The deepest meaning of work often emerges when numbers meet real human lives. Yas Tanzania CFO Innocent Rwetabura, Finca Uganda CFO Robinah Siima, and Hewatele CFO Joan Andia reveal what gives their work a sense of purpose beyond the balance sheet.
When Joan Andia stepped into healthcare finance, she found herself in an industry where decisions carried immediate human consequences. At Hewatele, the oxygen social enterprise she leads as CFO, the stakes were heightened during the pandemic, when every delivery meant the difference between life and death.
“It’s fulfilling to receive positive feedback on lives saved because of timely supply of oxygen. And for me, that’s when you know that what you’re doing actually matters. That keeps you going,” she says.
Over time, Joan has come to see finance as a tool for long-term change. She believes CFOs should build resilient systems and help their organisations make decisions that will still matter five years later.
Her work has persuaded her that finance can serve as both a compass and a catalyst.
“We need to ask, how can we use finance not just to report what happened, but to shape what’s coming? That’s where the value is. I think we underestimate how much finance can do. We think it’s just about closing the books,” she says.
Flipping the pyramid
For Robinah Siima, the meaning of her work is most evident when her decisions reach underserved communities. She considers her role as CFO of Finca Uganda a bridge between decisions made in the boardroom and underserved communities. and the lives of the people at the bottom of the pyramid.
Her time at Finca has strengthened her conviction that finance can be a force for empowerment. In 2024, she won the Finca Uganda Star Award, which she sees as proof that she is on the right path.
“It’s a unanimous vote done by the entire institution. Finca Uganda has 30 branches. For me, it’s the most humbling award because it’s a vote from my internal customer. People kept saying that they feel I walk the journey with them all the way from the branch and for me that had always been a dream,” she says.
As a working mother, Robinah advocates for flexibility and empathy within the profession, saying intentional support structures can help women and younger staff thrive. She sees leadership as a duty to create conditions where others can bring their full selves to work.
“Every time I sit in this position, we make decisions that get down to the person at the bottom of the pyramid. It has been profoundly humbling to see how our decisions enable these individuals to access opportunities they might otherwise miss,” she says.
Beyond the bottom line
CFO Innocent Rwetabura has led Yas Tanzania through demanding transitions, including a merger that retained all staff while restructuring the business. He takes great pride in the careers of those he has mentored and the culture he has created at the telco.
“Because most of them started working at the Big Four audit firms, they were cooked to become good applicants. When you blend that with the culture we have here, teamwork and supporting each other, I know whatever assignments I’ve given to them will be delivered because they take ownership, and they feel they belong. They feel that they can make decisions, and you trust them. I have two of my team members who are going to group level now because I’ve mentored them here. For me, that’s a success. It’s fantastic,” he says.
Away from the office, Innocent carries the same conviction that leadership should make a wider impact. He has steered the company to create affordable mobile data packages for students, a decision he is particularly proud of. His philosophy is that finance has meaning when it leaves a mark on people’s futures. He therefore sees his legacy as one defined by service and mentorship.
“We are not there just to make money, but we want people to feel like they’ve been successful because they’re getting the service of Yas. For me, to be successful is to leave a mark. How many people have become successful through you? I get satisfaction from seeing other people succeeding because I’ve contributed something to their success,” he says.
