Woman of passion: I am helping 'mama mbogas' to be bankable

"I tried many business ventures and failed during my college days," Mary divulges. By then she was pursuing a degree in Education at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Her failure didn't deter her, and her tenacious spirit would not let her rest. Every time she failed in a business venture, she would wake up, dust herself up, and try something new. This fighting spirit, she says, stems from her childhood.

" I was a very outgoing child. I got to be a leader in a lot of forums growing up. At some point, I wanted to be a nurse, then a Professor. As I grew older, I realised that I had a passion for business," the Kirinyaga county born woman who was raised in a family of 10 children, says.

To cement her business dream, she studied a Master's program in Management and Marketing at Baraton University.

Her pursuits have paid off. Today, she is the CEO of Women In Business Network in Kenya and the founder and chair of St. Petro Premier School, in Embu.

Two years ago, she set up the Women in Business Network which is a platform that connects women to business opportunities and aids in marshaling funds for them. The network focuses on Mama Mbogas (market women), corporates, and SME's.

"We started as a networking forum until we realised that it should be a formal structure on women in business. We have a membership of about 1.2 million women and charge an annual subscription of Sh1,000. Our presence is countrywide," Mary says.

The organisation has been able to build the capacity of women in SMEs by partnering with high-value stakeholders.

"We are planning on going into the AGOA market which is tax-free to ensure more of our products are exported to the US," Mary says.

"We also run a programme called "Women In Business Mashinani" to ensure women running micro-businesses can move from the informal sector to the formal sector. Without formalising your business, you cannot benefit from any opportunity that comes around because the Government does not know you," explains Mary.

The programme has connected several women to avocado buyers and helped eliminate brokers who buy from them at throwaway prices.

Another partner has been the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), in which their members have been able to tap into matters tax. "We were able to pinpoint to KRA the challenges our women are facing when filing returns," the ever bubbly Mary, says.

As the Covid-19 pandemic hits, their members have also experienced turbulent times. Apart from cushioning their members, they also distribute free sanitisers to them.

"Mama Mboga's are usually very vulnerable as they get into contact with very many people and we have to ensure their safety," she says.

Mary, says her personal touch with the women in business stems from her own experience, where she wished for someone to hand-hold her.

"Leadership is a passion and is something you have to commit to. What drives me is success. It ignites me," offers Mary.

As the founder of a private primary school in Embu, Mary hopes to shape the destiny of the next generation of business leaders. "I want to mold good character and attitude," she says of the Embu-based St. Petro Premier Primary School, which she founded in 2012 and now sits as the chair.

"A school that inculcates good values was a niche that was lacking," she says.

Her path has seen her get several accolades. The most recent award being on 1st June 2020 by the President which was dubbed "Uzalendo award." "I am also the current and only holder of the "Devolution Warrior award" that was given to me by the Council of Governors in 2017," she adds.

Mary says that one of the biggest misconceptions about entrepreneurship is that one must take risks. "You should be able to limit the risks and plan carefully, that's what we teach," she says.

To stay on top of her game, Mary tries to be consistent in everything she does. "I have specific times I wake up, then I head off to the gym. She then proceeds to work until 5 pm, at which time she dedicates her time to her family. "I am married with four children, my firstborn son is at the University, I have a teenage daughter and nine-year-old twins (a boy and a girl)," shares Mary.

Her advice to those who want to make into entrepreneurship? "Take your path. Everybody has their passion and you should invest in that. When that idea hits your mind, run with it! You also need to plan and get mentorship," she asserts.

As a parting shot, she tells me, "Nothing replaces hard work."