Interviews

Mastercard Foundation finance director Winnie Waweru asks the same question in every room she enters: Where is the voice of the young people?

As head of finance and operations at both PHAT! Music & Entertainment and Yakwetu, James Mwenda believes that the modern CFO’s greatest asset is the quality to never stop learning and an ability to connect people through effective communication. 

Daisy Wanjie has spent her career at the intersection of finance and impact. She explains how the organisation she helps lead is closing one of the continent's most persistent financing gaps.

Fredrick Kahenya’s ability to enter organisations and build finance functions from the ground has helped transform several organisations into businesses prepared for sustained growth. The group CFO of Osprey Renewables sees leadership as an opportunity to shape strategy and develop people who will one day lead without him.

Nahashon Gathai, director of finance and strategy at AA Kenya, has built a career by stepping into uncertainty. For the finance executive, the future belongs to those willing to learn continuously and welcome innovation.

Naivas CFO Jonathan Ng'ang'a decided he wanted to be an accountant in the third grade. He shares the governance secrets behind the company's longevity in the supermarket sector and explains the value of trusting your team.

In nearly a decade at Heritage Insurance, Luke Magambo has overhauled its financial architecture and led the company through the IFRS 17 transition. He speaks about his people-first philosophy and why he maintains absolute zero tolerance for unethical behaviour.

For Timothy Musiime, the path to becoming CFO of one of Uganda's largest financial institutions was never straightforward. He thinks that is precisely the point.

Linda Mfuchi Were has spent her entire career at one company, but she has never stood still. As L'Oréal East Africa's first black woman CFO, she is handling the shift from controller to strategic leader one lesson at a time.

A gruelling marathon experience taught Madison Group CFO Dr Daniel Murage the critical importance of pacing. The civil engineer turned 'value architect' now applies these lessons in endurance to his financial leadership, drawing on his history of steering massive digital growth to drive progress one step at a time.

A formative conversation with his father set Jambojet cfo Ira Kaviti on a path that changed how he thinks about purpose and leadership. He now applies the lessons he learned about trust during a stint in Bermuda to his work at the airline, where he is focused on keeping costs tight and making clear, practical decisions.

Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania CFO George Binde explains why finance leaders must choose action over excessive planning to successfully navigate a changing landscape.

Vodacom Tanzania finance director Hilda Bujiku made history as the telco’s first native Tanzanian and woman to hold the position. But behind the public triumphs is a hard-won battle with self-doubt. With renewed confidence and a track record of transformation, she is ready for what comes next.

Cold Solutions CFO and 2025 Finance and ESG Award winner Jackline Engefu Aluda explains why the modern CFO must transcend the traditional.

Sonia walked into finance from procurement, took a pay cut to get into development finance and spearheaded a $42 million grant for young women in Uganda's coffee sector. She reveals what the work has cost her and what it has given back.

Jubilee Health Insurance Tanzania CFO Nickson Motta believes a CFO's most important skill is a forecasted mindset. It is a conviction that has helped him unlock growth consistently across insurance and renewable energy.

When asked to share her journey into the C-suite, Aminah Galenda’s response is modest. “I might have one or two things to say.” But as the head of finance at Tropical Bank begins to share her journey, the irony is clear. Her “one or two things” are a masterclass in resilience.

Tracing his passion for commercial discipline back to his parents' business, BAT Uganda head of finance Andrew Muhangi has built a career spanning audit and corporate finance.

Crystal Ventures CFO Theogene Maniragaba reflects on the harsh feedback that reshaped his early career and why transparency matters more than appearing to know everything.

Weetabix finance director Dr Sebastian Nthama, PhD reflects on how navigating a war zone in Ethiopia shaped his resilient approach to leadership. He also reveals why he returned to university to pursue a law degree after 32 years in finance.