'Brilliance is everywhere, opportunity isn't': The tech women proving what this means
Ivy Walobwa of Moi University in Eldoret. She had no idea that a recommendation from a senior student would introduce her to a learning community that would shape her career in technology.
What you need to know:
- Kenyan university students are using Andela’s training and mentorship programmes to secure global technology opportunities and careers.
- Andela’s free learning programmes are connecting African software developers with international companies, mentorship opportunities and meaningful careers.
When Maureen Chepkemoi joined university, she had little idea that a chance encounter with Andela’s learning community would alter the course of her life. Today, she is a senior business analyst at Andela, a global technology talent marketplace that connects top‑tier software engineers, data scientists and artificial intelligence (AI) professionals with leading companies.
Introduced by a senior student, Maureen began with basic coding skills. Her first year was rocky. “I did not do so good on the project,” she recalls.
But determination saw her reapply and succeed the following year. Active on the platform, she asked questions, shared her progress on social media and built a presence that caught the eye of programme managers. That visibility led to a role as programme assistant, mentoring others while continuing to learn.
Breakthrough
The breakthrough came when her dedication was noticed by a manager who referred her for an internal software engineering role. For a university student, working with a global client was transformative. “I got to earn a good amount of income as a student and also be able to pay for my school fees, support my parents, and pay for my rent in school,” she says.
Now a community champion, Maureen urges others to seize the opportunities Andela offers. “They give you opportunities or they refer you to opportunities that would not have been possible if you just sent out a CV,” she says.
For her, the experience expanded horizons beyond local firms. “Getting to work with a global company expanded my mind… I’m thinking of bigger roles, bigger companies,” she says.
Highly visible
Ivy Walobwa’s story mirrors Maureen’s. A student at Moi University in Eldoret, she was introduced to Andela by a friend. Her first project faltered, but she reapplied and thrived the second year. Like Maureen, she became highly visible within the community, engaging online and sharing her journey.
That visibility led to a role as programme assistant, complete with a stipend. “This was an exciting opportunity for me to learn, grow, and earn some pocket money for school,” she says.
Her commitment earned her a referral to a contract role with a global client, opening doors she had never imagined. “I never imagined I would work for a global company ever because my dream company was probably Safaricom,” she admits.
Exposure to international work broadened her ambitions. “I’m thinking of bigger roles, bigger companies … bringing back the skill to my country and just do good,” says Ivy, now a community champion for Andela.
Free training
Founded in Lagos in 2014, Andela began as a training school for software developers, tapping into talent from a continent often overlooked by the tech industry. Today, it is a global platform where technologists can learn, earn, and connect.
Carrol Chang. She became chief executive officer of Andela nearly two years ago, stepping into a company whose mission resonated with her own life experiences.
With free training, certifications, and a talent network, Andela offers pathways that bypass traditional barriers such as university degrees. “You don’t have to have a degree. Self‑taught learners can be just as talented,” says Carrol Chang, Andela’s chief executive officer.
The company runs Codewars, a platform used by nearly six million developers worldwide, and its talent network spans more than 100 countries. Nairobi is one of its most active hubs, with regular meetups fostering connection and mentorship.
Reskilling essential
As AI reshapes the industry, Carrol rejects the notion that developers will be replaced. Instead, she sees AI as changing how technologists work, making reskilling essential. “Our company’s focus is on reskilling and upskilling technologists,” she says.
Diversity, she argues, must be central to AI development. She says model-makers have an obligation to obtain data that is representative of the population. Andela’s most vetted network now includes 17,000 senior and mid‑level technologists, alongside a learning community of 150,000.
“Brilliance is everywhere in the world, and opportunity is not. And we're working hard to close that gap to get opportunity into the hands of people who've not traditionally had access to it,” she affirms.
