Elsie Wandera has made such an enormous impact on Unilever’s social mission in Kenya that it’s hard to believe she joined the company as recently as 2015.
CEO
On a social mission – opportunities for the youth in Kenya
From day one, she had a vision that extended far beyond the responsibilities of her role as a personal assistant, working tirelessly to improve the lives of women and children, as part of her job and in her spare time.
Elsie Wandera has made such an enormous impact on Unilever’s social mission in Kenya that it’s hard to believe she joined the company as recently as 2015. From day one, she had a vision that extended far beyond the responsibilities of her role as a personal assistant, working tirelessly to improve the lives of women and children, as part of her job and in her spare time.
At Unilever, Elsie managed Lifebuoy’s social mission programmes, educating communities about the importance of handwashing. In the past years, she has launched three life-saving campaigns, including one to raise awareness with new mothers about the importance of neonatal hygiene.
Her passion led to the launch of Heroes for Change, a youth social volunteer programme, which has already reached more than 1,000,000 Kenyans to-date.
Positive impact in society
Elsie is the originator of 2 organizations that work closely with women, My Heart Scripted (MHS) & the Endometriosis Foundation of Kenya (EFK).
She also the recipient of the 2018 Jacob’s Well Award organized by the Kingdom Business Solutions at International Women’s Day for her efforts in raising awareness on Endometriosis in Kenya.
Additionally, she also recently received global recognition in London, UK from Unilever, the Heroes with Impact Award, for having embodied the company’s values and truly loving her passion and purpose in and out of the workplace. Embodying the values of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, she ensures that the company’s work is impactful and relevant, supporting both the business and local communities.
In 2016, Elsie was voted the third Most Influential Young Kenyan and the Most Influential Young Kenyan Women, in rankings compiled by Avance Media.
“When women are empowered, our society is empowered,” she says. “I want to reach as many young women as possible, to help them realise the potential that is within each and every one of them.”
