Gems and Nuggets Podcast Series by MaryAnne Mwaura

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – AnonymousWelcome to the Gems and Nuggets mini-series-themed, Gratitude Thursdays.  Listen to Lead Activator @MaryAnneMwaura as she shares in this month of Thanksgiving. #Pressplay What are you grateful for in 2021? 

"Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount." ~ Clare Boothe LuceWhat do you believe is the single most important quality that leaders today need to survive the future of work? According to Brené Brown, the leading American researcher and author on vulnerability, empathy, and shame, its courage. In the fourth episode of the Gems and Nuggets Podcast in 2021, our Lead Activator MaryAnne Mwaura speaks to Patricia Ithau. Growing into a courageous leader who leads their organizations in authentic and sustainable ways benefits your company and career. "A courageous leader has the gift of giving, courage comes in so many forms, in that you're not afraid to give off yourself. In giving of yourself, then courage is perceived," says Patricia. Courageous leaders who live their values instead of just talking about them are never silent about hard things.She continues to encourage women in leadership to bring their authentic selves and to let the right people be aware that they are available for opportunities.  What makes for great Leadership? #PressPlay #ActivateByDesign #ActivateWILA #GemsandNuggets #EnlightenElevateEvolve #LearnLeadandLeaveaLegacy #WomenOnBoards #WomanInLeadership #CourageousLeaders #CourageousLeadership

“Stop seeing it as office politics and start seeing it as office partnerships.”― @Erin HatzikostasIn the third episode of the Gems and Nuggets Podcast in 2021, our Lead Activator @MaryAnneMwaura speaks to @HopeMurera the MD @Zep-RE.Viewing corporate politics from the perspective of simple human interactions allows you to operate within that framework in a completely authentic way and leverage your natural strengths."Lead like a woman, women have the most effective style of leadership because women lead with empathy, love, and care," says Hope. She continues to encourage women in leadership to act in the light, position their organization as highly professional with good governance.  How can you manage corporate politics effectively? #PressPlay 

“In Pushback, top leadership consultant Selena Rezvani (she/her) argues that self-advocacy is critical to success. Yet women initiate negotiations four times less often than men, resulting in getting less of what they want—promotion opportunities, plum assignments, and higher pay.”In the second episode of the Gems and Nuggets Podcast in 2021, our Lead Activator MaryAnne Mwaura speaks to Racey Muchilwa who leads 46 countries in the SSA region at NovartisRacey takes us through her leadership journey, "Softness is the biggest strength you can put on the table when you are leading people," says Racey. She also encourages women leaders to exercise and strengthen the muscle of learning to push back whenever disrespect is served. Do you push back, ask and stand up for what you want? #PressPlay

“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” —William JamesLeaving a legacy as a professional is something few people are able to do, it takes faith, drive, and consistency. Everyone’s legacy is different. In the first episode of the Gems and Nuggets Podcast in 2021, it was an honor to have the legendary woman of many firsts, @Dr.MaryOkelo hold a conversation with our Lead Activator  @MaryAnneMwauraDr. Okelo highlights that as a woman, you always have to be conscious and look at what is happening to other women. Are there things we can do to support them? She encourages fellow women leaders to take it upon themselves, to support women because we ascend by lifting others. #ListenUp What will your legacy be? #ActivateByDesign #ActivateWILA #GemsandNuggets #EnlightenElevateEvolve #LearnLeadandLeaveaLegacy

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." Oprah WinfreyOur Lead Activator @MaryAnneMwaura had a chat with @Wawira Njiru in this last episode of 2020, themed “Harnessing The Power of Gratitude”. Gratitude is an often -overlooked aspect of leadership. Acquiring an attitude of gratitude is tough. But if you make the effort to practice it every day, in the midst of your hardship, you might find the thing that entirely transforms your life.Wawira shares with us that having gratitude for the beginnings, for how hard it has been, and for how much that has changed her as a person is important, she is now thankful for the lessons and growth gained over time. As we close out the year 2020, we wish you a Merry Christmas and we look forward to engaging with you in the New Year- and pray that it's a year filled with gratitude, success, and good health for all! #PressPlay #Gratitude #WomenInLeadership #ActivateWILA #GemsandNuggets #ActivateByDesign

