Top 40 Under Forty Women 2017
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19TH 26TH OCTOBER, 2017 2017 II How the TOP 40 Mary-Ann Under 40 Women Musangi, Founder 2017 were picked Olpul Steakhouse My first job and priority is being a icking 40 Top Kenyan most prominent or most influential mother and a wife...and I have had women from the hun- women in Kenya today. We have in- to prove myself that I’m here dreds of entries that get stead underpinned our choices on submitted every year has the candidates’ ingenuity, freshness, because I can do the job never been easy. Doing the performance and durability in their not because I am Chris Pjob in the middle of intense, and noisy fields of excellence. political campaigns, made this year’s We have then ascertained each Kirubi’s daughter. task even harder. candidate’s age, and interrogated For reasons that no one could pos- as far as possible, data on the size sibly explain, the entries were slow in of the enterprises they have founded, coming, and most were last minute companies they work for (turnover — a well-known Kenyan habit. or number of employees), the scope Politics, which has dominated and complexity of what they do and public discourse in the country for the competitive landscape in each a couple of years, has certainly im- segment of the economy. pacted on activity in all spheres of Women running or occupying Laiman Bidali, Founder the economy — making it difficult for senior positions in companies with Alabastron Network Trust the thousands of brilliant and ambi- a multi-national reach still scored Women have lost their femininity tious women out there to show talent, higher marks than those in charge and want to be like men. Even when leadership and prowess in their fields of national/local agencies. you’re trying to be a man, why are of choice. In other words mobility In this list are also women profes- you becoming the nasty man? Why has been significantly slowed down sionals such as lawyers, architects, can’t you be the good version of during this period — and as the saying and partners in accounting firms, a guy if you’re trying to be goes —when the going gets tough, the included purely on the basis of the manly? tough get going. size (value) of the work they have As in the past, this year’s TOP 40 done. finalists were picked on the basis of The Top 40 Under 40 list has also well-known parameters we have awarded high marks to women who only come to sharpen and perfect have excelled in professions that have over the nine years we have paraded been and remain male dominated Kenya’s outstanding women. So in such as software engineering, actu- Rita this list are entrepreneurs, corporate arial science, aviation and engineer- Kavashe, MD high-fliers, law, finance and medical ing. This is because we believe there General Motors professionals, sportswomen, and should be no gender-based glass ceil- The fact that I am a woman, philanthropists. ing on any career aspiration. I know the right time to In picking this year’s TOP 40 compensate a female employee women, the Business Daily has which my male colleagues may stayed with the goal of making it OCHIENG’ RAPURO, EDITOR not know. I give them a raise or more than a list of the best known, promotion when they come back from maternity. It shows you are thinking about them beyond the office. 6th Nov 12th Nov, 2016 Kimathi Street, Nairobi P.O. Box 49010 GPO Nairobi n Telephone: 254 20 328 8104 n Fax: 254 20 214849 JOE MUGANDA Chief Executive Oicer Patricia TOM MSHINDI Editor-in- Chief | OCHIENG’ RAPURO Editor Business Nyaundi, ��������������� DIANA MWANGO BDLife Editor ������������������������������ JOAN PERERUAN Photographic Editor I think there’s increasingly room for MUTHOKI MUMO | LYNET IGADWAH | VICTOR JUMA | BONIFACE OTIENO | women, but some people still think they can JAMES NGUNJIRI | NEVILE OTUKI | JAMES KARIUKI | MUGAMBI MUTEGI | lock women out and there are some women | CONSTANT MUNDA | GERALD ANDAE | who still think the doors are locked. | STELLA MURUMBA | AFRICAN LAUGHTER | Writers GENNEVIEVE AWINO Senior Graphic Designer CONTACT US Follow us on Facebook.com/ BUSINESSDAILYAFRICA or join and follow our conversations on twitter @BD_Africa 2017 WOMEN 40 UNDER FORTY TOP and #BDLife. Cheers! Thursday October 19, 2017 | www.bdafrica.com III Top 40 Under Forty Women 2017 BOARDROOM DIVERSITY & INCLUSION Retail sector has the highest representation of female directors Kenya Vs Other Countries in Women Boardroom Representation Growth in women Education Diversity in Kenya representation in boards Women tend to be more educated than men in corporate boardroom. over the years in Kenya SOURCE: BOARDROOM DIVERSITY & INCLUSION BY KENYA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, 