestic Product. Moral of the story is my greatest piece of advice - don’t rely on choosing a field - create one. A lot of what we learn is not necessarily what we love, nor is it in some cases what our circumstances need. Dare to dream and fly out of the box!

C: What is the greatest lesson/ nugget that you have picked up in life?

U: Wow. Heavy question. In the 34 years of my life, the greatest lesson that I have learned is not to burn any bridge - keep creating them. You never know when or how your actions will either help you cash in or go bankrupt in the currency of life. However big or small. You will be very surprised how this trickles out to those around you even generations to come. A lot of what we are able to do with Safari Doctors today is thanks to my father’s role in Lamu before I was even born. Some of the villages that we visit are extra welcoming because of his connections with them decades ago. I have travelled to a meeting in New York only to sit in the same room as a visitor that I shared a boat ride with at Lamu Airport. I have learned that all connections count, from the fisherman to the senior executive, the young to the elderly, regardless of season or reason.

‘’No matter where you go, don’t lose who you are.’’ Leanne Caret, President and CEO of Defence, Space& Security, Boeing

See you next week Tuesday morning where I will share with you another phenomenal story. A story of a woman who is working to solve one of humanities BIGGEST challenges and who believes that“One can be beautiful, strong, confident, a great wife and mother while still being a kick-ass professional all in a day!’

Catch you then! J