AWiTaD (Afro-Women in Technology and Design.)

In this episode, Margaret Odeng, the Mobile Money Integration Specialist, shares lots with Host Ziki.

Margaret, the Kenyatta University graduate is passionate about the Fintech industry and elevating voices of women in tech. She goes by the mantra, “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable”, which has shaped her outlook on life. She was once given a 2-day notice to travel out of the country to take care of business, which she successfully executed.

Once when she was a Google Developer Group lead in Nairobi where she organised a lot of tech conferences, she encountered issues that affected women’s participation in tech conferences. She has since made it her mission to encourage women to dive into the industry and take up space by sharing her story and knowledge of navigating this otherwise male dominated field.

Her drive has resulted in her winning international awards like Facebook GraceHopper Scholar and the IBM Master the Main Frame Champion.

This episode was recorded in 2018 and now broadcasts on Radio Baraza for an indefinite period. To listen to the full episode and other titles in this Podcast series, log on here:

Omina Otsieno is the creative director at Omina Otsieno. This Evelyn’s School of Design graduate picked up a passion for arts in childhood starting with creating jewelry. She then eventually got motivated to learn fashion design officially.

She is a jack of most art trades with a vision of helping women and youth back in the rural Kenya to gain skills that could help them curb unemployment.

She is also a part-time teacher at Fanisi, imparting her knowledge and skills on dressmaking, beading and jewelry to the youth.

MUSIC CREDITS

1. Hey – Bensound

2. Brazil Samba - Bensound

3. Badass – Bensound

Credits: www.bensound.com

Socials Connect

Podcast Series: African women in Tech and Design (AWiTaD)

Production: Development Through Media (DTM) under the Radio Baraza Project

Season 1 (2019)

Broadcast Episode 6

Duration: 48’38”

Host: Ziki of AfroFanatic

Guest: Judy Owigar

SYNOPSIS

“I think I made a mistake”. This is what ran through Judith Owigar’s mind when she entered her first class for a scheduled course in Computer Science at the Nairobi University. Coming from a background where girls loved and excelled in science and math, she was shocked to find that in a class of 45, only 5 were girls.

During the course of her career, Judith found that as a woman in tech, she constantly had to go over and beyond to prove herself. Things did not seem to have changed much, for while attend a launch of start-ups after graduation, it did not escape her noticed that she could “count” the women in the room. This ignited a fire in her to help make spaces for women in tech. Not being one to shy away from challenges, she and several friends decided to form training programmes to enhance the skills to young women and encourage them to join the tech industry. Thus, AkiraChix was born! AkiraChix is an organisation that provides hands-on technical training and mentorship to young women and girls.

Judith, a postgraduate of Applied Computing at the University of Nairobi is now the founder and CEO of JuaKali Workforce, an online micro-jobs platforms that employs people working in the informal sector. Judy is also a consultant at UN-Habitat.

In this episode, Judy narrates her foray in the tech world.

MUSIC CREDITS

Artist: Ben Sounds

Song: Hey

Brazil Samba

Badass

Episode Title: “Dresses of Love”

Category: Podcast Series/Episode 5 Promo

Theme: Tech and Design

Guest’s Name: Ogake Mosomi

In this episode, Ogake, owner and head designer at Ogake Bridal, has an upbeat, fun and candid conversation with Host Ziki. Here Ogake shares her vision for “Kenyan made bridal gowns” that so inspired her to set up Ogake Bridal as a design company that deals with custom made bridal gowns that she fondly refers to as Dresses of Love.

And there is more, much more about Ogake Mosomi! She also lectures at the School of the Arts and Design, University of Nairobi. On completing her degree in Fashion Product Innovation at University for the Creative Arts, Kent, Ogake worked for renowned fashion designer, Jenny Packham, and bespoke tailor, Antonia Pugh-Thomas. Thereafter, she did a Masters degree in Marketing Management at Middlesex University. It is these two experiences that kindled her love affair with high-end, artisanal bridal wear. Since then, Ogake has done numerous corporate and personal commissions.

Ogake’s major goal is to change perceptions about locally made clothing. In her role as a Tutorial Fellow at University of Nairobi, her focus is not only to teach and publish in design, but also to nurture and mentor her students into responsible and committed designers who can build consumers’ confidence in the local industry.

Look out for the Radio Baraza Schedule to know when this Episode will broadcast.

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About this Episode

In this show, the Podcast’s host, Ziki guides listeners into the Story of Mia Mara, a Kenyan fashion Design house created and managed by Lorna.

Lorna has been in the fashion industry since 2008 where she has gained a wide experience making clothes for women as well as and men and children.

Lorna has participated in many local fashion shows and has also been a contestant in various local and international fashion competitions such as:

· Redds Africa Fashion Design Awards [RAFDA] 2008

· Safari Fashion Runway Reality Show [2013]

· Africa Designers For Tomorrow [FA254] 2014

In 2016, she became a Mandela Washington Fellow participating in the Young African Leaders Initiative programme started by Former President Barrack Obama.

