From a young media intern to an advertising space seller and PR professional, Grace Gikonyo is now building her career in corporate boardrooms, pitching powerful ideas and closing mouth – watering deals
In an era where most young professionals chase corporate stability, Grace Gikonyo chose reinvention. Her story reads like a case study in courage, a young woman who traded the comfort of a steady paycheck for the uncertain rhythm of entrepreneurship, armed with nothing but ambition, intuition, and unshakable grit. Today, she stands tall as the founder of Maynet PR and Marketing and Director at Nova Plus, an emerging e-commerce and digital search platform, steering brands into relevance in a fast-evolving marketplace.
Grace is part of a new wave of entrepreneurs redefining Kenya’s communication and marketing industry; a generation unafraid to blur the lines between corporate professionalism and digital creativity. From humble beginnings at Shine FM and KBC, to heading public relations and marketing at JIJI Kenya, to now running two companies, Grace’s journey is less about luck and more about clarity; clarity of purpose, identity, and value.
What makes her story compelling is not just her success but her process, a mix of lessons learned from failure, mentorship, and self-discovery. Her path mirrors Kenya’s evolving business ecosystem where youthful innovation, digital disruption, and the spirit of reinvention continue to rewrite traditional career stories.
Early life and education
The professional story of Grace began taking shape at Daystar University, where she pursued a degree in public relations (PR) and electronic media between 2012 and 2016. While many of her peers envisioned themselves in front of the camera or behind the newsroom desk, Grace quickly discovered that her heart wasn’t in journalism. Instead, what drew her was the art of influence, the power of shaping perception, building relationships, and crafting messages that move people.
Her time at Daystar wasn’t just about academic excellence; it was a season of self-discovery. Through coursework, projects, and exposure to real-world media practice, Grace honed her communication skills and began to understand how brands, not just broadcasters, could shape public conversation. This clarity would later define her career trajectory, transforming her from a curious student into a professional whose focus was not merely to tell stories but to strategically design them.
Building the foundation
Grace’s career journey began humbly yet purposefully, a path that tested her adaptability and revealed her creative depth. Her first exposure to the media world came through internships at Shine FM and Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), where she worked behind the lens as a camera operator. While the technical aspect of production fascinated her, these early experiences confirmed that her strength lay elsewhere, not in capturing stories, but in strategically shaping how stories are told and received.
Determined to explore that side of communication, she transitioned into the corporate world, joining Jofar Systems Ltd, where she began learning the fundamentals of corporate communications and marketing. Here, she developed her first taste of client-facing work, learning the delicate balance between creativity and strategy, how to meet business goals while communicating with authenticity.
Her most defining early chapter, however, came at African Laughter PR Agency, where she grew into a confident communicator under the mentorship of Jenny, the agency’s UK-based founder. Grace not only managed PR campaigns but also became skilled in client sourcing, strategic writing, and brand storytelling. She worked on notable accounts such as Liquid Telkom and the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya, experiences that challenged her to think bigger, work faster, and deliver with precision. She also had a stint at Farm Engineering where she served as the PR and Marketing manager as well as EA Business Times where she sold advertising space.
Through these roles, Grace built a foundation of versatility, equally comfortable in the technical, creative, and strategic sides of communication. It was during this period that she began to truly evolve from a media enthusiast into a multi-dimensional PR professional, ready to build her own legacy. “ I became GG the brand,” she fondly says.
Founding Maynet PR & Marketing
After years of sharpening her craft across diverse roles in media and corporate communications, Grace reached a pivotal moment in her career. Having grown from a curious intern into a trusted PR professional, she began to notice a gap in Kenya’s communication landscape — lack of agencies that truly understood both the art and the strategy behind storytelling. Many organizations viewed PR as an afterthought, a cost rather than a catalyst for growth. Grace saw an opportunity to change that narrative.
She therefore founded Maynet PR and Marketing, a boutique firm built on the values of clarity, creativity, and credibility. From its inception, Maynet’s mission was simple but bold, to help brands find their authentic voice and tell their stories with impact. Grace started small, working from her home with little more than her laptop, determination, and a few loyal clients who believed in her vision.
Those early days were demanding. She handled everything herself, from strategy and client management to creative direction and finance. Yet every campaign strengthened her resolve. Drawing from her time at African Laughter PR, she applied the mentorship lessons from Jenny, her UK-based former boss, to refine Maynet’s structure, professionalism, and storytelling style.
Her big break came when Maynet secured key clients in the tech, hospitality and education sectors, whose success stories quickly spread through word of mouth. The agency began earning a reputation for delivering quality work marked by integrity, precision, and measurable impact. Grace’s leadership style; collaborative, visionary, and deeply people-centred, became the heart of Maynet’s culture.
Today, Maynet PR and Marketing stands out as a respected name in Kenya’s communication and marketing space. Through bold creativity and strategic insight, Grace has transformed her once solo venture into a multi-disciplinary agency known for its authentic storytelling, data-informed strategy, and consistent client satisfaction. Her journey from employee to founder reflects the power of vision, grit, and belief in one’s calling.
Redefining modern PR
Grace Gikonyo believes that great leaders don’t just manage teams; they inspire vision. For her, leadership begins with creating an environment where creativity thrives, where ideas are valued regardless of hierarchy, and where excellence is achieved through collaboration rather than competition.
Her philosophy centres on authentic communication, the idea that public relations isn’t about manipulation or spin, but about telling true stories that resonate. This authenticity is what sets Grace apart in an industry often driven by optics. She encourages her team and clients alike to embrace transparency, believing that honesty not only builds stronger brands, but also strengthens trust with audiences over time.
Grace envisions a PR agency that shapes conscious communication, using influence responsibly to uplift communities, promote ethical practices, and inspire sustainable change. Her work often blurs the lines between corporate PR and social advocacy, reflecting her belief that businesses must play an active role in driving positive transformation.
