International Girls in ICT Day: An Interview with Cecilia
Cecilia Wanjiru in the Azuri Kenya offices
Azuri celebrates International Girls in ICT Day with an interview with Cecilia Wanjiru, an IT employee in Nairobi.
What inspired you to study and work in IT?
Having grown up in a remote village in Kenya that is not connected to the national grid, we used to see lights at school and at a nearby town at night. I used to get very curious about what they were. At some point we got a small solar panel that was enough for lighting and seeing the technician install everything and finally getting light was extremely exciting for me. I however did not think it was something a lady could do. It was only years later when a neighbour’s daughter pursued a degree in engineering, that I got to know it was possible to follow the same path. I then went ahead and pursued a degree in electrical and electronic engineering from University of Nairobi.
What challenges have you faced and or overcome whilst working in IT?
When I started off in my career, I have had encounters with people who believe I am not good enough simply because I am a woman. It was initially very demoralising. I have however pushed myself to work harder to demystify such beliefs. I am a strong believer that I can achieve anything I want to. I keep this in mind and push on to achieve my goals.
A challenge I faced was when I entered the phase of motherhood. My perspective of who I am as an individual and what I want in life changed. It is exciting being a first time Mum, but it comes with its own challenges. Once my maternity leave ended, I struggled with balancing work and home. Striking a balance between my personal and professional life was challenging. I am new to the game and every phase has new challenges that I have decided to embrace accordingly.
What has been the biggest change in IT since you joined?
The solar energy sector over time has evolved tremendously. Customers now have a wide variety of options. PAYGO solar with flexible payment terms is now even more affordable to rural households. I think about the people in my rural home and feel happy that they now have access to the same information and entertainment that I have living in Nairobi. It gives me pride to be working in this industry.
There has been an increase in the number of women pursuing technical courses and joining this workspace. I feel motivated and inspired about where I am right now. I know that I can achieve a lot more in my technical career. I encourage young girls who are interested in pursuing careers in the technical field to go ahead as technology is evolving and they can learn so much.
Over the years there has been a rapid growth in accessibility of the internet which makes information more readily available. I encourage young women to harness the power of the internet to move forward in their lives.
What is it like working in your role at Azuri?
Working with Azuri has been a great experience for me . I am blessed to have the opportunity to be part of a company that is indeed helping rural communities to evolve. It’s great to be part of this team that is making a difference to off grid rural homes. I am also grateful to have the opportunity to work with diverse people who I have learnt from and have developed various skills.
What is your advice to girls and young women thinking about studying or working in IT?
If you are passionate about it, go for it.
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Azuri is committed to empowering women in solar technology from technical positions to field agents and beyond. Azuri’s Brighter Lives Initiative was launched in February 2020 and features a program of tailored recruitment, training and mentoring specifically targeting rural women who are largely under-represented in the workplace. The programme is designed to help women build sustainable success together, learning from role models and creating powerful bonds to improve business success. For more information, please contact the Brighter Lives Programme Manager kbg@azuri-technologies.com