Aston Lukoye
Mary Njoki, the charming CEO of Glass House PR, is one of the city’s most tenacious entrepreneurs.
Dropping-Out
Njoki’s single mother couldn’t afford to send her to university after she graduated from high school at the age of 16. She sought refuge in theatre, performing at the Kenya National Theatre to nurture what she thought was a budding acting career. It was short-lived.
Her mother took out loans when she was 17 and enrolled her at Gryffins College, where she earned a higher diploma in software development.
She later enrolled in a communication course at Daystar University with a public relations emphasis but dropped out halfway through.
Start-Up Business
Njoki established an image consultancy agency and co-work with a gospel musician in the same year, earning kes 500 the only money she earned that year. Njoki launched the Glass House PR firm two years later, at the age of 23, with an initial capital of KES 6,000, a laptop, an Internet connection, and a lot of hope.
The business has grown from having no clients or a set location to being a renowned brand that has advised firms such as Facebook, Viber, and the Ethiopian government, among other entities in East, South, and West Africa.
Motivation and Discipline
Njoki had known what she wanted since she was a child. Her first financial difficulties foreshadowed what was to come. She was patient and confident in her concept. She also took advantage of every chance to learn as much as she could about my company concept. It took a lot of her willpower.
She would, for example, get up at 4 a.m., catch a matatu from her Limuru house, and go to Nairobi for a breakfast meeting. It was inconvenient, but she had no choice but to carry out her plan despite the setbacks.
Awards and Mentorship
She is presently the founder of A Billion Startups, a free mentorship network that connects African businesses to learn about brand exposure and long-term success. In the process, she has received several awards.
In addition to being named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 African Entrepreneurs, she was recognized as an inventive African Entrepreneur at the New Orleans Collision Conference. She describes her hard journey to the top.
International Recognition
She has ever attended an information technology conference in Ethiopia, where she met other African business executives. She created a computer program that earned her an invitation to the New Orleans Collision Conference, where she was named an innovative African entrepreneur.
She shared the stage alongside Chris Sacca, a prominent start-up investor who has been on Shark Tank in the United States. She claims that while such appearances may not generate money, they enhance your confidence as an entrepreneur.
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