I have two daughters, one is six, the other just two. I often look at them and wonder: what kind of world will they grow up in? I can’t predict the future, but I can pass on the lessons life has taught me sometimes the hard way. As the Gender Lead for TiE Women Kenya Chapter, I’ve seen how powerful women can be when they’re supported, believed in, and reminded of their worth. So, this isn’t just for my daughters, it’s for all the daughters, sisters, and young women out there carving their path.
Here are five truths I hope my girls and the next generation can carry with them, wherever they go.
1. If you don’t ask, you don’t get
In my first job as a trainee solicitor in London, I hit 140% of my performance targets. I worked hard, met every deadline, and quietly assumed that someone would notice. But I didn’t ask for anything because “trainees don’t get bonuses.” That was the rule.
Meanwhile, a male colleague who hit 103% did ask. Whilst not a bonus, he got champagne, vouchers, public praise. When I expressed surprise, he said simply, “Why would you not ask?” That moment stuck with me. Never assume your work will speak for itself. Speak for yourself. Ask. The worst that can happen is a no and you’re no worse off than before.
2. You can do good and do well
For a long time, I thought I had to choose earn money now, give back later. That was my path for a decade, working as a lawyer in London, earning well, and donating to charity. I’ve since learned you don’t need to wait to create impact you can build it in.
In my current role as Chief Growth Officer at Kuza, I’m living that truth. I believe Kenya and feed itself and the world, while creating jobs and make money. Business can be a force for good, and impact can be at the heart of how we grow.
3. Respect what’s old, even as you embrace the new
Everything from the West isn’t better. When we were sick, my grandmother reached for turmeric, garlic, and ginger, remedies I dismissed at the time. Today, they have been rebranded as “superfoods,” sold globally in wellness aisles and trendy cafés. That turmeric latte? It’s just our warm haldi milk in a new cup at five times the price.
There is deep wisdom in our culture. Our languages, our accents, our food, our healing, they are not backward. They’re powerful. Don’t equate speaking perfect English or having the “right accent” with intelligence.
4. Failure is only failure if you don’t learn
When I moved back to Kenya and started my own venture, it didn’t work. It failed. But that experience taught me more than a decade of being a lawyer or even my MBA. Failure can be your best teacher, if you let it. Don’t fear it. Walk through it, learn, and try again. Your story is not defined by what didn’t work but by how you grew through it.
5. You don’t have to do it alone
You are strong. Be your own best friend. Learn to enjoy your own company. But never forget it takes a village. Build your tribe: family, friends, mentors. In this fast-paced world of AI, social media, and constant pressure, it’s easy to feel disconnected, alone in a crowd. Unplug, step outside. We are lucky to live in Kenya, with great weather, greenery. Make time for nature, real conversations, and the people who matter.
Final Words
As a mother, a mentor, and a woman who’s walked many paths from corporate law to government to leading growth at Kuza, I’ve come to realize that the most powerful gift we can give the next generation is confidence, courage and community.
Through my work with TiE Women Kenya, I’ve seen how transformative it is when women support women when we don’t just pass down wisdom but walk alongside each other with intent and empathy.
To my daughters, and to every young woman reading this: Be bold. Ask for what you deserve. Build with purpose. Respect your roots. I’ll add one last one as a shout-out to my husband, a die-hard Liverpool fan: Never Walk Alone
Your story is yours to write and I hope it’s one full of courage, meaning, and joy.
About the Contributor
Sheena Raikundalia is an accomplished professional with over 18 years of experience across the legal, financial services, and impact investment sectors in Europe and Africa. Passionate about Africa’s potential, she brings extensive expertise in working with government, corporate, international donors, investors, and local tech entrepreneurs. Currently the Chief Growth Officer at Kuza One, an agri-tech company digitizing agriculture through a tech platform and rural agripreneurs, Sheena has held diverse roles, including Country Director of the UK-Kenya Tech Hub.
She is a U.K.-qualified solicitor, with a law degree from the University of Bristol and an MBA from Lord Ashcroft International Business School. With a background that spans legal practice, impact investing, and non-executive directorships, Sheena is driven by her belief in the transformative power of innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa.
This contribution is for the Mother’s Day Initiative #BuiltByMothers.
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