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

2017 Top 40 under 40 Women Series

When the 2017 list of Top 40 Under 40 Women was unveiled this year, I was so excited to see the women featuring in this year’s list. I drew SO much inspiration from the stories of these women in Kenya and I honestly hoped to channel this inspiration into my blog- to share stories that would uplift, inspire and encourage. This year’s list did not disappoint in as far as inspiration goes!

I then got an exciting but rather ambitious idea to run an amazing series featuring the stories of this year’s nominees. I look at this as a labour of love, passion and determination to share only the best and most uplifting content. This series seeks to inspire just one person; to have at least one point of influence! 

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure- Marianne Williamson 

Before we get started, and for the benefit of those who may not be familiar with what the Top 40 under 40 list is, let me give some background. J

What is the Top 40 under 40 Women Award?

The Top 40 under 40 Women Award is an annual award which recognizes the top 40 women across the country doing great things, smashing the quintessential glass ceiling and going against all odds to emerge top in their chosen fields. The list of women is generated by Kenya’s top business newspaper, Business Daily. Business Daily has been running this for the past nine years (imagine that!)

What is the process of identifying the Top 40 women?

As you would imagine the process is intense! Business Daily invites applications from the general public to nominate exceptional women. A carefully constituted panel of judges then assesses all applications to identify outstanding women across Kenya. After the selection, Business Daily ascertains each candidate’s age, data on the size of the enterprise they have founded, companies they work for, scope and complexity of what they do and competitive landscape of their respective industries.

Who are this year’s Top 40 under 40 women?

Here is the list of this year’s Top 40 women to watch:

1.       Naomi Rono- World Bank Advisor, Africa Group, 34

2.       Ciku Mugambi- Investment analyst at International Finance Corporation (Venture Capital), 29

3.       Caroline Wambugu- Head of Financial Decision Support, VP, Barclays Bank of Kenya, 37

4.       Dr. Borna Nyaoke-Anoke- Clinical Trials Manager, Kenya Aids Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, 30

