A single act of faith can change an entire career trajectory. When Caxton Makau was still finding his footing after high school, a finance manager in the insurance industry took him under his wing. Years later, as the finance chief at Geminia Life Insurance, Caxton continues to pay that generosity forward.
Caxton Makau still recalls the text messages he used to send his mentor after he passed each examination. The man, who was a finance manager at an insurance company, would call soon after and tell Caxton to alert him the next time his school fees were due. For Caxton, this was a profound vote of confidence that made his path clearer
“He guided me through my studies and told me he would pay my CPA exam fees as long as I passed. That made my journey easier and taught me the value of helping others who come after you,” he says.
As early as Form Two, Caxton had listed accounting as his first career choice. After high school, he followed his mentor’s example and enrolled for a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
“I started my career in internal audit before moving into finance. I later joined Pioneer Insurance as a management accountant and stayed there for three and a half years. After that, I moved to Kenya Orient to gain experience in general insurance. But I eventually realised that my strength was in life insurance, so I moved back and joined Geminia Life, where I am now,” he explains.
When Caxton joined Geminia Life, the company had just separated its general and life business, a complex process fraught with regulatory and operational challenges. The task of ensuring compliance and building a new financial base fell squarely on his desk. It was an intricate process that required precision and a firm understanding of both regulation and risk.
“I was the contact person for ensuring a smooth separation and transfer of assets. Over the last three years, we have been able to pay dividends in two consecutive years, something we could not do before. It is a milestone that shows how far we have come,” he reveals.
A fresh paradigm
With each chapter of his career, Caxton’s view of finance has evolved. The numbers still matter, but the stories and strategic decisions behind them now matter more.
“As you go up the ladder, you get to a level where you make decisions that determine the company’s direction. You also learn to align finance strategy with the company’s goals and find ways to innovate, especially in cost management. Finance then becomes exciting because you’re shaping history rather than just recording it,” he says.
His experience across life and general insurance has given him a balanced view of the industry’s challenges. He recalls a period at a general insurer when delayed claim payments led to adverse court judgements.
“We had claims being ruled on in the small claims court and even saw assets being attached. It was a tough period, but I learned the importance of teamwork and communication. I created a list of all pending rulings and followed up on each case to ensure we prioritised payments and avoided unnecessary costs,” he says.
In his current role, Caxton strives to ensure that finance is not isolated but deeply connected to underwriting, claims, sales, HR, and operations. To do that, he immerses himself in every function, attending team meetings, understanding products and learning from staff at all levels. But he draws his most valuable insights from informal conversations, like a brief chat in the lift.
“When I joined insurance, I wanted to understand every segment. I took short courses in underwriting and gained knowledge in reinsurance and claims management. This helps me engage more meaningfully with other teams,” he explains.
Caxton’s leadership philosophy rests on three pillars: humility, accountability, and continuous learning. He believes that leaders must be approachable, present, and willing to learn from anyone, regardless of their position.
“I’ve learned that leadership is not about having all the answers. It’s about creating an environment where people feel confident enough to contribute theirs,” he says.
As automation and AI continue to gain traction, Caxton is focused on driving digital transformation and enhancing customer experience. He is certain that the future of life insurance lies in data-led decision-making.
“We are entering a phase where innovation is no longer optional. My vision is to build a finance function that not only supports strategy but anticipates it,” he reveals.
The new generation
Despite his focus on systems and financial optimisation, people remain Caxton’s central priority. He recognizes that Generation Z professionals, who are now entering the workplace, think differently from millennials, his own generation. For this reason, he encourages mental-health support and believes modern organisations should explore innovations such as mental-health days or even four-day work weeks.
“As leaders, we must find ways to coexist and adapt to their behaviours. I believe organisations should consider a mental day once a month to help teams recharge. Studies have shown that a four-day work week can match or even exceed the productivity of five days,” he says.
Caxton is particularly proud of ‘Tribe Senti’, an in-house internship and mentorship programme that rotates graduates across departments and pairs them with mentors, ending with a capstone project. Many of its participants have gone on to secure full-time roles at the company.
“When you hire from the industry, retaining people can be tough. But when you recruit from the entry level and train them, they stay. Through our programme, interns rotate across departments, work on a project, and present their ideas to management. We then absorb those who are a culture fit, and they often stay longer than external hires,” he reveals.
The courage to keep moving
He offers a simple message to the next generation of finance and insurance professionals.
“You don’t need to have everything figured out on day one. Stay curious, stay disciplined, and seek mentors who believe in your potential. What matters most is the willingness to learn and the courage to keep moving forward,” he says.
The soft-spoken finance executive is grounded by simple pleasures. He is passionate about farming, which he calls “the future of this country,” and tends to a small herd of goats and cows. On weekends, he watches football and occasionally plays in a casual group that meets to relax and connect. He also serves on school boards in his rural community, a role that keeps him rooted in service and community life.
“At home there is a kind of relaxation that is different from what you get in Nairobi. I enjoy visiting my parents, attending school board meetings, and spending time with friends. It helps me stay grounded and reminds me why I do what I do,” he says.
