Amanda Gicharu

The Change Agent ABIE Awards recognize international women who have created opportunities for girls and women in technology abroad. This year’s winner is Amanda Gicharu, a native of Kenya and the co-founder of Tech Republic Africa, a startup that creates premier technology education experiences for African youth aged 7 – 19, to increase capacity, engagement and innovation within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) fields. In under a year, with minimal resources, Amanda has run over 21 tech education experiences (camps, clubs, challenges and workshops), training 172 students across 61 schools. 45% of her STEM trainees were girls.

Amanda is a strong believer in leading by example and from a young age has strived to practically demonstrate that African women are leaders in their own right, despite hailing from a single-parent home with limited financial resources. Throughout her career, Amanda has done her best to share her experiences through mentorships and speaking opportunities, hoping that her achievements so far will inspire girls and women to strive to overcome obstacles and reach their true potential.

At 11, Amanda hosted her own national TV show; at 16 she was her high school valedictorian; at 19 she was recognized nationally and named ͚Young Communicator of the Year͛ for 2 consecutive years; at 21 Amanda was working for the United Nations in Italy; at 23 she completed her Masters degree in the United Kingdom. At 25, Amanda was Head of Consumer & Brand Marketing at Google Kenya, where she developed several award winning campaigns spanning 35 countries.

Amanda joined Google from the United Nations Development Programme – Kenya, where she led content development of critical donor relations publications, securing funding of over $100 million. Amanda is a TechWomen Emerging Leader, American Express Ashoka Emerging Innovator, Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow and Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Fellow. She holds degrees in communications, social entrepreneurship and nutrition. A respected thought leader on STEAM education, entrepreneurship and innovation, Amanda regularly contributes to a number of national media outlets and speaks regularly at entrepreneurial and tech events across the region.

Read our interview with Amanda here.

Meet Amanda at the Speakers Corner at the AnitaB.org Booth (Booth #1420, GRBCC Hall B-D) on Wednesday from 3 – 3:45 p.m.