From a remote village to Unilever: how creativity transformed Hellen’s life

In the remote landscapes of Kenya, where innovation is rarely nurtured, Hellen discovered a spark that would ignite her future. At just 15, she joined our MASK Creativity Club at a school in Laikipia, designed to instil creative problem-solving in students. What began as a weekly extracurricular activity over the course of three years ultimately shaped her academic and professional trajectory.

By the time she completed secondary school, Hellen’s passion for innovation had already taken root. For a year, she volunteered to run MASK Creativity Clubs at a local school for deaf children. It was here that she first experienced the power of creativity and the leadership it cultivates. She was inspired, even learning sign language to connect with the students.

Her next step was higher education. Enrolling in analytical chemistry at a college in Nairobi, Hellen did more than just study—she invented. During her research, she developed a new pharmaceutical compound, a breakthrough so significant that her college planned to pursue a patent. It was early proof of the power of creative problem-solving, a skill she attributes directly to MASK.

Upon graduating, she entered the competitive world of pharmaceuticals in Nairobi, securing a job in record time. Within months, this young 22-year-old woman was promoted to a supervisory role, leading an all-male team who had been at the company for years—an achievement she credits to her ability to think differently. “Coming into the job, I immediately suggested more effective ways of doing things,” Hellen recalls. “I was willing to challenge the norm—and that’s what got me noticed.”

Her reputation for creative problem-solving grew, and before long, she was recruited by a larger firm, where she was given her own office and put in charge of designing new analytical procedures. Yet, Hellen’s hunger for innovation extended beyond the lab. In her spare time, she invested in land, using it as an experimental ground for agricultural innovations. “MASK developed in me a habit of innovation,” she says. “Now, I want to apply it to everything I do.”

A few years later, Hellen faced her biggest challenge yet—a competitive recruitment process for a position at Unilever, competing against over 200 candidates. The selection process was intense, but she quickly realised that creativity would once again be her greatest asset. “Eighty percent of the questions were about problem-solving,” she explains. “They wanted to know how candidates approach challenges.” Her answers stood out, and she was shortlisted to the final nine. When she was offered the position, Unilever’s Human Resources Manager remarked that her "creative attitude" had set her apart from the competition.

Today, Hellen, 35, is part of Unilever’s global team, a role she once considered unattainable. Yet, her journey is not just about personal success—it’s a blueprint for how creativity, when nurtured, can transform lives.

She has since returned to the MASK Award ceremonies, delivering inspirational speeches to young people and schools that participated in the programme—young minds searching for a way forward, just as she once was. “MASK instilled in me a habit of innovation and empowered me beyond my dreams,” she declared.

Hellen’s story proves that creativity is a tool for survival, a mindset for success, and a pathway to the future.