Dr. Chao Mbogho is a multi-award winning Computer Science educator, mentor, speaker, and leader. Her innovation-oriented approach, academic excellence, and leadership expertise have seen her receive over 25 awards, scholarships, and fellowships. For example, in 2020, she was the first Kenyan to receive the distinguished OWSD-Elsevier award in Engineering, Technology, and Innovation. Chao was also named as one of the 2017 Quartz Africa Innovators, was selected as a 2017 Techwomen Fellow, and in 2019, she was recognized by Okay! Africa as one of 100 women of African descent making an impactful contribution to their communities. Her work has been featured in Forbes, VOGUE, The Conversation Africa, and other platforms. In April 2021, she gave a TED talk on ‘Holding up the Ladder’.
Dr. Chao is an active advocate for quality education and structured mentorship. She is the Founder and Lead of KamiLimu, an impactful structured mentorship program that complements classroom learning for university students in tech. Her mentorship initiative was awarded a 2020 Gold Africa Regional Award by the prestigious Reimagine Education Awards and Conference as a successful educational innovation, which is enhancing student learning outcomes and employability.
Chao holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town, an MSc in Computer Science from the University of Oxford, and a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science from Kenya Methodist University. She currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and when she is not working, you will find her completing a puzzle, taking a walk, cooking, or reading a book.