Dr. Borna Nyaoke-Anoke

5.       Wariara Wairera Waireri- Co-Founder and Director, E-lab Africa, 30

6.       LeAnne Peris- Owner, Diner en Blanc Nairobi, 27

7.       Umra Omar- Founder, Safari Doctors, 34

Umra Omar

8.       Nina Galot Thacker- Commercial Director, London Distillers Kenya, 38

9.       Emily Orwaru- Aeronautical Planning Engineer, Kenya Airways, 29

10.   Dr. Shitsama Nyamweya- Neurosurgeon, Kenyatta National Hospital, 32

11.   Sheila Mwarangu- Partner, Gathara& Partners Consulting Civil and Structures Engineers, 38

12.   Carol Ng'ang'a- Founder, Held Sister, 32

Carol Ng'ang'a

13.   Irene Tulel- Project Manager, UNDP, 36

14.   Valentine Nekesa- Founder, V-Designs, 20

15.   Joyce Wanderi- Maina- Chief Operating Officer, Population Services Kenya, 38

16.   Nelly Tuikong- Founder and CEO, Pauline Cosmetics, 32

17.   Sitah Lang'o- Regional Manager, Swift East Africa, 34

18.   Fridah Muchina- Regional Head of Human Resources, Nestle Equatorial Africa Region, 39

19.   Lisa Mugure- Ex-civil engineer, China Communication and Construction Company (CCCC), 25

20.   Gladys Cherono- International Athlete, Winner of Berlin Marathon, 34

21.   Salome Gathoni- IT Programme Leader, General Electric Digital, 39

22.   Marion Atieno Moon- Founder and Managing Director, Wanda Organic Limited, 33

23.   Mbula Musau- Independent Consultant and Founder, Utake Coffee, 37

24.   Angela Githuthu- Ngaamba- Safaricom Youth Segment Lead, 37

25.   Mary Mueni Ngui- Group Head of Risk and Compliance, Resolution Insurance, 33

26.   Simaloi Dajom- Deputy Programmes Director, Royal Media Services, 35

27.   Iddah Asin- Director Government Affairs and Policy, Johnson & Johnson, 34

28.   Dr Stellah Wairimu Bosire- Otieno- CEO, Kenya Medical Association, 31

29.   Felisters Gitau-Mutugu- Head of Sales Operations, Farmers Choice, 31

30.   Caroline Mtai- Senior Prosecution Counsel, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), 37

31.   Rachael Gitonga- CFO, East Africa Reinsurance, 36

32.   Angela Ndambuki- CEO, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), 37

33.   Caroline Makenzi- Consultant, Climate Focus, 30

34.   Natalie Robi Tingo- Founder, Msichana Empowerment Kuria, 27

35.   Patricia Seroney- Partner, Deloitte, 39

36.   Margaret Achieng' Oyugi- Head of Actuarial, Resolution Insurance, 33

  Margaret Achieng' Oyugi

37.   Silvia Tonui Sambili- Founder, Marigat Gold, 32

38.   Martha Mbugua- Partner, Hamilton Harrison& Mathews, 32

39.   Dr Anne Musuva- Deputy Chief of Party, Population Services Kenya, 35

40.   Caroline Somba- Financial Controller, National Oilwell Varco, 29

  Caroline Somba

Here are some fun facts from this year’s list

1.       A little analysis on the different ages of these women showed this 

Women aged between:            Percentage of women on the list

20-25 years                                                           5%

26-30 years                                                          20%

31-35 years                                                          43%

36-40 years                                                          33%

(I hope that you can identify with an age bracket here! Meaning YOU can do it, age isn’t a factor! J)

2.       The youngest winner is 20 years old and the eldest is 39.

3.       Approximately 25% of the women are founders and CEOs of their respective enterprises.

I hope this series sparks a fire in you, and more than that, I hope it inspires deliberate and conscious action towards becoming the greatest version of yourself and achieving your fullest potential.

Let’s kick off this series..shall we?

Have you ever felt your inner self set on fire?

Have you ever felt your inner self set on fire? Or just felt that spark in you waiting to be set ablaze?

Had you asked me, say nine months ago, where I wanted my life to be today, I would have said exactly where it is now. Back then I did not know how that was going to be possible, but I knew the life I was living wasn’t ‘it’ for me. I knew and felt that I wanted more, to be more, to experience more, to do more..

As fate would have it, I have found myself squarely here. In a space where I can define a lot in my life, where I feel like I have the power to gain back a level of control I lost. But at the same time, ironically, a place of letting go of the said control. It’s almost paradoxical right? I needed to let go of some level of structure through which I had lived my life previously. I feel that I got overly caught up in planning; setting goals, strategizing… making one year, five year, ten year goals, that I embraced too much rigidity and almost forgot to live, to take risks, to just be.

I have always been a person of timelines, of written down goals, of immense structure. Whilst this is an amazing thing, there’s a fine fine line where said rigidity robs you of life, of your sparkle..

But now, I am taking time to smell the roses, living a bit more fluidly. (Okay I won’t lie, goal setting and timelines will always be a part of me..case in point, I just wrote up an Excel sheet of some goals I have for the rest of the year J). But, but, the difference is I am now doing it different, enjoying the process a whole lot more, putting myself under less pressure and just living. Breathing. Embracing. Loving. Being. And this side of life feels a whole lot better!

I am now getting back into blogging in a much different mind space then how I initially began. This is me, back at my centre, finding that zen. Being on fire, being alive. Challenging myself. Through the blog, I want to be able to broaden my perspective. I want to get out there, interact, engage, laugh while at it, grow.. That’s the stuff I crave for, that’s what makes my pulse beat faster.

Through the blog, I would like to be able to interact with and hopefully feature other like-minded people, of different ages, backgrounds, viewpoints, upbringing, culture.. My dream has always been to take part in programs around the world such as leadership programs, events, conferences and global events with people seeking to make an impact in any way, shape or form. I am slowly discovering some fantastic programs such as the University of Oxford- Said Business School’s Archbishop Tutu Fellowship Program (I've linked it here) and the Women Transforming Leadership Program (I've linked it here). 

Truthfully, these programs target mid-career individuals and it can seem out of reach for you or me to get a chance to ‘take a seat at the table’. However question is; how will change come about, if we young people do not boldly demonstrate why we have the ability to be a part of such amazing forums.. and like sponges; absorb, absorb and absorb! And equally so; contribute, challenge and contribute some more!

I hope to grow, to mature. To enjoy the process, express, be genuine, real, consistent and authentic. To confidently know and say that a year from now, I will be intrinsically the same person, but with more maturity, more body, more fire, more life, more depth, and certainly with bigger dreams. 

And I wish the same for you. J

Love and light

Fiercely journeying through our 20s

Hello there!😊

I recently read a great quote from a friend’s Twitter account which said ‘I am enough. I have enough’. I have had a lot of time to do a lot of thinking these past few weeks, and I have also reconnected with many friends, and ignited some genuinely great friendships along the way.

