My favourite interview question has always been: “When did you know you wanted to be a software engineer?” I love it because my answer is never what people expect. The truth is, I didn’t always know. When I was placed at the university through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to study Computer Science, I had no clear idea what software engineering really meant. To make it even more interesting, I didn’t own a computer then. I was simply happy to be joining the university.

For many, a passion for tech begins early, but for me, it began much later. My love for the field grew out of the thrill of problem-solving and the excitement of building solutions. I still remember my very first project: creating a website for a modelling agency after I graduated from modelling school. No one had asked me to do it; I was curious and eager to try to make something with what I had learned so far. At the time, I had knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and armed with the three, I put together a simple site. It is one thing to understand theoretical concepts, and another to put the theory into practice. I soon learned that the best way to grow was to work on a project, putting what I’d learned to use. I loved looking up what I didn’t know and seeing how every change I made improved the site. Looking back now, the code was far from perfect, but at the time, it was my proudest accomplishment. That small project was my gateway into the world of software engineering.

Throughout my journey, I have become increasingly aware of the disparities in tech across Africa, particularly gender disparity. In my Computer Science class, there were only nine women out of fifty-four students. I often wondered if girls knew less about tech, considering how little I knew about software engineering. Was that the reason more women were not in my class? Further, during my internship, the imbalance was even more obvious, not just in numbers but in treatment. I can recall clients who would second-guess my work or stand over me as I installed or repaired systems, scrutinizing everything I did, something my male peers rarely experienced. Ironically, when a male colleague was present, even one I was training, I was suddenly afforded more trust. I particularly remember an occasion in which a client instructed me that I was not doing it right; the male expert did it differently. I can’t quite remember how I responded, but it was along the lines of; there are multiple ways to do it; this is one of them. What I wanted to say at the time was probably I would appreciate space to get my work done effectively. These experiences showed me early on that staying in this field would require huge resilience.

Despite the challenges, another side to being a woman in Tech has been the immense support always offered when needed. Mentors, especially women who have walked this path before me, have played a significant role in encouraging my next steps. I am currently working as a full-stack engineer, a role that became a possibility because my mentor, a senior UI/UX Designer, encouraged me to pursue React as a tool of development. I pursued an Andela React bootcamp out of her advice, and here we are today. I am writing this story because a mentor, CEO at OLLMOO, suggested that I do it, and really, before then, I hadn’t paid as much attention as I needed to see the disparity for what it is and what could be done to bridge the gap. I have joined tech groups because women before me have pointed me in the direction.  

Today, one of the greatest joys of my career has been working in companies that have trusted me with real responsibilities and provided the resources I needed to succeed. That trust has been transformative. It’s not just about the projects I get to build, but about the confidence of knowing my skills and contributions are valued. I have worked in spaces free of the gender bias often associated with tech, and that has allowed me to focus on growth, learning, and impact. It is the kind of environment that not only allows women engineers to thrive but also reshapes what is possible for women in tech in Africa. Bridging such gaps would require commitment, something I’m quite proud to see organizations take on. I have seen organizations treat women based on their skills and not their gender. I have seen organizations work on their culture to ensure an inclusive workspace. Yes, there is always room for more, and I will always champion such growth.

Looking back, my journey into software engineering wasn’t always about knowing the path. It was about choosing to stay on it despite the odds. My experience is just one story among many, but I believe it reflects the resilience, brilliance, and potential of women in Africa’s tech ecosystem. As I look ahead, I hope to continue building, learning, and opening doors for others so that more women across Africa can experience the joy of thriving in tech. I also hope to see more women rise to lead the next generation of women in Tech to greater heights.