Our Lead Activator MaryAnne Mwaura had a chat with Tewa Onasanya in this last season of 2020, themed ‘Harnessing the Power of Gratitude”.Research shows that gratitude encourages prosocial behavior as well as strengthen workplace relationships. It also reduces depressive symptoms via positive reframing and thus can have a positive impact on employee well-being. Tewa shares how the more you practice being grateful for specific elements of your life, the more you will have to be grateful for. It’s the same with the people around you. What strategies would help to nurture and sustain an attitude of gratitude in your work context? #PressPlay #Gratitude #Mindset #WomenInLeadership #ActivateWILA #GemsandNuggets #SelfAwareness #Mindfullness #EmotionalIntelligence

“It’s a pivotal moment and the future is bright- as we are the ones who will create the future!” — Dr. Anino EmuwaOur Lead Activator MaryAnne Mwaura had a chat with Anino Emuwa in this special episode on Finishing Strong.Leaders today must continually be a positive reminder to all that our personal and professional responsibility is to finish strong.Anino says "Resilience is about being able to continue despite the circumstances by recognizing where you have difficulties and calling for help" #PressPlay What actions have you put in place to finishing strong this year? #Resilience #FinishingStrong #Tenacity #WomenInLeadership #ActivateWILA #Optimistic #GemsandNuggets #SelfAwareness #Mindfullness #EmotionalIntelligence

“No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” – Alfred North Whitehead It's #PodcastFriday! in the first episode of ‘The Gratitude Series’ the Lead Activator @MaryAnne Mwaura speaks to the engaging @AgathaJumaGratitude is a habit. It’s a way of looking at the world and all the good things in it with a feeling of appreciation, regardless of whether or not your current situation is to your liking. This November, let’s take a step towards remembering the blessings in our lives and the lives of those around us.Agatha urges you to take time to look back and mine your stories, know your stories, own your stories and she assures us that it will change our lives. What or who do you have enabled you to become who you are? #PressPlay #ListenUp#WomenInLeadership #ActivateWILA #Reflection #GemsandNuggets #SelfAwareness #Mindfullness #EmotionalIntelligence #MineYourStories #Gratitude

“What helps you persevere is your resilience and commitment.” ― Roy T. Bennett.It's #PodcastFriday! in the fourth episode of the Journeys of Resilience series, we speak to Uduak Amimo.Like building a muscle, increasing your resilience takes time and intentionality. Focusing on healthy thinking, self-awareness among other tactics can empower you to increase your capacity to weather and grow from any situation. Uduak says "Women carry an unfair brunt of the worst of humanity and so if you don't cultivate resilience, it is very easy to lose your place both personally and professionally" How are you cultivating resilience?#PressPlay #ListenUp#Resilience #WomenInLeadership #ActivateWILA #Optimistic #GemsandNuggets #SelfAwareness #Mindfullness #EmotionalIntelligence

“She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.”― Elizabeth EdwardsIt's #PodcastFriday! in the third episode of the Journeys of Resilience series, we speak to @KaniniMutooni.People who respond with resilience recognize that life is neither all good nor all bad and are open to many possibilities. This is one of the reasons resilient people are described as optimistic because even when the situation looks doubtful, they are probably on the lookout for opportunities.Kanini stated that we need to identify and be intentional to have the right mentors, coaches, and sponsors in the workplace that are willing to be supportive of your leadership journey. In your leadership journey, have you identified who these individuals are to you? Share your thoughts in the comment section. #PressPlay #ListenUp #Resilience #WomenInLeadership #ActivateWILA #Optimistic #GemsandNuggets

“The only journey is the journey within.” – Rainer Maria RilkeIts #PodcastFriday! in the second episode of the Journeys of Resilience series, we speak to @Asim Shah.Leaders are an important aspect of recovery if one of their team members is struggling with a mental health issue. Asim shares his resilience journey and his nuggets of wisdom on how to cope and conquer depression. "Open communication about where you're at mentally is really important, sharing is half the job" he says. As we mark World Mental Health Day tomorrow, what are you doing to bring in more light, openness and unashamed conversation on this very important issue? As a leader what new policies and practices have you put in place to create a mentally healthy culture and maintain the overall mental wellness of your team? Share your thoughts in the comment section. #PressPlay #ListenUp #ActivateWILA #MentalWellness #MentalHealth #Resilience #GemsAndNuggets

