For Jubilee Life Insurance Kenya CFO Catherine Ng’ang’a, success means making progress in her career and carrying people along with her as she does it.
Catherine Ng’ang’a, CFO for Jubilee Life Insurance Kenya, is keen to meet expectations and create confidence in her ability to get any job done, while maintaining life-work balance for herself.
“When pursuing my masters, I remember holding a conversation with my dad and asking him how he managed to hold all the balls up in the air and none dropping, work, studies, friends, family and self. His response was: ‘You have to get a way of balancing them all’. That advice has stuck with me. I therefore see personal success as not losing your family, friends, health or social life to your career. I cannot say I have reached that equilibrium, but I continue to work towards it,” she says.
The seed for Catherine’s career in finance was planted decades before she sat in her first accounting class at Daystar University. While at primary school, she helped her father fill out accounting ledgers and was exposed to different aspects of accounting. Years later, she read one of her elder sibling’s textbooks on finance and banking and enjoyed it. She said a silent prayer, hoping she would end up in either banking or insurance when she grew up.
“If I were to choose another career, I would possibly consider advertising. I find the creativity behind communicating product features to various audiences quite interesting. It was one of the non-core course electives on campus I really enjoyed,” she says.
Her secondment to a Jubilee subsidiary in Burundi to train and equip the finance team for a year was a milestone in her career. To date, she is filled with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment when she recalls the feeling of seeing the team succeed.
“I enjoy working for Jubilee Group because it aligns with my belief in doing things right and overcoming and breaking barriers. We have a diverse, visionary and highly qualified board that seeks to always preserve and grow our client’s capital,” she adds.
Fiduciary duty
Catherine draws fulfilment from seeing how enabling saving offers the possibility of a better quality of life to the company’s clients. The company’s core values resonate deeply with her, providing her with a sense of alignment.
She describes Jubilee as a “high-octane environment” in which passion is necessary for progress and growth. Catherine came to this realisation when she took part in organising the company’s 80th anniversary celebration. In the run up to the event, the team set out to make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children by restoring their sight, hearing, and mobility, and supporting their studies. Jubilee organised an art competition that gave the winners a fully sponsored secondary education, while those living with disabilities received prosthetic limbs, free ear operations and eye correction services.
“These initiatives empower children to better integrate into the society and progress in life. Being part of the committee, entrusted with creating and delivering assignments focused on improving lives, taught me the power of passion and belief in people. It continues to be incredibly rewarding to witness the lasting positive impact of our efforts. Seeing the ongoing transformation in those who benefit remains a deeply fulfilling experience,” she says.
Reflecting on her childhood, Catherine recalls riding bicycles with her siblings and the moments they had to stop to fix a chain that had slipped. She uses this memory as an analogy to highlight the importance of teamwork in achieving success and driving impact.
Catherine attributes her success to integrity and orderliness — virtues she has consistently upheld throughout her career. She expresses gratitude for working in a company that shares these values, particularly noting Jubilee’s obligation to its clients.
"At Jubilee, integrity is at the core of everything we do, ensuring we build and maintain client trust while upholding the highest ethical standards," she says.
