Not Your Typical ‘Rags to Riches’ Story

What is your story? Is it the typical ‘rags to riches’ story, or is it different? We have all gone through challenges as we chase our goals in life. Most people like to show how they came from poverty and struggled to get opportunities in life by going against odds to grow and get to whatever place they are at in life. Thing is, we all have gone through one challenge or another, it is never easy for anyone.

This is not your typical rags to riches’ story but a story of hard work, dedication and commitment to self-improvement. This is a story of someone who took advantage of every opportunity presented to her to achieve what she has in her life.

At only 30 years old, Wendy is a CEO, a Championer for Women in Tech, and quite passionate about impacting lives. According to those who interact with her, Wendy is bold and self-driven, a character she says she got from her parents.

A Nairobi born and bred girl, Wendy says she is thankful to God for the opportunities she has had to build a career and become among the youngest CEOs in Kenya.

Her leadership journey

Wendy did her junior schooling in Kenya’s capital having gone through her primary education at Gilgil Hills Academy. She went ahead to do her high school at Moi High School Kabarak in Nakuru and finally did both her undergraduate and postgraduate at the United States International University in Nairobi.

While at Gilgil Hills Academy, Wendy was the school captain, which is the first leadership position she had in her life. During high school, she was the head of a couple of clubs and in university she was part of the student union.

“All through, I have been in leadership positions and I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily luck. I have had to work for everything that I have accomplished and I wouldn’t say my current leadership position and others as well have been a walk in the park,” Wendy says.

Being a young woman adds fuel to the fire. Currently, Wendy is a CEO in the technology industry which is a sector that has been seen to be male dominated. Going through this pressure has motivated her to help the young girls who want to be in leadership positions as well.

“I always tell girls who ask me how to increase their confidence that they need to believe that they deserve a seat at the table and whenever they get that seat, they should make meaning out of it, show up, and tell their story,” she tells dx5, “and the most important thing, they need to create opportunities for other women as well.”

Supporting Women in Tech

Wendy is very intentional in having more women in Tech. And as the CEO of Jenga School, she is already driving her focus to supporting young girls who want to get into the tech space.

At Jenga School, she has a vision of ensuring 50,000 women in tech through their programs at Jenga School by 2030. Ever since the launch of the institution in June 2020, Jenga School has had 150 students 86 of which have been women.

The school focuses on Data science and a parallel program in software engineering. It has recently had its second graduation in April 2022.

Wendy hopes to continue in her journey of impacting lives and getting more women in tech.

“Truth is, women still have to push a little harder for opportunities and recognition, but we are seeing a lot of changes. While barriers for women still exist, opportunities are also knocking! So where do I see myself in 5 years? At the forefront of the people empowering women and driving this change in the tech space.,” she said when asked where she sees herself in five years.