When asked about her most valued possession, Stella refers to her global professional networks without pausing to think.
These networks are the product of her ‘‘intentionality to build valuable relationships’’ in all the spaces she has participated in.
In February, Stella was named a finalist in this year’s Top 50 Young Women in the geospatial industry in the world.
"I am spending my time here to learn how decision-making happens on a global scale. I hope to use the lessons when I come back home."
After her undergraduate degree in geospatial information science at Dedan Kimathi University of Science and Technology, Stella won a scholarship to take her Master’s in the course at the University of Twente in The Netherlands.
As a geospatial and remote sensing analyst, her role involves using satellite data for the mapping of various elements in any given area.
‘‘This data is then used for decision-making such as funding considerations in agriculture,’’ she says.
The information may also be used for determining suitable relief solutions for emergencies such as flooding and drought.
The firstborn daughter of a lecturer and businesswoman she says her father influenced her career path.
‘‘My father teaches Geography at Egerton University,’’ she says.
An introvert, Stella spends her spare time reading books and listening to podcasts. On what she enjoys most about her job, travel ranks high up. She has been to 16 European countries since she started working in Europe.
Her long-term ambition? To facilitate how the government and international NGOs engage and to bridge the communication gap.
‘‘I am spending my time here to learn how decision-making happens on a global scale. I hope to use the lessons when I come back home.’’
James Kahongeh