When the sea or ocean comes rough, and the waves are highest, surfers take the wave head-on and rise above it, the journey of life is to find out what we are good at and do it well- Angie MurengaIts #PodcastFriday our first guest in this new series themed "Journeys of Resilience" is the lovely @AngieMurenga"Resilience is not a trait that you have or you don’t have. The good news is that these traits can be learned and developed. The muscle that is resilience is essential to maintain and grow our wellbeing, therefore we have to invest in the tools that help us cope with uncertainty. As we use the resilience muscle it gets stronger.What are you doing to strengthen your resilience muscle?#PressPlay #ListenUp #Resilience #WomenInLeadership #ActivateWILA #Ridethewave #GemsandNuggets

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. KennedyIt's #Podcast Friday! In this episode of the Breaking Through Glass Ceilings, Cliffs, and Walls series we speak to @MiriamMutebiThere is strength in increasing your numbers and building teams. Each team member whether male or female brings in a different skillset and clientele; the more diverse a team the more support, vision, and better outcomes are derived."You can't rely on a single skillset, continually develop your skills," says Dr. MiriamAs we end this Breaking Glass series let’s remember to demonstrate why you should have a seat at the table by playing the talent card and not the gender. Let us be courageous to let others know of our accomplishments.

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”― Noam ChomskyIts #PodcastFriday! In this episode of the series themed Breaking Through Glass Ceilings, Cliffs, and Walls, we speak to the tenacious and optimistic @AnneEriksson. Positivity allows us to learn from failures, pick up the pieces, and move on to something greater. Enthusiasm opens us up to new ideas, new experiences, and new possibilities. Cheerful leaders can help motivate and engage their employees. A positive team will be driven to accomplish goals and work together tomove things forward. "The glass is always half full & with opportunities to fill it up, it will fill up, it can fill up, either alone or with help from others," says Anne. #ListenUp #PressPlay#Optimistic #BreakGlassCeilings #BreakGlassWalls #AvoidGlassCliffs #Rise #Perform #WomenInLeadership #GemsandNuggets #Allies #ActivateWILA

“No matter what role you play in a meeting, how you show up in that role is critical to the meeting’s success.”― Emily M. AxelrodIts #PodcastFriday! In this episode of the series themed Breaking Through Glass Ceilings, Cliffs, and Walls, we speak to the fiercely loyal, non-judgmental, and liberal leader @CarolMusyoka. Every woman is entitled to achieve her full potential at work with good life integration. How you show up at work, how you get your job done, how you relate with your peers and, more importantly, your boss and your subordinates, is what will get you ahead."Show up diligently, ask the right questions and give the right challenges. Know how and when to do it respectfully, navigate the landmines carefully, engage actively and know when to speak and when to hold your tongue, treat management as a worthy partner." says CarolHow are you showing up every day? #ListenUp #PressPlay#ShowUp #BreakGlassCeilings #BreakGlassWalls #AvoidGlassCliffs #Rise #Perform #WomenInLeadership #GemsandNuggets #Allies #ActivateWILA

“Don’t aim to break the glass ceiling; aim to shatter it.”― Matshona DhliwayoIts #PodcastFriday! In the first episode of this new series themed Breaking Glass Ceilings, Cliffs and Walls, we speak to @Liz Macharia Mokabi. A successful career is filled with many roadblocks, walls and defeats that must be overcome. Women are encouraged to sustain the bravery that originally motivated them to get into the workforce with the tenacity and perseverance to get back up when they are inevitably knocked down. "We need to remain focused on our goals, connect with our passions, and build up the resources that will help insulate us along the way." says Liz #ListenUp #PressPlay

“Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.”― Michele JennaeIts #PodcastFriday in this episode, we are delighted to speak to the unconventional @AshaMweru on the topic "The Power of Partnerships and Networks". "If I look back and think about what networking has done for my career, it has been so fundamental. I realized that in this entrepreneurship journey, you will always meet people that are ahead of you and behind you. Network with a positive mind frame to learn from other people,” says AshaDear Activators, you can be yourself and get to know others authentically because you are not fixated on making an immediate sale. #PressPlay to learn more from Asha's well of wisdom # Listen Up

Know where you want to go and make sure the right people know about it." -- Meredith MahoneyIn this episode, we had a candid conversation with @Patricia Okelo who runs Willart Productions, Conferencing in A Box, and Kayana Create. This is what she had to say; In business #networking is essential, it provides growth to your business, #personalgrowth, and generally you as a leader. In onboarding a partner, spreading the risk is great but it is important to know what each partner is bringing to the table and be clear from the start. Support a woman because she is just a woman, Patricia explains how she has been natured by women, and her confidence built over time. Lastly, know yourself and be in your element because your path will open for you listen up!

