PowerUp head of finance and operations Eva Zalwango brings systems thinking to every challenge. But behind the discipline is a deeper drive to leave people better than she found them.

The AzamPesa CFO also serves on the fintech’s board regulatory compliance committee.

Dharmendra Agrawal, area director of finance at Hyatt Hotel Corporation, Gillian Lyimo, director of finance at Action for Democratic Governance, and Manish Ranjan, head of finance at ALAF Tanzania share the early career advice that continues to guide how they think and lead.

Ratnakar has also served in senior IT roles, leading major ERP implementations and establishing IT as a profit centre.

When Philip Ahabwe joined ICEA Lion Life Assurance Uganda as CFO, he had never led a department, and the finance function was still taking shape. But through a clear focus on mentoring others, he has built a team defined by growth and resilience.

Cold Solutions East Africa FD Nicholas Masaba has joined the list of finance leaders who will be competing in the 2025 ‘Oscars of Finance’.

As the CFO role continues to evolve, continuous learning has become increasingly essential to leadership. Beiersdorf FD Funlola Pearce, Irembo head of finance Randa Rugangazi, and BasiGo CFO Jonathan Green reveal the podcasts that challenge how they think and lead.

Safaricom CFO Dilip Pal joins the first cohort of nominees in the running for the inaugural ‘Oscars of Finance’.

Hewatele CFO Joan Andia has seen the entire gamut of leadership, from nurturing superiors who invest in the growth of their team members to managers who focus only on output. As the CFO of Hewatele, she is intentional about leading her team with empathy.

In his new role, Nicholas will oversee strategy and finance for a portfolio of eight companies across the region.

PostBank Uganda CFO Peter Ssenyange has joined the list of finance leaders who will be competing in the 2025 ‘Oscars of Finance’.

Tanzania Breweries board chairperson and former PwC Tanzania country senior partner Leonard Mususa has over three decades in assurance and board leadership. Ahead of the 2025 CFO Awards for East Africa, he unpacks why he sees the CFO as central to translating strategy into action.

The seasoned finance professional joins the first cohort of nominees in the running for the first-ever ‘Oscars of Finance’.

Until May 2025, Ronald served as the CFO of American Tower Company in Uganda.

CFO Joseph Masaku is not one to back down from a challenge. At Habib Bank AG Zurich, he is driving transformation with empathy and a grounded leadership philosophy.

Sotta Mining CFO Isaac Lupokela joins the running for the first-ever CFO Awards for East Africa.

Even for accomplished finance leaders, the desire to explore new disciplines never fades. For PowerUp head of finance Eva Zalwango, CRDB Bank CFO Frederick Nshekanabo, and IHS Towers FD Lilian Budandi, the skills they long to learn reflect personal interests they have carried quietly for years.

Bank of Kigali CFO Anita Umuhire has been nominated for the 2025 CFO Awards

Mantrac Tanzania finance director Sudhir Khanna has spent over four decades building resilient finance teams across India and Africa, always leaving them stronger than he found them. He believes the future of finance will be shaped by technology and 'doing business the right way'.

Baylor Foundation FD Marie Nassiwa Martin joins the first cohort of nominees in the running for the inaugural ‘Oscars of Finance’.