Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY I

The business of taking a break

Friday, 20th June, 2014 YOUR FREE COPY

TOP 40 Unde≥ 40 Women 2014 The list of those who made it to BD’s annual list of Women to Watch II BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

In this issue Ha≥d ≥ules fo≥ women en≥oute to success BY JENNY LUESBY But, says Miller, “the most successful women fortable with the notion of power,” says Ron I have worked with have a high degree of emo- Brown, an organizational and management 4 Boardroom still a enya’s top young women cite two fac- tional intelligence, evidenced by qualities like consultant. This can be a severe test for women strange place for tors as the most outstanding challeng- resiliency, grace under fire, tenacity, flexibility, who care passionately about the project at hand, Kenya women Kes to their success: corporate politics, and composure,” she says. “For these women, including the difficulty of suffering peers or jun- The role of women in Kenyan and competition in macho all-male environ- being passionate means having a compelling iors with far less perfectionism or care. boardrooms is dismally below global ments. They are two factors that researchers vision, speaking with conviction, not being According to McKinsey, women’s love for the standards, standing at less than 15 suggest are intertwined in one simple reality: afraid to voice opinions, and articulately de- work itself can even see them elect to remain per cent of board positions, even as the rules at work are not the same for men as bating their position.” in jobs and opt out of promotion because of women contribute 52 per cent of the for women. Moreover, she says: “The higher you rise in the deep sense of meaning they gain profes- country’s economy. In her book “Play Like a Man, Win Like a an organization, the more of your time will be sionally. Woman”, Gail Evans lists things that men do taken up playing the game of corporate politics More than men, women prize the opportu- 6 High-powered women at work, that women just cannot. Men can get — and it pays to understand the unwritten, un- nity to pour their energies into making a differ- and supportive spouses: away with crying, fidgeting, yelling, and using spoken rules of the game. One of those rules is ence and working closely with colleagues, says Who’s in charge, and of bad manners, she argues, but if a woman does that, as a women, you will be judged not only by the consultany. “Women don’t want to trade what? the same things, the resistance and condem- your talent and results, but by your emotional that joy for what they fear will be energy-drain- After their daughter Annie was born, nation will be complete. intelligence.” ing meetings and corporate politics at the next Gail McGovern and her husband Indeed, the differentiating line is so ex- The Harvard Business management echelon,” it reports. established what came to be known treme that when a man cries, it is seen as a Review says in its guide on With 59 per cent of the women who have as the “kitchen calendar rule.” At the powerful and moving display of emotion. But mastering corporate poli- made it to this year’s Top 40 citing office politics time, McGovern worked for AT&T when a woman cries, she is seen as weak and tics that the challenges as their biggest bugbear, according to Ipsos, overseeing 10,000 employees; her unstable. that even passionate Kenya’s leading women prove that engaging husband ran a large unit of Hewlett- This sees women repeatedly passed over for women leaders must in the maelstrom that is internal alliances, the Packard. They both needed to travel promotion, reports management consultant manage, without building of social capital and networks, and regularly for work, but one of them McKinsey in its Centred Leadership research, emotion, even trading in chips to achieve a desired end, is also needed to be home for Annie. with managers, both male and female, con- encom- effort that is part of the set, and simply a requi- tinuing to take viable female candidates out pass build- ing site of success: a certainty that they all face.. 8-21 Profiles of Kenya’s Top of the running, often on the assumption that relationships with diffi- cult More than 2000 years ago, Greek philoso- 40 Under 40 women they can’t handle certain jobs. people, gaining allies and pher Aristotle stated with no conditional ex- The profiles of women who have The big no-no, say researchers, in the whole influencing others, win- ning ceptions that “man is a political animal”. For broken the career glass ceiling ‘it’s different for women’ rule set is showing resources, moving up with- out top women, politics is essential, and the rules early enough and are headed for emotion. Yet, at the same time, passion comes ruffling feathers, avoiding are clear: all passion, no emotion, through greatness up as close to a defining feature of all the women power games and petty ri- every difficulty, now leading in making Kenya and companies valries, and claiming credit It’s a point borne out by Kathyrn Heath in 21 ‘Work Smarts’ and society better. when it’s due. the Harvard Business Review: “In 2013, my Betty Liu on how to succeed in your Take one of this year’s Top 40 women, Syl- Women usually don’t partners and I conducted a combination of career via Wairimu Mulinge, who has led a three-fold ask for what they deserve surveys and interviews with over 270 female expansion in her Sh10.5 billion business over and when they do, they managers in Fortune 500 organisations to de- 23 There is a silent the last three years at Safaricom, and reports, risk being branded as termine what they liked and disliked about revolution for women in as do many of the women, that she has been domineering. But “one business meetings, and one of the things that enterprise in Kenya described as a passionate team leader. of the major challenges repeatedly fell into the dislike column was A silent revolution is taking shape Sylvia goes on to spell out how she has also ... is understand- politics. In the process of coaching and train- among young women leaders, been characterised as “choleric”, meaning she is ing the nature ing women leaders over a decade, we’ve main- who are shunning employment “outgoing, but can leave casualties behind, be- of power, how to tained a running list of common threads—and to plunge into the more delicate cause of having less empathy and patience”. get it, how to a disdain of office politics is in the top three. In entrepreneurial world on the Jo Miller, CEO of Women’s Leadership use it, how reviewing several thousand 360-degree feed- promise of social and economic Coaching in the US, calls this “the confus- to feel com- back surveys we found that both women and freedom, happiness and satisfaction. ing world of being a woman in today’s work- their managers cite political savvy as an ongo- force”. ing development need .” A powerful man is forceful. A powerful Put short: for success, get political, but ‘do woman is choleric. it nice’. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Linus Gitahi EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Joseph Odindo How the Top 40 Under 40 Women were picked MANAGING EDITOR Ochieng’ Rapuro very year the top 40 Under 40 list comes with a they claim to have done. Appearing in the Top 40 the business they do, its scope and complexity (i.e COMMERCIAL MANAGER Emixed bag of routine inputs and equal measure Under 40 list has become so critical to hundreds of whether it is a national/multi-national or cross-sec- Sam Barata of freshness that only shapes up at the tail end of the Kenyan women that some appear to have decided toral operation), and the competitive landscape in BD LIFE EDITOR production process. that they would be on it regardless of their qualifica- the segment of the economy it operates. Rhoda Orengo As we have done consistently in the past six tions to do so. Women running or occupying senior positions in PRODUCTION EDITOR years, the Business Daily invited its readers to nomi- So this late there has been a great measure of companies with a multi-national reach scored higher Bobby Kiama nate women aged under 40 who in their view have cutting corners, compression of age, canvassing and marks than those in charge of national/local agen- CHIEF SUB EDITOR made significant achievements in whatever seg- misrepresentation of facts to fit the bill. cies. In this list are also women professionals such Otieno Otieno ments of our society and economy. That is then fol- The BD team has tried the best it can to keep the as lawyers, architects, and partners in accounting SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER lowed by the convening of a panel of judges who faith and stay the course to come up with a list that firms, included purely on the basis of the size (value) Gennevieve Nahinga do the hard job of sifting through the hundreds of truly has women who represent Kenya’s promise in of the work they have done. GRAPHIC DESIGNERS entries and picking out the outstanding nominees the corporate world, research, science, the arts, the- The Top 40 Under 40 project has also awarded for recognition in this annual listing that has be- atre, professionalism and entrepreneurs. high marks to women who have excelled in profes- Chrispus Bargorett come very competitive. In the past, accolades have In compiling this list of Women to Watch, the sions that have been and remain male dominated Millie Wachira come our way for recognising these beautiful minds Business Daily has attempted to go beyond the basic such as software engineering, aviation and engi- PHOTO EDITOR whose efforts and work the media does not ordi- list of fame and influence to interrogating each can- neering. This is because the newspaper believes Joan Pereruan narily feature. But we have also had to deal with a didate’s ingenuity, performance and staying power there should be no gender-based glass ceiling on any PHOTOS measure of criticism on very critical areas such as in whatever they do. We have then ascertained each career aspiration. Diana Ngila the age of the candidates and some of the things candidate’s age, and considered data on the size of Ochieng’ Rapu≥o, Managing Edito≥

Salaton Njau 2014 WOMEN FORTY UNDER 40 TOP Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY III Top 40 Women under 40

What women say about careers Profile of Success Factors leading to success Women nominees were asked what factors contributed to their success

Focus and Academic Qualifications determination to succeed Masters degree 52% First degree 44% 89% Diploma 4% International experience Hard work Good career Work provided a Academic mentors experience/ % stepping stone Age 44 qualifications has worked for 37% long on same or 30% Achieving KPI’s 44% 30% similar role 35-40 and excelling 30% 30% 15% 30-34 22% Years 25-30 4% 18-24 Challenges faced Women on parastatal boards Nominees were asked what challenges they faced as they climbed Nominees were asked reasons why women are generally not on the ranks boards Corporate politics 59% Lack of transparency in availability of positions 59% Employment status Lack of mentorship on getting to board Competing with all male work 52% 59% of the women environment & macho behaviour 56% nominees are Competition from boys’ club 52% self -employed Balancing between career demands and family/ children 52% Lack of support from 30% women on boards 89% Heavy work load 37% Reluctance / Fear 30% Have not served 100% on a board of those employed are 41% of the keen to start their nominees are own business in employed the future. Satisfaction levels with work Career aspirations Nominees were asked whether they were satisfied with their jobs 16 nominees aspire for career progression in the following capacity:

69% CEO 37% Hours per week worked Extremely satisfied Entrepreneur 15% 41% Group managing director 11% 26% Board member 7% 15% 28% Director 7% 11% Satisfied 4% 4% Senior management at international level 7% Senior advisor/consultant 7% 19-16hrs 25-32hrs 33-40hrs 41-50hrs 51-70hrs no spec- ific hrs 3% Vice president- customer development 4% The nominees work long hours with at least 52% of them Not satisfied at all Already in senior level 4% working over 40 hours in a given week. There are those that work up to 70 hours in a given week.

Role models Career priorities Nominees were asked whether they had career or role models Nominees were asked what their priorities at the workplace were. Average No. of Staff 67% 96% Have role Highly models Motivated 61% 54% More 10 54 team Upward Direct reports Indirect reports Challenging career roles 39% progression Higher financial benefits 33% Do not have role models

SOURCE: IPSOSTOP 40 UNDER 4O WOMEN POLL JUNE 2014 BD INFOGRAPHIC: MILLIE WACHIRA WACHIRA MILLIE INFOGRAPHIC: BD 2014 JUNE POLL WOMEN 4O UNDER 40 TOP IPSOS SOURCE: IV BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

Boa≥d≥oom still a st≥ange place fo≥ Kenya women

BY BOB KOIGI executive positions. Ironically, the shareholders Majority of women have cited lack of transparency as one should be the first to push for more women based he role of women in Kenyan boardrooms is on numerous studies on the effect of having women of the main reasons keeping them out of the boardrooms dismally below global standards, standing at in top business positions. Tless than 15 per cent of board positions, even Recent research from the Credit Suisse Research as women contribute 52 per cent of the country’s Institute found that companies with more women economy. This, even as numerous studies show on their boards outperform those with fewer or no that companies with a high proportion of women female directors. Even a single women director board members score higher than their peers in appears to mark out a difference, with Credit Su- financial performance, innovation and business isse finding that net income growth over the past longevity. six years averaged 14 per cent for companies with However, Kenyan corporates remain closed to women directors compared to 10 per cent for those recognizing the importance of having women in with no female board members. the boardroom, at least if numbers are anything But, according to a study by catering serv- to go by. ices firm Sodexo, which compiled wide-ranging Currently, only three women are chief executive research on diversity at work, companies where officers in publicly listed companies: Ada Eze of women make up a third of board members made Total Kenya, Maria Msiska of BOC Kenya Limited on average 42 per cent more profit, and sharehold- and Nasim Devji of Diamond Trust Bank. ers received 53 per cent higher returns than those By 2012, Nelius Kariuki, the current board chair- that headed by male peers. person of Kenya-Re, was the only woman chair among the 60 companies listed at the NSE. Equality A survey conducted by Ipsos Synnovate of this Catalyst, a US non-profit that focuses on expanding year’s top 4o under 40 women found that the major- opportunities for women in business, and delivers ity of the women leaders blamed the lack of trans- regular research on the relationship between the parency about the availability of board positions, representation of women on boards of directors the lack of mentorship, and competition with the and corporate performance. further corroborates entrenched boys club as the key factors keeping these findings. women out of boardrooms. In 2011, Catalyst found a 26 per cent difference in Some 56 per cent of the women polled also per- return on invested capital between companies with ceive that Kenya is generally a patriarchal society 19 to 44 per cent women board representation, and Studies show that companies with a high proportion of women board members score higher than their that predominantly favours men. As a result, they companies with zero woman directors. peers in financial performance, innovation and business longevity. FILE have to work harder to succeed. Kenya is, however, now gathering momentum The survey is corroborated by earlier research in addressing the issue of women’s role on boards. by the Kenya Institute of Management that showed The 30 per cent Club Kenya is a lobby group set up women occupy about 12 per cent of board seats in last year to recruit professionals and provide men- Nairobi-bourse listed companies, compared to 20 torship, training, awareness of the opportunities per cent among state-owned firms - despite a provi- and networking in the push for more women on sion in the constitution that requires boards and corporate boards. It aims to increase the number management of all government agencies to have of women on the boards of private and public en- 30 per cent women representation. tities to at least one third over the next five years Another report by a presidential taskforce on and is spearheaded by the East African Chapter of parastatal reforms noted that on average, women the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). The make up 27 per cent of the board members in the club is modelled on similar clubs in the UK and state run agencies, with a number of them having South Africa. just one or two women on their boards. Only 15 per Another initiative is the Federation of Kenyan cent of listed companies, according to the Chartered Employers’ Female Future Programme, also start- Institute of Marketing, have crossed the threshold ed last year. The initiative is a flagship leadership of having 30 per cent women on their boards. development programme of the FKE, which aims Globally, countries have endeavoured to end to strengthen gender equality in the workplace as the gender inequality in the boardrooms through well as draw more women to the top echelons of incentives to companies that recognize women the private and public sectors. It provides training and even quota systems that force companies to as three modules lasting three months, in leader- incorporate women into their highest echelons of ship, board competency and rhetoric, with Oslo business. and Akershus University (HiOA) providing qual- In 2003, Norway mandated a 40 percent quota ity assurance and 10 Credit Masters points for the for female board participation in both public and Board Competence Module. private companies. And in Finland legislation was So far, it has trained 20 trainers and targets to passed that requires companies without women on have at least 500 graduates by the end of 2017, with their boards to disclose the reasons in their annual the second class, according to FKE, almost full. FKE reports. But, while government has been active in has also enlisted the support of existing corporate pushing for women representation in boardrooms and public sector chief executives and board chair- across the globe, company shareholders seem re- men to champion the nomination of more women luctant in appreciating the role of women in top to the programme. -AFRICAN LAUGHTER

