Winnie Karanu is the AI Skills Director, Kenya at Microsoft Elevate and a strategic leader with over 15 years driving public-private partnerships and digital transformation across Africa. She partners with educational institutions, nonprofits, labor organizations, and government agencies to democratize access to AI education and tools.
Before Microsoft Elevate, Winnie served as Business Development Manager for Strategic Partnerships at the Microsoft Africa Transformation Office, forging alliances with international organizations, governments, and ecosystem enablers to drive continental digital infrastructure and skills programs. At Microsoft 4Afrika, she shaped the strategy for digital agriculture, collaborating with development banks, startups, NGOs, and ministries to scale AI-powered solutions. She was appointed as an advisor and representative of the private sector to several committees in the Agricultural sector, including the Blueprint for Digital Transformation of Agriculture in Africa by Smart Africa.
Winnie holds a BA in Economics and Communication. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Change Management Practitioner, currently pursuing an MSc in Development Finance. Her mission is to empower communities, bridge the digital divide, and foster inclusive economic growth through strategic AI upskilling and collective action.