Remember all the celebrating when South Africa’s public protector Thuli Madonsela made TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list? Here’s one better: striking a blow for African women in tech is Kenyan co-founder of Ushahidi and Director of Investments at Omidyar Network, Kenya’s Ory Okolloh.
Hurrah!
Okolloh is a former Google Africa Policy Manager one of only four African women on the list. Given the current buss around tech in Africa, it’s a little surprising that she’s the only African woman in tech to make it. But at least there’s one there – it’s a start.
Nominated under the Leaders category, Okolloh grew up in a poor family in Kenya, but despite her family’s economic restraints, she managed to persevere through education and eventually obtained a law degree from Harvard University in the US.
While working at a company called Enablis, which helps African start ups set up successful business models, she started blogging for Kenyan Pundit in 2003. This led to her to venture off on her own to found two sites called Mzalendo and Ushahidi in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
Okolloh then began working for Google Africa shortly thereafter. Her work caught the attention of Omidyar founder, Pierre Omidyar, who then hired Okolloh as the organization’s Director of Investments.
“Ory makes it her mission not to give aid but to support African entrepreneurs and citizens in building their own societies. To the extent that Ory’s integrity and courage reflect Africa’s society, we should all stand up and cheer,” writes Esther Dyson, who nominated Okolloh for the TIME 100 list.
Ugandan philanthropist Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe and Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are the other two African women featured.
[Source – Innov8tiv, Image – TIME]
