Lilian Muthithi- Accountant

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s a day to celebrate the achievements, struggles and challenges that women face. It is also a day to reflect on the progress made, to call for change and to celebrate the acts and determination by ordinary women who have played an extra-ordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

Who is a woman that has inspired you in your life, and why?

My mother Esther, she is the epitome of beauty, wisdom and care. I have always admired how she has natured and guided us. My mother’s love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, her intelligence reflected in her daughters

What did you dream of doing for work when you were younger and why?

Interestingly I wanted to be a teacher. I loved standing in front of the class to do a presentation. I admired how the teachers would understand and elaborate different topics from their minds and pass the same to us. How much respect they commanded not to forget the discipline they instilled in us.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you tell her?

• Failing is part of life. Its normal to make mistakes and experience setbacks but they also provide you with opportunities to learn and grow.
• You are your biggest investment. The more you invest in yourself, the more you will be able to achieve in life.
• Practising gratitude. A grateful mindset helps you stay positive and focused on the good things in life even during challenging times.
• Never compare yourself to others. Everyone has their own unique journey in life. Comparison only leads to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. You are more than enough!

What is the most adventurous thing you have done?

Summiting Mount Kenya. – It was quite a feat. I had every intention to give up but I pressed on to the 3^rd highest peak- Lenana at 4985m ASL.  Nature provides physical and mental therapy. It serves as a natural form of stress relief, promoting social connection and physical activity and enhancing overall well-being.

How do you balance your work and your personal life.

I prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, I place emphasis on personal care for my mental and physical wellbeing in order to be effective and productive and, I have learnt to say no as well, it helps me not to overcommit and avoid issues that will bring more stress into my life.

Which of your qualities make you a powerful woman?

I am resilient, I don’t allow setbacks and challenges to keep me down, I always find a way to bounce back. I am empathetic; I try my best to understand and relate to people’s emotions and perspectives. I am not afraid to take risks and I speak up in what I believe in. I am authentic, true to myself and I don’t compromise my values and integrity for others. Lastly, creativity defines me both at home and at work so i always like looking for solutions and thinking outside the box.

Irene Munyalo – Business Development, Travel

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It is about celebrating women internationally, bearing in mind where we have come from as women and what we have achieved on a global scale and in particular within our local societies.

Who is a woman that has inspired you in your life, and why?

I have been blessed to establish a close-knit group of friends and family that have inspired me a lot. We have walked through different aspects of life together, we have laughed and cried, we care about each other and we support each other through thick and thin. These women have shaped me to be who I am today and I continue to learn a lot from them.

What did you dream of doing for work when you were younger and why?

I wanted to be a nurse. I believe that I am an empathetic person and because of this I always wanted to help the sick and less fortunate and be there with them when they need someone the most. It is very fulfilling to pour yourself into someone and help them.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you tell her?

Nothing is impossible, always strive to achieve what you put your mind to.

What is the most adventurous thing you have done?

The most adventurous thing I’ve done to date is go jet skiing. I was very scared to do it at first but once I got on, I had a rush of adrenaline and ended up having an amazing time. Overcoming my fear then has encouraged me to try and explore other activities such as mountain climbing, I know it is a very tough task from what I’ve heard but I’m willing to go through it. I know it will feel accomplishing when i complete the hike, get to the top, and see the breath-taking view. 

How do you balance your work and your personal life?

I am a very outspoken and straightforward person and this translates to both my work and personal life. There’s a clear distinction for me between work and personal, I don’t like mixing the two because then I am unable to yield the best results, I know I am capable of.

Which of your qualities make you a powerful woman?

I am passionate, a go getter and proactive in every task that I undertake in my life. When I believe in something I do everything to try and achieve it. I pride myself in getting up through every fall stronger and wiser. This has helped me come up with clear solutions no matter the distraction or detours it takes.

Elizabeth Kimaro- Customer Experience 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me, international women’s day is a special day where women’s work and lives are celebrated.

Who is a woman that has inspired you in your life, and why?

My late mother has inspired me the most. She was always there for me. She gave me life, she raised me to be who I am, she ensured I was taken care of through everything and I am grateful to her for that. She shaped who I am as a person today.

What did you dream of doing for work when you were younger and why?

When I was younger, I always wanted to work in a customer facing role. I loved interacting with people and I knew that would be the perfect job for me. My first job was working front desk at the Duty-Free shop at the airport and my whole career has been in customer service. What I do now is what I’ve always wanted to do and I love it.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you tell her?

I would tell her to not give up and to be resilient through everything life throws at her. Challenges will always come in life but she should persevere and work through them. Being resilient in your work always pays off in the end.

What is the most adventurous thing you have done?

Most adventurous thing I have ever done is something I still do to date. I’m an avid bike rider and have always loved it, I started doing it when I was in primary school and still do it today! It’s very thrilling and makes you push your own limits when it comes to your riding time and distance.

How do you balance your work and your personal life?

Balancing my work and personal life hasn’t always been an easy task for me. As a widow and single mother, I have had to play the role of being both a mother and a father to my kids.  However, through all this, I have managed to find a good balance between the two so as to perform at my best in every role.

Which of your qualities make you a powerful woman?

I have single-handedly raised and made sure my kids are well taken care of no matter the circumstances and different seasons of life. My ability to make the right decision for my family and life in general make me a powerful woman. I am also a very caring and friendly person.

Caren Mukabane- Communications

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me, international women’s day is a day set aside to celebrate the achievements of women, recognize the milestones attained by women while seeking gender equality.

Who is the woman that has inspired you in your life, and why?

My mother has been the greatest source of inspiration in my life, she is the backbone of our family and the glue that keeps us together. Her ability to love dearly and still be the disciplinarian in our family has shaped me into the person that I am today. I also get inspired a lot by Michelle Obama, who she is a person, her ability to strongly advocate for women empowerment and still maintain her space within her family set-up has been quite phenomenal to watch.

What did you dream of doing for work when you were younger and why?

Growing up I dreamt of being a lawyer, I studied and watched legal shows like my life depended on it, shows such as Ally McBeal, Law and Order etc. I was mesmerized by the idea that you can use your knowledge of law to determine the future of someone. Whether they will be sentenced to jail or not, for how long, what loopholes you could use to secures someone’s freedom etc. I still watch such shows like Suits from time to time even though I am very content with the career I ended up in.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you tell her?

The world is going to judge everything you do so stand your ground and believe in yourself. You got this. Nothing is impossible if you set your mind on it.

What is the most adventurous thing you have done and how did you feel about it?

Zip lining, it took every strength in me to do zip lining, I honestly felt like I was going to fall and the trainers had to talk me through it before I agreed to zip away. I am glad I did it, I can count it off my bucket list.

I have also crossed two swaying suspension bridges, the Kitengela hot glass suspension bridge and the Maasai Lodge Rolf’s place bridge. To date I still don’t believe I actually did it. I am also proud of the moment I climbed the Ngong Hills even though I was not able to walk the next day.

How do you balance your work and your personal life.

With growth has come the understanding of the importance to give time to every area of my life, that means giving my all between 8:00am-5:00pm while at work and then giving my all to my family life after work. I am cognizant of the importance to ensure that both areas feel my presence without dropping the ball. Every day is a work in progress, I keep learning everyday different ways to maintain this balance.

Which of your qualities make you a powerful woman?

My caring nature, I am a very caring person; I am also an optimistic and positive person who is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in.

I am able to share my thoughts without dimming another person’s light. I strongly believe that there is enough room for all of us to exist together in the same space.

Judy Adhiambo- Relationship Officer, Real Estate

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me, international women’s day is a day to celebrate the women who went before us and created a crack in the glass ceiling which paved the way for the rest of us.

Who is the woman that has inspired you in your life, and why?

My mother; I’ve seen her build herself up from scratch, she has been resilient through everything that has come her way and through her I have learnt what it means to be a strong woman.

