Interviews

A single act of faith can change an entire career trajectory. When Caxton Makau was still finding his footing after high school, a finance manager in the insurance industry took him under his wing. Years later, as the finance chief at Geminia Life Insurance, Caxton continues to pay that generosity forward.

With a career built across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, Madhvani Group CFO NVV Chalapathi Rao reflects on the decisions that shaped his career and the challenges that tested his leadership.

Doreen Mangesho once faced a financial crisis that changed everything about how she leads. Today, that lived experience defines her approach to managing turbulence.

Every step in Japhet Valerian’s career came from long nights of teaching himself what others already knew. His discipline became the engine of his rise, carrying him to the CFO seat long before most people get there.

I&M Bank Rwanda CFO Dederi Wimana changed her leadership by learning to listen first. She credits this lesson to raising five strong Gen Z children.

Maneno Mpagama works with a clear head, even when the pressure mounts. He has made a habit of calm thinking and knowing when to stand his ground.

Nareshbabu Kaparouthu has spent 18 years shaping finance systems across India, Oman and East Africa. He now leads efforts to build sustainable systems that make clean water projects possible in Tanzania.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Randa Rugangazi has played a central role in shaping growth at Irembo, where he steers a youthful team through complex strategy with a leadership style grounded in clarity and consistency.

Manish Ranjan has built his career on navigating complex markets while strengthening compliance and developing people. As he steps into a group-level role at Mabati Rolling Mills, the outgoing ALAF Tanzania CFO reflects on the challenges and resilience that have defined his career in East Africa.

Bag Innovation CFO Akash Ladha left behind a career in India to carve out his own path in Rwanda. He blends an understanding of systems with a mindful approach that helps his team make better decisions.

Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company (TMRC) CFO Joseph Mrawa has been chasing impact since he first started in finance. He sees leadership as a calling to invest in the growth of others and work for the common good.

Paul Mungai’s career has taken him across borders and through crises. The Jubilee Insurance group head of finance reflects on the early losses that shaped his sense of responsibility and the decisions that continue to define his leadership.

Relief Mtenga believes empathy is a necessity for every good leader. At Deloitte Consulting Tanzania, she leads her team with an intuitive understanding of what responsible finance truly means.

At NSSF Uganda, CFO Stevens Mwanje has recast the role of finance and helped steer investments towards small businesses. In his view, the work is about building systems that shift how money works in people’s lives.

After beginning his career in India, Dharmendra Agrawal now leads finance for Hyatt Hotels across East Africa. He shares how he has steered the business through headwinds and tailwinds by staying close to operations and building capable teams.

PSI Uganda’s head of finance and support services Christine Nakayenga began her tenure by taking on a task most finance leaders would outsource. That same initiative now defines her approach to leadership at the non-profit, which she is steering toward long-term sustainability.