Throughout all this, I have had some good banter and candid conversations. Most of them begin with a catch up on how life is going and then meander into this beautiful journey we call our 20s. Lots of us 20-somethings are going through important milestones.. I’m talking life changing events such as marriage, scholarships and the pursuit of second degrees, new jobs and career changes, new relationships, new businesses, starting families, pursuing new passions.. the list is endless!

I honestly feel my heart really warm up when I see all of this. It signifies growth, maturity, progress.. which are all incredibly positive! But not all the change comes easy or comes pretty, other people are also going through painful processes such as miscarriages and difficult pregnancies, difficult marriages, retrenchment and job loss, struggling businesses, difficult family trials, death of loved ones, sickness, depression, self doubt.. And these are very trying, traumatic and daunting periods..

No one can fully understand a situation (whether good or not so good), except the individual who finds himself in it.

I am writing this post to:-

-really laud those who are flourishing in this season of life, to fully cheer them on, root for them 110%!! To that person who just managed to break a bad habit/ addiction, the person that just moved out of home, the person who just bagged a scholarship and entry into their dream school (shoutout to those starting grad school this September, yay!), to that person who just started a blog (shoutout to the fitness blog Tizi), that person who just landed their dream job, the person who just bought their first home, the one who started a new business.. and to anyone who has achieved their own personal version of success..Congratulations through and through!

-to encourage those going through a stage called being in the ‘waiting room of life’. Where things are neither here nor there. Where you are frustrated at your job or just lost that job, lost that business deal, lost a loved one, missed that promotion, started that venture that just isn’t picking up, lost money in that investment.. or you who is just going through an incredibly difficult time.. may you always be reminded that this is just a season, and it too, shall pass.

Lastly we need to take time to pray and be there for each other, intentionally and truly. Journeying our 20s and into our 30s is a bittersweet roller coaster, but, an overall amazing, wholesome and beautiful experience. I’ll leave you with another beautiful quote:

‘Surround yourself with people who add value to your life, who challenge you to be greater than you were yesterday, who sprinkle magic into your existence, just like you do to theirs. Life isn’t to be done alone. Find your tribe- and journey freely and loyally together’ Alex Elle

PS: As you may/ may not have noticed, this is my old blog and my actual blog (calibratedblossom.com) is still under construction. Literally! But I will redirect all my traffic to the main site when it is fully up and running 😊Thank you to EVERYONE who encouraged me to get back to writing.. a heartfelt and sincere thank you! Love and light.

BIG THINGS BREWING…

Hello there! I hope you are having a fantastic end to your July. This year time keeps whizzing by and before you can catch a break a new month is ready to begin. As we “recover” from Obama’s visit to Kenya (hands up if you still don’t know what POTUS means, haha! Probably the most googled word last week!)and the positive effects from the GES Summit, I thought I would let you in on something remarkable that is brewing.

I have been blogging since February 2014 and for a long time I have envisioned transitioning to a full website. Transitioning into a new site would serve as an open canvas with a depth of possibility. Well, this dream is finally materialising. In celebration of this amazing feat, it is fitting to organise a launch to unveil the new site.

Proceed to mark your calendars for Saturday 29^th August 2015 when we will be hosting our inaugural event dubbed “The fruition of a dream”. It will be an afternoon like no other; of unveiling the Calibrated Blossom website alongside fireside chats with stellar Kenyan personalities and culminating in a celebration of our local Kenyan music. It is an excellent opportunity for the young and upwardly mobile Kenyan to meet and rub shoulders with some of Kenya's most remarkable personalities. It is also a celebration of Kenya’s entrepreneurial culture giving a platform to fantastic businesses to showcase what their businesses have to offer.

This launch will also give us an opportunity to share the remarkable and ambitious plan to make Calibrated Blossom a brand that you and I can identify with. A brand that people between the ages of 23-35 all over the world can identify with.  I envision it as a place that people can find inspiration, be challenged, find useful advice applicable to various facets of their lives. A place where potential connections can be made, a refreshing haven, where ideas can be exchanged and birthed; a melting pot of opportunity, inspiration and possibility. I want this to be a brand that has never been seen in Kenya, Africa and the world over!!