NUMBERS 26% 27% In 2011, Catalyst found a 26 per Average percentage of women cent difference in return on invested board members in the State run capital between companies with agencies. A number of them have 19 to 44 per cent women board just one or two women on their representation, and companies with boards. zero woman directors. Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY V Top 40 Women under 40

MARGARET IRERI MD, Ipsos Synovate As managing director of Ipsos Synovate, Kenya’s premier market research firm and pollster, Margaret knows people, a lot of people in Kenya’s corporate and enterprise scene, and also has the data. She has over 13 WAKONYO IGERIA years’ experience in research having worked in Company Secretary, Consolidated Bank

THE JUDGES eastern, western and southern Africa in various JENNY LUESBY senior management positions and has won Media Consultant Wakonyo is an advocate of the High Court of the Eddie Shultze Award for contributing to the Kenya, a commissioner of oaths and notary development of research methodologies in Jenny Luesby is managing director and founder public. She is also a certified public secretary and Africa. She is an astute business woman and was of new media company African Laughter. She is currently the company secretary and the head of KAIRO THUO instrumental in setting up Ipsos Synovate offices Partner at Viva Africa Consulting an award-winning ex-Financial Times, BBC and legal services at Consolidated Bank of Kenya. in Zambia, Mozambique and Nigeria. Besides her EIU journalist, in Kenya since 2006, when she She has a good grasp of Kenya’s corporate scene management responsibilities, Margaret does Kairo Thuo is a partner at Viva Africa Consulting, was the launch consultant for Nation Media and the people who matter in there. make time to contribute to industry initiatives - a specialist legal and financial tax advisory firm. Group’s Business Daily newspaper. She was Wakonyo spends a significant portion of her she is an active board member of the Market and He has vast experience in matters tax and deep formerly editorial director for online media group off-office time on the motivational talk circuit Social Research Association of Kenya (MSRA), insights in the world of deal-making and its DecisionNews in France and winner of more than speaking to students in schools, youth forums, a council member of the Marketing Society of key players. He is an accountant and lawyer by 17 awards. At AL, she has built an innovative & women and Church groups. Kenya (MSK) and the national patron of Research training and a non-executive director of NIC Bank. creative new media and PR operation. Clubs of Africa. VI BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

ners are in demanding jobs; and the breadwin- ners, who often have stay-at-home husbands or High-powe≥ed women and suppo≥tive spouses who work in flexible jobs. In the first model, “the woman may have stayed home with her kids when they were little, or she worked part-time,” says Myers. “But then spouses: Who’s in cha≥ge, and of what? when her kids are older or out of the house, her career takes off.” In these marriages, says Myers, “there is an Women who have really ebb and flow of careers. One partner may take a back seat for a while, and then get an appealing made it big say they could opportunity. So they move for that person’s job, and the other partner takes a back seat. In these not have gotten to where relationships, we see a lot of outsourcing of child- care to nannies and family members.” they are without their Jules Pieri, founder and CEO of the Daily Grommet, a product launch website based out- supportive husbands side of Boston with 29 employees, has three sons ages 23, 21 and 17. Her husband specializes in sales fter their daughter Annie was born, Gail and marketing for turnaround companies. When McGovern and her husband established their children were little, she describes their home Awhat came to be known as the “kitchen life as a “ballet.” calendar rule.” At the time, McGovern worked for AT&T overseeing 10,000 employees; her husband Mom: The Anchor Job ran a large unit of Hewlett-Packard. They both Myers nicknames the third model “mom the needed to travel regularly for work, but one of moneymaker.” “Her career is the anchor job in them also needed to be home for Annie. the family. The dad either doesn’t work at all or “We had two monster jobs,” recalls McGovern, works in a job that has more flexibility, such as who today is CEO of the American Red Cross. “In real estate or consulting. His job takes a backseat. the beginning, we fought about who got to take We’re seeing this model more and more.” a (particular work) trip. Then we instituted the Gail Galuppo, COO and co-founder of Bank- kitchen calendar rule: Whoever booked it first ersLab, a Chicago-based company that provides got to take the trip.” training platforms to retail banks, is a mother of During those years — ones where McGovern three teenagers. When her kids were little and recalls her house as “always a mess” and her cook- Two Jobs Galuppo was climbing the ranks at companies ing as “a lot of take-out” — McGovern left the office from Standard Chartered Bank to Sears Holdings at 6:30 p.m. to relieve the nanny and spend eve- Successful women have to love to work, and love to parent by equal measure. Experts say to GE — where she was made a vice president at nings with Annie. success comes with choosing both employers and mates wisely. the age of 31 — she employed a fulltime nanny to KNOWLEDGE @ Once Annie was in handle the childcare. WHARTON bed, McGovern was Her husband worked in sales. While his job on conference calls These women navigated thorny professional — the dynamic changes. Monica McGrath, ad- was more flexible, they both had significant until midnight. Despite their demanding jobs, paths that involved not only moving up in male- junct professor of management at Wharton travel demands. In her role as chief marketing McGovern and her husband never asked the dominated organizations, but also taking on and a consultant who specializes in women’s officer at Western Union, for example, Galuppo nanny to work overtime, and they never missed traditional cultural values that place a great leadership development, says that even women spent 80 per cent of her time on the road. When one of Annie’s school assemblies, recitals, sporting emphasis on the role of women as mothers and who are in supportive partnerships experience one of their children began having difficulty in events or parent-teacher conferences. caregivers. continual strain. school, Galuppo and her husband decided to McGovern, a former Harvard Business School Attitudes are changing, however. New research Putting aside the drudgery of housework, make a change. professor who also held top management jobs at from Stewart Friedman Wharton practice profes- there is the simple fact that many women want, Fidelity Investments, acknowledges that it wasn’t sor of management and director of the school’s and need, to be a regular presence at home in 1992 versus 2012 always easy. “You have to love to work, and you have Work/Life Integration Project, finds that young order to be emotionally attentive to their kids There are signs that the next generation of to love to parent…. If you choose your employers men and women today have a greater under- and spouses. But the intensity of top-level jobs women CEOs and dual-career couples will have a wisely and choose your mate wisely, there is no standing of the challenges associated with jug- — which involve travel, round-the-clock meet- more egalitarian dynamic in the home. Wharton’s question in my mind you can have it all.” gling work obligations with family life. ings and the expectation from colleagues and Friedman heads a longitudinal research project At a time when issues like gender inequality in employees of near-constant online availability that surveys the school’s students and alumni the boardroom and the dearth of women in cor- Type A Personalities — make balancing work, children and spousal on their beliefs and attitudes about two-career porate America continue to make headlines, it is At a time when women have gained ever more obligations very difficult. relationships. worth asking: How important is the role of a sup- standing in politics and society, they tend to carry In 1992, he surveyed more than 450 Wharton portive spouse in the lives of high-powered female additional burdens in terms of family. Some of Late-bloomers and Power Couples undergraduate students as they graduated. This executives? “Those kind of jobs are all consum- this is biological. Women are typically pregnant Women who occupy the C-suite today tend to past May, he posed the same set of questions to ing. For women who have husbands and kids and for 40 weeks and then — depending on personal fit into one of three models, according to Bentley’s Wharton undergraduates in the Class of 2012. The lives — how do they manage?” asks Betsy Myers, preferences toward breastfeeding — serve as a Myers. The categories are fluid, but in general, survey asked questions such as: “To what extent director of the Centre for Women and Business at primary food source for any number of weeks, they include: the late-bloomers, whose careers do you agree that two-career relationships work Bentley University in Waltham, Massachussetts. months or years. hit their stride later in life after they have taken best when one partner is more advanced than “As a woman is climbing up the ladder, how does Beyond that, though, women are more likely care of children; the one half of a the other?” and “Two-career relationships work she figure out her role at home? How does she to manage the daily scrum of life with kids. They power couple, where both part- best when one partner is less involved in his/her navigate her marriage? When the woman’s career take on more domestic chores, including such career” (agree or disagree). In 1992, men were starts to take off, how does her husband handle it? things as meal preparation, school runs, PTA much more likely to agree with such statements It’s different for everyone.” meetings and doctor’s appointments. than women, according to Friedman. But in 2012, Myers, who leads corporate workshops around According to the Department of Labour Sta- there has been a convergence of attitudes about the world on the changing nature of women’s lead- tistics, the division of domestic duties in Ameri- two-career relationships: Men are now less likely ership roles, adds: “Of the hundreds of women I can households is far from equal. On an average to agree, but women are more likely to agree. have spoken to who have really made it big, most day, 83 per cent of women and 65 per cent of men The intensity of top-level “Young men graduating today are more tell me they could not have gotten to where they are spend some time doing activities such as house- egalitarian in their views and women are, well, without their incredibly supportive husband…. At work, cooking, lawn care or financial and other jobs makes balancing more realistic,” he says. “The important point least the ones who are still married say this.” household management. Women spend an av- wo≥k, child≥en and spousal is that men and women today are more likely Yet even with a supportive husband, it has erage of 2.6 hours on such activities a day, while than the previous generation to share the same not been easy for today’s C-suite women — those men spend 2.1 hours. obligations ve≥y difficult values about what it takes to make dual-career who have been in the workforce for 20 or 30 years But in a marriage where it is the woman who relationships work.” Today’s young men have a and who came of age in the era of second-wave has the higher-powered, higher-paying job — or greater sense of shared responsibility for domes- feminism. at least a job that’s as high-profile as her husband’s tic life, he says. Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY VII TopTop 4040 WomenWomen underunder 40 40

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ford Kuga a safe and stylish car for modern woman

By EVANS ONGWAE >>> [email protected] space for five adults, the Ford The SUV boasts a generous Dubai, making servicing the assured of backup service. Kuga has a 17.4 cubic feet service interval of 8,000km vehicle easy. The motor firm has branches he innovative second generation of luggage compartment but that is far above the industry Mr. Gichuki says through in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, which can be expanded with average of 5,000km. CMC’s seven-branch network Nakuru, Eldoret, Kitale, the popular sport utility vehicle Ford the folding of the backseat. Parts are available from in Kenya, vehicle buyers are Nanyuki and Meru. TKuga is now available in Kenya. The All-New, redesigned Ford Kuga is a stylish beauty that rides on advanced technology to offer superior driving performance, power, fuel economy, safety and versatility as an on and off-road vehicle. Fun to drive, it comes Ford is the first to introduce wrapped in a sleek and more an innovative hands-free modern design inside and tailgate to one of our SUVs. outside. It boasts a longer It’s so easy to operate, even body that offers more space with your hands full, simply for legroom at the backseat. wave your foot under the It has a 1.6 eco-boost bumper and the tailgate will engine that offers better open and close. fuel efficiency than the The award-winning New 2,500cc turbo engine of its Ford Kuga is five-star rated predecessor. It consumes for safety by Euro NCAP, 6.3 litres of fuel per 100 the European new car kilometres or 1 litre for every assessment programme. It 16km. The previous model was also voted the 2013 covered 12.5km for each litre Women’s Car of the Year in of fuel. Europe – by women motoring The new Ford Kuga’s engine writers. The Women’s World is also cleaner and greener, Car of the Year awards are meaning that it has less designed primarily to reflect carbon emissions. the preferences of women The new Ford Kuga uses buyers through the ballot box an intelligent 4x4, All-Wheel of women motoring writers. Drive system with the The 1.6 eco-boost engine onboard computer able to won the International Engine monitor the traction of each of the Year Award, Europe. wheel. It comes with traction “The Ford Kuga,” notes control. The Intelligent All- CMC Motors’ Robert Gichuki, Wheel Drive system adapts Sales Manager – Ford, “is a to terrain and conditions winner that offers real value in an instant, Active City for money.” Stop automatically applies Its other features include the brakes at low speed leather seats, blue tooth with to prevent a collision and voice command that uses Ford SYNC reads out text Ford Sync, foot-activated messages and gives you power lift tail gates. hands-free control of your There is no fumbling with music, calls and much more. the keys because the All-New Ford Kuga offers keyless start The award- by use of the Ford power button. This is convenience. winning New Ford CMC made the initial Kuga is five-star launch for the vehicle rated for safety towards the end of last year and the market reception, by Euro NCAP, the according to Mr. Gichuki, “has European new been excellent and demand car assessment outstrips supply currently. The vehicles have been flying programme. It was off the shelf even before we also voted the 2013 fully launch it. This vehicle is Women’s Car of the ideal for medium corporate executives and business Year in Europe – by owners who value its off-road women motoring capabilities.” writers. Offering ample sitting A mеmbеr оf Al-futtaіm Grоuр оf Cоmрanіеѕ VIII BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40 Kenya’s Top 40 Unde≥ 40 2014 The profiles of women who have broken the career glass ceiling early enough and are headed for greatness

CORPORATE HIGHFLIER

O≥y Okolloh DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS, OMIDYAR MEDIA, 36

s far as good timing goes, nature appears to have conspired to put Ory Okolloh in the Aright place as the Internet revolution began in Africa. Co-founding the crowd-sourcing Ushahidi platform in 2008 was her window of entry into the rapidly changing, but also highly rewarding, global technology enterprise platform, where her star has continued to rise. A two times past Top 40 Under 40 winner, Ms Okolloh recently left a high profile job as the PHOTO BY AFP policy and government relations manager for Google in Africa for Omidyar Media, where she of the deadly earthquake four years ago. A trained works as director of investments – controlling a lawyer, Ms Okolloh co-founded Ushahidi, which budget of more than $100m (Sh8.8 billion) for was initially a website developed to map reports of social entrepreneurs’ Pierre and Pam Omidyar’s violence in Kenya after the post-election violence company. The group’s activities have cut across a at the beginning of 2008, but has since been used wide range of social causes, from microfinance and to manage crisis across the world. Okolloh is argu- entrepreneurship initiatives to sustainability for Ha- ably one of the most renowned speakers on citizen waii’s food, energy and waste systems in the wake journalism and technology in Africa.

