This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
Meet Geraldine Gitau, the Pilot with a Passion for Perfumes ¶
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, many industries have been disrupted, but for Geraldine Gitau, a pilot working for Kenya Airways, the pandemic has brought a valuable lesson: the importance of having a fallback plan and extra sources of income.
Gitau, who founded Scents by Geraldine in 2016, a start-up that sells perfumes, has found success with her side hustle. The aviation industry in Kenya has been one of the hardest hit during this period, but Gitau is glad to have started Scents By Geraldine four years ago, as it is now growing.
Gitau, a 36-year-old Kenyan woman and a mother of a seven-year-old boy, was born in Kisumu and grew up in various parts of the country, including Gatundu, Kiambu, Mombasa, and Nairobi. She pursued piloting as a profession, inspired by her late father, a ship Captain, who introduced her to a pilot friend at Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
Gitau's passion for perfumes led her to start her research into the art of perfumery in mid-2016. She settled for a German company in Berlin to develop her signature scent, which landed in Kenya a year later.
Scents By Geraldine has faced challenges, including creating brand awareness and changing perceptions that a quality fragrance can be made by a Kenyan. However, the reception has been great in the Kenyan market, with low-cost perfumes being both original and affordable.
Gitau's vision for the future of Scents By Geraldine is to make it a Kenyan sensation in the perfume market, with most Kenyans having sampled one or more perfumes in their range of scents.
When asked about the greatest life lesson she has picked so far, Gitau said, 'You can never do anything alone. No matter how small. There are actually people out there who can walk with you, uplift and inspire you – even if you don’t see them yet.'
Gitau's advice to young people wishing to scale the heights she has done so far is to 'Fear is all in your head. Before you shoot yourself down try. Fail and try again. Get a mentor to walk with you. Faith it until you make it.'
As the aviation industry continues to be affected by the pandemic, Gitau has found solace in her perfumery business, which has become a fallback plan. She has minimized her social interactions, adopted a healthy lifestyle, and communicated with her team at Scents By Geraldine to keep their jobs secure.
Gitau looks up to God, her father, Tabitha Karanja, Suzie Wokabi, Francis Njue, and Amos Oluoch-Olunya as her inspirations and mentors.
As she concludes, Gitau says, 'Never give up before you have tried something for long enough. Do your research and please seek advice and help when you need to. Remember – you can’t do it alone because you’re not alone.'
