Sharon has spent her career working in technology for development and the innovation ecosystem in her home country Kenya. When she moved to Germany, she was surprised to find that some people had no idea of the technology revolution that was happening on the African continent. In her talk, she attempts to challenge the stereotypes we often hear about Africa, while sharing some examples from her own experience of how technology solutions are positively transforming lives on the continent. She also shares some ideas on what needs to be done to support young Africans as they build the future of the continent. Sharon is a Kenyan engineer, program manager and innovation enthusiast. She currently works as an innovation manager for a German company, building partnerships between the company and startups, with a focus on Africa. She is a Fellow of the Techwomen program - an initiative by the U.S. Department of State for Education and Cultural Affairs and the IIE; and the Afrika Kommt! Program - an initiative of German industry for future leaders from Africa. Sharon is the founder of the Jedimu Elimu Trust, an organisation that supports education and economic empowerment projects in the home region where she grew up - (Website www.jedimutrust.org) Sharon is a passionate ICT4D advocate. She is a founding member of the Kenya Flying Labs and recently founded the Jedimu Elimu Trust to support education and economic empowerment projects in her community.

Technology is one of the most powerful tools in achieving the promise of the 2030 development agenda “Leave no one behind”. For communities that are living in over-exploited and consequently under developed regions of the world, it is critical that we explore the correct application of technology solutions to address challenges and create opportunities for better education, healthcare, disaster management and overall to empower communities out of material poverty.

Standing on a TEDx stage for me is about sharing, connecting and learning. Participating in the TEDx conference is an opportunity to share and connect with other people who have the same passion, while learning from them and sparking an interest in those who are also curious to learn something new. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx