Amanda Gicharu-Kemoli

Kenya

Occupational Information

Occupation: Social entrepreneur

Occupational Position: Co-Founder of Tech Republic Africa. Co-founder of Amanda's Kitchen

Professional History

Amanda is the co-founder of Tech Republic Africa (TRA), a social impact startup that develops premier technology-driven education experiences and game-based tools for African youth to validate student learning of core Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) skills, ultimately driving Africa’s development while meeting the demands of the globally competitive knowledge economy. Amanda is dedicated to increasing Africa’s technology capacity and innovation, while improving gender diversity within the STEAM fields.
 
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, where she led content development of critical donor relations publications, securing funding of over $100 million. Prior to that, at the UN World Food Programme in Italy, she was part of the core team behind WFP's social media edu-tainment video game - Food Force.
 
Amanda is an UNLEASH SDG Innovation Global Talent, TechWomen Emerging Leader, Change Agent ABIE Award Winner, American Express Ashoka Emerging Innovator, and Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Fellow. Amanda is also a two-time recipient of the Young Communicator of the Year award bestowed by the Public Relations Society of Kenya.  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.

Amanda has also scaled the Alps, Mount Kenya and Snowdonia mountains.

Qualifications

Degree in journalism and psychology - United States International University - Africa
Master's degree - Leeds Business School, UK
Post-graduate diploma in Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise - Colorado State University

Programs

2016 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow