Introduction
When you think about a cobbler, what comes to mind?
Maybe an old workshop, the scent of leather, and someone hammering away on a sole.
For Stella, becoming a cobbler wasn’t just a fleeting childhood dream. It never sounded demeaning because it was an unusual and deeply personal ambition.
While her peers imagined hanging stethoscopes around their necks or being seen in courtrooms and called “the law”, Stella was sketching shoe designs and pulling apart worn-out sandals to see how they were made. It was raw curiosity and creativity in its purest form.
But life, as it often does, had other plans for her.
The Tech Path That She Never Had in Sight
Years later, Stella found herself studying computer science at university. It was a prestigious degree by most standards, future-proof, globally relevant, and full of possibilities. But for Stella, it didn’t feel like a calling. While she passed her courses and learned to write code, there was a lingering question that never left her: what exactly do I want to build?
She knew she was creative. She knew she liked working with her hands. She even liked tech a bit. But she hadn’t yet figured out how all these passions could intersect.
That’s when the Techrity’s Mentorship Programme came into the picture.
Finding Clarity and Her Calling Through Community
Stella joined the programme, unsure of what to expect. What she found was a structured yet warm environment, mentors who listened, peers who were on similar paths of discovery, and sessions that focused not just on skills but also on purpose.
Stella took her time immersing herself in the mud of the program, but it wasn’t long before Stella began connecting the dots to her lightbulb moment.
What if she could combine her childhood love for shoemaking with her knowledge of technology? What if she could create something truly African, handcrafted but scalable, an innovative brand that bridges tradition and tech?
These bubbling questions became the seeds of a powerful idea:
A home-made leather shoe brand with a tech-driven twist.
Today, Stella is not just building shoes; she’s building a tech brand. A sustainable business that uses tech to improve production, reach more customers, and tell a unique story of African tech talents.
And it all began with clarity, the kind of clarity that can only come from having the proper support, structure, and mentorship.
The Bigger Picture: Techrity’s Mission
Stella’s story is inspiring, but it’s not rare.
At Techrity, we’ve seen countless young Africans grappling with purpose, creativity, and a desire to build something meaningful. Often, all they need is a spark, a guiding hand, a community, a structured programme that helps them align their skills with their dreams.
We created our Mentorship Programme for exactly this reason. And the results? They speak for themselves.
From fashion tech to fintech, from storytelling to software, our mentees are launching startups, building solutions, and rewriting the narrative of what’s possible for the African youth.
Be a Witness: Join the Techrity Impact Series
If Stella’s story moved you, you’re not alone. That’s why we created the Techrity Impact Series, an Instagram live storytelling experience that showcases the journeys of real people whose lives have been transformed by mentorship, tech, and community.
Hear their voices. Learn from their journeys. Be part of the impact.
Whether you’re a student, a builder, a dreamer, or someone searching for direction, these stories might just spark something in you, too.
Hear Stella’s full story here
We are featuring others just like her to share their inspiring stories because every impact begins with a moment of clarity. And that moment could start here for you, too.
Don’t miss the next session of our Impact Series on 1st August 2025
