Top 40 Woman under 40 - Mukami Njeru

 

Meet Mukami Njeru, the Group Actuary at CIC Insurance Group. She is smart, inspirational and very approachable. I had the privilege to sit with this phenomenal woman and listen to her story. Once I reached out to her to be a part of the Top 40 interviews I was running, she was more than happy to be a part of it. Her story is nothing short of phenomenal. She is an alumnus of Loreto Limuru, a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and qualified as a Certified Enterprise Risk actuary. Mukami graduated from the University of Nairobi with a BSc. in Actuarial Science, First Class Honours.

C: How does it feel like being among this year’s Top 40 Women under 40?

M: It is both humbling and such a privilege. Being a nominee in a list with such phenomenal women is surreal. It has opened so many opportunities and doors and given me a chance to interact with so many people.

C: Kenya only has a handful of certified actuaries, and you are one of the few women on the list. What has it taken to get there?

M: I qualified as an actuary in 2012. I began my professional papers in my third year of university and by the time I graduated I had completed eight papers. I joined PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PwC) through their graduate program. I worked in the Corporate Finance and Advisory department. My boss who was from United Kingdom (UK) greatly supported me in my vision to follow the actuarial path. I was therefore able to transfer to PwC Australia on secondment to join the actuarial department. PwC has a global footprint and therefore the transfer was possible. This was a great opportunity which I gladly took. I attribute my days at PwC to giving me a broader view of the industry. I was in Australia for three years. While I was there I still continued pursuing my professional papers.

C: What was your experience in Australia like? Did it serve to give you international experience and global exposure?

M: My viewpoint and perspective changed. Australia serves the Asia- Pacific region and therefore I had diverse cultural interactions which enhanced my global exposure. The Australian actuarial approach is very practical and principle based. I therefore gained a wealth of knowledge.

C: What direction did your career take after the three years you spent in Australia?

M: I moved to London around 2011-2012 where I joined the actuarial department in Deloitte. There was a great demand for actuaries as Solvency 2 was coming onboard. I stayed and worked in London for two years. I later moved back to Kenya and started working for CIC Insurance Group as the group actuary. This was around the time when there was a new regulation requiring insurance companies to have actuaries.

C: What does your work as the Group Actuary entail?

M: My work entails developing and pricing insurance products and liaising with industry regulators. It also greatly involves financial risk, quantitative analysis and modelling. Moving back into the industry has been a great learning curve. It has involved a higher level of responsibility. It is a maturing experience.

C: What are your future plans in contributing to the actuarial industry in Kenya?

I have initiated several actuarial forums since I came back to Kenya. I look forward to contributing towards growing the actuarial industry in Kenya and I hope that there will be more female actuaries. I am looking forward to the growth of the profession in Kenya.

C: You are 29 years old and you have achieved great heights, what drives you to achieve all you have?

M: I believe opportunities and talents are God given. I have made the most of the opportunities that have come my way. My decision to do my actuarial papers was a big decision filled with uncertainty and the subsequent journey has been long and demanding. I greatly attribute my success to a good support system from those around me.

C: If you could describe yourself in one word, or using one animal or thing, what would that be?

M: An eagle. An eagle aims and soars high. I constantly set challenging and ambitious goals for myself which spurs me to aim high in all I do.

C: What are some of the challenges you have experienced?

M: The journey to qualifying as an actuary has been challenging. The professional papers are rigorous, demanding and require a great deal of sacrifice. In addition, relocating to different countries impacted my relationships. I was abroad for a number of years though I was fortunate enough to frequently visit Kenya.

C: What legacy would you want to leave?

M: Quality and diligence in my work. I would also like to make a tangible impact on people’s lives

C: What is your definition of success?

M: I believe success is “The people who know you the most respecting you the most”. To be successful is to have respect from the people who work closely with you and those that you have close relationships with.

C: Young people often seek instant gratification and haven’t adopted a culture of saving and investing. What is your advice to young people on saving and investing?

M: It is important to be prudent in your savings and investment. A culture of saving and investing is essential from early in life, developing financial discipline is a skill that is crucial to learn. I was able to attend a Financial Fitness four week course earlier in life. This instilled values of financial discipline, prudence and delayed gratification early in life.

C: The purpose of Calibrated blossom is to inspire young people to seek and chase inner perfection in all they do. It also aims to encourage a shift in mindset and spur people towards the direction of their dreams. What is your take on this?

M: It is true that sometimes the younger generation do not fully understand the purpose of going after their dreams. There is a mentality of complacency. However attaining your dreams is not only for your satisfaction, but also for those around you. It is important to fulfill God’s will and do what you can. Make the most of all the opportunities that come your way.

The World Summit Youth Award 2014 (WSYA) nominee- Esther Kinuthia

 

Esther Kinuthia is a phenomenal young woman . To add to her Top 40 woman under 40 award, she has recently been nominated for the The World Summit Youth Award 2014 (WSYA) for her campaign, Pro Life Movement Kenya. A global jury has selected the best 85 youth digital projects from around the world addressing the UN Development Goals. 

