"I was sweating. There were 70 students, all looking at me, waiting for me to speak. My armpits were damp, and senior faculty were in the room just watching. I chose one person in the back and just focused on them."
Today, it is difficult to imagine Cynthia Wandabwa feeling intimidated in front of a classroom.
As a Laboratory Technologist in the Teaching and Research Laboratories at Aga Khan University in Kenya, Cynthia is known for creating an environment where questions are welcomed and science feels less intimidating. But confidence, she insists, was something she learned.
Growing up between Kitale and Kisumu in western Kenya, Cynthia's curiosity was evident from an early age. While her mother shopped, she would stand in supermarket aisles reading Ladybird books from cover to cover.
"There wasn't really a library," she recalls. "There were just books, and I'd read anything I could find."
After studying medical laboratory sciences, Cynthia secured her first job before receiving her certificate. Encouraged by a mentor to invest in her education, she worked during the week, attended university classes on weekends and graduated debt-free by the age of 25.
Her career in research and clinical laboratories sparked a passion for mentoring students. After taking time away to raise her two sons, she rebuilt her career before one opportunity changed everything.
When AKU advertised a position in its Teaching Laboratory three years ago, she applied for just one job.
"I knew this was where I wanted to be. I told myself I'd wait for the regret letter before moving on."
Joining AKU meant helping establish the University's Teaching Laboratory from the ground up. It also meant confronting imposter syndrome. Standing before her first practical class of more than 60 students, she quietly wondered whether she belonged.
"I thought I'd done terribly. Then I realised the students had never been in a university teaching laboratory either. We were all learning together."
That experience shaped her approach to teaching. Rather than pretending to have every answer, Cynthia encourages students to learn alongside her.
"If I'm genuinely struggling with something, I don't pretend to know; I'll tell the students, 'Let's go and read about it together.'"
She also embraces the perspectives today's Gen Z students bring.
"When I asked my students which AI platforms they used, they mentioned tools I'd never even heard of. They're exposed to so much more."
Away from the laboratory, Cynthia is completing a master's degree in infectious diseases while balancing research and motherhood.
"I can't say I've mastered it. Every day I'm learning."
That mindset recently led to another milestone. Cynthia served on the Programme Committee for the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026, where she contributed to planning discussions and interacted with global health leaders.
"Being part of the Programme Committee was a huge milestone for me. It's one of the opportunities I'm most grateful AKU has given me. It provided a platform to interact with global leaders and broaden my perspective on healthcare beyond the laboratory."
When asked what has made the greatest difference in her career, Cynthia doesn't mention promotions or titles.
"I don't think I've been to any institution that has offered me what AKU has offered me. There are mentors everywhere."
She credits the University's culture of mentorship, opportunities to learn from colleagues across disciplines and the chance to contribute beyond her day-to-day role.
For Cynthia, AKU is where she continues to grow, embraces opportunities she never imagined and inspires future scientists to do the same.