I recently run a quick survey on my social media sites on the following question “If you could spend 30minutes in a one-on-one conversation with a Kenyan personality of your choice, who would that be and why?” It was intriguing to see the depth of responses I received and the reasons behind the choice of individual. What was amazing was that the responses cut across individuals in diverse fields; from enterprise, to corporate leaders, media personalities, political figures, bloggers, and ambassadors… the list is indeed endless. It’s great that people hold such remarkable men and women in high regard. Given the opportunity, they would be willing to spend some time in a tête-à-tête and perhaps sneak in a selfie! (You know?!) This event hopes to do just that and give you that opportunity.

Indeed it is an opportunity to celebrate the fruition of dreams.

I will be posting more event details as the date approaches, with the anticipated personalities who will be in attendance, a list of six entrepreneurs who will be showcasing their businesses and unveiling the local musical talent. Look out for the event details SOON! 
Note: In order for guests to derive ABSOLUTE value, this will ideally be a small gathering therefore limited tickets will be on sale.

2015 is indeed OUR year! Do you have a dream? Does it seem crazy? Are you going for it? If so, keep at it!

Book Swap

Have you ever been to a book swap? If you're like me, then you probably haven't! Haha

I would like to introduce you to the idea of a book swap. So what exactly is book swap? A book swap involves the swapping of books between people. It's a practice among book groups, friends and colleagues giving one an opportunity to exchange books, find out about new books  and make awesome connections.

This Sunday 12th July, Mwanaume ni Effort presents the MNE Book Swap. Mwanaume ni Effort (MNE) is a lifestyle brand dedicated to uplifting and refining young Africans through fashion, events, education and charity.

Location: Leilani House, Lenana Road. (Leilani's is located at the end of Dennis Pritt Road)

Time: From 2pm

Charges: Kshs 500 at the gate

Come with any books you would like to share, swap or giveaway. There will be lots of food, drink, amazing conversation, and an open mic session where readers will share their favourite excerpts from their favorite books. Please bring a book or two to swap. The more, the merrier!

Imagine an afternoon of book swapping in the backdrop of music, lovely Sangria& wine and amazing company; where you can have a decent engaging conversation, meet like-minded people and have a fabulous time.

See you there. Until then, happy reading!

If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what book he reads- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Woman of steel- Rehmat Sumra

In the male-dominated scrap metal industry, Rehmat Sumra has managed to make a name for herself. At the tender age of 19 she became MD of Roma Scrap Metal Dealers Limited and has since steered it to great heights.

I grew up in Mombasa and my family later moved to Kisumu. My life spurned the normal life of a teenager. During school holidays I kept busy helping my mother to run and balance the accounts in our family-run business.

I completed school in 2004 and enrolled for a Diploma in International Commerce at the University of Toronto in Canada. I was studying in Canada when my mother suffered a stroke. I quickly returned to Kenya to run the family business. I previously never saw myself in the family business.

Looking back I believe my family background impacted on my career goals. Watching my parents run the family business drew me into the scrap metal industry. The company supplies scrap metal to lead manufacturers and steel mills. I began as an administrative assistant and was later made CEO at the age of nineteen.

I do not have a typical day. My day involves a balance of home and work. My day begins at 5am with prayer. I get my daughter ready for school and leave for work. My work involves correspondence with clients, seeking new business opportunities and supervising and overseeing the company’s operations.

Working in the scrap metal industry has taught me to deftly manoeuvre this informal sector. Having confidence has been handy in this male-dominated industry. Learning to deal with industry stakeholders has enabled the company to broaden its operations to Kisumu and Mombasa.

I actively engaged in strengthening the Kenya Iron and Scrap Metal Association. I cautioned on the dangers and implications of vandalism. This helped to reduce the rift between dealers in the business and management of national firms.

In my early days running the company, I was faced with a myriad of challenges such as business deals gone wrong. I would take it personally, like it was my failure. But I learnt that it can happen to anybody.

Through the years I have learnt that it is important to separate business and personal life. Never let your business affect your personal life. Never take matters to heart.

I am married and have a daughter who is three years old. Motherhood is a beautiful thing. It is possible to achieve the intricate balance of business and motherhood. I remember when I was a new mum I made a nursery for my daughter at work; I somehow developed this need to be constantly around my daughter.

I believe my responsibility towards society is to be an excellent wife, mother and business executive. Women can excel both at work and at home.

My husband and I love travelling. Since we got married we have travelled to all continents except Australia. My dream destinations in the future would be Mexico, Cuba and Switzerland.