What is Pro Life Movement Kenya?

500,000+ abortions happen in Kenya yearly. That in other words, 500,000+ people are silently murdered in Kenya in a span of 12 months only. Thats a minimum of 40,000 deaths per month and at the least 1000 deaths daily. What is the difference between an abortionist and a murderer, Esther asks? 

She welcomes each and every one of you to join the ProLife movement ON YOUR OWN ACCORD. Her goal is to inform, inspire and ignite the Kenyan youth to join the ProLife movement because they believe in it.

The competition was fierce in 2014. Initially, 1896 users from 138 UN countries registered. Under

the guidance of Prof. Peter A. Bruck Chairman of the WSYA board, the Jury of international experts will select the 18 winners and 12 runnersup of the WSYA 2014.

Next Step: Winners’ Ceremony and WSYA Congress in Brazil

In a second round of evaluation, the Pro Life Movement has the chance to be selected as an outstanding contribution to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals through online creations.

Hosted by the Humanitare Foundation, the winners’ ceremony will be held on November 28th to December 1th, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This event will feature worldclass keynote speeches, hands on workshops and engaging panel discussions about social entrepreneurship and the content industry. The shortlisted candidates that will join the winners event will be announced at the end of August 2014.

You can have a look at her blog to learn more: http://missindependent.co.ke/youngest-in-kenya-top-40-under-40-woman-shortlisted-in-the-world-youth-summit-award/

Calibrated Blossom would like to deeply congratulate Esther for her remarkable campaign and outstanding contribution to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. We encourage all of you to join and support the movement. We wish her well and believe she will bring home The World Summit Youth Award 2014 (WSYA).

#ChasingPerfection

Top 40 Woman under 40- Esther Kinuthia

 

Go-getter, influential, ball of energy.. just a few words to describe this amazing lady I had the chance to sit down with and interview. The second youngest nominee among the 2014 Top 40 women under 40. She is the 22 year old blogger who featured in this year’s list of top 40 women. Who better than to kick off this series? She oozes such confidence, warmth and self-assuredness that is difficult to spot in a person as young as her. This makes the interview smooth, infact like a conversation among old friends. Sit back, be challenged and let’s delve into the life of Esther Kinuthia, blogger extraordinaire.

C: You were the second youngest woman in this year’s Top 40 Women under 40. A huge congratulations on that!! Did you expect it?

E: It was such a huge surprise.  At first I thought “Wait is that email meant for me?” I was in such shock when I received the email. The first thing that came to my mind was gratitude. It’s a feeling you can’t describe really, and trying to describe it might just fail to reflect the immense gratitude I have for My Parents, My Family, Friends, Colleagues and basically everyone that has seen me through this journey. This award is representative of the people that have shaped me to be who I am today.

C: So how does it work? Tell us how you got to feature in this prestigious list. Did people nominate you and did you have an idea?

E: Actually, I didn’t even know that there were any nominations going on. Nominations are announced and people begin to nominate people they believe in, you can also nominate yourself as well.  At the end of the day it’s the judges that decide; they assess all the nominations received and narrow it down to the Top 40. I was nominated by someone and the judges picked me.

C: So who do you think nominated you? Do you think it’s your readers or your interviewees?

E: Haha! I don’t know. I don’t know how many nominations I received and from whom. I would like it to remain anonymous. Some of these things are beautiful in simply knowing that someone unknown nominated you; someone somewhere believed in you. I would like it to remain like that. Maybe I could put up a post about it one day and find out who it was , but I think I just want it to remain anonymous. Like I said, this award is representative of people who have seen me through this journey.

C: So how did it feel like being the second youngest nominee?

E: I was the youngest in Kenya. Malaika Firth, the 20 year old nominee, is in the States. So I always like taking “The youngest in Kenya” fete. Again, I can’t find words to describe this amazing feeling. It’s incredibly awesome.I remember when I approached Angela Angwenyi and Lorna Irungu to say hi and they were like “Congratulations”  They already knew me!! Being the second youngest on the list actually made people know me. It’s unimaginably amazing. This award is a huge opportunity to show the African youth it that it can be done regardless of where you come from.

C: There was an award ceremony held recently for the Top 40 women. What was the experience like?

E: It was so much fun. I interacted with lovely ladies. The talks were very inspiring I literally left Safari Park Hotel feeling like the next Bill Gates. The awards were held at the Safari Park Hotel which of course meant great music, great food and great ambiance. It was African themed. Everyone was so friendly ,we took selfies and I left there having made 39 friends. I usually say that the best part about this award is that you get to make some really good friends-amazing ladies in this country. It’s a pool of networking with the best of the best. I am glad to announce that Daddy Dearest was my plus one.