CORPORATE HIGHFLIER Rispe≥ Ohaga MANAGING DIRECTOR, PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA BARCLAYS INTERNAL AUDIT, 39

CORPORATE HIGHFLIER isper Ohaga has featured twice in the past among the Top 40 under 40 women in RKenya, and this year, she makes a third Captain I≥ene Mutungi appearance, but holding a more challenging po-

PILOT, KENYA AIRWAYS, 38 sition as managing director of Barclays Internal PHOTO / COURTESY Audit. Risper’s new role, assumed in January, sees aptain Irene Mutungi recently moved a Women’s list, but says a fourth time appear- her responsible for internal audit for the retail and ness and leading a team,” she says. Risper, who is notch higher in her flying career when ance on the platform has enabled her to inspire business bank, and wealth, investment manage- based in Johannesburg, South Africa, works with Cshe was named Senior Captain of Boe- other women. ment and insurance businesses of Barclays Africa regulators, audit committees and staff across all ing 787, or Dreamliner, as the aircraft is popu- The irregular flying times do limit the time Group, continent-wide. the African countries in which Barclays operates. larly known. she spends with her family. She is frequently out Her work involves making sure the bank fol- Before her promotion, she served as head of the The Kenya Airways pilot took up the new of the country and spends much of her time in lows all regulations and applies industry practice. retail and business bank business across the con- position after the airline took delivery of its the skies and staying in foreign destinations. “It is a complex role that involves deep technical tinent, a position she had held since 2012. first Dreamliner this year. But her love for flying is closely matched by her knowledge as well as the confidence and cour- Her vision is to join Barclays Africa Group She is now flying one of the most advanced love for mentorship. age to ask tough questions, while maintaining Executive Committee, in future, to drive forward aircraft in the world, tipped to change the face Despite her busy schedule, she has managed a strong partnership with busi- the provision of financial services across Africa. of aviation. The Boeing 787 is less thirsty and to take on board several mentees. She says her experience in audit is a good base noisy than other planes of its size and has been for an executive management role. built for long haul flights with a range of 15,200 With a Bachelor of Commerce degree from kilometres. the University of Nairobi specialising in account- Irene was thrust into fame a few years ago ing, Risper is also a Certified Public Accountant upon becoming the first female pilot at Kenya of Kenya, and set up the Barclays audit team in Airways and the first woman to earn the title It is a complex ≥ole that involves deep technical Tanzania from scratch. Before joining Barclays, of captain in Africa. knowledge as well as the confidence and cou≥age to she worked as a financial services auditor and It was initially difficult, but Captain Mu- consultant with KPMG Kenya based in Nairobi tungi says people are now getting used to be- ask tough questions. for nine years, and rose through the ranks from ing flown by women, easing her transition to audit assistant to senior manager. She is married the larger carrier. Risper Ohaga to Peter Ohaga and is a mother of three daughters Irene is not new to the Top 40 Under 40 aged between five and 14. Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY IX Top 40 Women under 40

per cent year on year.” Described as an exceptional TECHPRENEUR performer, Anne joined Procter & Gamble (P&G) in 1999, straight from her job at Nyali Beach Hotel. In just two years, she landed a promotion to Uganda as P&G’s business development manager, her first job Juliana Rotich as an expatriate. “In Uganda, I learnt one of my most FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, USHAHIDI, 38 important management lessons: that as a manager, you need clarity of vision, a clear understanding of he number of global honours Ms Rot- to watch. Only recently recognised by For- the job and skill sets required, and the best people,” ich has received in the past three tune Magazine as 2014 50 Global Leaders, she says. After six years at P&G, Anne joined Reckitt Tyears attests to the fact that she holds Ms Rotich was three years ago named one Benckiser East Africa, another FMCG giant, as trade a prime position on Kenya’s list of women of the Top 100 women in the world by the marketing manager, overseeing business in Uganda, UK’s Guardian newspaper. She has also Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of featured as the World Economic Forum’s Congo markets. Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2011. In 2009, Reckitt Benckiser transferred Anne to Appearing in the Top 40 Under 40 list Lagos, Nigeria - a bigger and a more complex market for the second time this year, Ms Rotich co- than East Africa, with 180 million people, compared founded the crowd-sourcing site Ushahidi to East Africa’s combined population of about 140 with compatriot Ory Okolloh seven years million. Unlike the simpler retail set-up in East Af- ago and has since founded Mobisoko, a rica, Anne’s new market has one million retail outlets mobile marketplace for language and lo- in a trade structure she had to quickly understand. cation relevant apps in Africa. The Compu-

PHOTO / COURTESY “As an expat manager, it is critical to work with local ter Science graduate from the University of country teams in order to succeed. One has to under- Missouri in the US has worked in the tel- CORPORATE HIGHFLIER stand what drives each individual and capture this ecoms industry and is chair for the World energy to drive the best performance out of people,” Economic Forum Global Agenda Council Anne she says. “Whenever I go back to countries and see on Data Driven Development. units that I started still flourishing, I feel extremely She is one of the most sought-after ex- Ncekei Maingi proud and fulfilled that I have done my part, as oth- perts and commentators on Africa, technol- HEAD OF STRATEGIC CAPABILITY ers did before me, to ensure that businesses thrive ogy, innovation, mobile technology, open for the generations after us”. source, data ecosystems, crowd sourcing AND MODERN TRADE, UNILEVER In May 2012, she joined Unilever as country pro- and participatory systems. NIGERIA, 39 gramme manager for Nigeria, rising in the same Her mission in life is to make things, fix market to become head of Strategic Capability and problems and help others. Wherever tech- n rising from a job as a front desk reception- Modern Trade. Anne, who jogs 10 kilometres every nology can help to do these three things, ist at a beach hotel in Mombasa to the helm of day, was born in Mombasa and attended Loreto Con- she is happiest figuring out that intersec- Ia multinational in just 14 years, Anne Maingi vent in Mombasa before proceeding to Murray Girls tion and is fascinated by technology eco- has a telling dictum for success: “My job is only safe High School in Taita Taveta. She’s currently studying systems globally. PHOTO BY AFP when business under my charge grows by at least 30 an MBA in leadership and sustainability. X BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

CORPORATE HIGHFLIER Alfetta Mungai Koome COUNTRY MANAGER, FIRSTRAND BANK, 39

woman of several firsts, Al- graduated in 1999. She stayed in the Africa’s most influential women in fetta was in February picked US to work for three years and re- business and government by South Aas the Kenya country boss for turned to Kenya in September 2002 Africa’s CEO Magazine. FirstRand Bank and the only woman to join NIC Bank as corporate credit She was also ranked among the to head a Nairobi representative of- analyst, before moving to CfC Stan- Top 40 women under 40 years in fice for a foreign bank. bic in June 2005 as regional head in Kenya in 2010. In 2009, Alfetta was voted Kenya’s charge of debt capital markets and investment banker of the year, after syndications (East Africa). leading CfC Stanbic Bank in almost She earned an executive Master’s every bond issue floated that year. degree in organisational development ‘Excellence’ is her middle name, from the United States International says Alfetta, who is powered by a cu- University (USIU) in 2009, and holds

PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA riosity and quest for knowledge that professional qualifications from the has seen her rise swiftly from analyst London-based Chartered Institute for CORPORATE HIGHFLIER to the executive office. Securities and Investment (CISI). P≥eviously, my main focus As chief representative officer In September 2010, Alfetta joined Sylvia Wai≥imu Mulinge at the South African bank’s Nairobi Standard Bank as vice president of was set on executing the GENERAL MANAGER FOR ENTERPRISE BUSINESS, unit, Alfetta’s day-to-day role includes debt capital markets in Africa before actual t≥ansactions. I late≥ scouting for business opportunities in joining FirstRand Bank. moved to the business SAFARICOM, 38 Kenya in investment banking, global “Previously, my main focus was markets and private equity. set on executing the actual transac- development side of things s the general manager for the style, but I will employ the style that the After finishing at Kerugoya Girls tions. I later moved to the business and I am enjoying eve≥y Enterprise Business Unit at situation demands. I mentor, coach and High School, Alfetta left Kenya to development side of things and I am moment of it. Aregional telecommunications direct depending on the situation. pursue a Bachelor’s degree in busi- enjoying every moment of it.” giant Safaricom, Sylvia Wairimu Mul- I encourage people to talk,” says ness administration at Kennesaw Alfetta, a wife and mother of two, Alfetta Mungai Koome inge has led a three-fold expansion in Ms Mulinge. She says she has been State University, Georgia, where she was this year nominated among her Sh10.5 billion business, generating described by others as a visionary and more revenue than many of the listed passionate team leader. companies at the Nairobi Securities “I have also been described as a Exchange. choleric in personality assessment. Her portfolio, which includes inno- This means that I am outgoing, but can vation, business development, sales and leave casualties behind, because of hav- customer experience, sees her engag- ing less empathy and patience. I have ing with corporates, government and been working on that by trying to slow small and medium enterprises (SMEs) down a bit and become more conscious on a daily basis. of what I am doing,” she says. The Bachelor of Science First Class She wants to continue to expand her Honours graduate from the University experience and hopes to be able to take of Nairobi initially worked for Unilever up expanded roles in the company or as a management trainee, rising to the within the Vodafone Group and be di- position of brand manager in a span rectly involved in community work. of six years. “I want to have an impact on people. She then moved to Safaricom, where That is what I want to be remembered she has worked for the past eight years, for.” A part-time dairy farmer, with two three of them as the GM. In manage- children, a boy and a girl, Sylvia goes ment and leadership, Sylvia believes in to bed early and rises early too: her se- inclusivity and consultation. cret to cramming so much into her life “I don’t believe in one leadership of impact. PHOTO: COURTESY

of Victoria in 2001 and an MBA in the Man- CORPORATE HIGHFLIERS agement of Technology at Simon Fraser University, in Canada. Her career at Nokia began in Canada in Agatha Gikunda HEAD OF SOFTWARE AND 2003 as a design engineer, from where she SERVICES, INTEL CORPORATION, 38 rose to be the company’s head of services, application and content. Apart from her work, she volunteers as a technology advi- gatha, who describes herself as an directing the execution of the Intel develop- sor for several organisations that address introvert, is a committed disciple er programmes in East Africa. She has also social issues, including Access Afya and Zoe Aof execution, who lives her life en- developed and launched the Intel student Alexander, facilitating the design of a mobile suring the right things are done within the programme, designed to increase the ability solution focused on helping Kenya reduce required time. She moved to Intel Corpo- of student developers globally. maternal and infant deaths: an application ration last year, after working for Nokia “What I love the most about what I do is that was awarded $250,000 in funding by for 10 years. being able to help the creative youth, inde- Grand Challenges Canada. “The decision to move was based on the pendent software vendors, developers and According to Agatha, there is a lack of fact that I had gone through the whole jour- publishers to optimise their applications mentors to excite and inspire students and ney with Nokia and I needed a new chal- so that they make maximum use of the young employees about the opportunities lenge and Intel was a perfect fit,” she says. hardware to enrich the user experiences,” in technology. This year, she has made it a Three months into her current position, she she says. personal goal to talk to 1,000 young ladies in received the Intel Group Recognition Award Agatha obtained a Bachelor’s degree in both high school and tertiary institutions, of for her work in developing the strategy and Computer Engineering from the University which she has reached 450 so far. PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY XI Top 40 Women under 40

CORPORATE HIGHFLIER der as high as it could possibly get. But it is a tough job too to develop, grow and position a brand across 16 markets of different legal Ca≥oline Wanja Owesi regimes and consumer preferences. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, JUBILEE INSURANCE TANZANIA, 38 ‘‘Absolute commitment’’ is how Ann de- scribes the career path that has seen her oc- the subject. It was a passion that saw her opt for cupy top leadership positions in a leading a Bachelor of Commerce degree after complet- advertising agency, East Africa’s leading ing high school at Alliance Girls, although the media group and now the male dominated choice did not go well with her late father, a doc- oil sector. tor and a strong believer in excelling in educa- A graduate of Catholic University of Eastern tion. “My dad wanted me to do medicine, yet I Africa, Ann began her professional journey at cannot stand the smell of Dettol,” says the first Scan Group, which she acknowledges to have born of four children, with a tone of admiration shaped her career path. and love for her dad. “The people I interacted with in my initial Caroline was among the best students at Alli- stage of career were the main cornerstone of ance Girls and had displayed the best science project what I am today,” she says. nationally in 1993, underscoring her father’s desire At 31, she was appointed general manager for her to take up medicine. Her mother, herself a of Young & Rubicam Brands (Y&R) advertising, nurse and a strong, spiritual disciplinarian, pre- then one of the top three agencies in Kenya. vailed on the father to let her be. Caroline started She then moved to Nation Media Group working in 1998, while still an undergraduate, at as head of marketing – Broadcasting & Dig- Clarkson Notcutt Insurance Brokers. ital from 2008 before rising to the position In 2001, she moved to Madison Insurance as a of group marketing director, managing the PHOTO\ COURTESY treasury accountant, before joining Jubilee in the affairs of NMG across East Africa. PHOTO\ COURTESY or a chief financial officer, Caroline Owesi’s same capacity in 2004. She has since risen swiftly In April 2014, Ann’s thirst for new chal- sense of humour is exceptional and refresh- through the management ranks at Jubilee and, CORPORATE HIGHFLIER lenges saw her move on, to the male dominated Fing. The 38-year-old, married mother of two, in June 2012, was appointed CFO of the insurer’s oil sector, with her appointment as the head of is today the CFO of Jubilee Insurance, Tanzania. Tanzanian subsidiary, directly in charge of finance, marketing for Africa for Vivo Energy. Early this year, the group, which is the largest in- administration and IT. The job is challenging, in- Ann Gitao, Her new role in one of the most globally re- surer in East Africa, recognised her as outstanding, volving efficient operations management, timely re- HEAD OF MARKETING FOR spected brands sees her now driving the mar- and as the best CFO of 2013 in the Jubilee Hold- port delivery and employee empowerment through AFRICA, VIVO ENERGY, 39 keting agenda for Vivo Energy (Shell Licensee) ings Group. training and team work. She is also a member of the in 16 countries across the continent. Yet her journey into business started as long Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya In 2013, she also celebrated yet another ago as Standard Six, with the introduction of (ICPAK), the Chartered Institute of Management ith a job whose territory covers 16 achievement, graduating with an MBA from business education into the primary school Accountants (CIMAdip) UK and of the Chartered African countries, Ann Gitao has Henley Business School, one of the UK’s top curriculum. She immediately fell in love with Insurance Institute (CII)-UK. Warguably climbed the corporate lad- five business schools. XII BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

CORPORATE HIGHFLIER CORPORATE HIGHFLIER Mukami Nje≥u, Esthe≥ Macha≥ia Chibesa RESIDENT ACTUARY, CIC INSURANCE GROUP, 29 DIRECTOR, TREASURY AND TRADE SOLUTIONS, CITIBANK KENYA, 38

enya only has a handful of certified actu- sther Chibesa joined Citibank as a gradu- aries, and one of the few women in that ate trainee in January 2000, It was the Kspecial list is Mukami Njeru, resident Ebeginning of a 14-year journey that would actuary at NSE-listed firm CIC Insurance Group, take her to four African countries handling ‘big’ where she analyses the financial consequences of money from big clients. The University of Bot- risk for her employer. swana accounts graduate is the Citibank direc- Financial risk, quantitative analysis and mod- tor of treasury and trade solutions for Kenya, a elling are terms that pepper her daily work, which position she has held for only a week now having she describes with the fascination that can only been transferred from Zambia where she held a come from a boffin in the discipline of calculat- similar title since 2011. ing conditions such as ‘if’ and ‘should’. Upon finishing her studies in 1999, (she lived “My days are not routine, but there is a rhythm in Botswana with her parents) she joined Citibank to them,” says Mukami. Her skills are deployed in Kenya as a graduate trainee. She held the position developing and pricing insurance products and li- for 18 months, working in different departments aising with the necessary industry regulators. This such as operations and customer care. is work she has done for the past six years. The Lo- She then moved to Citibank Uganda as a risk reto Limuru alumnus has worked in London and analyst and was part of the team that consolidat- Australia with financial consultancies Deloitte and ed a new corporate unit that advised companies PwC and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, mainly on credit facilities. qualified as a Certified Enterprise Risk Actuary, and Between January 2004 and September a graduate from the University of Nairobi with a BSc 2008, she was working in Tanzania, Zambia and in Actuarial Science with First Class honours. Uganda as a trade product manager. Ms Chibesa Mukami plans to contribute towards growing soon became the consummate banker involved the actuarial industry in Kenya and hopes there in structuring trade services products for clients will be more female actuaries. “I am also passion- in the mining, public sector, agribusiness and PHOTO/COURTESY ate about the growth of the profession in Kenya manufacturing sectors and also identifying sup- having initiated several actuarial forums since I ply chain financing opportunities for them. financial services industry and a prime candidate came back home last year,” she says. As the director of treasury and trade solutions, in the list of Kenya’s Women to Watch. Esther

PHOTO/COURTESY Esther is unmistakably among the few women is married to a Zambian banker and has three who are blazing the trail in the male-dominated children.

from Devry University in Georgia. On graduating, CORPORATE HIGHFLIER she joined a specialty property insurance com- creative events, words, strategy and passion, pany as a junior accountant, rising to manage its she has built the bank’s reputation as the trendy captives reinsurance books, and then to a senior choice for Kenya’s entrepreneurial class, with Becky Mungai manager in its risk management department. a profound commitment to supporting SMEs, HEAD OF FINANCE AND But she wanted to manage much more than women and the environment. Her inspiration, ADMINISTRATION, SIGNATURE risks, yearning to contribute to transforming she says, is her mother’s belief that one must “al- GROUP, 38 companies and see them grow. Nostalgic about ways do something for someone else and leave her homeland and its untapped potential, she the world a better place”. Magdalene grew up resigned and came back home. in Athi River, but went to school at Consolata She joined Signature Group in 2011. She Primary School in Nairobi. worked in various departments, including fi- The daily commute enabled her to develop nance and logistics, before rising to be head of a love for reading, which led her into a career of finance and administration, an opportunity she marketing and communications. In university, says has allowed her to drive striking turnarounds she wrote a lot, and was approached by a friend across a company that was struggling with its fleet to handle the public relations for his theatre com- management and expansion. pany, which was running the show ‘‘Sarafina’’. She has so far grown the heavy commercial ve- She took to it completely naturally, cementing hicles from 10 to 33, added 43 vans to the corporate her career choice in marketing. After some years car hire and staff transport portfolio, increased with a web design company, where she handled the number of buses from two to 20, and the me- Chase Bank’s website, she was in 2008 recruited dium size and large utility vehicles by 40. into the bank directly. She has also overseen the launch of a taxi busi- She arrived in banking thinking it was a bor- ness unit within the group, which has bought 137 ing and mundane career, but “discovered a whole saloon cars, and fuelled the group in expanding other ecosystem in the back-end” that she has into the clearing and forwarding business across PHOTO / COURTESY developed a love affair with. The impact financial the East African Community. services have on people in helping them grow At the same time, she has introduced sav- CORPORATE HIGHFLIER their entrepreneurial dreams has been especially ing schemes for the employees, organising and important to her. negotiating financial terms with banks to offer Magdalene credits her brand-building suc- PHOTO\ COURTESY Magdalene flexible education loans for the children of Sig- cess to thinking analytically on the process of the t 38, Becky Mungai is having a striking nature Group staff. Mulandi job in order to make for successful end products. impact on Kenyan transport, increasing Being in the transport industry has meant HEAD OF BRAND But she has also had plenty of fun along the way: a row of businesses for Signature Group, making sacrifices, however. including screening the World Cup to clients A MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE one of East Africa’s leading logistics and transport “The transport industry doesn’t allow for four years ago. companies, by three-fold to more than tenfold, ‘hours of operation’. Once a member of the man- AFFAIRS, CHASE BANK, 33 She confesses to not having mastered the over the last three years. agement team, one is presumed to be on call 24- work-life balance but strives to do so, and terms After finishing at Kenya High School, Becky 7, all year round. It has been tough in terms of agdalene Mulandi has built a brand her passion and self-motivation her driving force went to Kennesaw University in US where she work-life balance, but I’m motivated just from and energy at Chase Bank that has in life. However, it is her resilience in wanting to graduated with a major in finance and a minor in seeing new changes that are not only impacting Mseen the bank named the fastest make the world better that is the key, so far, to international affairs, and subsequently an MBA the company in a big way. growth bank in Kenya three times. Deploying her outstanding achievements. Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY XIII Top 40 Women under 40

TECHPRENEUR sulting company has spearheaded mentorship on intellectual property as compared to physical campaigns to draw more women into IT. “From structures. All you basically need is a laptop and Do≥cas Muthoni when I left high school, I knew everything would an internet connection,” she says. TECHPRENEUR, 34 eventually be computer-aided or software-driven. In April this year, Dorcas was inducted into the And three years into employment, I felt the need to Internet Hall of Fame, an award by the Internet So- grow away from the corporate ladder and venture ciety that recognizes individual efforts towards the seasoned techpreneur with more than into business,” she says. advancement of the internet. In 2013, the World 10 years’ experience, Dorcas started Dorcas works long hours, on a portfolio that Economic Forum (WEF) named her a Young Glo- AOpenWorld company when she was just includes systems for business management, feed- bal Leader for her professional accomplishments, 24. The University of Nairobi computer science back and project management for governments, commitment to society and potential to contribute graduate is passionate about technology and now SMEs, corporate and non-profit organisations. “As to shaping the future of the world through inspir- with 13 years of experience at her software con- a software engineer, much of the business is based ing leadership. PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA

ENTREPRENEUR Ma≥iam Mpaata FOUNDER, JUNIOR STAR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, 36

erturbed by frequent field, especially at a time when complaints about her the country was healing from Psix-year-old son break- political turmoil,’ explains the ing neighbours’ windows with 36-year-old. But Mpaata’s ef- his ball, Mariam Mell Osiime forts paid off, in April 2008, Mpaata embarked on a mis- when she recruited the first 15 sion to set up a football acad- boys between 4 and 18 to join emy that has since enrolled her son, employed a coach, and over 5,000 youngsters, mould- began training sessions. ing their football talents, instill- The Junior Star Youth Devel- ing morals, and building peace opment Programme has since and harmony across the social churned out many talented economic divide at the Kenyan players, including her own, now Coast. 14-year-old son, Imran Mpaata, Armed with a degree in who plays for Uganda’s under- development studies from 20 team, Uganda Cranes. Makerere University, and no Her partnership with cor- clue about football, Mpaata, porate entities like Safaricom, whose family had just moved Kenya Maritime Authority, to Mombasa from Uganda, Kenya Data Network, Siginon took two years between 2006- Freight Ltd, Davis & Shirtliff, 2007 to learn about football, Milele Beach Hotel, Milly seek partnerships and sell the Fruits Ltd and local schools idea to families and schools in has, for the past six years, seen Mombasa. the academy grow into a men- “It was no mean task for a torship centre where youths are young woman to venture into taught about social hazards like this male- dominated drug abuse, early pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and how to live harmoniously in society. The programmes also expose recruits to football activities and forums and con- nect them to mentors and the world at large. The institute also runs the Girl Power Mentorship Club, which has a mem- bership of 1,000 girls from Mombasa. It connects them to successful women across the globe who help them nur- ture their ambitions. Highlight of the programme, however, has been its Watoto Soccer Award, which is the first of its kind in East Africa, and now involves 2,000 boys and girls in football tournaments. This year will see the winning teams repre- sent Mombasa in the Norway Cup 2015. Mpaata is also a board member of various schools, so- cieties and corporate, which in- clude Aga Khan in Mombasa, the Football Kenya Federation South Coast branch and Nyali Primary School. PHOTO BY COURTESY XIV BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

ENTREPRENEUR ENTREPRENEUR

Ch≥istine Khasina Ode≥o Kate Kiba≥ah FOUNDER, SUPAMAMAS, 33 MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CEO, KATE ORGANICS, 33 at the core of a range of services. In a sector that’s not easy to commercialise, Christine has drawn top-brand advertisers and spon- hen the history of the wellness movement sors to her site, as a platform around which that has gripped Kenya in recent years she organises events to pamper mothers and Wis finally written, Kate Kibarah will defi- their children, and to empower women in nitely have a chapter in it. She is the queen of shock business. therapy and the nutrition industry’s best ambassa- As a digital platform, Supamamas car- dor who has awakened hundreds of thousands of ries up-to-date information on mother- Kenyans that what they eat matters when it comes hood, schools and party planning, all tire- to good health. That passion last year saw her make lessly promoted by the energetic, bubbly it to the list of South Africa’s CEO Magazine’s most and polite Christine. influential African women (SME segment) earning Her Supamamas events span, addition- continental recognition. ally, into her Supasisters initiative, where she Kate studied clinical nutrition at the Caroline hosts professional and seasoned women in- Alston Institute through correspondence before dustrialists to encourage the next generation studying natural and digestive health in the UK. of younger women entrepreneurs. Christine She is now back in school studying alternative medi- holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from cine. She is a clinical nutritionist, health coach,

PHOTO \ SALATON NJAU United States International University (USIU) and manufacturer of popular local organic foods and an MBA from Liverpool University. with a regional market. Early on, she convinced t was during Christine Khasina Odero’s first She also holds Professional Postgraduate her parents to let her study nutrition, believing pregnancy that she discovered the lack of Qualifications in Marketing from the Mar- healthy living to be cheaper, simple and the key Iinformation sources or websites dedicated keting Society of Kenya and in Total Qual- to longevity. to motherhood and infants: a finding that began ity Management from the Kenya Institute “I grew up as an obese child, changed my life- her entrepreneurial journey into leadership. She of Management. Her awards since starting style, acquired shape, and set out to change the PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA quit a managerial position, started and failed at Supamamas include nomination by South eating habits of other Kenyans. Now I’m targeting her first business, and still chose the risk-tak- Africa’s CEO Magazine as one of the Finalists the rest of Africa,” she said. She has shared this ics, has meanwhile carved out a niche in organic ing path of starting another one, launching the in the Most Influential Women In Business in message over and over, through the mass media products that is otherwise dominated by foreign Supermamas website in 2011, as a platform for the Africa SME Category 2013, for which she and through the virtual lifestyle health club she brands, with products that include teas and honey Kenyan mothers that she has built as a brand is currently a finalist again this year. founded to reach out to as many people as possi- with anti-oxidants, with Moringa tea and Moringa ble. Her manufacturing company, Kate’s Organ- oleifera powder her bestsellers.

