BY KEVIN MOTAROKI A generally confident mien, image and personality coaches agree, is one of the major ingredients of enigmatic leadership. Because there is never a shortage of critics and naysayers, an optimistic disposition can inspire calmness and confidence during crises, and help generate much-desired solutions, or inspire a dejected public. It is part of the deal of what makes a leader. John A Barnes, in his book, John F. Kennedy on Leadership: The Lessons and Legacy of a President, recalls the desolate state of New York City two decades ago in 1993, when it teetered on the brink of…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
BY VICTOR ADAR As demand for flashy devices continue to rise, Smartphone manufacturers are turning innovative with more and more brands launching mobile phones with impressive features like powerful cameras, stylish finishes, mobile data, large touch screens, and mainly targeting the middle and high-end customers. OPPO is one mobile manufacturer among an array of brands that have become a familiar name in Kenya and beyond, managing to cut through tough competition. In China 2016 was the brand’s milestone year. In terms of shipment, the Chinese firm was the number one Smartphone brand in China with 16.8% market share, and number…
BY DR KELLEN KIAMBATI Process consultation (PC) is a general framework for carrying out helping relationships. Schein defines process consultation as “the creation of a relationship that permits the client to perceive, understand, and act on the process events that occur in his or her internal and external environment in order to improve the situation as defined by the client.” The process consultant does not offer expert help in the form of solutions to problems, as in the doctor–patient model. Rather, he works to help managers, employees, and groups assess and improve human processes, such as communication, interpersonal relations, decision-making,…
By Darrel Orsmond The insurance industry is facing its very own Kodak moment. Forty years after the once heart-warming 1970s ad slogan became part of popular culture, it now reminds one more of Kodak’s spectacular failure to act in the face of massive industry-wide disruption than it does to capturing special moments. One of the world’s most dominant market leaders was virtually wiped out because it simply could not adapt to a changing consumer and business environment. Insurance providers across the world are facing increasing pressure of costs, the ability to grow revenues and their contact with customers. Generally, they…
An analysis of seat capacity for travel to the top ten international airports in Africa reveals that Lagos is seeing substantial declines in both domestic and international capacity mainly because Arik Air is cutting 53% of its seats for the rest of 2017. During the coming five months, August – December 2017, there will be 16% fewer airline seats on domestic routes and 9% fewer on international routes to and from Lagos. Most of the other airports in Africa’s top ten are seeing a healthy growth in capacity, which is more international than it is domestic. However, the most notable…
In a move expected to tackle unemployment and also as part of social corporate responsibility, Gulf African Bank (GAB), a signatory of the United Nation’s Women Empowerment Principles and a champion of the fifth principle of the WEPs which is an implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women, has entered into a partnership with The Law Society of Kenya with an aim of building capacities. The two parties are expected to rewrite the rules not only in legal aspects but also on finance accessibility and financial management by linking women and youth to financial, legal and…
Anne Mutahi was recently appointed as a non-executive director of the board at investment firm, TransCentury, becoming the second female to join the male-dominated board since the departure of Carol Musyoka two years ago. She joins up with Shaka Kariuki, the TransCentury chairman and Kuramo Capital chief executive and chief investment officer, Wale Adeosun and Ng’ang’a Njiinu, TransCentury’s CEO. TransCentury, listed on NSE, has been lagging behind in terms of gender diversity in its board, and the appointment of a lady is seen as a move to step into the game and start correcting this long-standing imbalance. The gender imbalance…
Solarcentury and Cross Boundary Energy, two of the best solar-related organizations in Africa, have entered into a partnership with the aim of offering financed solar solutions to a portfolio of different customers who are operating in the continent. As solar power continues to be more popular around the globe as the least costly source of electricity, it is changing the energy landscape in Africa. Since it reduces operation costs for businesses, it gives them the chance to compete efficiently on the global market. However, to be able to succeed there is need for a proper solar project, which is characterized…
In what may turn out to be a radical shift in the investment arena, small business enterprises and salaried workers who nurture the ambition of delving into entrepreneurship may find it more difficult than before after Kenya’s leading bank in terms of customers, Equity Bank announced that it was scaling down on unsecured and micro loans effective next year. The directive, Equity Group CEO James Mwangi said, takes effect in January 2018 to coincide with the compliance of a new set of global accounting rules on loan loss covers. At a packed investor briefing in Nairobi, the Equity boss said…
BY VICTOR ADAR Wanja Mwangi is very calm, a wife, a mother and an auditor. About four years ago, her hubby got a job in West Africa and made a dress for her, then bought different fabrics for their mums, sisters and other relatives as a gift. With a tip of Sh20,000 from a guest, this man opted to appreciate and empower his wife in style. He purchased 12 pieces of Vitenges, a fabric that is currently popular as Ankara. “Our friends saw the fabrics and the dresses and started asking if I could ask my husband to send them…