When the world stood still in 2020 and boardrooms turned into Teams, Mary Kibugi began to reflect on what truly mattered. At the time, she was a senior executive working with multinational organisations in the renewable energy sector, a world of targets, travel, and success.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted business as usual, Mary found herself questioning the meaning of her work.

“Working from home and not travelling gave me time to reflect on the rewarding parts of my work life,” she says. “I realised it was in the areas that involved community impact, not career progression or financial success, that I felt most fulfilled.”

That quiet reflection planted a seed that would later grow into KD Gratiam International, a social enterprise based in Kakuma, Turkana, where Mary now leads programs empowering women and youth through skills training, menstrual health solutions, and climate resilience initiatives.

A Different Kind of Heat

When she first arrived in Kakuma, the contrast from her corporate life was striking.

“The first and hardest adjustment was the weather,” she laughs. “Kakuma is in a desert, and temperatures are always above 36 degrees. I had travelled across the world in snow and rain but never been in a desert. Here we joke that you could roast maize just by placing it on your head.”

But beyond the heat, Mary encountered something even more profound: the stark realities of life in a refugee host community.

“Watching daily life unfold in the camp humbled me. Things I took for granted — like access to sanitary pads, ease of movement, or internet connectivity were not automatic.”

It was in those moments of observation and empathy that Mary saw where she could make a difference. Her experience in corporate social programs and exposure to menstrual health innovations gave her the tools to act.

“After staying for a few weeks, I was convinced I could make a difference in the Kakuma community,” she recalls. “And that conviction only grew stronger with every successful community initiative.”

A New Kind of Leadership

Transitioning from corporate leadership to community leadership required Mary to rethink everything she knew about management.

“My corporate leadership style definitely had to change. In a social enterprise, roles are blurred, and the stakeholder network is complex. You have to collaborate, listen, and adapt.”

Her laugh is soft, a complete contrast to the life she chose away from air-conditioned rooms and the predictability of a daily routine that had, at the time, become second nature to her.

When Mary speaks, her voice carries a quiet authority, calm yet assured, the kind that draws people in rather than commands them. She listens intently, often pausing mid-sentence as if weighing her words carefully, a habit perhaps borrowed from years in the boardroom. Yet her laughter comes easily, breaking the formality and revealing her warmth.

“Even with a strong team at KD Gratiam, I’m still the CEO, personal assistant, logistics coordinator, social and public relations officer, sometimes even finance, all in one.”

Yet beyond her organisation, Mary has also become a community leader —a trusted voice and advocate.

“It’s a sensitive role,” she says. “How you handle people inside and outside the organisation really matters.”

Faith and Courage

In moments when progress feels slow or obstacles pile up, it is her faith that shines through.

As a Christian, I pray,” she says. “I also see this work as something that makes God smile — one woman or youth at a time. My motivation comes from the small wins and success stories we document and remember when things get tough.”

Her optimism and humility anchor her, even as she builds something extraordinary in one of the most marginalised parts of Kenya.

If she could speak to her younger self, Mary knows exactly what she’d say.

Her legacy, she hopes, will be lasting—a legacy of upholding dignity and empowering all who interacted with her.

“Women are powerful. All we need is an opportunity, and we will thrive,” she says. “I hope to leave behind a community of economically empowered women living in dignity, with proper menstrual care, and who are raising their families with pride.”

She pauses, then smiles.

“This part of my life, I believe, will be the most interesting one by God’s grace.”