Alice Mwai may not be a household name yet, but in the insurance industry, she holds a position that makes her one of the top honchos in the financial services sector.
Talking to the Resolution Insurance managing director one feels her passion for her job advising top medical institutions, firms and individuals on insurance their needs.
Away from the corner office at Resolution Insurance firm, which is among the top three in medical underwriting, Mwai — who prefers to be simply called Alice — is a part time-farmer aspiring to make it big in agribusiness.
She is also a “small-time landlord”. “I’m a hobby farmer but I don’t make much money from farming and I am also small time landlord and a mother,” says an alumni of the University of Nairobi, Economist and Chartered Public Accountant.
She says the journey to the top has not been a smooth one in a male-dominated environment which she says can be intimidating affair for most women. She, however, says her sheer confidence, determination and training has helped her weather the professional and social storm.
“Women seeking leadership positions have to be sure about themselves and expect challenges at some point. They should equip yourself with training and knowledge to remain in the top league..”
Alice wields over 20 years extensive experience in operations, external and internal audit, risk and financial management as well as strategy formulation and execution which she accumulated from working with different organisations.
Throughout her career Alice has stayed away from the public glare despite holding senior positions. She started granting media interviews in June and acknowledged the huge task ahead of her in steering the insurance firm to the next level.
Alice joined the firm in 2004 as a senior accountant and rose through the ranks to head the firm this year. The 45-year-old mother of two reckons a lot of effort is needed from industry players to boost insurance take up.
“We need innovative products to boost penetration. We are coming up with products such as Resolution Ziara Plan which is an emergency medical cover for commuters travelling in public service vehicles, accessible bus parks at Sh70,” she says, adding there are more products in the pipeline.
– Steve Umidha.
