Technology for Social Good at United Nations WFP
I think every female engineer found herself one day as a minority whether in a uni auditorium, an engineering meetup or a meeting room. Nope, we don’t get any privilege but it pushes us more to shine bright like a diamond.
Sharon Malio, a Data Analyst at World Food Programme and a Women TechMakers Lead in Kenya, blazed her trail in a tough journey full of achievements from making her way out in computer science university to teaching children how to code.
Why did you choose IT?
I was first captivated by what the IT industry offers after having the privilege of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.
Coming from a very humble background in one of the most remote areas in Kenya, I did not actually have a choice on what I wanted to pursue career wise. I did not exactly know what Computer Science or what IT in a broader aspect entailed until I got to be immersed in the programme. Fortunately I would say, I had very a very supportive circle of mentors and like mindedness at the varsity. Once I gave it all, I found IT not just exciting but an industry that constantly throws new challenges your way. I love solving problems. Being very great in mathematics and physics right from when I was little has propelled my desire and my motivation.
Hence, every minute, every hour, every day, I am constantly motivated by the problems I could solve in this captivating Industry for the society I live in. Currently, I am pursuing my masters in Information Technology Management, in a pursuit to understand how better can we incorporate data and communities into our businesses and how well these are coupled into solving some of the problems encountered by our communities.
“We were only 13 women in a class of 75 students in the Computer Science programme.”
Can you recall a situation where you felt frustrated or challenged and how you dealt with it?
We were only 13 women in a class of 75 students in the Computer Science programme during my undergraduate studies. This was both a blessing and a challenge. Naturally, in a male dominated program and field, there are always questions raised regarding our technical competences and place as women.
We constantly have to prove ourselves and our skills. Often times we do not get the luxury or benefit of doubt accorded to our male counterparts. Our skills and contributions might get overlooked and understated. While it can be frustrating, I saw this as an opportunity to dispel all doubts in the abilities of women in computer science. I had to prove to myself and to those around me that indeed women are as capable as men — both academically and technically.
It’s during those days that together with my colleagues, we started the mentorship programme dubbed “lean in” in the university which saw drop out rate reduce significantly.
While I have grown my communication and social skills significantly, I always make sure that my technical competencies are well known to whatever team I work with without hesitation. It’s only through that the boundaries and respect can be installed given the social norms that we women have to deal with.
How did you land a job with WFP?
While at the University for my undergraduate degree, I co-founded a mentorship programme in the School of Computing and Informatics which was later adopted by Google as the Women Techmakers chapter University of Nairobi. Partly, this was as a result of women in computer science dropping out of school and others going into depression due to the pressure that came with the programme. This programme was also a fulfillment of what I never had growing up: role models. Together with my colleagues we wanted to provide these girls with models that they could look up to and talk to whenever they felt as overwhelmed.
I proceeded to join Women Techmakers as the lead for the newly formed University chapter for a year and later joined the Women Techmakers Nairobi, Kenya as an ambassador for three years, until 2019 December. During that time, I dedicated my time not only to my studies, but also to other volunteer experiences, like teaching kids(8–13 years) on how to code. This was through the Safaricom PLC KidsGoTech and the WeSpeakCode initiatives in Nairobi Kenya.
I graduated in 2018 September and in 2017 September, I had secured a position in a startup NGO in Kenya, called Afya Research Africa as a software developer. The colleagues and the management helped in cementing my interest in serving the community. While my work was to develop software that was suited to serve the very marginalised communities in our country, I had the opportunity to interact with those communities during training and data collection. It is during these days that I knew for sure my path was into social good.
In 2019 March, I saw a job advertisement in the UN World Food Programme that required a solutions developer(data analytics). I applied for it, went through the interviews and eventually secured the position. Having graduated with first-class honors in computer science together with my previous experience and involvement with the community was among the things that stood out for me during the WFP interview, and the reasons I believe they found me fit for the position.
“Volunteering opens your eyes not only to opportunities but also to a network of like minded individuals.”
Advice to girls who want to go into the STEM field?
You will require absolutely nothing apart from your sober mind and brain to venture into any career within STEM.
Start looking into the career paths that excite you within STEM today.
Find yourself a role model who can keep you focused and grounded in terms of where you want to be.
Volunteer as much as you can. Volunteering opens your eyes not only to opportunities but also to a network of like minded individuals. It gives you an opportunity to professionally apply your technical or non technical skills while learning new ones without necessarily requiring prior experience.
Be aware of your society and community needs as those will propel you towards a successful career in STEM.
Be your own boss and always tell your story. Communicate your achievements and skills in an open way.
Start building a network that will help you in the industry and beyond.
Develop the art of seeking knowledge constantly. Read as much as you can and keep yourself up to date with the trends in whatever STEM career that you choose.
Lastly, challenges only make you grow. Take them positively.
Sharon is still involved with her local community as a volunteering mentor like with PyLadies Ghana. If you’re curious about Google’s Women Techmakers programme, check it. Surround yourself by a supportive circle.