Her hands-on leadership approach has cultivated a culture of mentorship and continuous learning at Maynet. Grace invests time in nurturing young professionals, offering them not just opportunities but guidance, much like the mentorship she received early in her career. She often says: “If you want to change how brands are seen, start by changing how people think,” a statement that perfectly captures her forward-thinking perspective on modern communication.
The grit behind the Grace
Behind Grace’s calm demeanour and polished professionalism lies a story of resilience, a journey built on grit, faith, and relentless perseverance. Her path to building Maynet PR and Marketing was far from smooth. Like many young entrepreneurs with start-ups in Kenya’s competitive PR industry, Grace faced countless rejections, financial constraints, and moments of self-doubt.
One of her toughest challenges was convincing potential clients to trust a new agency in a market already dominated by established players. She often had to juggle multiple roles; strategist, writer, accountant, and sometimes even errand runner just to keep her dream afloat. The early days tested not only her creativity but also her endurance. Yet, instead of giving up, Grace turned those hurdles into stepping stones. Each ‘no’ fueled her determination to refine her craft, deepen her client relationships, and prove that consistency always outshines noise.
Another major challenge was balancing authenticity with client expectations. In an era where social media often rewards superficial trends, Grace insisted on meaningful storytelling and data-backed strategies. Her courage to say no to work that didn’t align with her values became one of Maynet’s greatest strengths.
Grace also speaks openly about the emotional toll of entrepreneurship, the loneliness of leadership, the weight of responsibility, and the constant pressure to outperform. She credits her resilience to her faith, and an unwavering support system of family, close friends, and mentors who kept her grounded through the highs and lows.
Through these experiences, Grace has learned three key lessons:
First, that success is not linear — every setback is simply a redirection toward purpose. Second, that integrity ultimately pays dividends. And third, that true leadership requires vulnerability — the courage to admit uncertainty and still keep moving forward.
Redefining PR for the next generation
For Grace Gikonyo, the journey is far from over. As she reflects on her path, her focus now is on sustainability, mentorship, and innovation. Grace envisions a future where communication goes beyond visibility and truly drives transformation. Her dream is to see more Kenyan brands tell authentic African stories that resonate globally while uplifting local communities.
She hopes to expand Maynet into a regional powerhouse with footprints across East Africa, a hub where creativity meets data, and strategy meets empathy. She is particularly passionate about investing in young communicators, offering them training, exposure, and the confidence to lead bold campaigns.
Grace also plans to explore public policy communications and crisis management, two areas she believes are becoming increasingly vital in Kenya’s evolving economic and political climate. Her commitment to adaptability and continuous learning continues to define her leadership, she’s not just reacting to change; she’s anticipating it.
Through it all, Grace remains grounded in her belief that PR is about people, not press releases. Her legacy, she says, will not be written in the number of clients she has served, but in the impact she has created, the businesses that found their voice, the careers she has shaped, and the young women who saw in her the possibility of balancing strength with grace.
A Legacy of Grace and grit
This young entrepreneur’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless pursuit of purpose. From her humble beginning in university radio to establishing one of Kenya’s promising PR consultancies, she has shown that the best kind of success is built on authenticity, hard work, and heart.
Her rise in the competitive communications field mirrors Kenya’s own entrepreneurial evolution. Grace continues to redefine what it means to be a modern-day public relations leader, not just managing brands but shaping narratives that move people and create lasting impact.
As she looks to the future, one thing remains constant: her unwavering dedication to truth-driven communication and her belief that every brand has a story worth telling. In Grace, we see the embodiment of modern Kenyan excellence, visionary, grounded, and gracefully unstoppable.
Interests and passion beyond the boardroom
Away from strategy meetings and client briefs, Grace is deeply passionate about mentorship, storytelling, and personal wellness, three pillars that mirror the balance she strives for in life. She believes that creativity thrives when the mind and spirit are in harmony, and she makes intentional time to nurture both.
A lover of books and podcasts, Grace often immerses herself in leadership and communication content that fuels her intellectual curiousity. Titles like: What Clients Love by Harry Beckwich , Dare to Lead by Brené Brown and Start with Why by Simon Sinek have profoundly shaped her approach to leadership, blending empathy with strategic thinking. She also enjoys listening to industry thought leaders and African entrepreneurs who are redefining modern business through purpose-driven innovation.
When she is not reading or brainstorming campaign ideas, Grace finds joy in travelling and discovering new cultures. She often says that every destination has a story, and observing how different societies communicate inspires her creativity.
Grace is also passionate about wellness and mindfulness. She practises journaling and morning affirmations, habits she credits for keeping her grounded amid the chaos of the PR world. Additionally, she is a strong advocate for women’s empowerment and emotional intelligence, often reminding young women in the industry that they can be soft and powerful at the same time.
Grace’s journey is more than a tale of ambition. It’s a testament to the quiet strength that builds empires from vision, not vanity. In a world where influence often overshadows integrity, she stands out as proof that it is possible to lead with both.
Her story reminds us that success is not about loud moments, but about consistent steps taken with purpose, empathy, and courage.
As Kenya’s communication landscape continues to evolve, Grace represents the next chapter; where PR is not just about managing reputations but nurturing relationships; not just about campaigns, but about communities. Her legacy is already being written in the brands she has elevated, the voices she has empowered, and the young professionals she is inspiring to believe that authenticity is the new power. Her days starts as early as 6.00 am and she holds meetings with clients and journalists up to 1.00 pm. Like most creative minds, she is very active during the night – preparing business proposals and copy writing. ‘Anything chicken’ she quips suits her menu, while her dream car is a GLE Mercedes. Indeed, though down to earth, this is a lady of unique style and taste.
