Beatrice Mwangi, 29, vividly remembers the good old days when she had to move around Nairobi with her mum, grabbing an opportunity to be exposed to different social set ups and markets. Now she works with Superior Homes Kenya Ltd in the capacity of a retail manager at Arcadia, Green Park, which is a short distance from Mombasa road.
A proud mum to a 6-year-old boy, Ms Mwangi was born and brought up in Buru Buru Phase 1, Nairobi. She attended Silver Gate Academy (primary school) and thereafter joined Mt. Laverna Girls High School. After the Kenya Certificate of Secondary School, she join the University of Nairobi where she pursued undergraduate studies in Bachelor of Arts- Communication, Tourism, and Sociology. After undergraduate studies, her mission was to work with recreation centres and hotels because she was passionate about the tourism industry. She talks to Victor Adar on her career journey, how she started, how she has advanced through the years, and what she attributes the growth to.
Tell us about your career path…
I was intrigued by the different societies, cultures, and how we share our history which motivated me to pursue a career and grow in the industry.
What is your leadership style?
I would say that I am a transformational leader; I value the conditions within which employees work and I strive to bring out the best in everyone even when changes occur. Over the years, I have seen the importance of making sure that everyone in a team understands their role well enough to enjoy it. At the end of the day, if you are happy and performing well, the entire company/ organization is happy, and this will contribute greatly to positive output.
What is your proudest accomplishment in life thus far and what’s your biggest lesson?
My proudest accomplishment was when I got the opportunity to work at Garden City Mall during its inception. It was a new mall that had just been launched in the Kenyan market at the time and the largest retail center at that time. I was tasked with leading the operations departments where I worked alongside a dedicated team while at the same time created an enabling and comfortable environment where sub-contractors performed very well. My role at the company at the time made me learn the importance of work-life balance since I had to juggle work and take care of my first-born son. It was at a time I was growing to lead a team and feared taking a step up. I learnt that you should never fear taking a step forward regardless of the situation. Try it. I am glad I did.
If you were to take back the hand of time, what would you change about your life?
There is nothing I would want to change; I am thankful for the ups and downs I have experienced. I have learnt so much along the way that I would not want to take back anything.
What advice would you give to the youth in the corporate world?
I would advise the youth to work hard and be willing to go the extra mile in their fields of expertise. As a young person trying to maneuver your way through the corporate world, be open to embracing all the changes that you might encounter as this plays a key part in your growth. The changes along the way are what make you stronger and are your ladder to the next phase of life.
What keeps you awake at night?
My dreams keep me up. I have set goals and targets for myself that I envision my future self as. I stay up strategizing on how to achieve these goals. I would like to grow and learn the things that I still do not know. I would like to learn new things and improve throughout my career. I also strive to overcome all my fears especially for the things that are out of my control.
What do you do for fun?
I love to dance. Dancing is therapeutic for me. It helps me relax and remain active throughout my week. I also enjoy hiking occasionally. I love experiencing beautiful sceneries and exploring nature. I am also able to brave new achievements through this remaining testament to my growth.
What are your career future plans?
I want to create a name for myself in the retail market as a reliable consultant in facilities management and someday own a retail center of my own. I would like to build my brand and establish myself as an expert within the real estate industry.
