Wangari started her creative journey at the Evelyn School of Design in Nairobi before moving to the United Kingdom to further her studies in Interdisciplinary and Product Design. She spent more than 15 years working in the Marketing and Creative Departments of various multinational companies culminating in her final corporate role in marketing with Oracle Corporation. In 2012, a family relocation to South Africa would precipitate Wangari’s exit from the corporate world, sparking self-reflection on where she would next take her career.

It would be her young son’s response to a beloved teddy bear lovingly voiced by Wangari that sparked a life-changing idea. Ready to create something with her hands, she turned to her crochet skills and began making what would become beloved buddies for other children who with the help of their parents could sing, talk, teach and comfort. That’s how the Rafiki Values Tribe toys began.

Wangari is passionate about empowering others and sharing the skills that she has gathered over the years. She looks forward to continuing this incredible journey—empowering more women makers, creating African stories and delivering unique, Kenyan-made products locally and to the global community.