A Leadership Journey Rooted in Collaboration, Diversity, and Empowerment

My leadership style is deeply collaborative, and diversity focused. I firmly believe that no leader can achieve success alone; leveraging the skills and insights of your team is essential. In my view, every individual in an organization is a leader and must be held accountable for delivering results.

Throughout my leadership journey, I developed my own model—the CARE model of leadership. This approach embodies four key principles: Commitment, Awareness & Adaptability, Relationships, and Empowerment. The CARE model reflects my dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive leadership environment. It emphasizes commitment to delivering results regardless of one’s role, awareness of personal and team strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities, adaptability to navigate changing circumstances effectively, relationships built on trust and mutual respect, and empowerment of employees, customers, and communities to achieve shared goals.

Several defining moments have shaped my leadership journey. Early in my career, as a junior sales representative at General Motors Kenya, I identified an opportunity that would significantly impact the company’s trajectory. I noticed that we were not bidding for government tenders and decided to explore this untapped market. By scouring newspapers, I discovered a tender to supply 25 pick-ups to the Ministry of Agriculture, funded by the World Bank. Determined to pursue this opportunity, I wrote to Isuzu Motors Limited Japan to negotiate competitive terms. This initiative marked the beginning of tender business for the company, earning me recognition from my boss and boosting my visibility within the organization.

Following this success, I was assigned to lead business operations at the Coast, an area facing significant challenges. Initially hesitant due to personal commitments, but later decided to fully accept the role and fully dedicated myself to revitalizing the struggling business. By investing time in building strong relationships with dealers, I achieved remarkable business growth, which led to my promotion to National Sales Manager and later, in 2006, to Commercial Director.

In 2011, I faced a new challenge when I was sent to South Africa to design an export process for Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite my initial apprehension about leaving my comfort zone in Nairobi, I embraced the opportunity. The assignment expanded beyond its original scope, requiring me to close an office in Egypt, relocate staff, and manage the exit of senior employees. This experience tested my humility and courage, significantly broadening my leadership capabilities.

While still in Johannesburg, I received news that I would be appointed Managing Director of General Motors East Africa (GMEA), a role that transitioned to Isuzu EA in 2017. When I assumed leadership, our market share was 23%. Under my stewardship, we have grown this to an impressive 53.9%. This achievement underscores the importance of fearlessness, seizing opportunities, and building a strong, values-driven team.

I am deeply committed to leaving a legacy of women’s empowerment in leadership. Women have a unique ability to address complex challenges, including fostering collaboration and tackling climate change. Their strengths in empathy, communication, and nurturing are critical for solving today’s global problems.

I actively mentor and coach young girls and women, encouraging them to overcome fear and embrace leadership roles. I am inspired by Gen Z’s fearlessness and their advocacy for empowerment. This generation, which represents most of our population, brings transparency, innovation, and accountability to leadership roles. To nurture their potential, I introduced 14 Gen Zs into our Graduate-in-Training (GIT) program at Isuzu EA this year, offering them valuable experience over a one-year period.

Leadership today requires inclusivity, problem-solving, and adaptability. Women, especially in male-dominated industries, must embrace fearlessness and authenticity while stepping into leadership roles. At Isuzu EA, our success is a testament to tenacity, resilience, and a team aligned with shared values.

Key values that guide my leadership include tenacity to stay on course despite challenges, agility to adapt and respond to new circumstances, courage to make bold decisions, accountability to ensure results, and empowerment to enable people to achieve their potential.

My journey has been filled with valuable lessons rooted in hard work, humility, self-discipline, and effective management. As a leader, I continue to strive for excellence, guided by these principles and a commitment to empowering others to succeed.