About Tess Ogamba
Teresia N. Ogamba, known professionally as Tess Ogamba is a Content Creator and Digital Entrepreneur with a background in research analysis and programming. She is a gig economy enthusiast and is passionate about financial freedom. Most of her time is dedicated to teaching others how to leverage opportunities in the digital space to achieve financial success.
Early Life & Education
Personal Background & Family
I was born on August 1, 1996, in Kenya, and grew up in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County. I’m the second of five siblings – two sisters and two brothers.
Primary Education
My education began at St. Michael Girls’ Boarding Primary School in Kerugoya town, Kirinyaga County. In 2010, I ranked among the top 100 female candidates nationwide in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam.
Secondary Education & Family Tragedy
The next phase of my education was at The Kenya High School in Kileleshwa, Nairobi County, starting in 2011. Unfortunately, in 2012, our family faced a tragedy when my mum became ill and passed away. With her as our primary breadwinner, life turned upside down. However, I managed to continue with my studies and scored a B+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam in 2014, with notable scores of an A in Mathematics and an A- in Chemistry.
Further Studies and University Experience
I got a scholarship at eMobilis Technology Institute in Nairobi where I studied Mobile Software Development and Entrepreneurship for six months in 2015. Then I joined the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Juja, Nairobi, to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biostatistics. University days were tough due to emotional and financial constraints.
My financial circumstances piqued my interest in the gig economy in 2016, marking the start of my journey toward financial independence. Alongside, my interest in programming grew, leading me to explore Python. This journey culminated in November 2019 when I graduated from JKUAT.
How Tess Came To Be
2017: Mentoring the Youth & Transcription
I secured a short-term gig mentoring youth who had completed online work training through the Ajira Digital program. This is the time I learned of transcription.
2018: Diverse Internships and Realizations
During the 2018 lecturers’ strike, I interned at the National Health Insurance Fund, the Kenyatta National Hospital Branch. Two months in, I realized I didn’t want to pursue a career related to medicine. I moved to Nakuru County for a position as a Research Assistant Intern at the Geothermal Development Company (GDC). After two months, I returned to Nairobi for university once the strike concluded.
2018: Online Work and Entrepreneurial Ventures
Come September, the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy (MoICT), in collaboration with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, contracted me as an Online Work Consultant for the Ajira Digital Case Study. This experience inspired me to establish a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, ItsTessKE Ltd, which has since ceased operations.
Concurrently, I served as a freelance Quality Assessor for the Google Digital Skills for Africa Program, which was being implemented by Celestine Ukpere Consulting.
2019: From Research to Policy Analysis
In May, I joined TIFA Research for Industrial attachment. After three months, I transitioned to an online work consultant but left the firm in October. The following month, I was hired by the Africa Centre for People, Institutions and Society (ACEPIS) in Nairobi as a Research and Policy Analyst.
2020: Managing, Mentoring, and Embracing Freelance
Six months later, I joined eMobilis Technology Institute as a Center Manager overseeing a Youth Empowerment Centre in Nakuru County. In October, I started freelancing as a Digital Employability Mentor at the African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT), balancing two roles due to the flexibility of freelancing.
Consistent Passion: Transcription
Throughout these transitions since 2017, transcription remained a steady background activity for me. As my commitments grew, I engaged a team of freelancers to ensure timely delivery to clients. Remarkably, my transcription experience played a pivotal role in securing several of the positions mentioned.
2020-2022: Content Creation and Entrepreneurship
My journey took an unexpected turn in November 2020. Spontaneously, I recorded my first YouTube video, unknowingly stepping onto the path of content creation. Best decision I ever made. In April 2021, I left my managerial role and moved back to Nairobi to focus on transcription and content creation. In September 2022 I received my YouTube silver play button for the Tess Ogamba YouTube channel. Three months later, I relocated to England, United Kingdom.
