Sellah Bogonko is a public policy expert with a passion for sustainable development. Her life’s career mission is to significantly contribute to finding sustainable models of addressing the youth unemployment challenge in Africa. She is the CEO and Co-founder of Jacob’s Ladder Africa and the Founder of Zinduka Kenya.

Sellah’s 360 experience in the private sector, public sector and development world gives her a unique approach to design and implementation of policy and programs. She is committed to empowering and developing those she works with to achieve the best versions of themselves.

Sellah has held a variety of roles in the public and private sectors that focus on youth empowerment, leadership and governance, education, economic empowerment, innovation and technology.

Prior to Jacob’s Ladder Africa, she was Chief of Staff for Kirinyaga County, Chief Operating Officer of AG Group International, Group Operations Coordinator at Linksoft Group, and Strategy Operations Manager at Mellech Group.

Sellah holds an MSc in Public Governance from International Leadership University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business & Sociology from Kenyatta University.

She has undertaken numerous executive education courses in public policy including Public Leadership Credential the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Sellah Bogonko is a public policy expert with a passion for sustainable development. Her life’s career mission is to significantly contribute to finding sustainable models of addressing the youth unemployment challenge in Africa. She is the CEO and Co-founder of Jacob’s Ladder Africa and the Founder of Zinduka Kenya.

Sellah’s 360 experience in the private sector, public sector and development world gives her a unique approach to design and implementation of policy and programs. She is committed to empowering and developing those she works with to achieve the best versions of themselves.

Sellah has held a variety of roles in the public and private sectors that focus on youth empowerment, leadership and governance, education, economic empowerment, innovation and technology.

Prior to Jacob’s Ladder Africa, she was Chief of Staff for Kirinyaga County, Chief Operating Officer of AG Group International, Group Operations Coordinator at Linksoft Group, and Strategy Operations Manager at Mellech Group.

Sellah holds an MSc in Public Governance from International Leadership University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business & Sociology from Kenyatta University.

She has undertaken numerous executive education courses in public policy including Public Leadership Credential the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Meet Marceline Obuya, a visionary and rebuilder of businesses who brings a wealth of knowledge when it comes to matters of financial services, community development and sustainability.  With 25 years of experience under her belt, her passion and incubating spirit brings a blend of expertise and enthusiasm that makes her an invaluable team member.

Fun facts about Marceline:

• The roving CEO – Marcelline is not one to be tied to one place, like the wind, she will be found seeking out opportunities to provide solutions in-house and across Africa.
• Health ambassador – Mindful of what goes into fueling her, Marcelline is known to check for the ‘organic’ label before most bites championing a healthy lifestyle
• The eagle eye – Keen to detail, Marcelline is gifted with foresight; to not only see the ‘now’ but is known to ‘see’ and ‘know’ things before time.

Core Belief:  With the right mindset, nothing is impossible.

What Marceline loves about her work:

Marcelline has a heart for people and businesses. With her ‘eagle eye’ for potential  she walks with both  individuals and enterprises to draw out their potential. Her love for the continent of Africa and her people marries her into incubating innovative ideas, creating new ventures, and reviving struggling businesses. . She thrives in engaging with communities, uncovering hidden opportunities, and building solutions  that will elevate generations.

Her goal is simple, to use her business acumen to empower individuals, communities and businesses, one person, one community, one business at a time and be a part of telling the story of Africa’s rise into her true place as THE bedrock of solutions.

Favorite Office Snack: A fresh, organic salad will be sure to satisfy her palate.

Hidden Talent: With her watchful eye, Marcelline is able to bring to the table one of two sides, the ‘lion’ or the ‘lamb.’  It takes walking and working with her to experience the beauty that each brings to her leadership style.

Passionate Pursuit: Recognized as a ‘midwife’ in her own right, Marceline is devoted to nurturing small and medium-sized enterprises across Africa, ensuring they thrive and succeed.

Bucket List Goal: With an interest in travel and eagerness to explore new horizons, Marceline dreams of a taste of the Northern Hemisphere the vibrant cultures of Hong Kong and Japan, blending her love for travel with her business interests.

