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Mary Njoki

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Mary Njoki
Born
Mary Njoki

(1989-01-24) 24 January 1989 (age 35)
Limuru, Kenya
NationalityKenyan
EducationDaystar University
Occupation(s)Business executive, entrepreneur
Years active2012– present
EmployerGlass House PR (2012)
Known forPublic Relations

Mary Njoki (born 24 January 1989) is a Kenyan businesswoman, executive and entrepreneur.[1] She founded Glass House PR, a Public relations company based in kenya since 2012.[2][3]

Born in Limuru, Kenya, Mary has worked in various business industries.[4] In 2017, she won the Young African Women Leadership Excellence Award by Centre of Economic and Leadership Development in South Africa and was named among Africa's Top 40 under 40 Women Leaders by Amazon's Watch Magazine.[5][6]

Biography

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Mary was born on 24 January 1989, grew up in Ngarariga, and completed high school at the age of 16, in Kenya. Subsequently, Mary joined Kenya National Theatre to pursue an acting career but she left after one year when she enrolled at Graffins College in Kenya, where she graduated with a higher diploma in software development. Later, she enrolled at Daystar University for a communication course majoring on public relations.[7][8][9]

Career

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In 2005, after graduating her high school, Mary joined Kenya National Theatre where she was an actress for one year. In 2009, she got a job with a Kenyan IT firm, Softlink Options, as a marketer, later she served as a business developer at the firm. In 2010, Mary moved to CompEdge Solutions, another IT firm where she served as a Business Executive until 2012. Subsequently, Mary worked for five months at The Orange Company, which was one Kenya's premier Public Relations, Entertainment & Events company, the company she left to start the Glass House PR in August 2012.[10][11]

Business career

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In August 2012, Mary founded Glass House PR, a Kenyan Public relations agency. According to Tuko.co.ke, Mary started the company with an initial capital of Ksh6,000 ($45.80) from her savings, a laptop, and a modem.[12] The firm has become a respected brand that has consulted for companies like Facebook, Viber, and the Ethiopian Government, among other entities in East, South and West Africa.[13][14] Since its founding, she has served as CEO of the company. In 2023, Mary Njoki with James Mwangi, Nelly Cheboi, Catherine Mahugu and Kithure Kindiki were only Kenyans listed among 50 African Trailblazers by Business Review Africa.[15][16]

Social impact

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Mary is founder of A Billion Startups, a free mentorship program that educates entrepreneurs about brand visibility and sustainable development, established in 2017.[17] Since 2021, Mary and Glass House PR are known for organizing annually the Africa Digital Finance Summit, a thought-leadership conference featuring governments, central banks across Africa, executives in the fintech space, and other influential decision-makers, to share their thoughts on the future of finance.[18] The inaugural African Digital Finance Summit was held in Nairobi, Kenya in February 2021.[19] In 2022, event took place on 22nd – 24 February in Nairobi, Kenya.[20] The three-day event was themed "The Future of Finance in Africa; our pathway to financial freedom".[21] In 2024, the summit will be held between the 20th and the 22nd of November 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa.[22]

Recognitions

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2016: FOYA Awards named her Founder of the Year.[12]

2016: Top 10 of Under 30 and In Charge by the Daily Nation.[23]

2017: Young African Women Leadership Excellence Award by Center for Economics and Development in South Africa.[5]

2018: Africa's Top 40 under 40 Women Leaders by Amazon Watch Magazine.[24]

2018: Nominated for Kenya Young Entrepreneurs Awards (YEA Awards).[25]

2024: Top 50 most influential and Inspirational CEO in Kenya by Africapital.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Mary Njoki: Glowing from the inside out – She Leads Africa". Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  2. ^ "PR expert hopes to shape the future of media". Nation. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  3. ^ "Mary Njoki, an award-winning Kenyan PR agency founder". Lionesses of Africa. 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  4. ^ "Women Who Built Kenyan Business Empires From Scratch - Kenyans.co.ke". www.kenyans.co.ke. 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  5. ^ a b "Kenya's Mary Njoki wins Young African Women Leadership Excellence Award". buzzcentral.co.ke. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  6. ^ "10 Kenyan Female Entrepreneurs Running Successful Businesses 2019". 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  7. ^ Njoroge, Caroline. "Nobody owes you anything, life is what you make of it!". Evewoman Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  8. ^ Muiruri, Peter. "Laptop, 6k and grit: My bumpy ride to the top". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  9. ^ "Mary Njoki, the corporate rebel with a cause". Business Daily. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  10. ^ "PR expert hopes to shape the future of media". Nation. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  11. ^ "From a Village Girl To Starting A PR Firm At 23Yrs With Only Sh6,000 Capital | Career Point Kenya". 2014-02-05. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  12. ^ a b Mwenesi, Susan (2022-04-05). "Female university dropout who built PR firm with KSh 6k makes millions". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  13. ^ "A text message led Mary Njoki to start her own company – Leading Ladies Africa". Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  14. ^ Team, Msingi Afrika (2019-10-28). "Mary Njoki". Msingi Afrika Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  15. ^ "Interior CS Kithure Kindiki named among 50 African trailblazers". Citizen Digital. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  16. ^ Okon, Helen (2023-03-31). "50 AFRICAN TRAILBLAZERS AWARD". Business Review Afrika. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  17. ^ abillionstartups (2024-02-26). "Unveiling A Billion Startups: Nurturing Kenyan Entrepreneurs". A Billion Startups. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  18. ^ "The first Africa Digital Finance Summit will be held in May in South Africa". Tech In Africa. 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  19. ^ Digital, K. B. C. (2024-02-20). "Johannesburg to host next African Digital Finance Summit convened by Kenya - KBC". Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  20. ^ ITEdgeNews (2021-09-18). "Nairobi is host city for 2nd annual Africa Digital Finance Summit in February 2022". ITEdgeNews. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  21. ^ Africa, MSME (2021-09-17). "2nd Annual Africa Digital Finance Summit to take place in Kenya in February". MSME Africa. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  22. ^ "The Africa Digital Finance Summit 2024 - TechTalk Africa". 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  23. ^ "Under 30 and in charge". Nation. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  24. ^ "Keroche heiress Anerlisa Muigai shortlisted for Young Entrepreneurs Awards - Business Today Kenya". 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  25. ^ "Bizna Kenya Unveils Nominees for YEA Awards 2018". Promoting and Connecting investment opportunities and businesses both in the Diaspora and in Kenya for Kenyans in Diaspora. 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  26. ^ "Lulu Hassan named among 50 most Influential CEOs in Kenya ( full list)". Mpasho. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
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