My husband and I partnered together to start Aayat Enterprises Limited in 2014. It is a building and construction company that aims to empower the youth.

I returned to school to complete my studies. I graduated from Catholic University with a degree in political science with a bias in economics. Despite the fact that my education was cut short when my mother fell ill, I have deeply believed in the power of education. I wished to set an example to my siblings.

I am always disheartened by the suffering of disadvantaged children. I have adopted fifteen children with special needs, mainly suffering from cerebral malaria, cancer and brain tumours. We cannot continue thriving in business as a country while ignoring the plight of the less fortunate.

Success to me is being happy; and I can say that I am happy. As long as you know what you are doing then actively pursue it. You need to have that drive inside you because at the end of the day, if you do not want it you are not going to get it!

2014 Top 40 under 40 Award

This article is featured in True Love East Africa Magazine July 2015 issue.

All rights reserved 

Half year reflections

We are already six months into the year. Would you believe that? It’s amazing how fast time is moving.

My half year has been riddled with ups and downs. The greatest difficulty has been dealing with disappointments and change. It is especially painful and difficult when it feels like life is dealing you one difficult situation after another.  On the flip side however, is that superb things have happened along the way and I am deeply appreciative of them. What do you do when things go unplanned? When things go wrong?  When situations cast some self-doubt and you question yourself? When you have to question whether you’re good enough for something; even when factors around you seem to suggest that you aren’t as good. Here are a few reflections that have helped me in dealing with disappointments and regaining my perspective.

 

1. Allow yourself to feel the emotions. You could be dealing with difficult intricacies at work, or treading along the thin ice of a failing or failed relationship, or battling disappointments from loved ones, a single mother coming to terms with an absentee spouse or better half or dealing with the repercussions of that important presentation or pitch that went horribly wrong. The list is indeed endless, and I have found that a situation or setback is highly personal. You cannot begin to compare your situation, or to diminish a situation you find yourself in. You are highly unique and what happens to you is purely personal. I am slowly learning that it is important to let yourself experience the emotions that come with each situation. Allow yourself to feel what you are feeling, without an agenda of rushing it or speeding up the process of moving on. Just. Let. It. Be.
2. Don’t take it personally. When you take something personally, it unnecessarily narrows your point of view and prevents the acquiring of wisdom, which is an ability to see life from a deeper, broader, more meaningful perspective. 
3. Take a big picture perspective. The ability to self-reflect is the essence of good mental health. Take some time to explore what is happening for you around this event – what it means to you and what it has taught you about life.
4. Don’t let it shake you. This one is difficult. It’s easy to really question yourself when things go wrong. It’s not uncommon to find yourself doubting yourself, your character, your potential and your ability. I have learnt, and I’m continually learning, that disappointment doesn’t necessarily reflect on our weaknesses and inadequacies. It serves as a light to better understand ourselves, understand our capabilities, our emotional intelligence& soundness, and embrace acceptance. The way forward and solutions may not necessarily be clear, but believe me they are there. All it needs is time, some soul-searching and reflection and most importantly seeking out advice from those around you.
5. Embrace change. Change is amazing. The more you embrace it, the more you open up to amazing possibilities. You unlock a side of you, and some great opportunities that you previously did not know existed. Admittedly it is a painful and slow process, but the growth that comes out of it is undoubtedly far more rewarding.

You learn so much from things that happen to you, disappointments do not define you. What defines you is your ability to handle the situation, embrace the situation and keep your head above the water.

I hope this helps you in dealing with the rigours that life has dealt you. It’s been a tough first half of the year on different fronts in my life. Life is complicated, difficult and a roller coaster in itself. But life is indeed beautiful, do not let that beauty pass you by.

Love and light.

The CEO with a larger than life dream

Meet the man behind Kenya’s first and only castle; the beautiful Tafaria Castle. He has built one of Kenya’s most beautiful structures- an elegant structure designed on fairy tales of medieval Europe. The marvelous castle is a result of seven years of construction. Before he made the transition from the corporate world to build this dream castle, he was the man at the helm of Steadman Group (now Ipsos Synovate), who steered it to an African multinational. The man, George Waititu. Let his tale unfold.

Growing up in Laikipia plains near the Aberdares was remote, harsh, lonely and God forsaken (in many ways). My mother was a pioneer immigrant there. Make no mistake though, it was still fun and well-moulded me – I can bet I would have been a totally different person if I didn’t grow up there.