"Pulling a good network together takes effort, sincerity, and time." -- Alan CollinsIn this series, themed The Power of Partnerships, our lead activator MaryAnne Mwaura speaks to her long time friend Isis Nyong'o Madison Founder of Mums Village Kenya, which recently merged with BabyBliss Nigeria and is the current CEO of the Bliss Group, a Pan-African entity focused on mother and child care.Isis possesses a nuanced understanding of how to scale media and technology businesses across the continent, she has founded and holds notable leadership positions at MumsVillage among many other companies.Isis shares how she has utilized her network to land all her jobs and how she has used it to created value in the different organizations in which she's worked. She draws on networking for her entrepreneurial ventures,such as getting clients, hiring people, and building partnerships. #ListenUp #PressPlay

In this episode, I am excited to interview our first male guest speaker, a Kenyan Olympic swimmer, media personality, rapper and entrepreneur, artist, Jason Dunford, OGH. Jason has been awarded Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya, the fifth-highest honour awarded by the Kenyan government, and was the Kenyan flag bearer in the 2012 Olympics. Starting a professional swimming career at the age of five, Jason shares with us insightful nuggets on overcoming fear, challenging himself, and continuously pushing beyond the comfort zone. He explains how he quit swimming at a professional level in 2014 to pursue an MBA and dedicate more resources to reinventing himself as a broadcast journalist for the BBC, as co-founder and adviser to a software company, Safi Analytics, and music and creative producer as Samaki Mkuu.To conclude the Winning Mindset Series, Jason teaches us six critical lessons: 1. Embrace fear: Many people view failure as something to be avoided at all costs. We learn from Jason that even Gold Medalists face this unpleasant emotion. “When you feel fear, learn to embrace it and connect with your inner power”. 2. Manage Naysayers: What do you do when your loved ones are critical of your dream? Or when they keep telling you to be more “realistic” or “sensible”. Jason talks about having to manage pessimists by staying focused on his dream and not allowing them to protect him from their own perception of risk. “Instead, inspire them to see what is possible when we take a risk and follow our hearts. Ask for their support, not their agreement” says, Jason. 3. Master the Art of Self Discipline: the most significant struggle is always within ourselves. Jason shared how prioritizing his swimming then his schoolwork, and later, in third place, his social life demanded huge but necessary sacrifices. 4. Believe in yourself: Believing in ourselves is the cornerstone of a winning mindset. We can all learn to harness the power of iteration and incremental improvement once we master self-belief. 5. Build a Support System for Success: Jason shares how his wife has been the rock on which his success was made possible. Likewise, we need to cultivate a secure support system that holds us accountable, gives us feedback, believes in us especially, when the going gets tough and cheering us on so we don’t quit before it is time. 6. Know when to Quit: Everything we do has an opportunity cost. While perseverance and “grit” are essential to success, so is knowing when to walk away.

“A winning mindset is one of constant improvement and doing things better.” Says Farah, who has uniquely sculptured a multi-faceted career. “You need to reflect on what went wrong and how you can do things differently, reflecting on your gut to things, taking cues from everything around you, and your past experiences to change your decisions and do things differently,” she adds. It is easy to set limits for ourselves based on our background, upbringing for even life events. This week, Farah Esmail challenges us that this doesn’t have to be the case and shows how we can break the stereotypes that hold us back. She has broken the boundaries of culture and age to craft a lifestyle that allows her to live intentionally and inspire others to live their best lives. A Corporate Lawyer, Business Consultant, and currently the Head of Kenya for the Sirdar Group, Farah helps organizations establish and maintain a strong and effective governance structure by appointing the right people to the Board of Directors and guiding them measuring Board Performance. Farah is a recipient of the CMO Asia Africa Women Leadership Award in 2019. Farah is also is a bodybuilder/body sculptor, an International IFBB Bikini Fitness Competitor, and an Ultimate Sports Nutrition and Ignite Fitness Ambassador. She has represented Kenya and competed internationally, emerging Top 10 (Open class) and Top 15 (Over 35 class) at the Amateur Olympia Las Vegas in September 2019. She has also completed five marathons; climbed both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya; has run fitness boot camps and spoken at numerous international engagements and regularly writes articles and blogs on nutrition health and fitness.In this second episode of the Winning Mindset Podcast Series, Farah shares her journey rebuilding her life after a divorce that saw her leaving a high flying career in the United States of America to return home to Kenya. We learn how a Winning Mindset led her to a newfound passion in bodybuilding and community service, and glean some insightful gems on how to do the same, despite our circumstances, age and even cultural background.You can read more about Farah here: https://usnkenya.com/athletes/farah-esmail/