C: Now that you bring up your dad, it makes it a smooth transition into my next question. You talk a lot about your dad. He has been a major support in your life. Tell us a bit about that.

E: My Dad is my biggest fan and supporter. He is the one person that has truly believed in me since I was born. During exams my Dad never told me “Be number one”. Despite being a top student, he never made it seem like being number one was the only thing.  His message was always “ Be the best you can be”

I remember when I was young, I used to be like: “ Dad lets go to the casino and win a million shillings”.  Back then a million shillings seemed like everything. But he’d give me the same answer all the time:  “No Mum, easy money comes and goes. Work hard and get your own money”. These values have been instilled in me since I was young. It’s not that I was born independent or confident, someone had to instill these virtues in me and that has been my Dad. Also, I come from a very tight-knit family. I believe it’s the head of the family who is responsible for creating a good and strong family. I really thank my Dad for My Family. He has been a good example to all of us including some of my siblings who are now parents.

C: How has your dad supported your blogging ambitions?

E: My Dad has been so supportive it’s crazy. He has driven me to most of my shoots and waited for me for hours as I did my thing. Despite being a busy entrepreneur, he’d be there supporting me. Sometimes of course he was scared that I would neglect my education so he’d suggest I focus more on school but he would never tell me to stop blogging. He knows it’s what I really want to do.

C: How has life been growing up? Walk us through your life from childhood to today.

E: I started In Le Pic Primary school from Nursery to class six. I didn’t go to baby class. In class seven and eight the school required us to board and my Dad doesn’t support boarding. I therefore transferred to Forest View Academy for class seven and eight where I sat for my K.C.P.E. I then went to Kianda School where I sat for my K.C.S.E. I am currently a fourth year student at Strathmore University studying BCOM-Marketing.

C: Miss Independent is the powerful name of your blog. Why that name?

E: The reason I named my blog Miss Independent is because it reflects what I stand for- Being the best you can be without having to wait for connections to help you succeed in life.

C: On that note, how does the “Miss I” persona tie in with your life. How does it influence your interaction with other people?

E: It’s very humbling and inspiring because now I get to be a mentor to various people that have sought mentorship from me.

C: And do your friends understand your busy schedule?

E: I always say a good friend will understand you. I have supportive friends. I think it’s important to invest these young years finding and building yourself, surrounded with true friends.

C: The motto of your blog is: Inform, Inspire, Ignite. Why those words?

E: My motto used to be "Inspire Enlighten and Motivate". When I re-branded this changed to Inform, Inspire and Ignite (Three I’s). I wanted something with I’s but still retaining the same message. My interviews seek to bring out the best in people.

I now have an I-team. I host three blogs under my domain and these are 411, Just a girl and Spark.  Each blog focuses in a unique area. Just a girl handles relationships, 411 handles music and entertainment and SPARK deals with peace, wildlife conservation and clubs.

C: Odipodev hosted your blog for six months. Why the transition from Odipodev to your own independent site? What was the move like?

E: Odipodev hosted me for 6 months after which their business focus changed to data mining. I therefore needed to transition which was not a cup of tea for me. I remember I cried on that night. I needed to get hosting space but I had NO idea what hosting space was. I sought help from i-Lab in Strathmore and was able to make the transition. It was a learning experience where I learnt how to take change positively and how to adapt quickly.

C: What are your future plans with the blog?

E: To give more value to my readers.

C: You recently turned 22. What are your future plans?

E: Miss Independent Show and Miss Independent Magazine

C: What one word, adjective or animal would you say describes you?

E: I have 3 animals in mind. An eagle because I always seek to soar higher. A butterfly which is delicate, beautiful but dares to fly against the wind. I don’t conform. Finally a swan which is graceful and loyal. I am a very loyal person.

C: What legacy would you like to leave? When someone says Esther or miss I, what do you want that to be associated with?

E: Happiness and my motto: Refuse to be average. It encompasses values, success and personal development. My blog is based on Albert Einstein’s quote “Try not to become a man of success, but rather a man of value”. This essentially means being the best you can be. When you refuse to be average you will be happy because you will have achieved all your dreams.

C: The purpose of Calibrated Blossom is to inspire young people to seek and chase inner perfection in all they do. It also aims to encourage a shift in mindset and spur people towards the direction of their dreams. What advice would you give the readers in terms of success?

E: Follow your heart and believe in yourself. No one will believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself, unless they really love you, they won’t. Go out there and do something GREAT.

C: What is your definition of success?

E: Happiness :)

C: If anyone wanted to reach you or have a look at what you do, what would be the best way to go about it?

It’s super easy. Kindly go to my blog ( missindependent.co.ke) and click on the CONTACT ME field. Do shoot me an email and I will respond.

C: Do you have any parting shot?

E: I would like to thank each and every person that reads my blog. My readers have seen me through this journey for the past 16 months, they majorly contributed to me winning the Top 40 woman under 40 award. Finally, REFUSE TO BE AVERAGE.