#11

Mohammed Hersi

CHIEF VISIONARY OFFICER, THE-POWER-OF-A-TWEET

Mohammed Hersi is Chairman of Kenya Tourism Federation, the umbrella body for the tourism industry in Kenya and the Group Director of Operations at Pollmans Tours & Safaris, Baobab Beach Resort & Spa Diani, Taita Hills Safari Resort & Spa and Salt Lick Safari Lodge. In these spaces, MH sleeps dreams and lives tourism. He is an optimist and strong believer in Africa. ‘While they say Africa is the next big thing, I always say that It is Africa’s time,’ opines MH with his warm and nostalgic smile.

A Rotarian for the past 20 years and past president of Rotary Club of Mombasa, the 3rd oldest Rotary Club in Africa, MH, as his peers in the business leadership refers to him, is also known as a leading Corporate Governance trainer for the past 15 years, mainly at the Centre of Corporate Governance. In the boards and institutions, MH remains a strong advocate for good corporate governance.

In 2020, MH was recognized for his role as a passionate and caring leader by being appointed by HE the President Uhuru Kenyatta to seat on the private sector inspired Kenya Covid-19 Emergency Fund Board, to help raise funds from the private sector to stem the tide of the havoc being unleashed in the country by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the Covid-19 disease.  

With 300K followers on twitter and 70K on Facebook, MH uses social media for the betterment of mankind. MH has deliberately chosen to be an optimist and always sign off “As always I choose to remain an optimist “. While MH raises pertinent issues that afflict society, MH does not hesitate to applaud good moves that will help the society.

‘’On my Twitter handle I helped give exposure to a young man on Ngong Road who soon became an internet sensation, managing to sell several pieces of his special garden seat bend cum table.  It garnered a reach of 3M and 60K Retweets’’ states MH.

The social media engagements by MH continue to manifest the power of a single tweet, leading to global recognition and awards, the latest being recognised as 2020 Winner Most Influential Digital Leader by IAfrikan.com, a digital publication with insights and analysis into how technology impacts Africa. This followed a tweet by MH sharing a WhatsApp video clip posting on Twitter, that earned a self-employed Nairobi furniture maker 800 orders worth Ksh 20 million in one week.

In giving back to society, MH is mentoring 20 young hotel managers, including 5 female Hotel General managers. This is what he has done in as many years as he has been in the Hotel sector of the Tourism industry: And more.

Every Friday on his Facebook, MH hosts a virtual flea market dubbed SokoHERSI where buyers and sellers interact one on one, buying and selling to each other. MH opted to start this during the second half of 2020 to give a window to Kenyans to trade following the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and cessation of movement.

MH, who lives at the holiday resort city of Mombasa with his lovely wife, three daughters and two sons, is a graduate of the Kenya Utalii College, Cornell University and Regent Business School, holding degrees in Hotel Management, general managers Programme and an MBA strategic management.

In the words of James Grieves Cook, a former CEO and Chairman of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), Mohammed Hersi is one of the leading players in Kenya’s tourism industry with many years’ experience at the most senior levels.

Mohammed continues to make a positive and effective contribution to shaping the future of the tourism industry, providing strategic and operational leadership and liaising with government authorities.

Most befitting, of course, are the words of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Chairman, Nicholas (Nik) Nik Nesbitt in congratulating MH for his latest award as the 2020 Winner Most Influential Digital Leader by IAfrikan.com and we quote verbatim, ‘@Mohammed Hersi fantastic recognition for how thoughtfully you share and shape insights into so much more than tourism. Your digital contributions make a big difference in the major discourse in the country. Thank you for always thinking and writing! Keep your digital engines firing away!

Mohammed speaks fluent French, Somali and Swahili.

CITATION

• Tourism Industry Policy and Leadership
• Hospitality Training and Mentorship
• Corporate Governance Advocacy
• E-Commerce
• MSMEs Incubation
• Social Media Influencer
• CSR