Interviews

Veronica Magongo, head of finance at I&M Bank Tanzania, has experienced different organisational cultures during her rich career. She believes in aligning personal values with the culture of the organisation.

Orge Godana, the group CFO at Java House Africa, is greatly inspired by Indra Nooyi. She considers Indra’s book My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our Future, a must-read for every professional, women in particular.

Zainab, the incoming country senior partner effective 1 July 2024, currently serves as the country operations partner, overseeing the firm's financial affairs and spearheading the Learning and Methodology Practice. She spoke to CFO East Africa about the firm's role in assisting CFOs meet their objectives and their support of the community as principal partner.

Joseph Sheffu, managing partner at EY Tanzania, details his leadership perspectives, his support of the CFO community and his perception of the business landscape in Tanzania.

Prior to joining Inyange Industries, FD Paul Tuyizere audited a number of manufacturing companies, which gave him insight into the sector and taught him how to handle high pressure situations.

Edward Kerich is a partner at PwC in Kenya with responsibility for Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) advisory. He took time to speak to CFO East Africa about the ESG landscape in the region, including the challenges and opportunities of sustainable practices and reporting.

In 2022, Rayson Foya and his colleagues took up the challenge to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro. During the process, it evoked memories of his time growing up in the area and how he worked as a porter for tourists who would pay him $40 to carry their luggage up the mountain.

One book that shaped Joseph Kahenya’s work perspective is Winning by Jack Welch. In particular, he loves the quote “any strategy, no matter how smart, is dead on arrival unless the company brings it to life with people – the right people”.

After braving the cold weather in the UK, Moses Kang’ethe, CFO of Britam Life Assurance Company, returned to Kenya to play his part in building a better country and have a better quality of life.

Over the last 14 years in Rwanda, Wafula David Wanjala, CFO for the African operations of ContourGlobal, has been a witness to the country's remarkable evolution in the accounting landscape.

Alkarim Jiwa is the group finance and strategy director at Diamond Trust Bank (DTB). He took time off his busy schedule to chat with CFO East Africa about himself, his role at the bank and his advice for fellow finance professionals.

Joseph Nzou Ndisya, who has worked for PwC Kenya for his entire 22-year career, believes it is important to never lose the personal touch with employees no matter how many there are. As part of this approach, he has instituted a Next-Gen council, so younger professionals have a forum to suggest ideas and drive transformation.

Anita Umuhire was appointed CFO of Rwanda's largest bank before the age of 40. She credits having the right values and demonstrating unwavering integrity as key assets on the road to success.

Emmanuel Mushi is the CFO of DHL Express Tanzania. His expertise is bolstered by previous roles as the head of finance at the Tanzanian subsidiaries of Green Resources AS and important contributions at Deloitte & Touche.

Many people have the impression that the public sector is slow, inefficient and bureaucratic. This is not necessarily the case in Kenya today, according to Stephen Vikiru Kinadira, general manager: Finance at Kenya Power and Lighting Company.

Standard Chartered Uganda CFO Kelvin Musana’s fascination with finance was sparked at a young age, when he delved into Frank Woods’ Business Accounting Volume 1 while waiting on his Grade 7 results.

Ash Makau, regional CFO for Africa and Europe at Volcafe, has furthered his expertise with certificates in Sustainability for Finance and Digital Innovation for Finance, showcasing a commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends.

Yusuf Omari, the finance director of Absa Bank Kenya, boasts an illustrious 20-year career in the banking sector, clearly demonstrating his deep-rooted expertise in financial management and strategic leadership. He recently unpacked the bank's full financial year results.

At 30 years old, Pathcare Kenya CFO Stephen Kimani is one of the youngest people in the organisation. He has been able to command the respect of his colleagues by ensuring that he demonstrates expert knowledge.

When Christine Sesay came back to Africa from Europe, she admits that she had a “saviour mentality”. However, she quickly learnt that she did not know more than the people she met. It was a humbling experience, which she today uses to ground herself in her current role as the CFO of Kepler in Rwanda.