Khadija is a results-driven, entrepreneurial, and collaborative leaderwith a passion for digital technology’s potential to transform lives and create livelihoods in Africa. A computer scientist by training, she has over a decade of experience across the technology and media industries managing complex programs, building strategic partnerships, and leading diverse groups of people.
In her current role at Google, she leads developer ecosystem programs in Fintech innovation communities, Android mobile software developer training in Technical and Vocational Colleges, as well as Strategic Partnerships in Public Sector in the Google Developer Ecosystem Team-Sub Saharan Africa.
Prior to transitioning to the managing developer ecosystem communities, Khadija spent four years in the Google Africa Marketing team, where she built strategic partnerships with key players in the public, private, and development sectors—such as the African Development Bank, Ministries of ICT in Kenya and Rwanda, and UN Women—to help scale access to digital skills training across East Africa. She oversaw the investment of $1 million in digital skills training programs to support young people, entrepreneurs, and farmers. Her work also helped empower women and girls: Khadija led the launch and rollout of Google’s Impact Challenge for Women and Girls—a $25 million initiative designed to support grassroots organizations that are creating pathways to prosperity for women and girls—and the launch of Google’s Women Will program in Africa, which is designed to connect women entrepreneurs with the tools, information, and networks to succeed. Under Khadija’s leadership, one of Women Will’s first agendas was to scope and commission research Make Work Work, based on women’s perspectives on entrepreneurship and the barriers women face in starting and scaling their businesses. This research is now being used by women parliamentarians in Kenya KEWOPA to develop gender-sensitive policies.
Prior to her role at Google, Khadija ran her own business—a digital marketing consultancy that helps small and medium-sized businesses leverage digital tools and platforms to reach customers, sell products, and deliver services. During that time, she led the development of Kenya’s first digital insurance app, Griffin Insurance as well as a mobile application for Earnza—Africa’s first peer-to-peer blockchain lending platform. Khadija is also AMREF Flying Doctors’ youngest board director and an advisory board member for Pwani Tecknowgals.