Meet Karen Chelangat, our Chief Innovation Officer, a purpose-driven leader who is our local everything-guru 😊. She has a knack for figuring the pathway between the abstract and the practical, ensuring innovation drives real-world impact. Passionate about unlocking potential, she’s committed to helping everyone around her uncover their best selves and activate their untapped abilities, believing that the sum of individual transformations will have a multiplied effect on Africa’s transformation.

Fun Facts About Karen:

• Cross-industry explorer: Karen’s career spans 7 industries, with stints in multi-national to local companies, gathering experiences that shape her drive for locally-relevant homegrown socioeconomic solutions.
• Teacher at heart: At the age of 16, Karen began teaching younger children, and even today finds joy in mentoring young entrepreneurs in the early startup years.
• Puzzler: She enjoys playing all sorts of puzzles, seeing them both as tools to sharpen the mental agility needed for work and life, and an inspiration that every challenge has a solution.

Core Belief: “The mind is the primary bridge between the here-now and the unimaginably possible”

What Karen Loves About Her Work:

Karen thrives on transforming abstract ideas into actionable plans that drive change. She is passionate about empowering young people to turn their ideas into income-generating businesses, and is inspired by the potential startups have to drive socioeconomic transformation in the continent. The most rewarding part of her role is nurturing a new generation of innovators and changemakers that make a tangible impact in their communities and beyond

Favorite Office Snack: Anything that has chocolate – her unscientifically proven hack for making deep work sessions that much more enjoyable.

Hidden Talent: Karen dabbles in the art of origami, whose intricate process of creating form from paper folds is a mirror of the process of innovation – translating unseen ideas, using the unconventional to build, and navigating the pressing demands of what’s obvious to reimagine alternative makings and workings of things.

Passionate Pursuit: Outside of work, Karen finds nature trails to explore, blending her love for nature with a quest for tranquility and inspiration.

Bucket List Goal: Karen dreams of producing a work of fiction – written or animated or both – that’ll leverage the power of storytelling to awaken dreams, kindle hope and inspire action in many Africans.

Meet Samuel Kuria, our Chief Finance & Admin Officer, whose universe revolves around numbers and does not shy away from new challenges. He is passionate about adding value to people’s lives and discovering unique solutions to problems.

Fun Facts About Samuel:

• Cars Enthusiast: Samuel is a natural engineer with a keen understanding of car mechanics. This passion has taught him that there is always a deeper meaning beyond the obvious.
• Music Lover: Music speaks to Samuel, providing both relaxation and a means of communication.
• Natural Mentor: Samuel effortlessly guides and mentors others, especially young people, helping them pursue their God-given purpose.

Core Belief: With God, you are an army. Nothing is impossible!

What Samuel Loves About His Work: He enjoys communicating the current and future financial picture of the organization through numbers.

Favorite Office Snack: A mug of tea at any time!

Hidden Talent: Resilience; he never gives up until a solution is found.

Passionate Pursuit: Samuel’s love for God drives him to pursue growth in Him and seeks to be a contact where God’s grace is revealed through his entrepreneurial journey and served through business couching services.

Bucket List Goal: Bought a guitor a long time ago and have never lost the desire to learn and seamlessly play it one day.

Sellah Bogonko is a public policy expert with a passion for sustainable development. Her life’s career mission is to significantly contribute to finding sustainable models of addressing the youth unemployment challenge in Africa. She is the CEO and Co-founder of Jacob’s Ladder Africa and the Founder of Zinduka Kenya.

Sellah’s 360 experience in the private sector, public sector and development world gives her a unique approach to design and implementation of policy and programs. She is committed to empowering and developing those she works with to achieve the best versions of themselves.

Sellah has held a variety of roles in the public and private sectors that focus on youth empowerment, leadership and governance, education, economic empowerment, innovation and technology.

Prior to Jacob’s Ladder Africa, she was Chief of Staff for Kirinyaga County, Chief Operating Officer of AG Group International, Group Operations Coordinator at Linksoft Group, and Strategy Operations Manager at Mellech Group.

Sellah holds an MSc in Public Governance from International Leadership University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business & Sociology from Kenyatta University.

She has undertaken numerous executive education courses in public policy including Public Leadership Credential the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.