CFO highlights the things that worked well in enabling her transition from banking to brewing.
Risper Genga joined the East African Breweries (EABL) as Group CFO three years ago after a stint in Zambia as the local CFO of Absa, the South African banking group. On LinkedIn she shared her five most important transition tips:
"I left the financial services industry after 12 amazing years with Barclays (now Absa Group) working across multiple countries and living in South Africa, Kenya and Zambia," she wrote. "In February, I started as Group CFO with EABL, a subsidiary of Diageo, and one of the jewels in the Group’s crown. So it was deeply meaningful to be entrusted with this role and to come back home to Kenya after 8 years."
"I share below some of the things that worked well in enabling my transition.
- Exit management - start by managing your exit with humility and grace, and if you are an employer, release your people with grace. Exit management should not be painful for either party.
- Transition management- Diageo put up a detailed transition plan, including working alongside my predecessor for 3 months. Enable your successor to win!
- Support system - I have had great support from other professionals, friends, colleagues, former colleagues and family. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- Patience - it is tempting to try and run ahead of yourself, but it’s better to listen, learn and be patient. Good things take time.
- Resilience - things may not always go your way (read covid-19) but stay strong and be positive."