ENTREPRENEUR ENTREPRENEUR Lau≥a Akunga Elizabeth Simiyu FOUNDER, BENCHMARK HEALTH & FITNESS ENTREPRENEUR, 34 SOLUTIONS, 28

aura Akunga’s entrepreneurial jour- hen electrical engineer Elizabeth Simiyu ney began at 12 years, when, as a discovered the electro therapy machine Lyoung girl growing up in her family Wthat saw her shed weight after her first farm in Runda, she saw the missed oppor- baby, it was a bonus that completely changed her tunity in selling raw milk, and earning five life, to launch Slim Therapy Limited, a beauty and times more by turning it to sour milk (mala) fitness franchise. and yoghurt. Today, she drives businesses Her launch pad outlet was in Westlands. Five across the continent. years later, the brand is operating additional fran- While still at United States Interna- chises in Nairobi’s South C and in Mombasa. The spa tional University (USIU), where she was uses faradic treatments to help clients tone muscles taking a course in International Business and lose weight. Administration in Finance and Marketing, Elizabeth also uses her position as CEO to em- she landed a job as a management trainee, power women to invest in business so they can be, but three months later, decided it was not “salary makers and not salary takers”, employing for her and quit. Only 19, but armed with PHOTO BY FILE women from disadvantaged backgrounds and train- a dream, Laura started her first company. ing them in faradics (a form of electrical stimulation Nine years later, she is a member of the En- gold. In Congo, we help them export metal, for firming and toning body muscles). trepreneurs Organisation, a membership and also help a lot of African concession The only qualification she looks for is a certifi- club for business owners grossing over $1m holders export a lot of timber,” she says. cate or diploma in beauty and cosmetology. Prior in annual revenue. Her company operates in Uganda, Tan- to venturing into the beauty industry, Elizabeth, a Although she started Benchmark Solu- zania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Ghana, JKUAT-trained electrical engineer, worked at elec- tions as a branding company, three years into United Arab Emirates and China, which now tricity producer KenGen for six years. the business, she decided to venture into the accounts for 40 per cent of their total busi- “I struggled with weight after having my first world of financing. Laura is now the ‘go to’ ness. Besides her high-flying career, Laura baby and the electro therapy machine gave me a person for corporate and banking institu- also supports 50 orphaned girls, for whom reason to smile again,” she says. tions that need to quietly access quick and she provides a home and schooling. “I call Since then, customer referrals have grown her cheap funds, especially from China. them my daughters. business from a two-bed outlet to a franchise busi- On the marketing front, she deals with I believe that’s why God blesses my busi- ness posting an annual net turnover of Sh10m, de- companies that have high volume or high ness. I look at myself as a vessel that God uses spite challenges along the way. value goods and are looking for foreign mar- to do the things that he wants done. He is my Her immediate plans are to open franchises in kets. “We help a lot of mining companies in silent business partner,” says Laura, who is Nakuru and Tanzania, with a target presence in El- Ghana and Zimbabwe to find markets for married to her high school sweetheart. PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA doret and Uganda. Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY XV Top 40 Women under 40

SCIENTIST Cha≥ity Mutegi AFLATOXIN MAIZE RESEARCHER, 39

t is perhaps every young scientist’s dream to come up with the solution to killer blights. IFor Dr Charity Mutegi, her work leading a research team at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has given birth to a biological product, Aflasafe, which is reducing aflatoxin contamination in maize. Aflatoxin is a fungi-based poison that is potentially fatal for humans. Five years ago, when the people of lower Eastern Kenya got a bumper harvest of maize thanks to more than normal rainfall, most households in the region soon found themselves with more produce than they could process and PHOTO / COURTESY store. Soon, the produce got contaminated by aflatoxin. Tens of people died after eating the SCIENTIST contaminated maize, while hundreds of others were treated for aflatoxin poisoning. Previous studies had long indicated Kenyans consuming Wanji≥u Kamau-Rutenbe≥g maize with aflatoxin contamination levels that DOCTOR, 36 exceed safe limits. Long-term exposure to these poisonous substances can cause liver failure, cancers, t just 36, the grandeur of Wanjiru Kamau- a 2012 Ford Foundation Champion of Democ- and suppressed immunity, creating one fur- Rutenberg’s resume would leave many racy and in the 2010 United Nations Intercul- ther health risk for the millions of Kenyans Aenvious. Her recent appointment as tural Innovation Award. “I am passionate about who rely on maize as a staple food. Dr Mute- the director of African Women in Agricultural making this Africa’s century. I’m excited about gi’s ground-breaking research raises the hope Research and Development (AWARD) added the transformations that are happening across of safeguarding the country’s staple food crop shine to an already impressive career. AWARD Africa and particularly here in Kenya. I am also and promoting food security: a contribution that is a career-development programme that equips keenly aware that African women have a critical last year saw her selected as the global winner top women agricultural scientists across sub- role to play if we are to realize our full potential,” of the prestigious 2013 Norman Borlaug Award Saharan Africa to accelerate agricultural gains she says. The mother of a five-year- old son has for Field Research and Applica- by strengthening their research and leadership also served as an assistant professor of Politics at tion, awarded yearly by the World skills, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates the University of San Francisco and as a lecturer Food Prize Foundation. Foundation and USAid. in International Relations at Hekima College, Dr Kamau-Rutenberg’s appointment fol- a constituent college of the Catholic University lowed an illustrious performance as executive of Eastern Africa (CUEA). director of Akili Dada - an award-winning lead- Her academic research and teaching centre ership incubator investing in high-achieving on the politics of philanthropy, gender, Africa, young women from under-resourced families. international relations, ethnicity, democratisa- Her work at Akili Dada won her recognition from tion, and on the role of technology in social ac- I am passionate about the US President Barack Obama and the White tivism. She holds a PhD and a Masters in Politi- House as a “Champion of Change” in 2012. cal Science from the University of Minnesota making this Af≥ica’s centu≥y She has also been named one of the 100 Most and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from WANJIRU KAMAU- RUTENBERG Influential Africans by New African Magazine, Whitman College. PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA

SCIENTIST

Sheila Ommeh MEDICAL RESEARCHER, 36

r Sheila Ommeh loved everything Research Institute (ILRI) to conduct her won the prestigious African Women in about science from childhood, Masters research. While there, she suc- Agricultural Research and Development Dand was one of the first gradu- ceeded in identifying two types of genes (AWARD) fellowship. It put her through ates in Kenya in Biomedical Science and found in chicken that offer resistance to an intensive mentorship programme that Technology in 2002. She began work at deadly viral diseases like Newcastle and offered training on effective communi- the Kemri Wellcome Trust Research Cen- Avian flu. In her PhD research, Dr Om- cation, leadership, management and life tre, on potential compounds for malaria meh went further to compare the genes skills key to a thriving science career. drugs. But her own primary concern lay of commercial chicken with those of in- Upon getting a job as a research fel- with communities in her Western Kenya digenous chicken, which seemed to offer low in the Institute of Biotechnology at homeland whose livelihoods depended more resistance to diseases. the Jomo Kenyatta University of Science on poultry - especially the indigenous These scientific breakthroughs and Technology (JKUAT) in 2012, she fun- chicken that were dying of disease at an brought her closer to achieving her draised more than $1m to establish the alarming rate. dream of developing disease-resistant first ever Animal Biotechnology Research She thus left her job in pursuit of a Mas- chicken to address the challenges faced Laboratory at the university, opening the ters in Biotechnology and after her course by her community and other poultry door to entirely new lines of research for work, joined the International Livestock farmers in Kenya. In 2008, Dr Ommeh the students. PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA XVI BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

THE FILM, ARTS, FASHION & SPORTS scar-award winning actress THE FILM, ARTS, FASHION & SPORTS and fashion sensation Lupita ONyong’o, 31, got the break of a lifetime when she was chosen from a Alison Ngibuini

Lupita Nyong’o thousand young women auditioning for FILM AND TV PROGRAMMES PRODUCER, 38 FILM AND FASHION QUEEN, OSCAR the part of Patsy in Steve McQueen’s pow- AWARD WINNER, 31 erful film, based on the book by Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave. McQueen’s choice of the Kenyan actress transformed Lupita’s life, and also changed the view held by most Kenyans of the ever-impov- erished actor that no parent would want their child to become. Today, Lupita is one of the wealthiest women in Hollywood, raking in millions for her film roles and fashion modeling contracts. She is also the world’s most ac- claimed Kenyan actress, having literally taken the Western film and fashion world by storm for her powerful performance. She has been picked for a major role in one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises, the George Lucas blockbuster, Star Wars: Episode VII: a franchise bought in 2012 by Walt Disney from Lucasfilm for $4.05bn. Lupita has also flagged her own ex- panded role, in acquiring the film rights to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s hugely popular award-winning novel Africanah. She is additionally now the brand am- bassador for the international cosmetics firm Lancome, and a model for MiuMiu, the youthful fashion house born from its parent company Prada. Lupita has had to attend more than 40 awards ceremonies PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA across the US and UK in 2014. At every one, she has had her pick of designer fash- ehind a host of international and lo- focuses on HIV- related issues and the posi- ions, most of which pay her thousands of cal awards, a catalogue of riveting tel- tion of women in Kenyan society; and Zain dollars just to wear their gowns, shoes, Bevision productions, and a resolve to Africa Challenge, a continental inter- univer- jewellery and make-up. position Kenya’s film industry on the global sity battle of brains. Her concepts have been Indeed, Lupita has become such map, is the tale of a 38-year-old entrepreneur known to tickle and make people cry at the a hot pick that she was awarded the who followed her passion - straight out of a same time, seeing Siri win best TV Drama in best dressed actress by the prestigious job in advertising and into a business started the 2011 Kalasha Film and TV awards, Shuga Vogue magazine and has been crowned from her own home with just a mobile phone win numerous international awards, and Sh- the ‘Most Beautiful Woman in the World’ and computer. Alison Ngibuini set up Al Is ida win best lead actress and best cinema- by the popular American On production in 2003. “Every day, I woke tography in the Kenya International Film magazine People. up wondering when the phone would ring, Festival of 2010. Alison worked with Oscar was it a good idea to leave employment?” award winner Lupita Nyong’o on the Shuga Many of her initial clients were people who series. “Seeing Lupita receiving an Oscar and knew her from the advertising agency. But the sudden realisation that I was part of her she struggled in an industry dominated by early career when she starred in award win- European-owned companies that gave work ning Shuga was both emotional and uplifting to other Europeans. Ten years down the line, for me. I knew the Kenyan film industry had No matte≥ whe≥e you a≥e Al Is On production has metamorphosed into come of age,” she says. Alison employs 17 full f≥om, you≥ d≥eams a≥e a formidable force producing household tel- time staff and double that during production, valid evision dramas, documentaries, game shows, and sees huge potential ahead. “We need to commercials and feature films. Among its move from just producing to monetising TV flagships are Mali, a Kenyan drama series; content. We need to also learn the ropes of the Lupita Nyong’o PHOTO BY AFP Siri, an education-entertainment series that trade and adapt to changing times.

