Geraldine Waruguru

Geraldine Waruguru is a Kenyan businesswoman and airline pilot. She is the founder, co-owner and chief executive officer of Scents by Geraldine Limited, a perfume manufacturing business, based in Nairobi. She concurrently works as an airline transport pilot, and serves as a first officer at Kenya Airways, Kenya's national carrier airline, on the Boeing 737 aircraft.

Background and education Waruguru was born in Kenya circa 1984. She attended Kenyan schools for her elementary and secondary education. She then obtained a commercial pilot licence from the 43rd Air School, in Port Alfred, South Africa.

In 2016, she undertook a course in perfumery.

Career Waruguru began flying for Kenya Airways in 2006. After several years of research, she decided to start her own perfume line in 2016. After looking for a manufacturing partner in Germany, South Africa and the United Kingdom, she selected Scentury Company from Berlin.

Her first branded perfume came to market in 2017, after Waruguru spent €25,000 of her personal savings on developing the brand. She markets her fragrances online and on social media platforms. She also maintains a shop along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi's central business district. During the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of laying off her staff, she convinced them to accept half of their regular salary.

Family Waruguru is a mother to a son, who was born circa 2013.

Other considerations Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she expected to complete her examinations to become a captain on the Boeing 737 by the end of 2020.