Jubilee Health Insurance CEO Njeri Jomo has spoken about what she believes is the most effective way to create wealth and success, as well as the lessons she has learned since she launched her career in the industry in 2001.
Speaking during a Zoom call titled The One Move That Unlocks Lifelong Success, organized by Abojani Investments, Njeri shared insights on financial success, resilience, and the critical role medical insurance plays in safeguarding wealth and a person’s well-being.
Throughout her career, Njeri says she has come to understand that success is about impact and transformation. Whether in leadership, friendships, or family life, she believes one must be intentional about making a difference.
“Your presence isn’t just about existing—you’re not just wallpaper. You truly leave a mark,” she emphasized.
However, defining success can be tricky. Njeri illustrated this with a well-known parable of a man, his wife, and a donkey: no matter how they approached their journey, they faced criticism. “Life is like that—so much noise. If we don’t define what success truly means to us, others will, and that can be a tragedy,” she noted.
The role of failure in building wealth
According to Njeri, her career, which began in 2001, has been marked by both achievements and setbacks.
“People often see an upward trajectory, but failure is part of the journey,” she admitted.
One pivotal moment was when she left a job for another that doubled her salary, only to find the company’s values misaligned with hers. Within eight months, she had to leave.
“In less than eight months, I had to leave. The misalignment was unbearable. Integrity was an issue, and how business was done was an issue. I was out of work for a while.”
Another defining moment was being moved from an underwriting role to sales. The sales role, she says, was at some point being referred to as hawking, but the transition paid back.
“I never imagined myself selling insurance. It was challenging, but in hindsight, it was one of the best things that happened to me. It made me agile and adaptable. Many of us put “versatile and adaptable to change” on our CVs—but for me, that was tested. I had to do it, and I did it exceptionally well,” she said.
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Medical insurance: The silent guardian of wealth
In her role at Jubilee Health Insurance, Njeri has witnessed firsthand how medical expenses can wipe out years of savings and investments.
“Regardless of your current health status, identify your risks. At the very least, secure coverage for hospital admissions so you’re not forced to sell assets or negotiate with a title deed or logbook just to receive treatment. That’s about human dignity,” she pointed out.
She underscored the importance of health insurance in wealth preservation. Without it, individuals and families, she warned, can easily fall into financial ruin due to unexpected medical bills.
“Once your health is secured, you can focus on maximizing your investments. It’s much easier to plan when you know a medical emergency won’t derail your finances. The earlier you get health insurance, the better. Many policies offer preventive care, helping you maintain better health as you age. Unfortunately, many people wait too long, and by the time they seek coverage, it’s far more expensive,” she warned.
Medical insurance, she explained, provides peace of mind and financial stability. It ensures that in the event of illness or an accident, an individual doesn’t have to dig into savings or sell assets to afford treatment.
Mastering self-awareness for financial success
Njeri believes that financial and career success are deeply tied to self-awareness.
“One of the principles I emphasize in mentorship is ‘Know thyself—the good, the bad, and the ugly. You are the constant factor in your career. Jobs change, environments shift, but you remain the common denominator. As a leader, know that leadership follows the law of the lid: an organization cannot rise beyond the leader’s capacity. The leader’s vision sets the ceiling for growth. If a leader has self-imposed limitations, those limits become the organization’s boundaries,” Njeri expressed.
She also highlighted the concept of the internal locus of control—the belief that one’s destiny or destruction is in their own hands.
“One of the things I often speak about with my team—and it’s also in Jim Collins’ book—is hubris: the exaggerated arrogance that can come with success. When people feel untouchable, they become reckless and stop paying attention to the very things that could bring them down. Mastering oneself is critical to achieving and sustaining success,” she continued
The 3 people you need for career and wealth growth
Success, according to Njeri, is not achieved in isolation. She emphasized the importance of building a strong support system with three key individuals:
- A mentor – Someone with experience who can guide and advise you.
- A coach – A person who helps clarify goals and provides a sounding board.
- A sponsor – Someone who speaks your name in important spaces and opens doors for opportunities.
“You must realize that you paid not for holding certificates but for applying knowledge to deliver results,” she emphasized, adding that when she started her career, she had no professional certificate, but through resilience, she managed to climb the corporate ladder.
“Early in my career, my parents couldn’t sponsor my degree. I worked for years without the typical papers everyone else had. I graduated with my first degree in 2015, after having worked for a long time. Because I lacked formal qualifications, I worked harder. My results had to speak for me. By the time I finally got my degrees—including my master’s—my work ethic was already strong. That accelerated my career.
There’s real value in identifying what you have and optimizing it. You may not have everything right now, but if you focus on what you do have, you can use it as a stepping stone in your career.”
. She encouraged individuals to proactively equip their mentors, coaches, and sponsors with the right information about their capabilities so that they can advocate for them when they’re not in the room.
Success requires emotional intelligence and leadership skills
Beyond technical expertise, Njeri emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence.
“We do well in the early parts of our careers because we are great accountants, engineers, or professionals in our fields,” she said.
Adding:
“That involves having crucial conversations, encouraging people to come on board, and being firm but fair. You don’t necessarily have to be tough or hard. It’s not about being a ‘woman leader’—it’s about being a good leader.
Develop your skill set to work with people and enable them to support you in delivering on the commitments you have made and the great vision you have. Leadership is about developing a brand that is authentic, sustainable, and one that you can stand behind with pride. Ask yourself: if you have had a boss you didn’t like, what about them didn’t you like? Is there value in becoming what you disliked? How does it serve you? Nothing that makes people uncomfortable in an unsustainable way will help you deliver results effectively.”
Final thoughts: Success is about becoming
As she wrapped up her reflections, Njeri reinforced that success is a lifelong process.
“If I can take a deep breath every evening and ask, ‘Do I like where I am today? Do I like where I’m going?’ and if I can answer yes, then that’s success.”
On matters of money, she concluded by urging people to invest in financial literacy for them to be able to make sound financial decisions.
“The way you handle KSh 5,000 is likely the same way you’ll handle KSh 500,000 or KSh 1 million. Your attitude toward money remains the same. You are the constant. The sooner you understand why you believe what you do—why you think you can’t rise beyond a certain level—the sooner you break those barriers.
