By Dr Hanningtone Gaya, CEO – The Knowledge Warehouse Kenya
2025 marks a monumental milestone for Business Monthly EA – 30 beautiful and successful, yet challenging, years of publishing excellence. As I sit down to reflect on this incredible journey, I cannot help but feel elated and excited about how far we have come. It has been three decades of hard work, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to delivering first-class stories that matter to our readers.
In celebration of 30 years of excellence in publishing, Business Monthly EA highlights, in addition to the Top 25, three outstanding CEOs of the Year, each representing a decade. Chad S. Pollock, a visionary in fintech, is driving growth and innovation at Visa East Africa while democratising financial services across the region. Martin Ochien’g, a stalwart in the manufacturing sector, is making strides in global leadership as Chair of the Global Compact Network Kenya, the Kenyan arm of the United Nations Global Compact, where he has seen a notable rise in corporate membership. Lastly, Njeri Jomo is making significant moves in health insurance with her customer-focused leadership, driving increased uptake in this vital sector. The growing importance of the insurance industry is evidenced by banks entering the scene through bancassurance, underscoring its rising influence.
CEOs are the proverbial cornerstones of business success and sustainability. Without their visionary leadership, there would be no enterprise, no strategy, no spark to ignite the passion in teams or steer the ship in times of uncertainty. It is often said, “A great CEO is not just the brain behind a business – he or she is the heart and soul too,” and this issue is a testament to that truth.
These featured leaders are shaping industries and driving economies, as well as redefining leadership by embodying values that transcend profit margins – values rooted in ethics, integrity, and a profound commitment to the people they serve.
Reflecting on leadership today, I am reminded of the African School of Governance (ASG), founded by H.E. Paul Kagame and H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, which addresses Africa’s governance challenges. ASG aims to cultivate ethical leaders, echoing the values of those featured today.
As H.E. Desalegn aptly put it, “The time is ripe for an institution rooted in Africa’s needs and aspirations… This is not just an educational institution, but a movement towards sustainable African leadership.” Indeed, business leadership must reflect this same ethos – being a movement toward integrity-driven growth and decision-making that places people and purpose at its core.
To lead with ethics and integrity is no small feat, especially in today’s volatile and competitive markets. These values, however, are crucial for fostering long-term trust and credibility.
But what does ethical leadership look like in practice? For the CEOs in this issue, it is about being accountable to their teams, communities, and stakeholders. It is about making decisions that might not always be the most profitable in the short term but are right for the people they serve. These are leaders who understand, as Peter Drucker famously said, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”
As we celebrate decades of success and reflect on the values these CEOs uphold, what better way to reward such human-focused leaders than with KCB Mortgage products? Just as these remarkable CEOs lead with a focus on people, families, and ethical growth, KCB Mortgage is designed to cater to the heart of what matters most – ensuring that individuals and families have access to homes and security. The alignment of KCB’s human-centric approach to financing with the values of these esteemed leaders is not only fitting but a natural complement to their pursuit of sustainable growth and prosperity for all.
This issue is not just a celebration of success, but a recognition of human centricity and ethical leadership as the cornerstones of sustainable growth. The stories of these CEOs offer a roadmap for all of us in leadership roles. It is not enough to drive growth; we must do so with integrity, placing our values at the forefront of every decision.
In closing, I encourage every reader to reflect on what it means to lead with ethics and human centricity. More than a business imperative; it is a moral one – the only and right way of doing things. As the African School of Governance moves forward in shaping future leaders, and as we continue to celebrate those who lead with integrity, I am confident that the future of leadership – both in Africa and beyond – will be brighter, more inclusive, and undeniably ethical.
Thank you for being part of this movement toward ethical and purpose-driven leadership.
