Juliana Rotich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juliana Rotich
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Rotich in 2017
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| Born | 1977 (age 47–48) |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Alma mater | University of Missouri–Kansas City (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science) |
Juliana Rotich is a talented Kenyan expert in information technology. She creates online tools that help people share information during emergencies and learn about environmental issues. She is a co-founder of iHub, which is a special tech space in Nairobi, Kenya. She also helped start Ushahidi, which is a free software that collects and maps important information. Juliana is also a TED Senior Fellow, which means she's recognized for her great ideas.
She helps guide the Bankinter Foundation for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Spain. She is also part of the Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Board, which plans for Kenya's future. From May to December 2018, she led the East Africa team for BASF, a big company.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Juliana Rotich was born in Kenya in 1977. She went to elementary and high school there. Later, she moved to the United States to study at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. She earned a degree in Computer Science. She was also a special fellow at the MIT Media Lab, a famous research center.
Her Amazing Career in Tech
Juliana Rotich started her career in 1999 at Sprint Nextel Corporation. She then worked at other companies like InterCall Inc. and National Seminars Group, where she designed and managed databases. In 2007, she became a data analyst at Hewitt Associates.
Creating Ushahidi: A Tool for Good
In 2008, Juliana co-founded a non-profit company called Ushahidi. This project uses Open-source software, which means its code is free for anyone to use and improve. Ushahidi helps collect and map information from many people (called crowdsourcing). It uses data from mobile phones and the internet to report on crises and share important information.
The word "Ushahidi" means "testimony" in the Swahili language. It was first used during the Kenyan presidential election crisis in 2007–2008. Since then, Ushahidi has helped people in many countries, including Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Haiti. Juliana was the Executive Director of Ushahidi from 2011 to 2015.
Sharing Ideas and Solving Problems
Juliana Rotich is also a writer and speaker. She has written articles for Afrigadget.com and was an editor for Global Voices Online, focusing on environmental topics. She also spoke at the TED Global Conference in Arusha in 2007. As a public speaker, she talks about technology in Africa. She also speaks out about protecting Kenya's forests and water sources.
To help people in Nairobi get internet access even during power outages, Juliana co-founded BRCK Inc. This company makes a special modem that runs on a battery for up to eight hours without electricity.
In 2014, Juliana spoke at the Design Indaba Conference in Cape Town. From 2014 to 2015, she was part of a special group for the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. This group advised on how to use data for sustainable development.
In 2017, Juliana attended the W20 Summit in Berlin, Germany. She joined a panel discussion with important leaders like Chancellor Angela Merkel, IMF director Christine Lagarde, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. She represented BRCK at this event.
In 2022, Safaricom, a big telecommunications company, named Juliana Rotich as its Head of Fintech Integration Solutions. In this role, she helps manage the company's financial services, especially those connected to M-Pesa, a popular mobile money service.
Other Important Roles
Juliana Rotich also serves on the boards of several organizations, helping them with her expertise.
Company Boards
- Standard Group: She has been a Non-Executive Director on their Board of Directors since 2018.
- BASF: She was a member of their Global Sustainability Advisory Council in 2018.
- Microsoft: She has been a member of the 4Afrika Advisory Council since 2013.
Non-profit Organizations
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: She joined their AI Ethics and Safety Advisory Committee in 2023.
- Lemelson Foundation: She has been a member of their Advisory Committee since 2017.
Awards and Recognition
Juliana Rotich has received many awards for her important work.
In 2011, the World Economic Forum named her the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year in Africa. She also earned a TED Senior Fellowship and a Director’s Fellowship from the MIT Media Laboratory. In the same year, The Guardian Newspaper listed her among the “World’s Top 100 Women.”
In 2013, Juliana received the Digital, Life, Design (DLD) Women Impact Award in Munich, Germany. In 2019, she was given the German Africa Prize by the German Africa Foundation. This award honors people who work to support democracy, peace, human rights, and economic growth in Africa. The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, presented this award to Juliana. In 2012, Forbes.com also recognized Juliana Rotich as one of "The 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa 2012."
See also
In Spanish: Juliana Rotich para niños
