Faith Rehema

Early Beginnings and Educational Background

Faith Rehema’s interest in software engineering sparked at age 15 when she noticed unresolved problems around her. With a knack for problem-solving, she started developing small solutions, which led her to meet the right mentors. By 16, she had built her first prototype and joined Global Minimum, where she received valuable mentorship. Despite having minimal computer knowledge from high school, Faith’s curiosity and perseverance drove her to teach herself through extensive reading and hands-on projects.

Upon completing high school, Faith took her mentor’s advice and enrolled in Moringa School to study software engineering. There, she worked on an augmented reality project as her final course project, enhancing her skills and knowledge. She later chose to pursue Computer Science at the university level, where she also got to dive deep in technology understanding the different aspects that surround it. She also found herself exploring robotics and machine learning.

Career Milestones and Achievements

At just 18, Faith received job offers but opted to focus on her education. In university, she participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition as part of Team Kenya in 2019, which broadened her understanding of tech’s possibilities.

Her involvement in the Young Scientists Kenya mentorship program allowed her to inspire young people about STEM opportunities.

In 2020, Faith joined a startup as a consultant while starting her freelance/consulting job, focusing on front-end development. This experience boosted her confidence and skills, although she on this time realized cybersecurity wasn’t her passion. The following year, she completed a four-month internship but turned down a job offer to prioritize her studies.

Faith’s university lecturers played a significant role in her development. She joined a mentorship program on microservices, pushing her to excel. Another lecturer introduced her to computer engineering, which complemented her interest in robotics. Despite her busy schedule, Faith found time to pursue her passion for modeling, earning the title of World Miss University Kenya. She also began writing under the alias "The Modelling Geek," sharing captivating articles on tech trends and documenting her learning journey to guide aspiring techies.

Professional Journey and Current Role

After graduating from St. Paul's University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Faith started job hunting and landed a role at Turnkey Africa Ltd. Despite receiving other offers, she chose Turnkey for its growth opportunities. Starting as a front-end engineer specializing in Angular, Faith quickly proved herself an invaluable asset to the company.

At Turnkey Africa Ltd, which develops software for insurance companies, Faith has spent over a year mastering her craft. Recently, she joined a new team focusing on AI, reigniting her passion for tech and helping her overcome the sense of plateau she felt after rapidly rising in the industry.

Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles

Faith has faced challenges like imposter syndrome, especially being the youngest team member. She combats this by surrounding herself with supportive techies and reminding herself of her journey and achievements. She also experienced a sense of plateau but found excitement again through new roles and projects at Turnkey Africa.

Current Endeavors and Future Plans

Faith is currently immersing herself in tech events and conferences, networking with industry leaders and continuously learning. She advocates for documenting one's tech journey to help upcoming generations navigate their paths.

Looking ahead, Faith is eager to delve deeper into AI and potentially reintroduce herself as an AI engineer. She also wants to revisit robotics, a field she started exploring early in her career. For Faith, the sky is not the limit.

Advice for Aspiring Coders

Faith emphasizes the importance of understanding the structure and syntax of programming languages, joining tech communities, and being comfortable starting from scratch. She highlights the value of having mentors who can guide and support you through challenges.

Faith Rehema’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, perseverance, and continuous learning. Her achievements and insights make her an inspiration to many, earning her the well-deserved title of July Tech Titan.

My best Quote during our conversation

"If you are a Techy and currently not going to tech events, then I am seriously concerned."

To read more about Faith's Work visit her Blog posts  : https://medium.com/@TheModelingGeek