The inspiration behind Tafaria Castle stemmed out of a childhood dream and the need to express my love for architecture and art. Most importantly, the castle is very symbolic of transforming my village. Having gone back to conquer the brutality that it unleashed on me when I was growing up, a Castle had to be built to signify that – just like in medieval times when they conquered a territory. The fact that we built a castle was also borne out of the expression by my English teacher each time one was caught day dreaming ‘don’t build castles in the air!’, so I had to build one on the ground for my village.

The challenges I faced were in plenty – I look back and there is no way I shall undertake such a project again! (chuckles) The challenges ranged for the very location itself – far flung making materials haulage expensive, local labour was not used to the kind of work ethics the project demanded, I was fulltime working and supervision was a major challenge, the heavy rains and bad roads, lack of water and lack of power made the early years of the project very expensive. Overall, there were many challenges but they did not seem as such as Tafaria is a pure work of passion…. I am happy to note that we accomplished all the set out transformational goals: to bring water, electricity, roads, employment, skills, market for local produce, to enhance land value and to create social prestige in the village.

The front and rear entrances to the Castle

One of the beautiful pieces of art at the Castle

Tafaria was always a dream I had. I made the transition from my career to focus on the castle because of the overwhelming need to go back home and transform the village that I grew up in, the village that made me the person that I am today. I also have this thing in me - that this craving to live in urban areas needs to be reversed by making rural areas more attractive places to live in. Beyond the localized transformation that I pursued, I'm very deliberate about rural transformation.

The lessons I have learnt are un-ending. The most important one is being ‘never delegate your dream’; you must personally be involved and pursue it with brutal consistency. Anything short of that will be filled with regret of either unrealized goals or poor execution – I had to leave corporate life to pursue my dream brutally. The results are always deeply fulfilling.

Where I am today is a result of being passionate about what I believe in. I never take up anything in life that I am not in love with. I had a similar passion for the Steadman group which I built to an Africa multinational. If you have ever been in love, I'm sure you will understand what I mean – no one else or anything else matters in the world and you go to strenuous lengths to satisfy this. (Isn’t that amazing, can I get an amen? Haha!)

I am very average and have always been even academically – I still get bored very quickly – I'm also very edgy and terribly impatient – when I die, burry me quick else you might have some questions to answer. Haha!

Success to me is the attainment of a set personal vision – a goal true to one’s heart. I think it is always very disempowering to others when one tells his story because using the benefit of hindsight, everything sounds and looks well thought out and executed – it’s therefore very hard to explain this in a way that sounds normal. I would sum up my journey as one full of the ordinary ups and downs pursued with brutal consistence – hence few regrets.

Mentors are important but one needs to be careful not to be entrapped by social conformity. I have been personally inspired by different phenomenon and people. For instance am very inspired by the consistency of the sun (never fails to rise or set) and hawkers (for their aggression, belief in what they sell and passion to push it through). We are who we are because all our paths are unique and however hard you try to take mine, you will never end up with the same results. One needs someone to occasionally bounce off ideas. Trouble with young people when they get mentors is that they over-subject themselves to the said mentors, sometimes compromising their own creativity and personal liberties (which I highly cherish). You must stand for something first at a personal level then look for someone to guide you through it.

My advice to young people on saving and investing would be to make your dreams first and set your goals then define the steps towards their accomplishment. Put a financial tag to each and then set out to get the necessary finances. I am not a believer of saving money in the bank. The true meaning of money is what one spends it on. The whole essence of working hard is to accomplish a pre-defined goal. I would hate a situation where I make some money then go look for something to do with it.

Invest in that genuine dream that is personal to you. An early start is always advisable. Breakdown the various stages of your investment to the tiniest of elements (I say shilling worth) and that way you don’t have to wait to save big money to start. Tafaria started by simply planting trees. Each seedling then was 1bob and labour for a day was 100bob. So even the biggest of investments has a shilling worth element. If you have an opportunity, I say why not!

Endless pursuit of wealth for its own sake is not fulfilling. I find it deeply satisfying when you do things with and for the community. Tafaria is a social enterprise by motivation. Reaching out to the community does not stop one from earning while at it just like one can do with a hobby. Also, however hard one works, there is always the element of fate and many things in a community conspire to influence our direction. So, community being so cardinal to/in our lives, it’s worth attention.

The earlier one is able to ‘figure’ himself out, the easier navigation through life becomes thereafter. Remember, even the society engages with you at your own terms. You set the terms and immediately the society sees you through those lenses and engages with you as such.