Geraldine Waruguru

Geraldine Waruguru
Born	1984 (age 40–41) Mombasa, Kenya
Nationality	Kenyan
Citizenship	Kenyan
Occupation(s)	Businesswoman, Airline pilot
Years active	2006–present
Title	Founder, Owner & CEO of Scents By Geraldine Limited and First Officer at Kenya Airways

Geraldine Waruguru is a Kenyan businesswoman and airline pilot. She is the founder, co-owner and chief executive officer of Scents by Geraldine Limited, a perfume manufacturing business, based in Nairobi. She concurrently works as an airline transport pilot, who serves as a First Officer at Kenya Airways, Kenya's national carrier airline, on the Boeing 737 aircraft.[1]

Background and education

Waruguru was born in Kenya circa 1984. She attended Kenyan schools for her elementary and secondary education. She then went on to obtain a commercial pilot licence from the 43rd Air School, in Port Alfred, South Africa. Later in 2016, she undertook a course in perfumery.[2][3]

Career

Geraldine Waruguru began flying for Kenya Airways in 2006. After several years of research, she decided to start her own perfume line in 2016. After looking for a manufacturing partner in Germany, South Africa and the United Kingdom, she selected Scentury Company from Berlin.[4]

Her first branded perfume came to market in 2017, after Geraldine spent €25,000 of her personal savings on developing the brand. She markets her fragrances online and on social media platforms. She also maintains a shop along Kenyatta Avenue, in Nairobi's central business district.[4][5] During the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of laying off her staff, she convinced them to accept half of their regular salary.[1]

Family

Geraldine Waruguru is a mother to a son, who was born circa 2013.[1]

Other considerations

Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she expected to complete her examinations to become a captain on the Boeing 737 by the end of 2020.[1]

See also

• Irene Koki Mutungi
• Vanita Kayiwa
• Esther Mbabazi

References

1. James Kahongeh (11 July 2020). "Pilot with a Nose For Perfumes". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
2. The Kenya Standard (3 January 2009). "Women At The Cockpit: Geraldine Waruguru Gitau". The Kenya Standard. Nairobi. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
3. Geraldine Waruguru (12 July 2020). "Geraldine Waruguru: Founder & CEO at Scents By Geraldine Limited". Linkedin.com. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
4. Mkenyaujerumani (14 February 2020). "Love Affair with Lingering Scents: Kenyan Pilot Turned Perfumer Shares on Producing Perfumes in Germany for the Kenyan Market". Berlin: Mkenyaujerumani.de. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
5. Lavinia Wanjau (2 January 2018). "Scents by Geraldine: The ins and outs of contract manufacturing". The Kenya Standard. Nairobi. Retrieved 12 July 2020.