Going the distance

Fewer than 0.1 percent of the world’s population will ever complete a marathon. Of those who do, fewer than four percent finish in under three hours. Brian Ngunjiri has achieved this six times, racing across some of the world’s most demanding and prestigious courses.

“I’ve completed four of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, all in under three hours. I’ve run Berlin twice, as well as London, Chicago and Boston. My fastest race was Vienna, where I ran 2:42,” he said.

Running, for Brian, is a discipline. It brings him perspective and gives him the ability to operate calmly under sustained pressure.

“High performance is rarely accidental. Whether in sport or leadership, results come from consistency, sound judgement and long-term intent,” he explained.

Over his 19-year career, Brian has grown into a trusted advisor to boards, CEOs and CFOs navigating increasingly complex environments. He operates comfortably at the point where governance, strategy and transformation intersect, an increasingly rare combination.

Fertile ground
“Professional services have changed dramatically. What hasn’t changed is the need for leaders who can think clearly, build strong teams, and make decisions that stand the test of time,” he added.

Now based in Rwanda, Brian sees the market as fertile ground for sharpening leadership skills. He described the country as well-governed and strategically aligned, an environment that rewards leaders who combine execution with foresight.

“Rwanda allows you to build deliberately. There’s clarity of regulation, strong institutions and an appetite for getting things right from the start. That’s attractive to any organisation thinking long term,” he continued.

With AI now part of day-to-day business decisions, Brian sees the technology as a strategic lever that calls for a shared understanding of value.

“CFOs sit on the most valuable asset organisations have: data. AI gives them the ability to move from hindsight to foresight, but only if it’s applied with intent and accountability,” he said.

Building depth
Rather than chasing scale for its own sake, Brian advised precision, which means identifying where AI improves forecasting or sharpens decision-making.

“In environments where capital is carefully allocated, leaders develop sharper judgement. You learn to prioritise what matters, move quickly and deliver outcomes,” he explained.

Brian is also intentional about nurturing talent. In markets like Rwanda, where experienced finance professionals are in high demand, he is keen to build depth. He has been deliberate about creating teams that can operate independently at senior levels.

“Strong leaders multiply capability. If everything runs through you, you become the bottleneck,” he said.

He recently delivered the commencement address at the inaugural graduation of the Institute of Certified Public Accountant of Rwanda’s (ICPAR’s), where more than 1,100 professionals were recognised, an experience he described as energising.

Creating value
“There’s real momentum here. You see a willingness to step into more strategic roles,” Brian said.

At work, Brian is known for asking the right questions and helping teams align when priorities compete. He builds credibility by making complex issues clear.

“When leaders trust the information in front of them, decisions improve. That’s where real value is created,” he added.

He is equally rigorous about his marathon training, often using data and AI-enabled tools to monitor his recovery and performance.

“Instinct matters. But data shows you patterns you’d otherwise miss. It helps you time your effort, not just expend it. You don’t run fast by pushing hard every day. You run fast because of disciplined preparation over time. Leadership works the same way,” he said.

Having recently completed the Valencia Marathon, with Cape Town and Sydney coming up next, Brian has set his sights on the next milestone.

He is excited to take on roles where leadership has a clear, measurable effect.

“What motivates me is progress. New problems, bigger questions, more impact.”