JOY KAREKO

Joy is from Kenya. She decided to pursue her career in STEM. Passionate about using data to resolve prominent global issues, she bridges her strive for positive impact by volunteering alongside her career in Data Science. She is a winner of Code4Integrity Hackathon with UNODC, a Future Leader Fellow at Prospect 33 and a community leader at Nairobi Chapter.

“Nothing Is Hard, It Is Just Unfamiliar, and You Can Learn”

Q: Tell us a few things about your country, and also your life's story!

I am from Kenya. Kenya is a beautiful country with a lot of potential. Like most African countries, we are still a developing country, whose economy is below par. Women especially have been long neglected and given little opportunities in matters of education and development.

I am lucky to have grown up in a time when the narrative of women's education is changing and where advocacies on gender equality is ongoing, thus I was able to pursue a career in STEM as a woman.

Q: How did you experience the global pandemic crisis, did it change your life or/and your views about the world? How?

The global pandemic was an awakening for me. I was unhappy in my career and had been toying around with other changing career paths. It was then that, I realized the time to pursue my passion had come. I strategized and I was finally able to make the move to tech. The pandemic has made corporations realize their employees can work remotely and I am a big beneficiary of that, working remotely for a multinational company from the comfort of my home in my own country.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently? 

Poverty, unemployment, gender inequality and corruption.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them?

When transitioning careers, I felt a lot of uncertainty and fear because it is not often that I hear people change careers in my country. I overcame that by working hard, getting exposure from reputable organizations, having an open mind, upskilling, volunteering and enrolling in boot camps.

Q: If you were to ask one thing from our current leaders, what would it be?

Help us fight corruption and weak governance.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

If I can walk 1 mile alone, a mentor helps me walk further and faster. Through the mentorship, I do not have to make mistakes that can be avoided in my career, and I can still benefit from advice that will help pivot my career.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share?  

Nothing is hard, it is just unfamiliar, and you can learn. Being open to constant learning and growing is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives!

Tech4Dev-Nigeria. This organization was my steppingstone to tech.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are made towards gender equality?

Gender bias is still an issue in Kenya. There are many efforts however geared towards breaking the bias through education and equitable opportunities for women.

Q: Share with us a phrase, a poem or a story that means something to you.

Nothing is impossible to achieve if you are willing to put in the work.

Q: Share with us a project that you would like to make happen for your country or a cause that you are passionate about.

Mentoring women and girls to create awareness, give opportunities and break the bias.

Q: Anything else that you may wish to add?

I am grateful for GTF's mentorship. I have been able to leverage on great advice from my mentor and that has pivoted my career.