Every year on March 8th, the World marks International Women’s Day. A day dedicated to raising awareness on the issues facing women and girls across the world as well as celebrating the great achievements and contributions women have had to society. This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is #EachForEqual and it calls for all of us to actively participate in the push towards a gender-equal world.
At home or in the workplace, there are many opportunities where we can all use our voice and actions to challenge gender stereotypes, fight any form of bias that might arise, and encourage and help women to succeed in their personal and professional lives. All this while celebrating and acknowledging the achievements that women make every day; both big and small.
This year, we are featuring 7 phenomenal women who are part of the team behind MYDAWA. These women work tirelessly behind the scenes in various roles to ensure that MYDAWA users are able to order the medicine, health and wellness products and personal care items that they need and have them delivered to their doorstep wherever they are in Kenya. We give you their stories and views on what it is like to be a woman in the Kenyan workplace and what they envision a gender-equal world to be.
Maureen Ondego
What do you do at MYDAWA? Marketing Lead
What do you love about what you do? I love working in a start-up because every day gives you a unique experience. One gets to learn a lot, be creative and innovative. As a team, we get to share the birth, growth and success of the company.
What’s the best part of your day? When I check the day’s performance and it has exceeded the previous day numbers.
Why is gender equality important for you? Gender equality helps prevent violence against women and girls and makes our communities safer and healthier. It is a human right and it is good for the economy. We need to think more broadly about how the profession and society can work together to achieve more balance. To achieve equality, it will mean everyone working together so that we have much more satisfying workplaces and productive workplaces.
Melissa Makungu
What do you do at MYDAWA? I am a Customer Experience agent
What do you love about what you do? The genuine joy a customer shares with you after you resolve their issue.
What’s the best part of your day? Lunch Hour! Seriously though, when the team comes together and delivers. Those days where we manage to give our best service level to all our clients are really good for me.
Why is gender equality important for you? Gender equality is important in ensuring that everybody has a chance to thrive and be the best they can be. It is also the only way to end gender violence and ensure economic prosperity for everyone in society.
Diana Aketch
What do you do at MYDAWA? Customer Experience Agent
What do you love about what you do? Being able to communicate with different people, solving their problems and learning something new every single day.
What’s the best part of your day? Knowing I have completed my tasks and to-do list to the best of my ability.
Why is gender equality important for you? Gender equality ensures that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents. It means everyone has the same rights and opportunities. No one should be judged by their gender.
Dr. Farzana Sunderji
What do you do at MYDAWA? Head of Operations and Superintendent Pharmacist
What do you love about what you do? I love the fact that I am using innovation to improve the overall product quality within the pharmaceutical supply chain and also simplifying it so that we can control the standards of medicines procured and sold.
What’s the best part of your day? The best part of my day is when everything goes smoothly … No hitches no fire fighting and we are able to deliver all our customers orders with minimum hiccups.
Why is gender equality important for you? Gender used to be important, now what matters is who gets the job done the best. I feel women are now appreciated as having the potential to be more than just housewives. They are able to raise a family as well as have a successful career. Most are quite high in the leadership level and at MYDAWA our senior management team has quite a few women which is a satisfying feeling knowing our organisation has such a high percentage of women
Emmah Maina
What do you do at MYDAWA? Procurement
What do you love about what you do? Making Clients happy by procuring quality products at an affordable price.
What’s the best part of your day? When I have won a negotiation deal with a supplier.
Why is gender equality important for you? A gender-equal world is essential for economies and communities to thrive.
Laureen Akinyi
What do you do at MYDAWA? Customer Service Agent
What’s the best part of your day? Being able to offer assistance to a customer when needed.
Why is gender equality important for you? Gender equality makes our community stable economically and peaceful at all times. Being #EachForEqual is about everyone working together to make the world a better place for all of us.
Marcy Muchiri
What do you do at MYDAWA? Supervisor, Customer Experience.
What do you love about what you do? Serving customers with a smile.
What’s the best part of your day? Morning, when I get to plan my day.
Why is gender equality important for you? Gender equality is key in realising human rights for all. A gender-equal world is a happy world
0Check out these special gift ideas to spoil the women in your life.