2017.COMPILED BY KEZIAH WANJIkU | GRAPHICS BY GENNEVIEVE AWINO IV Fortune‘s Most Powerful Women know The world’s most a thing or two about career success. The 50 businesswomen on the 2017 list have climbed up the ranks successful women of corporates in a wide range of industries— including tech, energy, defence, and consumer share their best goods—to C-level roles. Here’s the advice they have for women who want to follow in their career advice footsteps: Karen Lynch, president, Aetna “When I was being considered for a senior role, I was told on an evaluation to avoid wearing pink because it made Shari Ballard, me look too ‘girlish’… Indirectly, I was told my femininity was Senior EVP and a barrier. Because of my outward appearance, they couldn’t see my president of Multichannel internal strength. Regardless, I fought back and got the job. Ever since Retail, Best Buy then, I’ve made it a point to wear pink.” “Be clear on who are and what you’re serving with your life. Then, get ready for the world to relentlessly test you on how much you really mean it.” Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Defence, Space & Security, Boeing . Be your “No matter where you go, don’t lose who you are.” 1authentic self SOURCE: WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM Thursday October 19, 2017 | www.bdafrica.com V Top 40 Under Forty Women 2017 . Conidence 2is key Susan Wojcicki, CEO, YouTube, Google/Alphabet Michele “Speak up. Don’t be afraid Buck, president Kathleen Murphy, to say what’s on your mind and CEO, Hershey president, Personal Investing, or ask for what you want.” Fidelity Investments “Make your life work for you— you can have a fulfilling career and “Just go for it. Too often, women have a be an amazing mother.” confidence gap that makes them pause and Amy Hood, EVP and CFO, Microsoft slow down while men dive in and learn as “You won’t likely have the same plan they go. Just go for it!” in a few years that you have today. Life and priorities change—and so will your choices.” Cathy Engelbert, CEO, Deloitte “Raise your hand, take risks, and don’t fear failure—it’s one of the biggest impediments to success.” . Find 4the right balance for you Ginni Rometty, chairman, president, and CEO, IBM Sheryl Sandberg, “Be prepared to spot growth opportunities COO, Facebook when they present themselves—because Margaret they are the key learning opportunities. You’ll Keane, president and CEO, “Always take on new know because they make you Synchrony Financial challenges—even if you are uncomfortable, and your initial not sure you are completely impulse may be that you’re not “Life happens—and the conflicting demands ready.” ready. But remember: Growth of work and home often change your ‘original’ and comfort never co-exist.” path. Lateral movement, or even moves to smaller positions, can differentiate skills and experience in ways that eventually lead to bigger roles.” Mary Barra, chairman and CEO, General Motors: “Don’t cut off your career branches too early. Don’t step . Be open to away from your career based on what ‘might’ happen.” 3opportunities SOURCE: WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM VI Men often punch above their weight, how about women? The ‘conidence troops. The reinforcing reac- tions we see and feel in response gap’ holds most to our confidence also feed back to our brains to encourage more women back activity. The first step is to push back against the obstacles we know stand in our way by being mind- Stacie Grossman Bloom ful of the situation, and decid- ing to be confident. Making that complex decision is a multi-step process that taps into our emo- onfidence is something tions and engages many other that many women want, parts of the brain. but don’t know how to get. Men tend to overes- TRAIN YOUR BRAIN timate their abilities by Once we have made the deci- somethingC like 30 per cent. And it’s sion to be confident, we have to not that they’re faking this confi- start training our brains. dence, they genuinely believe it. Just like mastering any other We women, on the other hand, talent, gaining self-assurance re- tend routinely to underestimate quires repetition and time. Every our abilities. Our perception of our time we do or learn something talent skews lower than our actual new, our brains adjust to store worth. our new skill or bit of knowledge. Yet, we need to embrace our abili- Women tend to have a desire ties and our value and have self- to please others, to seek accept- esteem to be successful. Without ance and inclusion, and to avoid it, we are less likely to seek promo- And it means not trying to be resides within our brains. And conflict. The way we respond to tion, speak up in meetings, and rise perfect.