Dear Listeners, what do all remarkable people and organizations have in common? They’ve discovered the power of a winning mindset. Listening to Felisters authentic story of the power of a positive mind has been inspirational as she emphasizes the point that the foundation for constructing winning results is a winning mindset!The beliefs we have about our talent, potential, and opportunities have a tremendous influence on how we perform. As a result, we rarely achieve more or become more than we believe we can. Why? This is because our mindset directs our behavior, which dictates our motivation, and ultimately determines our outcomes. A winning mindset produces results as it avoids making excuses or seeing oneself as a victim. A winning mindset determines how you will perform when it matters most.Felisters’ story teaches us that we sometimes need to bring our own chair to the table when one is not being offered willingly. Here are five valuable ways to make this Winning Mindset your competitive advantage: 1.Let go of self-limited thinking;2.Develop the courage to embrace the unknown and discover possibilities;3.Choose to think better and win from the inside out;4.Believe you can, execute a plan, and achieve success;5.Be weary of having a fixed mindset.The most important capacity we have is the ability to choose our mindset. A winning mindset is something that can be learned, changed, and leveraged. As the lead Activator, I encourage us all to have the self-belief to unlock your potential, your passion, and purpose by having a winning mindset.

This week as we conclude the Art of Reinvention series, Teressa Njoroge shares her reinvention journey after serving time in a Kenyan maximum prison for a crime she did not commit. Tired from unsuccessfully fighting for her freedom to finding a place of stillness, Teressa shares with us how she found forgiveness and a new purpose in life that shaped her life after prison in service to others. Her tremendous courage to stand up for justice and for her values serves as an inspiration to anyone feeling pushed to reinvent. She reminds us not to lose hope but instead, to embrace even the most unwelcome and undeserved circumstances life throws at us as an opportunity to reset.Step up with boldness to an intentional life of renewed purpose. Go ye therefore and reinvent!

In today's world, reinvention is competence and only those leaders who are able to adapt to the fast changes with leadership that is prepared to challenge the status quo will have a chance to lead their organizations to last success. The reality of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA)requires you and your business to seek new orientations and take a fresh approach to management. We need to develop empathetic behavior as meaning and purpose takes a central role in business activity. This will be defined by freedom, creativity, speed, flexibility, and a corporate culture that connects people.For reinvention to happen, we need introspection and reflection for growth and it demands from us all, a new mindset as well as a new set of skills. We all evolve. Change is all about reinvention and comes from an immediate need. It can be facilitated by transitions, marriage, divorce, death of a loved one, need for a new job, addiction, and other life events. We will survive and thrive by consistently remaking ourselves using uncertainty as an opportunity to develop our reinvention competence by leveraging our skills and networks in our past and current jobs, some which may soon be phased out, to prepare for our jobs in the future.Dr. Nancy Onyango shares some of her arsenals to overcome internal and external barriers to success. A strong support system, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and continuous self-improvement are among the gems she shares as must-haves for creating lasting change and reinvention. She explains that reinvention must have a clearly defined purpose, be driven by authenticity, pursue holistic growth, and celebrating little milestones along the way. In a world where being a black woman made her stand out, Dr. Onyango struggled with standing out and even tried to be invisible before she learned to embrace her identity as an African woman. By being her authentic self, she began to see her identity and background not as an impediment to her success, but as a strength and thus begun to claim opportunities, including her current job at the International Finance Corporation. Reinvention shouldn't depend on someone else changing, be about becoming someone else, be isolating, or dwell on the past. Life is a great equalizer, so do not apologize for your past, privileged or underprivileged. Instead, focus on how your actions today define your future success.

Clara’s reinvention story, reveals how you can turn your Pain into Purpose.Most of us have something in our past that’s a painful memory—a traumatic event, aheartbreak, bullying or rejection, exclusion, and abuse!Clara reminds you how important it is to learn from your past, let go, move on, forgive, and live in the present.The lessons drawn from Clara’s story of turning your pain into a purpose are:1) Focus on solutions, not problems2) Self-reflect 3) Bloom where you are planted4) Trust your gut instinct5) Use your experience to help others6) Build your inner circle and cultivate new relationshipsYou have the power to use pain to become wiser, better, and stronger than you were before.We wish you all the best in your reinvention journeys.