What did you dream of doing when you were younger, and why?

I always wanted to be a scientist, as a kid I loved the cartoon Dexter’s Laboratory. I loved how he would use science in a creative way and would always find solutions by gathering information and using different techniques.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you tell her?

Believe in yourself. I would have done so many things throughout my life if I had just gathered more confidence and believed in myself.

What is the most adventurous thing you have done?

When I climbed Hells Gate- Fishers Cliff without a harness, only using cams. It was physically challenging and exhausting. I made it all the way to the top and the feeling of accomplishing that climb was well worth it. I did hurt my back on the way back down but I kept going. It taught me that I am very resilient and that if I keep going and never stop, I can achieve anything I set my mind to do.

How do you balance your work and your personal life?

I have never had instances where they overlap each other. I have made clear distinction between the two to avoid a situation where one strains the other. I have also created separation so that I have time just for work and just for my personal life to enable me do well in both.

Which of your qualities make you a powerful woman?

My resilience; I am very proud of my spirit of getting back up and never giving up. My optimism nature has enabled me look at the glass half full rather than half empty and always look at the brighter side of things instead of dwelling on the negative.

Jane Odipo, Administration

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me it’s about celebrating women who work hard and their achievements. It also about celebrating the women in your lives, the women that care for you and the ones that make you who you are. 

Who is the woman that has inspired you in your life, and why?

My mother has inspired me a lot. She is very hardworking and she raised me and my siblings in a good, loving and Christian way. This has shaped who I am and in turn has enabled me to raise my children in the same way I was raised.

What did you dream of doing when you were younger?

I always wanted to work in business and finance. To date I am still a businesswoman at heart but as a child that was the only thing I wanted to do.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you tell her?

I would tell her to go to school and make her dreams come true. Life is hard and she should continue to keep working hard and to have patience because once you do that, everything pays off.

What is the most adventurous thing you have done?

I have always enjoyed taking part in sporting activities but the most adventurous thing I have ever done is relay racing. I like the adrenaline I get from it and the feeling of accomplishment once I finish the race. I do not participate in them as much anymore but any time there is a GA Sport Tournament, I will run the relay race.

How do you balance your work and your personal life?

I am a woman who fully concentrates at the task I have at hand, which is why I am able to create a good balance with my work and my personal life. When I am at work, I do what I am supposed to do and play my expected role and in my personal life I play the role of a mother, wife and friend to my full capacity.

Which qualities make you a powerful woman?

I am a very hardworking and business-oriented person, my ability to turn an idea into a business making venture make me a powerful woman. I am also a loving and caring person towards my family and loved ones. I believe that Motherhood has made me a powerful woman.

Jane Wairimu, Finance- GA Life

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Basically, it’s a day to celebrate the woman. To me a woman symbolises greatness, strength, resilience, diligence & hope, despite her social status, race or money.

Who is a woman that has inspired you in your life, and why?

They are so many women who have inspired me in this journey of life: Shonda Rhimes, Rita Okuthe, Captain Irene Koki Mutungi, Rebecca Mbithi, Taraji P Henson just to mention but a few. The one who tops is my mother-Maggy K. She is the woman who taught me how to become a Proverbs 31 woman. She believed in me when nobody did; even myself.

What did you dream of doing for work when you were younger and why?

Hahaha, I wanted to become an engineer. Growing up back in the days (90’s) it was like one had to either be a doctor, engineer, nurse, lawyer or a pilot, but later when I got to high school, I wanted to be an airhostess to fly around the world looking all pretty and cute.

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you tell her?

I would tell her never give up. Consistency and discipline are key. Enjoy life.

What is the most adventurous thing you have done and how did you feel about it?

Ziplining. At first scary but once the adrenaline kicked in, I had a blast.

How do you balance your work and your personal life.

This can be tricky sometimes however before I begin my day, I plan and prioritize.

Which of your qualities make you a powerful woman?

Confident, Self-respecting, Emotional intelligent, Optimistic and Independent.