THE FILM, ARTS, FASHION & SPORTS Bind, Saints, Higher Learning and Sumu la Penzi. She got into film after the Kenyan government mandated broadcasters to air Do≥othy Ghettuba not less than 40 per cent of locally-made MEDIA MOGUL, 35 content, and initially sought to sell to lo- cal stations. But she finally decided to take the advice of American TV filmmaker J.J. alasha-award winning television Dorothy holds the film rights to all her Abrams who said, “If you want to make it and film producer Dorothy Ghet- productions, making her one of the leading in life, be in charge”. Ktuba, 35, came back from Canada media women not just in Kenya, but across Taking charge has been a challenge, but four years ago with pennies in her pocket. Africa. In 2011, she won a place among the the key to running a successful business, Today, her Spielworks Media Ltd. has made Top 40 under 40 women in Film in Africa. she says, is keeping your finances in order. her millions scripting and producing al- The same year she also made it to BD’s Top With her documentary films and TV series most a dozen TV drama series, nine talk 40 women under 40 in Kenya. watched by audiences all over Africa, Dor- shows, and several documentaries, some Admitting she’s a risk taker, her vision othy’s profits now run into millions. But she of which are screened in South Africa and and enterprise has now employed hundreds is not sitting on her money. She continues others in Nigeria. of Kenyan youth in TV series like Lies that to come up with new series. PHOTO: FILE Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY XVII Top 40 Women under 40

THE FILM, ARTS, FASHION Agnes Muthoni Ndonga SINGER AND SONGWRITER, 31

gnes Muthoni Ndonga, popularly known as the Drummer Queen, was 25 when she founded ABlankets & Wine, a concert circuit that is now a cultural mainstay, but which was initially the prod- uct of her frustration at the limited opportunities to perform in clubs on Saturday nights. “I had a dream to create world class live music performance for urban African music. Five years on, I feel extremely grateful that we have achieved eve- rything we hoped for and even a lot more than we thought possible,” writes Muthoni on her website in a letter to her fans. Blankets & Wine is a social event that incorporates picnics and open field live music performances. It has become a household name in the region, and given Muthoni the chance to offer dozens of upcoming musicians a platform to make their name. This is what she takes the most pride in. “For me, knowing that we have contributed to many musicians’ dreams, whose only desire is to be able to share their gift of music with you (fans), makes me very satisfied and grateful,” she writes.

Muthoni has also promoted African music heavily PHOTO BY COURTESY at her events, shifting Kenyans’ minds and earning local music far more airplay by media houses. THE FILM, ARTS, FASHION & SPORTS Blankets & Wines had earned Sh15m in turno- ver by last year and has this year been restructured into three tiers to give fans entertainment all year round, across monthly, quarterly and annual music Esthe≥ Kinuthia events. BLOGGER, 21

PHOTO \ FILE decision to give a beggar part thrice. “I could not believe it. It was so of the money she had saved humbling and obviously words can’t Ato start a business was the in- describe how I felt at that moment. I THE FILM, ARTS, FASHION & SPORTS spiration that saw 21-year-old Esther almost cried,” she says. The Bachelor Kinuthia pen her first blog post that of Commerce student at Strathmore marked the beginning of a journey University, who is now a marketing Lo≥nah Kiplagat into national leadership. Her message associate intern at Google Kenya, was WORLD CLASS ATHLETE, PROPRIETOR OF HIGH ALTITUDE TRAINING CENTRE IN of youth refusing to be average, under hosted as a blogger for two years by ITEN, 39 the pseudonym of Miss Independent the co-founders of Odipodev, a digital or Miss I. “When I started blogging, company, but in September last year, when she obtained Netherlands’ I just knew I was on a new journey had to stand alone, forcing her into citizenry by marriage and represented in my life. I was drawn to blog about the world of web hosting and creating the country in track events from 2003. what truly matters to me, which is blogs without any background in IT, Among her wins were a gold and sil- leaving this world a better place than and without a business model. ver medal in the 2006 and 2007 World I found it,” she says. But, she says, “earning from the Cross Country championships , gold “The reason I named my blog Miss blog has never been a priority. I do and silver medals in the 2008 and 2005 Independent is what I stand for - Be- it because I genuinely want the Ken- World Half Marathon Championship, ing the best you can be without hav- yan and eventually African youth to two gold medals in the 2006 and 2007 ing to wait for connections to help refuse to be average. Anyone can make World Road Running Championship, you succeed in life.” Her blog, now money, but not everyone can make and a gold medal in the European Cross 16 months old, has seen her mentor people come alive.” Esther now hopes Country Championship in 2005. both her peers and fellow students, to start her own show together with Her spirited efforts saw her named with her most memorable moment a magazine, which she says she will the Netherlands’ athlete of the year in being a talk at the Research Clubs dedicate entirely to changing mind- 2006. Lornah now lives in the Nether- of Africa event hosted by Ipsos in sets and getting the African youth to PHOTO \ FILE lands, but has set up the High Altitude March this year, where over 500 stu- go beyond being ordinary. s a young girl running to and parents and teachers at Kapsoas Sec- Training Centre in Iten to give aspiring dents stood up and recited her motto from school in the sleepy village ondary School, she sought refuge at her Kenyan athletes a training atmosphere Aof Kabiemit in Elgeyo Marakwet cousin Susan Sirma’s home, where she to grow their careers. “My husband, Peit- County, Lornah could barely dream of volunteered to work as a house help. It er Langerhorst, and I are financing this a quarter of what she has achieved in is here that the young Kiplagat honed centre as a first step towards the Lornah athletics, business and socially to date. her athletic skills. An avid believer that Kiplagat Sports Academy to help youths The ≥eason I named my blog Miss In spite of the tough terrain, drought “the only person who can pull me down in Kenya earn from their talents,” she and harsh traditional myths facing a girl is myself”, Kiplagat once spent a night in explains. Independent is what I stand fo≥ - Being child in her Kalenjin community, Lor- a Nairobi toilet to attend a cross country Lornah’s strong personality, punctu- the best you can be without having to nah performed well academically and race at Nyayo National Stadium. ated by humility, hard work and enviable even got a scholarship to study medicine “Success does not come on a silver resilience, perhaps provide youths in wait fo≥ connections to help you succeed in India, which she turned down, osten- platter,” says the internationally-ac- Kenya with the best possible example of in life sibly to try her hand in athletics. claimed athlete who won Kenya world how to mould their social and economic ESTHER KINUTHIA, Miss Independent To escape the scorn of her dismayed championship medals up to 2002, lives to prosperity. XVIII BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

THE FILM, ARTS, FASHION & SPORTS Malaika Fi≥th, MODEL, CATWALK QUEEN, 20

upermodel Malaika Firth moved Dolce & Gabbana. When she became to the UK and wore legwarmers the first black model to star in a Prada Severy day following the teasing campaign since Naomi Campbell in from girls at school about her skin- 1994, fashion editors, photographers, ny ‘chicken legs’. Today, she models and model aficionados marked her as for the world’s greatest brands like a newcomer with serious long-term Prada, Burberry and Vogue at every prospects. The media christened her top fashion show from New York and the next Naomi Campbell. Fashion col- London to Paris and Milan. Born to umnists in various papers hailed the a Kenyan mother from the Coast and decision by Prada and other fashion a British dad, Malaika’s potential was houses to use Malaika as symbolic, first spotted by her mother, who took at a time when racial profiling in the her to Premier Models after watching fashion industry is being challenged. a British Channel 4 documentary, Malaika is seen as the face of change. The Model Agency, in 2011. After at- She still has strong attachment with tending an open-call casting, Malaika her Kenyan roots. was signed on the spot, and began her Whenever on a break from model- modelling career, at the age of 17. In her ling, she visits the Kenyan Coast, where three years of modelling she has graced she helps out in her grandmother’s ho- PHOTO\ COURTESY Victoria’s Secret catwalk, the cover of tel, the Boko Boko Porini Restaurant. Vogue’s More Dash Than Cash sup- the Spring/Summer 2014 collections, She believes her mixed colour is im- plement, Beyoncé’s House of Dereon where she walked more than 40 shows, portant in encouraging everyone, es- catwalk, and the new Burberry cam- including shows from respected de- pecially black girls struggling to gain paign. Her runway takeoff, however, signers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Bot- entry into the international fashion

happened during the fashion week for tega Veneta, Marc Jacobs, Kenzo, and industry. PHOTO/ COURTESY

PROFESSIONAL

PROFESSIONAL Lois Mu≥agu≥i Anne Kiunuhe SCIENTIST AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR, GLOBAL PARTNER, ANJARWALLA & KHANNA, 33 ALLIANCE NETWORK FOR LIVESTOCK AND VETERINARY MEDICINE, UK, 38 nne Kiunuhe, who reached at Anjarwalla and Khanna, where her Standard Four of her village perfectionist trait coupled with a strong ois holds the distinction of be- extensively on the two subjects in the Aschool with her only English drive and passion saw her rise rapidly, in ing the youngest Kenyan ever to context of public-private partnerships sentence ‘My name is Anne’, is today a job she says brings her joy. “You cannot Lqualify for a PhD in Intellectual (PPPs) and was part of the team that a partner at leading law firm Anjar- become the best lawyer by just saying Property Law having been awarded successfully negotiated a $51 million walla and Khanna, driving some of the that you are a lawyer. the degree at 31. Still she remains a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates country’s most complex acquisitions Rather, the best is brought out member of the very special club of five Foundation and the UK’s Department and mergers, and regional legislative through understanding your clients, Kenyan women with a PhD in Intel- for International Development for the harmonisation. She credits her move needs and environment,” she says. It’s lectual Property law. alliances’ second phase of activities to Madaraka Primary School in Thika this commitment and hard work that Sitting at the top of the Global from 2012 to 2017. and a place at Precious Blood Girls High saw her act as the lead counsel advisor Alliance Network for Livestock and Lois has previously worked as a Re- School as the steps that set her on a path for Bharti Airtel on its $10.7bn acquisi- Veterinary Medicine has placed Lois search Fellow at the Innogen ESRC to a law degree from University of Nai- tion of Zain Africa’s assets across 15 Afri- PHOTO: FILE in the unenviable position of having Centre for Innovation in Genomics robi, along the way studying CPA upto can countries, at just 29- years- old. to managing the slippery point where at the Open University, Milton Key- section 4. She also acted as lead Kenyan coun- in Mombasa, Tanzania and Dubai. science meets public policy. nes, UK before joining GALVmed in “My background in accounts natu- sel for Helios Investment Partners and She is also committed to achieving Key among her many obligations 2010. In 2006-7, she worked as a re- rally helped in specialising in commer- Vitol Group on the acquisition of Shell greater harmonisation of business and is advising the governments of Cam- search assistant at Queen Mary Intel- cial law with a bias in Mergers and Ac- Royal Dutch’s downstream operations in investment laws across Africa. eroon and Sudan on the development lectual Research Institute in London quisition, a line that many law students Africa. Deals such as these have seen the “It is an impediment to investment of national legal policies in technol- where she consulted for top British shy away from due to the presence of firm recently voted the best law firm in that each African jurisdiction remains ogy transfer and intellectual prop- law firms on intellectual property arithmetic.” Africa, with the soft spoken advocate also very much distinct with completely dif- erty rights. due diligence and commercialisation In 2004, she began her pupilage overseeing the opening of new branches ferent laws and legal systems.” She has researched and published of biotechnology.

PROFESSIONAL the University of Nairobi, Sara quickly medical communication into simple Sara later joined Amref Health Af- developed an interest in preventative health messages easily understood by rica to work as a manager for the CDC- medicine. “Instead of waiting to treat communities in rural and informal set- funded ‘Kibera HIV Prevention Care and Sa≥a Koki them when they are already sick, I want- tlements. This information reached Treatment Project’. Managing a health ed to meet people outside there and pre- thousands of marginalised populations facility in the heart of the informal settle- Kinagwi vent them from getting ill.” She pursued through traditional media (drama, ment, she reached, tested and provided MEDICAL DOCTOR, 38 a Master’s degree in Public Health, and songs, poetry and puppetry), resource treatment to thousands of HIV-infected finally, in 2006, quit medical practice in centres equipped with reading materi- people and introduced cervical cancer r Sara Koki Muli-Kinagwi is a favour of community work. als, as well as by computer and internet. screening to encourage early diagno- doctor who has deployed the It was in her next job as a Health “Knowledge is power. And when peo- sis of a disease that is the silent killer of Dpower of poetry to save thou- Knowledge Management Officer and ple understand why certain practices most Kenyan women. sands of lives through spreading the later the Director of AfriAfya (African – such as not boiling water – are risky, She is now the director of ‘APHIA- word of preventative healthcare across Network for Health Knowledge Man- then they will make good choices and plusImarisha’ at Amref Health Africa, the length and breadth of Kenya. agement and Communication) that she prevent diseases like diarrhea that se- improving health service delivery in Having graduated in medicine from succeeded in breaking down complex verely affect children.” northern Kenya’s arid lands.

PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY XIX Top 40 Women under 40

PROFESSIONAL Cathe≥ine Syengo Mutisya PSYCHIATRIST, 39

atherine Syengo Mutisya is an advocate for change through knowledge, as her work driving forwards the understanding Cmental illness in Kenya has well proven. Without psychological wellbeing, wealth cannot be created, she argues. As a consultant psy- chiatrist, the deputy superintendent at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital serves as the head of clinical services, a member of the executive expenditure committee, a member of the hospital management committee and as a senior assistant director of medical services. It’s a set that makes for full days - of meetings, patients, hospital administration, and a family to take care of too. But Catherine has al- ways put her best foot forward in life. Born and brought up in Kitui, sshe joined Muthale Girls and later University of Nairobi where she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery and later a Mas- ter’s degree in Psychiatry. The greatest moments in her career, she says, are seeing mentally ill people resume their normal lives, while her purpose in life as a psy- chiatrist is to bring forward the day when Kenyans will understand mental illness and stop the stigma. Mental illness does not have to be the severe case of madness (dementia): it can be mild anxiety, attention problems, misbehaviour or cases of drug abuse, she says. Through her private practice, Nairobi Parenting Clinic, opened in 2009, she works with urban parents in preventing mental illness in children, and is now running aggressive school programmes trying to prevent mental illness in children. PHOTO BY SALATON NJAU

PROFESSIONALS Mugu≥e Njendu ARCHITECT, 33

ugure Njendu has steered major construction projects as one of Kenya’s PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA Mtop architects, as well as serving currently as treasurer at the Architectural Association of Kenya ENTERPRENEUR (AAK). Her designs and projects in and outside Kenya include the Sh800m modern Kenyatta University Li- brary, the refurbishment of the Toyota offices and a car sales depot in Miami, the Sh500m KPA pension Joy Mbuthia housing facilities in Mombasa, and the Sh10bn Kenya ENTREPRENEUR , 38 Railways feasibility studies for the dry port at Voi. At 33, Magure holds a BA in Architecture from Wentmorth Institute of Technology, Boston and an MA oy Mbathia serves as an example of an in Architecture from the University of Miami, and has entrepreneur hitting the Top 40 at great speed, managed to rise in a male-dominated industry. Jafter a long, slow burn building her career in- It has not been easy, she says, with the gender side corporate Kenya. Joy started an interior design imbalance in her profession not a unique scenario and architectural mouldings company only in Febru- to Kenya. In her undergraduate class, out of a class ary this year, after stepping down from rival Classic of 50, there were only five women, and Mugure was Mouldings, where she had worked for 16 years. the only African. She owns half of the start-up, Jelani Designs, But with her career now well-established, she has which has already hired a total of 21 workers and a dream to develop affordable housing designs for the culled a remarkable range of business and rising country. She laments the skyrocketing land prices in reputation. the city as a major hurdle. But, nonetheless, believes “I love interior design. That is my background,” she has found a way, which she plans to present during she says, adding that the company is tapping into the annual AAK convention later this year. the rising demand for bespoke furnishings in homes, The theme of the convention is the impact of mobil- offices, and the outdoors. ity networks, rail and road links in the city. If there are The company offers special paints and mouldings efficient transport networks, she says, an individual – shapes and containers carved out of stones, mar- working in the city can acquire an affordable house PHOTO COURTESY ble or wood — to clients to help them put up unique in the counties neighbouring Nairobi, away from the walls, roof tops, ceilings and backyards. expensive land prices. Joy stepped out into the world of start-ups, bet- Mugure, a mother of two, together with her eight The≥e is no scientific answe≥ fo≥ ting on her long experience and extensive contacts friends, started an organization called Ex-Bomarian success. You can’t define it. You’ve in the industry to grow the business, in which she Education Fund in 2003, when she was just 22, that has invested millions of shillings. helps pay fees for needy Kenya High School students, simply got to live it and do it Her last position at Classic Mouldings was as the her former school. The former Bomarian also runs marketing manager. She joined the company as an ANITA RODDICK, mentorship programmes at Kenya High each year, intern in the late 1990s after studying interior design inviting key speakers from academia, public service BODY SHOP FOUNDER at Evelyn College of Design. and entrepreneurship to address students. XX BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

ENTREPRENEUR Sum≥a Rehmet MANAGING DIRECTOR, ROMA COMPANY LIMITED, 27

umra Rehmat spurned the normal life of a well-heeled teenager to plunge into Sbusiness, from the age of 13, emerging as one of the country’s youngest CEOs at 19, in as tough a sector as it comes: scrap metal dealing. Sumra grew up to business, her mother manag- ing Roma Company Ltd, supplying scrap metal to milling firms. “During school holidays, unlike my agemates who fancied a trendy lifestyle, I kept myself busy helping my mother to balance the books of accounts,” she says. But she learned far PHOTO \ COURTESY more than bookkeeping. On finishing school in 2004, Sumra enrolled for a Diploma in International Commerce at the PROFESSIONALS University of Toronto, Canada, aiming to then read for a degree. But when her mother suffered Ch≥istine a stroke, Sumra returned, at speed, to manage PHOTO BY DIANA NGILA the family business. Kahema Muthui Within two months, she had been made CEO, Kenya Railway, whose properties had suffered and construction firm that aims to empower LEGAL ENTITY CONTROLLER without a formal handover. Despite the hurdles, vandalism.” Her input also saw the drafting of the youths. FOR EAST, CENTRAL AND WEST Sumra took on the new challenge and introduced the Scrap Metal Act 2013. She also last year adopted 15 children with AFRICA, COCA-COLA, 34 reforms that have improved the scrap metal busi- Sumra’s proactive polices and thoroughness special needs, mainly suffering from cerebral ness across the country. saw the turnover of the company rise more than malaria, cancer and brain tumours. “I am always “I introduced education to the people in the ten-fold, from Sh40m a year to over Sh400m. She disheartened by the suffering most disadvan- avigating the vast legal and tax regimes in sector through strengthening the Kenya Iron has expanded the firm to Kisumu and Mombasa, taged children are exposed to. more than 15 African countries to ensure and Scrap Metal Association. I cautioned on the while also graduating from the Catholic Univer- These are kids who are very close to my heart NCoca-Cola’s compliance is what keeps dangers, and legal implications of vandalism, sity with a degree in political science with a bias and I believe that as a country, we cannot con- Christine on the job every day. The 34- year- consequently reducing the rifts between dealers in economics. tinue excelling in businesses and having trendy old is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a in the business and the management of nation- Last year, Sumra partnered with her hus- lifestyles while ignoring the plight of less fortu- Certified Public Accountant (CPA K), a Certified al firms, like Kenya Power, Telecom Kenya and band to open Aayat Enterprises Ltd, a building nate people in society.” Public Secretary (CPS K), whose career is deco- rated with numerous career awards. Her duties at the world’s leading soft drinks company in- clude strategic tax planning, tax risks mitigation & routine tax compliance, financial reporting and PROFESSIONALS analysis, and operational control and compliance in nearly the entire sub-Saharan Africa. Before joining Coca-Cola, Christine was a tax Josephine manager at KPMG Kenya, managing a portfolio of large and medium sized clients as well as co- Kamanthe Ndambuki ordinating tax advisory services, dealing with SENIOR ENGINEER, TRANSPORT AND IP regulatory bodies including the Kenya Revenue SUPPORT, SAFARICOM, 31 Authority and Treasury, and facilitating train- ing to internal and external clients. She is an accredited international trainer in tax manage- osephine Ndambuki was just faricom services are accessible to ment and has worked as a part-time lecturer at 25 when she launched the customers countrywide. Strathmore University: Jnow 25,000-member League She was also part of the team “I feel good when I inspire students because for Young Professionals, an organ- that delivered the first ever sub- it is through that I get a chance to contribute to isation she has spearheaded whilst marine cable to Kenya, TEAMs. a great future,” she says. The mother of three is also rising to serve as senior engi- As a commissioning engineer also the former chairperson of the Alumni As- neer transport and IP support at and network administrator of sociation of her former School, Ngandu Girls, a telecoms giant Safaricom. TEAMs, she was responsible for member of the Young Professional Group of our Josephine, who was last year making sure the 1.28Tera capac- lady Queen of Peace, and actively participates in picked to participate in the US ity network was completed to church activities. State Department’s TechWomen the specifications and timelines, programme, attributes her inter- which it was. est in technology to her father’s But it was in 2008 that Jose- inspiration. phine founded the League of

Her first exposure to a compu- Young Professionals in Kenya. PHOTO \ COURTESY ter was in Form 1 and subsequent- The league acts as a platform ly upon enrolling for a Bachelor’s for skilled, talented youth to find a The programme, sponsored by grown. Josephine is also actively degree in Computer Science at space to use their knowledge prac- the Canadian international De- involved in the Safaricom Founda- Egerton University. tically to ensure development in velopment Agency (CIDA), saw tion as a trustee and as a volunteer “I feel good when I inspi≥e Starting out as a graduate their professions, with now many Josephine study on campus, net- for a ‘World of Difference’. students because it is management engineer in 2009, thousands of members country- work and work for three months She co-ordinates Safaricom’s Josephine has been able to climb wide, and abroad. with the Enablis Entrepreneurial Women in Technology, a network th≥ough that I get a chance to the ranks at Safaricom rapidly to Through her work with the Development Network in South within the company’s technology cont≥ibute to a g≥eat futu≥e.” her current position where she en- League, Josephine was selected for Africa. division, and is active in the Ro- sures the company’s core network leadership training at the COADY She returned to Kenya with the tary Club and as a mentor in her Christine Kahema Muthui transport is always working. International Institute of St Fran- plan to start an investment com- Nairobi North chapter. The core network ensures Sa- cis Xavier University in Canada. pany under LYP, which has since Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY XXI Top 40 Women under 40

INTERVIEW ‘Wo≥k Sma≥ts’: Betty Liu on how to succeed in you≥ ca≥ee≥ Bloombe≥g news ancho≥ Betty Liu has often been asked by young people how she gained such success in he≥ ca≥ee≥. In t≥ying to p≥ovide answe≥s, she ≥ealised she had he≥ own questions about how to continue to advance he≥ ca≥ee≥. Those questions ultimately led he≥ to ≥each out to CEOs f≥om some of the most successful companies fo≥ thei≥ thoughts on what it takes to succeed. Wha≥ton management p≥ofesso≥ Adam G≥ant ≥ecently talked with Liu about he≥ new book, which g≥ew out of this p≥ocess, ‘‘Wo≥k Sma≥ts: What CEOs say you need to know to get ahead.’’ In this inte≥view, Liu sha≥es insights f≥om some of those she spoke with, including JPMo≥gan’s Jamie Dimon, AOL’s Susan Lyne and Be≥kshi≥e Hathaway’s Wa≥≥en Buffett.

What motivated you to write Citigroup. It got to the point where al optimist as well — it can mean this book? Sandy eventually fired him. That such a difference to the path of When I’ve been at conferenc- was a huge controversy during the your career versus being taken es and events, young people time when it happened. Enough down by it and wallowing in that (say), “Betty, you’re so success- years have passed that Jamie felt mistake…. ful. Please give me some advice he could talk about it. about what I can do with my ca- He was really very open about Is there a counterintuitive piece reer.” I got enough of those ques- that moment in his life. He said he of advice that you picked up tions that I started to think to went home and told his daughters, through this process? myself, there is this great need. “I got fired.” He said it was really I don’t know about counter- I’m sure you see it all the time, strange to go from 90 miles per intuitive, but there was a great

PHOTO \ COURTESY Adam: young people who want hour to zero for the first time. That piece of insight that Sam Zell, the to get career advice. They want was the same with other CEOs real estate mogul from Chicago, PROFESSIONALS some direction. But what was [who spoke] about the mistakes said to me that really made me funny was that while they were they made. Susan Lyne at AOL rethink what a big organisation asking me these questions, I said (she) made the huge mistake is really about. He said, as an en- Lydia Ndi≥angu, kept saying to myself, I have (of thinking) just because it was a trepreneur, (he needs) as much SENIOR TAX ADVOCATE, KPMG, 29 these same questions. I want to great idea, it’s a great business….I information as possible. In a big know what to do with my career. was just surprised at how people corporation, people use informa- I don’t feel all that successful. were very honest and genuine tion as currency. So they trade it. t just 29 years, Lydia Ndirangu her time with her niece and nephews, I still want to know these very about their failures. The more information a person has marked herself out as a ostensibly to coach herself on moth- basic questions: how to make has, the more power that person Awoman of influence - as an Ad- erly duties. your boss happy, how to ask for a Is that easy to do because they has in a big organization. vocate of the High Court of Kenya, a Cer- “To succeed in life is not a one person raise, how to stand out and how are now back on the top, or have But, he said, in a small com- tified Public Accountant (CPA K) and a journey. I have leant that you need to to shine. they been this way all along? pany or an entrepreneurial envi- Certified Public Secretary (CPS K). help others rise in their careers and life I thought, if I still have these I think it’s easier because they ronment, if you’re keeping a piece Since joining KPMG, one of the if you want true success. Train the team questions in the middle of my ca- are back on the top. It’s obviously of information away from (him), world’s leading consultancies, as an you have, and you will reer, then other people must have a lot harder if you’re still in that then you’re damaging (his) com- associate Lydia has deployed her sharp succeed,”she says. those same questions. So, who do position, but I also felt that they pany because (he needs) to make mind to work ascending to Senior Tax , I ask then? I began to think, the would have mentioned it anyway; decisions quickly and (he needs) Advisor position. best people to ask are the people it’s a part of the fabric of who they to make them with as much infor- She last year won the prestigious who are at the very top of their are. Many of them did feel that the mation as possible. Encore Award for her invaluable con- careers. mistakes that they have made were He told me a story about a tribution to the department on transfer Those would be the CEOs that just as important as the successes, woman who he hired from a ma- pricing. “My work involves strategic tax I talk to every day on our pro- and, in fact, probably even more jor corporation. He said she was planning, tax risks mitigation & routine gram on Bloomberg. All of that important…. an overachiever. He said she was a tax compliance, financial reporting and Fa≥ away, the≥e in the jelled, and then … my agent and star all the way through her career. analysis and operational control and sunshine a≥e my highest I put together the proposal and Based on the folks you spoke Nine months after she joined his compliance,” she says. sent it to the publisher. That’s the with, how do you make the mis- organisation, he fired her. He said This has seen her sent to train staff aspi≥ations. I may not genesis…. takes productive or into learn- it was because she used the same in other KPMG branches, most recently ≥each them, but I can ing opportunities? practice of using information as at KPMG Botswana on transfer pricing. You got to talk to many inter- People fail all the time. I can currency. Although she is endowed with brilliant look up and see thei≥ esting people in the business even point to this book project. When he told me that, I skills, the young advocate has remained beauty, believe in them, world. What were the most The number of book proposals thought, “Geez, how many big firmly earthed, a value that enables her surprising insights that you re- I’ve had out there outweighs the companies have I worked for to share her knowledge with others. and t≥y to follow whe≥e ceived? number of books that I’ve actu- where I have seen that happen?” Lydia believes that everyone is valu- First of all, I was very surprised ally written by ten-fold. For every I have done the same thing. I have able in their own way and brings a dif- they lead... at the number of people who said success, there are about a dozen committed the same crime of us- ferent perspective in life: a principle I’m not af≥aid of yes to the interview. I thought failures behind that. How do you ing information to get information that inspires her to remain humble and some people might not want to take that then into your everyday from other people and using infor- challenges her to assist other people in sto≥ms, fo≥ I’m lea≥ning reveal all the dirty secrets of how life? What I’ve found is much of mation and hoarding it so that I realising their full potential. how to sail my ship. they got ahead. The second thing it is about attitude. How do you have power over colleagues. She is yet to get married, but talks was how frank people were about bounce back? How you bounce I thought, “That is such a great fondly of her family support, which she Louisa May Alcott their struggles. Jamie Dimon, the back is more important than the observation, and I need to check credits for her great discipline and suc- Author chairman and CEO of JPMorgan, failure itself. myself….” Organisations talk about cessful career. When off duty, the last was really open about his fight If you have that positive atti- transparency, but it’s the execution born in a family of five children spends with Sandy Weill, his mentor at tude — Adam, you are a perenni- of it that really matters. XXII BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014 Top 40 Women under 40

