Tell me something interesting about yourself.
I get fascinated by numbers. I did my undergraduate degree in community development, and then later on pursued a career in finance, going hard into it, running businesses, and getting really fascinated by numbers. But I’m also learning to fly a plane. One of the greatest things my instructor told me is that when you finish running, you take off.
What about flying attracted you?
I’m a very curious person. Growing up, we would wish to be a pilot. We looked at planes, ran outside-“Angalia ndege ikipita”-and that curiosity of wanting to be in a plane one day. Then you get into a plane, and you’re like, “I’m in this thing; how am I moving around with this instrument?” Then you want to know something deeper about it. You find yourself getting interested in aviation things here and there. And then, out of curiosity, now you want to fly it.
What has been easier than you expected about flight school?
I’m still in class, so maybe I’ll experience something even easier. But at the moment, what is easier is to trust your instruments. And it’s expensive, very expensive [chuckles].
What’s it like to be a beginner again, especially when you are used to being good at what you do?
It reminds you of how big the world is, and at that time, it reminds you how limitless you can be. It reminds you that no matter how small you are, you can make a dent in the world after just a matter of time.
How would you explain what you do to a 10-year-old?
I enable people to buy and sell.
What is the one thing you wish someone told you before you started in your career?
Don’t be afraid to start small. You don’t really need to have everything figured out before starting; just learn to execute while small. Because it took me a bit of time to rise in my career, start a business, and all that. I was afraid for the longest time. I started my own business at the end of 2024, and sometimes I wish I started earlier.
What is something useful you’ve learned from a deal that fell apart?
I was doing a transaction with a certain guy. The first transaction didn’t go well, but we ended up being very good friends; I even attended his wedding last year in France. In between, we’ve done so many transactions. We built beyond a client relationship into something greater. Always think beyond the current position.
Which city changed you the most?
Nairobi trained me the most; Dubai refined me. When I was in Nairobi, I learned the small things from there, the intricacies of business and all that. But when I moved to Dubai, I was able to scale it up.
What’s your top travel tip?
Don’t underestimate the value of conversation with a stranger.
Secondly, leave an itinerary for the unexpected. As a business person, always carry your laptop [chuckles]. I pack my laptop before anything else. Most importantly, when you visit a country, understand the country, the culture, and their way of doing business; that will teach you more than school. Travel light but prepared, and keep your documents and essentials handy.
Have you ever been somewhere that made you return home wanting to live differently?
There are business trips where you come out with money, and there are those where you meet people in big business or on vacation, learn from them, and realise where you need to tighten up or travel more. Every trip has had a lesson.
Is there something you once pursued relentlessly that, looking back, you’re glad didn’t work out?
Haha!Early in my career, there was a promotion I really chased and didn’t get. I was very disappointed at the time, but looking back, I don’t know how it would have affected my trajectory. Sometimes you chase a transaction and don’t get it, but someone else takes it, and later you learn it had its own problems in between.
What do people often get wrong about you? People think I’m extroverted. I am not.
Having spent much of your career around money, what is the most valuable advice about it that you have ever received?
The real value of money is what you do with it-building businesses, creating jobs, solving problems. On top of that, cash flow really matters. Also, do not confuse revenue with wealth, or money with success. Once you learn about compounding and how it works, the most important thing is to invest in yourself.
When you think about wealth, what does it mean to have enough?
I think wealth is well beyond money. I can’t put a figure to it. We tend to scale in terms of businesses because deep down you are not only gaining wealth, but you are also solving a problem, helping someone, and making the world better.
What is the biggest mistake you’ve made with money?
Focusing too much on making it and not enough on managing it. Another mistake was thinking more money would automatically solve a financial problem, when it really comes down to discipline.
Is there a version of success you would never want for yourself?
I would not want a success that looks impressive to the world but costs me my peace, my values, or the people who matter most to me. I don’t want to build a successful business at the expense of becoming someone I no longer recognise.
What is something you used to consider a luxury, but now you consider a necessity?
Growing up, luxury was a very different concept. Going to town was a luxury. Over time, your definition of that changes. At this stage in my life, good health, privacy, and financial freedom are necessities.
What does your fitness and exercise regimen look like now?
I go to the gym and take walks. I have a very athletic close friend, so there’s that extra push.
How do you know when you are overworking?
When I have to sacrifice my own time, like my fitness time or time with my family. When I have to sacrifice what is part of me outside work, I know I’m overworking.
What question do you wish someone would ask you, and how would you answer?
Maybe why I’m moving into fintech. Having worked in finance, I’ve interacted with many businesses across the globe, especially in Africa. Accessing the right financial infrastructure is difficult and slow when it comes to payments. I became interested in fintech because technology can remove some of those barriers. I want to build a solution that makes payments, access to capital, and cross-border trade more efficient for businesses operating in emerging markets.
Which habit are you trying to break?
Drinking too much Coca-Cola. It’s a bad habit.
And which habit has best served your life? Being aggressive. It has enabled me to thrive in companies and with business partners.
What does a good weekend look like for you?
A good weekend for me includes social time with friends and family, maybe going out of town, church on Sunday, and reading.
Tell me one book you read that has had the greatest impact on your life.
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. It gives a very different perspective on how success is painted.
Who do you know that I should know?
My parents. The way they raised us, and how they are still present at our older age in all aspects.
What is one lesson from your parents that you would want to pass on to your children?
To be present. Show up for people-friends, family-show up for the people you love.