Claudine Gakundi is the Lipa Later Limited Country Manager for Kenya.
Being a female in a management position has so far been a key challenge. I have come to see that and realize that being in this position as a woman tends to bring out a number of misconceptions on issues such as capabilities and qualifications.
The other challenge that I have come to note includes being underestimated on the value and impact you can bring in this industry.
I am however delighted that this stigma has become less over the years and I feel privileged to be among the women breaking the glass ceiling in this field.
I got into this company with little to no experience after graduating from the university. I had not been employed elsewhere before. Not too many people who graduate from the universities land top jobs as easily, especially not women in the corporate world.
I am forever grateful to our Group chief executive officer Eric Muli for believing in me and trusting in my potential and capabilities.
Not investing and taking risks early enough has been my biggest money mistake. I came to learn the importance of investing and taking risks a bit later in life which was as a result of postponing opportunities.
I used to reason that I was not knowledgeable enough to take investment risks. But I have learnt that taking financial risks and investing are key drivers of financial freedom and wealth creation.
I have enjoyed some milestones in my career, but securing a Samsung partnership is the highlight of them all. This was my first big deal in the first year Lipa Later started operating. It opened many doors and I can heavily attribute it to the network of merchants we have now.
Part of my work was to onboard merchants and I accidentally happened to bump into the Global Vice President of Samsung in one of the merchant stores I was prospecting and did an elevator pitch. He was instantly convinced.
From where I sit, I appreciate the journey that has been and thus would not wish to change or do anything differently. This is because all the mistakes that have happened along the way have shaped me into the person I am today. They have made me wiser, more resilient, and more capable of providing solutions.
Aside from my investments, I make a point to save an equal amount of what I have spent for the day. For instance, if I use Sh. 5,000 on clothes, I save the same amount on my M-Shwari. This way, I am able to practice more financial discipline and better plan for my money and the method works well for me.
Things you must know before you move abroad for money
Having a balance of both entrepreneurship and employment is very important. As much as there is the security that comes with employment through a regular monthly salary, having another source of income through a side hustle is equally important in doubling your income stream. As such, I consider myself an intrapreneur.
Fail early so that you can recover early. If you are willing to learn from your mistakes, you can eventually succeed. The path to success most of the time comes with experiences of failure. Be bold and courageous enough to take risks in life.
A version of this profile feature on Claudine Gakundi was also published in the Saturday Magazine. The Saturday Magazine is a publication of the Nation Media Group.