Two decades of change put women in positions of powe≥ Alison Wolf desc≥ibes women at the top - why thei≥ numbe≥s have g≥own so fast in ≥ecent yea≥s and what thei≥ lives a≥e like n just the past two or three decades, as good a marriage as possible as early as women in more than token numbers possible, leave the workforce (if they were Couples at the top lead Ihave taken their place alongside men at ever in it), and spend the rest of their lives the upper levels of government, the profes- caring for their families and homes. Their ve≥y diffe≥ent lives, not sions and business. They now earn more than social standing was that of their husbands. only f≥om the lowe≥ half of all college degrees, and they will short- For practical reasons, sex, marriage and chil- ly make up a majority of lawyers, doctors and dren were tightly bound together, at least in classes, but also f≥om college faculty. While they still account for respectable circles. p≥evious gene≥ations only a small minority of political and busi- There was no reliable birth control, the ness leaders, that, too, is changing. social stigma of extra-marital pregnancy was Prof. Alison Wolf The rapid ascension of women to the most great, and unmarried men often did not take influential sectors of society - occurring in all responsibility for the children they fathered, advanced Western countries - is likely to have leaving single mothers barely able to support profound implications for public policy, and their children. Smart women made sure not perhaps even more for the way families con- to get pregnant before marriage, and the best struct their lives and raise their children. way to ensure that was not to have sex. War II as the beginning of In her remarkably wide-ranging book, From earliest history right through the modern childhood, and Alison Wolf describes these women at the 1950s, there was therefore a transactional el- quotes Viviana Zelizer as characterising to- top - why their numbers have grown so fast ement to marriage. In return for the security day’s child as “economically worthless but absorption in two things - their careers and in recent years and what their lives are like. and protection and social approbation the emotionally priceless.” As families became their children. They devote extremely long BOOK REVIEW She estimates they make up roughly 15 to husband provided, the wife provided sex and smaller, fathers became more ambitious on hours to their professions, which often re- 20 percent of working women in advanced children and management of the household. behalf of their daughters, since in a two- or quire them to be electronically available at countries, or about 70 million women world- If the man was wealthy and the woman beau- three-child family they might have no sons. almost all hours. According to Wolf’s data, wide. (Whether she is defining them by edu- tiful and charming, so much the better. Of By the 1980s, women were entering the upper upper-middle-class couples now work on cation or income is not clear, but it doesn’t course, there was often love and companion- echelons of society on their own, and many average more hours per day than the rest of much matter, since the two are so closely ship as well, but throughout history, as Wolf had high enough incomes to have children the population, and unlike the lower classes, correlated.) writes, “sex proffered, sex withheld were the without marriage and support them, if they they have no more leisure time now than they She calls them variously “professional main assets that girls possessed.” had to. Sex, marriage and children no longer did in the 1960s. women” (an unfortunate choice), “gradu- had to go together. Contrary to what one might expect, up- ates,” and the “elite,” but none of those terms Society Yet in the upper-middle class, they usu- per-middle-class women usually return to quite captures the combination of education, All that changed almost overnight when the ally do go together. These women rarely go work full-time after childbirth, whereas ambition and professional commitment that birth control pill hit the market in the early it alone, but instead make what Wolf calls other women more often stop paid work at characterizes them. 1960s. Suddenly, premarital sex was no long- “assortative” marriages; they marry men least temporarily or return only part-time. Clearly, we need a term that refers to er risky. Very quickly, the Pill (everyone knew very much like themselves - well educated As Wolf points out, for upper-middle-class something more than just graduating from what that capitalized word meant) came into and fully engaged in their own high-pow- women to interrupt their careers means college, but it’s hard to come up with one, as widespread use, and for the first time, both ered careers. large sacrifices of opportunity. Moreover, Wolf demonstrates. I’ll call them “upper-mid- women and men could have sex without fear Assortative mating, of course, greatly their income is usually sufficient to cover dle-class,” although that is not very precise of pregnancy. That certainly suited the times, increases the family income, and exacer- the considerable expense of hiring nannies either. Whatever the term, if you are reading and the Woodstock generation enthusiasti- bates the inequality that plagues the US or other forms of child care. But even more this, the chances are that you are one of these cally embraced free sex - or at least a certain Even though men and women in all social important than the money is the fact that for women or living with one. segment of that generation did - and pre- classes are marrying later, upper-middle- these women, their sense of identity is tied to The book says relatively little about the marital sex generally lost its stigma. class couples wait to have children until their professions. They are full participants in other 80 to 85 per cent of women, and virtu- Both women and men often had multiple they are married, and their divorce rate is what James Surowiecki recently called “the ally all Wolf’s interviews are with women in sex partners before marriage, and began to low. In contrast, more than 40 percent of cult of overwork.” the upper-middle class, mainly her friends marry much later. The median age at first children in the general population are now The commitment of power couples to and colleagues; and, it seems to me, dispro- marriage for women increased from 21 in born to single mothers, and the divorce rate their professions is outweighed only by their portionately women in business or finance. 1960 to 27 in 2011. Reliable contraception in the lower classes is about double that of extraordinary involvement with their chil- But that is a small cavil (mainly with the also made it feasible for women to under- upper-middle-class couples. dren. Wolf titles a section on children “Will- subtitle, which seems to promise a focus on take long years of education and commit to According to Wolf, couples at the top lead ing Slaves,” and begins with a one-sentence all working women) in a book that is so inter- careers in a way that had not been possible very different lives, not only from the lower paragraph, “And then there are the children.” esting and well documented, drawing on a before, and they began to be encouraged by, classes, but also from previous generations. The next paragraph starts, “Young children variety of surveys as well as interviews. of all people, their fathers - their “besotted” Within the households, husbands and wives dominate the lives of their parents not just Moreover, the focus on upper-middle- fathers, in Wolf’s words. are virtually interchangeable. Both tend to emotionally but by completely upturning class women seems justified, since their One reason for the change in the atti- be high earners, and both tend to be equally their lives.” rise to the top is a new and largely unexam- tudes of fathers is that in the second half of competent at childcare and household tasks. Against all logic, as documented by Wolf, ined phenomenon. Despite the mountain the 20th century, families became smaller; I say “tend,” because she says that some dif- upper-middle-class couples somehow man- of data Wolf amasses, however, she does not children were no longer economically valu- ferences remain once children arrive, but age to spend more interactive time (not just say very much about what she thinks the able for the labour they provided on farms the differences are not great. being in the same room) with their children reader should conclude from all of it. I will and family-owned businesses, and with the Women and men function like a team than any group in history - with or without try to draw some conclusions here, based on rise in the standard of living and improved in all parts of their lives, pulling together at careers, rich or poor. True, they have fewer her book, on other publications and on my health care, they were all expected to survive their manifold jobs, one stepping in when the children; in fact, their fertility rate is so low own experiences. to adulthood. other falters. They now have more in com- that they don’t even replace themselves. But Until the 1960s, with few exceptions, Jennifer Senior, in her new book, “All mon with each other than either has with the few children they have are at the center of the only way even educated women could Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern members of their own sex in the lower classes. their lives, and fathers are often just as much gain security, let alone status, was to make Parenthood,” refers to the end of World What most differentiates them is their total involved as mothers. They spend enormous Friday June 20, 2014 | BUSINESS DAILY XXIII Top 40 Women under 40

Many are now shunning employment and plunging into entrepreneurship The≥e is a silent ≥evolution fo≥ women in ente≥p≥ise in Kenya

BY VICTOR AMADALA AND JULIUS ODERA NUMBERS A silent revolution is taking shape among 37% young women leaders, who are shunning 224m employment to plunge into the more deli- Current percentage cate entrepreneurial world on the prom- of women-owned women now ise of social and economic freedom, hap- enterprises entities impacting the piness and satisfaction. An Ipsos survey of this year’s Top 40 in the globally formal global economy. under 40 women found that top employed sector. young women in Kenya, invariably, as in a 100 per cent, harbour hopes of owning their own businesses in future. opportunity to The Ipsos Synovate’s research also re- enjoy their veals a key factor behind the success of social life, women owned enterprises. The research an aspect found that 51 per cent of all young women that keeps nominated for the annual Top 40 Under them fresh 40 Women were entrepreneurs and were and re- TOP OF THE amounts of money on them, and employ a found to be extremely satisfied with their source- PACK: Upper- vast network of experts to help - beginning work, as opposed to 41 percent who are ful. Keryn middle-class with childbirth classes and lactation con- employed and are less satisfied with Thomson, couples now sultants, and continuing through tutors to their jobs. the author work on av- help them get into the best schools, athletic Supporting Ipsos Synovates’s findings of Women erage more coaches to help the children make the team, is a study by the Global Entrepreneurship On Business hours per day teachers to help them develop their musical Monitor which presents entrepreneurs explains that than the rest and dramatic talents, and so forth. Nannies as the happiest people in the world. Re- career women, of the popula- alone cost on the order of tens of thousands searchers compared the personal well- due to job inse- tion, and un- of dollars per year. being and job satisfaction of individuals curity, tend to overwork to please like the lower Children are also incorporated into who manage businesses in 70 economies their bosses, hence disconnecting classes, they their parents’ social lives, and parents dote with that of people who don’t engage in themselves from the social world. have no more on their friends’ children as well as their own entrepreneurial activities and found Such women lack room to express leisure time (or pretend to), sending photos around to one that the world’s entrepreneurs - both themselves and can thus burn out. now than another on Facebook and celebrating their male and female - have more life and Women owned enterprises have they did in the birthdays together with festive parties. work satisfaction, as measured by their additionally contributed immensely 1960s. The absorption with children has entered agreement with statements like ‘my life towards social economic development. FILE the lower classes, as well, and is reflected and is close to ideal’ or ‘ A report from Global Entrepreneurship amplified by the media. Anyone who glances If I could live my life again, I would not Monitor (GEM) shows that in emerg- at celebrity magazines knows all about Suri change anything’. The report also con- ing markets, women reinvest a stagger- Cruise and the Jolie-Pitt brood. cluded that “female entrepreneurs exhibit ing 90 cents of every additional dollar A few generations ago, celebrities kept a higher degree of subjective well-being” of income in “human resources” and even the fact of their children quiet, and sel- than men in innovation-driven econo- their families’ education, health, and dom displayed them, but now children are mies like the USA and Europe. nutrition compared to 30 to 40 per downright fashionable and nothing melts The freedom that comes with being cent for men. Women entrepreneurs the hearts of fans more than a picture of, say, at the helm of decision making in one’s are therefore a far faster route to Seraphina Affleck in her daddy’s arms. own entity is viewed as the overriding rea- wealth creation and offer a greater According to Wolf, the total amount of son behind the happiness among many multiplier effect in the creation of time spent working in the upper-middle women entrepreneurs. The greater ease secondary jobs and incomes. class is the same for men and women, if you in juggling motherly duties and business This is creating a remarkable count both paid work outside the home and schedules without risking the loss of a positive impact on the global childcare and housework, even though it is job by annoying the boss with frequent economy with statistics from the widely assumed that women work longer off duty requests is what inspires many GEM indicating that women- hours altogether. young women into entrepreneurship. But owned entities in the formal Time studies show that women do more the greater control, generally, is a key mo- sector now represent some 37 housework, says Wolf, but the men work more tivation, says Camilla Palmer, Head of the per cent of enterprises global- hours away from home, so it all comes out Employment and Discrimination Team ly, with 126 million women even. I’m sceptical about equating another at Leigh Day solicitors, who attributes the starting or running business- hour at the office (these men are not labour- greater happiness and wellbeing scores es, and 98 million operating ers, remember) with another hour of house- of entrepreneurial women to the fact established (over three and work. Wolf acknowledges that women in that they’re in the driving seat. “Entre- a half years) businesses: to general are more stressed, which she ascribes preneurial enterprises offer control over make a sum of 224 million to having “more balls in play.” Whatever the your working life, which many women women now impacting the division of labour, these parents work very don’t have,” said Palmer. global economy. hard and very long hours on their twin im- The flexibility that comes with busi- mersions - career and children. ness ownership give young women an -AFRICAN LAUGHTER -- HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW XXIV BUSINESS DAILY | Friday June 20, 2014