Welcome back to the Activate Gems and Nuggets podcast where we connect you to transformational leaders who share authentic, personal, and professional stories, behind their successes. I’m your host and Executive Coach, MaryAnne Mwaura Mutiga and in the month of June we will focus on the topic “The Art of Reinvention”. Reinvention is a competence – regardless of the function or responsibility you are in. We need to periodically refresh and reinvent ourselves. It calls on us to be prepared to do the things we feel strongly about and make today your best yet!In this episode, I’m honored for the opportunity to talk to the lively Antonina 'Nina' Odindo. She is the CEO of Sol Dada aka “Sun Sister” whose mission is to promote talent and design products that are born of passion. Nina shares her story of reinvention from a corporate in the Banking sector working in her home country, Kenya, to a Fashion entrepreneur in Singapore where she carved a space for herself by introducing African fashion and design to a predominantly Asian Market.

In this episode, I’m honoured for this opportunity to talk to my friend and mentor Esther Masese Waititu. The adventurous Esther is the Executive Director, Strategy Development, Corporate, and Investment Bank, East Africa at the Stanbic Bank. She served as the East Africa Regional Executive Head and Head of Product Management for Transactional Products and Services at Stanbic.The inspiration behind this podcast is one of Esther's favorite authors, John Maxwell famous for the quote, "The person grows from the inside to what we see on the outside". As a Leader, Esther believes that everyone matters, and therefore, everyone should be intentional in achieving their goals and determining the impact they intend to have in the societies they live in. At the time of this Podcasts Esther is preparing to transition to a new role in Zambia. She has also served at the Standard Chartered Bank as Product Head Transaction Banking, Southern Africa in Johannesburg, and senior Manager Customer Relationship Management, Corporate Institutional Banking in Nairobi. Prior to joining Standard Chartered Bank, in a span of 5 years 4 months, Esther rose from Corporate Finance Analyst to Corporate Finance Manager and later to Customer Relationship Management Manager at the Commercial Bank of Africa (former CBA Group) She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Eastern Africa Baraton with an MBA in Business Administration Management from the University of Liverpool.

What does it mean to have confidence? What is Executive Presence? In this episode, I am excited to explore this topic with my fellow coach, friend and mentor Dr. Catherine Munene. Dr. Catherine Munene. She is the Head of Talent at Vodafone for Africa, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific (AMAP) region. Catherine also not only an Executive Coach but also an advocate of coaching as an enabling tool for leaders to unlock and unleash their potential and capability.Currently the Head of Talent at Vodafone for Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific region, Dr. Munene shares insights from her personal journey. A story of continuous learning and evolving as a leader. Developing and managing confidence through preparation, practice, resilience, and perseverance. Catherine delivers precious gems of wisdom for anyone looking to grow in their leadership journey.As usual, we look forward to receiving your feedback! Thank you all for your continued support.

In this episode, Adeolu and I talk about the magic of speaking out and lending your voice in the workplace. We also explore the topic of self-care and share some gems and nuggets to get you back on track as you reprioritize during this COVID-19 pandemic.Adeolu is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), who is thrilled to finally be initiating direct growth and investment in Africa. Working to reshape her African position with the aim to win undisputable pan-Africa leadership. She drives one of the three pillars of the new growth strategy by pursuing a pipeline of merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities priority markets, including Kenya/East Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria. This includes formulating, budgeting, and executing M&A processes for the region, negotiating with internal and external stakeholders at the headquarters, regional and local levels, and delivering on-the-ground transformation post-acquisition. In her current position as the Regional Head of Mergers, Acquisitions, and Transformation Africa at Allianz. Prior to this, she was the Head of Strategy & Sales Development, Corporate Business in Istanbul Turkey, Head of Strategy Execution & Emerging Consumers, Global Life & Health in Germany and AVP, Global Reward & Performance, Group HR in German for the same Multinational organization.She holds a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Japanese (minor) from Penn State University. I present to you Adeolu Adewumi-Zer.

In this episode, I’m honored for the opportunity to talk to a leading Impact Investment professional who has experience working across several African markets. She has prior experience in commercial banking and is currently running a network of organizations supporting entrepreneurship in emerging markets.Her strengths lie in providing insights on the East Africa entrepreneurship ecosystem, seeking out and introducing like-minded organizations to each other to promote partnerships and highlighting opportunities for impact. A trained financial journalist, passionate about fueling economic growth in Africa through data driven journalism.She currently works as the Senior Regional Chapter Manager, East Africa at Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE). I present to you Maryanne Nyawira Ochola