From corporate employee to tech entrepreneur: Caroline Muturi’s AI-powered success story

Caroline Muturi is a force of nature, brimming with energy and innovative ideas.

When the software engineer, armed with an Advanced Diploma in Software Engineering, tendered her resignation last year, she'd reached the limit of her patience with being confined to a work portfolio that primarily involved product design and front-end web design.

Her mind was then abuzz with countless possibilities for commercially viable products she could design independently, as a self-employed Kenyan, to achieve financial growth.

To create her brand, she established her company, Tonela Designs, through which she successfully delivers a diverse range of web and mobile-based products, including websites and mobile applications for law firms and educational institutions.

“I had to take a leap of faith to pursue my passion. I was approaching 30 and thought, 'I either take this plunge now and see where it leads, or a few years from now, I'll be left wishing I had,” she says.

However, the leap of faith was not without its challenges, as the initial months were as barren as a desert, while she concentrated on building her online presence and marketing herself through social media channels.

Three months later, her efforts began to bear fruit, with referrals from her first clients and increased engagement on social media.

One emergent technology that has significantly augmented her work, in the creation of products with captivating user interfaces (UI) and the delivery of a lasting overall user experience (UX), is artificial intelligence (AI).

“If it's a website, I have to conduct research and establish how it functions, which is the UX. When considering the aesthetics and how the user will perceive it, I'm looking into the most suitable UI,” she explains.

“And AI is remarkably helpful in this. I use AI to gain quick insights and aid in research. For example, I might ask AI, 'What are the pros and cons to incorporate into this platform?’”

Caroline, however, never envisioned herself in the UI/UX space, confessing that some of the skills she possesses in this area were self-taught through YouTube tutorials and honed over time through consistent practice.

She had always harboured aspirations of becoming a pilot and had even secured admission at a local aviation school, but the tuition fees were beyond her father's financial means.

Her father then advised her to explore alternative courses, which ultimately led her to a software engineering class.

The training secured her a job as a front-end web designer, a role that ignited her curiosity.

“It got me wondering, what is the thought process of the person designing this?" she recalls. “That's what led me to design.”

Designing, she explains, is a profession that demands critical thinking.

“It's not merely about making a product visually appealing. It involves putting yourself in the user's position. You ask, 'Will they be able to find what they need quickly? Is the look and feel straightforward?’” she says.

Reflecting on her journey, Caroline offers words of encouragement to anyone contemplating a career change or entering the tech industry: "You can do it. I studied software engineering, but I'm now working in design.”

“I taught myself everything through YouTube. If I can do it, you can do it. As long as you possess creativity, there's a place for you in this IT industry. Just immerse yourself in the new products, experiment with new things.”

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