Lighting Hope
Margaret Chepkemoi Koech is a distinguished corporate governance leader and strategic advisor with more than 20 years of experience shaping institutional transformation across healthcare, education, energy, real estate, and social enterprise. A visionary operator and board leader, she is recognized for driving enterprise growth, institutional resilience, and inclusive development in both public and private sectors.
In 2013, Margaret founded Chalan Foundation, a public benefit organization with operations in Kenya and the U.S., dedicated to unlocking opportunities for vulnerable children and youth. Under her leadership, the Foundation has impacted over 121,000 beneficiaries, awarded 350 scholarships, trained 228 teachers and supported thousands of girls through menstrual health and gender equity programs.
Its six program pillars; Life Skills and Leadership Development, Scholarships And Educational Access, Community Health and Psychosocial Support, Economic Empowerment and Community Streghthening, STEAM Education and NextGen 360° Post Secondary School Transition Programme are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, AU Agenda 2063, and Kenya Vision 2030, positioning the Foundation as a strategic partner in education and social transformation.
Margaret currently serves as Chair of the Council of Ollessos National Polytechnic, providing strategic leadership and oversight for one of Kenya’s key technical training institutions.
She was a Board Director at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya’s largest referral and teaching hospital, where she chaired the Strategy and Enterprise Committee and was a member of the Internal Audit Committee. She provided strategic oversight for institutional positioning, enterprise development, and risk management in a facility that serves more than 850,000 patients annually.
She was also the Chairperson of Tindiret Technical and Vocational Institute, advancing Kenya’s technical skills agenda and youth employment priorities. At Multimedia University of Kenya, she provided governance leadership across critical committees; covering infrastructure, procurement, audit, restructuring, and environmental sustainability. In addition, she sits on multiple secondary school boards as Patron, championing education access and leadership development at the grassroots level.
Margaret held senior operational leadership roles at the Kenya College of Communications Technology (KCCT) in marketing, teaching, and customer engagement.
Today, she leads a growing real estate investment and development portfolio across Kenya, demonstrating strong commercial acumen in property development, asset management, and strategic investment.
Margaret holds a Master of Science in International Hotel Management (University of Buckingham, UK) and a Bachelor of Education in Home Economics (Kenyatta University). She has undertaken extensive executive training in governance and leadership, including:
She is an active member of:
Margaret embodies the conviction that education is the key that transforms destinies. Her leadership is anchored in excellence, integrity, and impact; turning personal history into collective hope. She continues to shape institutions and communities with strategic foresight, governance excellence, and an unwavering commitment to human dignity.