Sheila Gatwiri Mutembei

I am an impact-oriented professional with a background in food science, entrepreneurial management, and applied research, who blends research, innovation, and grassroots business experience to create meaningful, people-centered impact. My academic foundation in food science has been deeply enriched by real-world, hands-on work—including a research internship at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), where I contributed to a project empowering women’s self-help groups through value-added rice bran cookie production.

Simultaneously, I ran and managed a liquor retail business in Kiambu from January 2023 to July 2025. This experience grounded me in the realities of business: managing finances, overseeing inventory, building customer relationships, leading a team, and learning what it takes to keep a business not just afloat, but growing. It taught me how to lead with empathy, adapt under pressure, and turn challenges into systems that serve both people and profit.

These diverse experiences have made me deeply passionate about entrepreneurship—not just as a way to generate income, but as a tool to build people’s skills, confidence, and agency. I thrive at the intersection of science, business, and community development.

I’m growing into a systems-thinker, founder, and food systems innovator who uses entrepreneurship as a tool for collective transformation. Through my ventures—The Scientific Foodie (TSF) and Food Power Africa (FoPA)—I am laying the foundation for accessible, science-driven consultancy and community-based food solutions across the continent.

TSF is my platform for translating complex food science into clear, practical insights and services for startups, small-scale processors, and the everyday food-curious consumer. It’s a space where transparency, accountability, and science-based recommendations are the standard.
FoPA, on the other hand, is my long-term vision for a scalable African food enterprise that empowers communities, fosters inclusive innovation, and reclaims food systems for health, sustainability, and equity.

I’m committed to building organizations and networks that develop people—especially youth and women—as key drivers of Africa’s food future. I’m looking to join leadership and management programs that nurture bold thinking, deep listening, and collaborative problem-solving. My aim is not just to grow personally, but to multiply that growth into structures and solutions that spark change from the ground up.

• Certificate of participation awarded by the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India) for participation in the 30th ICFoST 2024, held from December 19th to 21st, 2024, at D Y Patil Deemed to Be University, Navi Mumbai, India
• Certificate for Poster Presentation entitled "Enhancing the Nutritional Value of Rice Cookies through the Addition of Thermally Stabilised Rice Bran," awarded by the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India) during the 30th ICFoST 2024 on December 18, 2024, at D.Y. Patil Deemed to Be University, Navi Mumbai, India
• Certificate of participation awarded by the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India) for participation in the pre-conference workshop, Career Opportunities in Food Entrepreneurship/Startup, held during the 30th ICFoST 2024 on December 18, 2024, at D. Y. Patil Deemed to Be University, Navi Mumbai, India
• Certificate of training on Value Added Products from Traditional Rice conducted virtually by the Department of Food Plant Operations, Incubation and Entrepreneurship, National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T) on 19 November 2024
• Certificate of presentation for a poster entitled "Enhancing Nutritional Value of Rice Cookies by Incorporating Thermally Stabilised Rice Bran" in the 13th National Seed Congress organised by IRRI South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) and National Seed Research & Training Center (NSRTC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Government of India, held from November 28 to 30, 2024
• Certificate of Participation in the International Conference on "Emerging Paradigm Shifts in Food and Dairy Processing: Advances in Food Safety, Quality, and Sustainability" at Banaras Hindu University, and oral presentation on a paper entitled "Assessing Physical Characteristics and Sensory Evaluation of Whole Grain and Rice Bran-Enriched Cookies from Different Rice Varieties" on the 25th and 26th of October 2024

• Special Award for exemplary performance in K.C.S.E, 2017
• Certificate of Participation for the participation at the Brookside Mathlete National Mathematics Contest, 2016, Held at Moi High School Kabarak, Nakuru County on 28th May 2016
• Certificate of Merit awarded by The Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Sports Association, 2016, For achieving 2nd position in Girls Hockey at Moi High School Kabarak on 3rd March 2016
• Certificate of Participation awarded by The Ministry of Education Science and Technology, 2015, For reaching the National Finals of the Kenya Music Festival in Kisumu on 10th August 2015
• Certificate of Merit Awarded by The Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Sports Association, 2015, For achieving 2nd position in Girls Hockey at Moi High School Kabarak on 6th - 7th March 2015
• Certificate of Merit awarded by The Green Gardens Schools, 2012, For being a dedicated scout on 16th December 2012
• Certificate of Merit awarded by The Green Gardens Schools, 2011, For being the First Runners Up Actress on 26th June 2011
• Certificate Of Merit awarded by The Green Gardens Schools, 2011, For being an Outstanding Troop Leader on 21st June 2011
• Certificate of Completion for the successful completion of the 2010 Cosmic City Vacation Bible School Program, 2010, Held at P.C.E.A St. Andrews Church from 9th to 14th August 2010
• Certificate of Completion for the successful completion of the Vacation Bible School Program, 2009, Held at P.C.E.A St. Andrews Church from 10th to 15th August 2009
• Certificate of Completion for the successful completion of the Cosmic City Vacation Bible School Program, 2008, Held at P.C.E.A St. Andrews church in August 2008

• Certificate of Award issued by GoTeki International for exceptional performance throughout the Teki Mentorship Program and as a celebration for being named among the Top 25 Girls in Technology 2025
• Special Award for exemplary performance in K.C.S.E. by attaining a mean grade of A- in 2017
• Certificate of Participation for participation in the Brookside Mathlete National Mathematics Contest held at Moi High School, Kabarak, Nakuru County, on May 28, 2016
• Certificate of Merit awarded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Sports Association, for achieving 2nd position in girls' hockey at Moi High School Kabarak on March 3, 2016
• Certificate of Participation awarded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology on August 10, 2015, for reaching the National Finals of the Kenya Music Festival in Kisumu
• Certificate of Merit awarded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Sports Association, for achieving 2nd position in girls' hockey at Moi High School Kabarak on March 6th – 7th, 2015
• Certificate of Merit awarded by The Green Gardens Schools on December 16, 2012, for being a dedicated scout
• Certificate of Merit awarded by The Green Gardens Schools on June 26, 2011, for being the First Runners-Up Actress. Certificate of Merit awarded by The Green Gardens Schools on June 21, 2011, for being an Outstanding Troop Leader.
• Certificate of Completion for the successful completion of the 2010 Cosmic City Vacation Bible School Program held at P.C.E.A. Andrews Church, from August 9th to August 14th, 2010
• Certificate of Completion for the successful completion of the Vacation Bible School Program held at P.C.E.A. St. Andrews Church held services from August 10th to 15th
• Certificate of Completion for the successful completion of the Cosmic City Vacation Bible School Program held at P.C.E.A. St. Andrews church in August 2008

• UNITAR, SUNLIGHT AND ABSA BANK'S WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME, Online, October 2022 — January 2023
• Client Success Formula, Little Cake Girl, October 2022
• Wedding Cake Masterclass , Little Cake Girl, June 2022
• Master cake baking and Decorating Course, Cakes.co.ke, August 2019
• Advanced Cake baking and Decorating Course, Cakes.co.ke, July 2019
• Intermediate Cake baking and Decorating Course, Cakes.co.ke, June 2019

• Prof. George Ooko Abong', University of Nairobi, ooko.george@uonbi.ac.ke, +254 735 508558
• Janice Wanjiru Maina, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), janiceemaina@gmail.com, +254 704 229641
• Kiruthi Daniel Mukuna, E&M Technology House, dmkiruthi@gmail.com, +254 798 219304

• Reading
• Travelling and experiencing different cultures
• Baking and cooking
• Immersing myself in different forms of art and history
• Content creation