Absa Bank Kenya has joined as a partner for the 2025 CFO Awards for East Africa, the region’s most prestigious celebration of finance leadership.

Behind every milestone in Philip ole Kamwaro’s career lies a quiet faith. The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) finance head says his deep personal conviction has carried him through milestones that once felt like detours.

Although some argue that leadership is instinctive, many finance executives learn this skill through trial and error. ZEP-RE CFO Dr Rachael Gitonga, AGL Tanzania FD Sekou Kaba, NSSF Uganda CFO Stevens Mwanje and I&M Bank Tanzania head of finance Veronica Magongo reflect on the experiences that taught them how to lead.

Sage regional VP for medium business Gerhard Hartman explains why East Africa’s finance leaders must become tech-savvy advisers who guide both compliance and transformation.

Most CFOs treat risk as something to manage and measure, but for those who go on to build their own companies, it is far more personal. Bag Innovation CFO Akash Ladha, Umoja Coin CFO Bornmathew Nuru, and BasiGo CFO Jonathan Green explain what it means to carry both the financial and emotional weight of running a business.

Solomon Nzomo grew up between the bustle of Eastleigh and the quiet of Sabaki, a contrast that gave him a unique lens on the world. As a CFO, he finds meaning in the stories the numbers tell.

The most powerful lessons often come at moments of change. Bank of Kigali CFO Anita Umuhire, I&M Bank Rwanda CFO Dederi Wimana and PASS Trust FD Doreen Mangesho look back on the turning points that took their journeys in a different direction.

Watu has released its 2024 sustainability report, highlighting achievements and challenges across its operations.

Hillary will lead the fintech’s financial strategy, operational excellence and inclusion agenda across East Africa.

After serving as Rwanda’s accountant general, Patrick Marara Shyaka found that crossing into the private sector came with unexpected challenges. The CFO of Rwanda Fertiliser Company reflects on the changes he had to make and the routines that keep him grounded.

Dunstan Stober’s journey as a writer began after his grandmother opened him up to the world of books. He now writes his own books and essays as a way to reflect on his life and share the resulting lessons.

UDB finance director Denis Ochieng outlines how the bank's sustainability programme is building a pipeline of sustainable projects and why green bonds will be central to its long-term impact.

Although finance leaders are often judged by profit margins and cost control, many find that their most meaningful contributions happen beyond the numbers. For ICEA Lion Uganda CFO Philip Ahabwe, Kioo financial controller Dipen Patel and Lake Turkana Wind Power CFO Alice Wathika, the real indicators of success are less about financial performance and more about the human impact of their work.

During the first-ever CFO East Africa Virtual Summit, titled CFO Ideas Worth Sharing, a breakout session on strategy brought together more than 50 finance executives. The conversation revealed that CFOs across East Africa are stepping into broader leadership roles.

AGL Tanzania CFO Sekou Kaba reflects on a career that has taken him across Anglophone, Lusophone, and Francophone Africa. He reveals how he learnt to step back from doing everything himself and embrace leadership built on openness and trust.

CFO East Africa’s first-ever virtual summit titled CFO Ideas Worth Sharing convened nearly 200 of the region’s finance leaders for a powerful session that tackled topics that remain top-of-mind for CFOs. Over three hours, a series of speakers shared insights that touched on the realities of financial leadership today.

For the last two months, James Nyutu has served as group managing director at Unga Group, having transitioned from the role of group finance and ICT director.

Across East Africa, regulatory changes and funding disruptions are frequent occurrences. Mi Vida Homes CFO Solomon Nzomo, CRDB Bank CFO Frederick Nshekanabo and PSI Uganda CFO Christine Nakayenga explain how they lead their organisations through times of uncertainty without losing their focus.

BK Group finance head Ange Ntiranyibagirwa retired his national soccer league jersey to build a high-flying career that spans banking, telecommunications, FMCG and infrastructure. He now leads finance at Rwanda’s largest financial services conglomerate while keeping his passion for the game alive.

As younger employees enter the workforce, CFOs are learning to adjust not only their leadership styles but also their expectations. Sika head of finance Msonga Msigala, Frostan group FD Seleman Issa and Geminia Life Insurance head of finance Caxton Makau share how they are approaching a new generation of professionals.