Lorna also participated in an incubator programme, the Mitreeki project by She Trades. Here was a great space for Lorna to acquire additional skills, from the design process to business to marketing, all of which have the potential for steering her brand to international markets.

About this Episode. 

1:150 and 1:5. This is the ratio of computers to kids in rural and urban settings as found in a study done in Kenya. Lenah Wanjiku is one of the co founders of African Centurion, which is the umbrella organization for Kids Comp Camp and Computer Mashinani. These initiatives aim to empower both kids and adults with computer skills to help bridge the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M) gap between citizens living in rural and urban areas. 

Having come from a humble rural background, Lenah made it her mission to upscale her life and the lives of others who are just like her using technology as her tool. After excelling in secondary school, she got admission at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology where she pursued a degree in Agricultural Engineering. In this episode, we get to learn about the challenges and triumphs on her quest to bridge the educational gap that exists in the technology world between rural and urban settings in Kenya and ultimately between Kenya and other developed countries. 

About LENAH 

Lenah Wanjiku is the project lead at Kids Comp Camp, a non-profit venture that helps to digitally empower young learners from Africa's underserved communities. Lenah co-founded Kids Comp Camp with her colleagues in 2014 while still undertaking her bachelor's degree in Kenya. The organisation has so far reached out to more than 9000 kids in Kenya and Rwanda, with 54% of the kids being girls. 90% of the total number of kids reached had a chance to interact with technology for the first time in their lives. At Kids Comp Camp, Wanjiku is tasked with identifying communities, key stakeholders and partners and for the past five years, she has contributed to drafting content for, and leading ICT training at Kids Comp Camp. 

Wanjiku is a Bio-Mechanical and Processing Engineering graduate from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology, Kenya. She is also an IT expert and Mentor. Through her work, she has been recognized by notable organizations both locally and internationally such as Global Citizen Youth Leadership Cisco Award, 2018 where she was a semi-finalist. Wanjiku is also a Zuri Award 2019 STEM category nominee. 

About this Episode. 

“When I grow up, I want to work at Bata”. This was Esther’s dream even as a child and she confidently declared it whenever the subject of careers came up. However, upon joining the University of Nairobi’s Design school, she had moments of uncertainty about the design course. It took the vigilance and intervention of a keen and observant lecturer for her love of design to be rekindled to the point of graduating with honours. 

And now, Esther is the Product Development Manager at Bata Kenya, a worldwide shoe manufacturing company. Here, Esther has made remarkable achievements. For one, she has successfully led a project development team into improving the design of the famous Bata Patapata slippers that went on to win an international award. 

In this Podcast we take “A walk on the Shoe Side ” with Esther as we get to know how she moved up from a Creative Designer Trainee to her current position at the helm of the shoe and accessories design department at Bata. Also in this Podcast, Esther generously shares tips about the resources available to designers, the importance of collaboration among designers themselves as well with other actors from related sectors, among other tips. 

Overall, Esther shares amazing insights on why we must always be on the ready to grab opportunities, venture to become better versions of ourselves as individuals, as well as how to better our productivity. 

About ESTHER 

Esther Kute is the youngest, first female, first Kenyan, first Black designer to be appointed Product Development Manager for Bata Kenya in charge of designing footwear and accessories. This, in essence, made her the youngest member of the senior management team in the organisation at the time. Esther achieved this accolade after working in the company for only 6 years and just 8 years after graduating from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelors of Arts in Design with Honours. 

Esther has a Masters of Arts in Design, and footwear design training from ARSUTORIA School - Shoe and bag design university. She has extensive experience in Textile & Fashion design, Product design, Accessories design, product development, management, leadership and manufacturing. Esther enjoys teaching design courses and endeavours to mentor and inspire designers to become world leaders and global change makers. 

Esther Kute is also an award-winning designer who continues to be part of the discourses taking place in the Design arena. For example, Esther was a keynote speaker at Kampala Design Week 2018 and Nairobi Design Week 2018. Earlier in 2017, she was a panellist in Nairobi International Design Conference (NIDEC).  

Show title: Getting to Know the Hosts 

In this episode, we get to “know the hosts”; how Ziki, a graduate Computer Science from the University of Nairobi was at one time so feeling “this need to do something with my hands” that she felt compelled to venture into the world of design. Perhaps testimony that IT has an inclination towards Design or is it the other way round? Ziki eventually founded her own brand; AfroFanatic, a design company that makes clothes and pre-tied head wraps. And then of course, there is Eve, who after securing a degree in Biomaterial Science and Tissue Engineering and working briefly as a research scientist, moved on to do a Masters degree in Information Technology. Eve later co-founded Speedy Legal, an online platform for start-ups in need of legal services to help set up their businesses.

Music Credits

1. Kiki Riki – Zameka feat. Trademark
2. Yonkito – Prince Kaybee feat. Zanda
3. Friendzone – Prince Kaybee feat. Ziyon
4. Club Controller – Prince Kaybee feat. La Soulmates, TNS, Zanda Zakuza
5. Shukuma – Prince Kaybee feat. Phindile