Women do not have to play

The People  October 23, 2013– By JENAIDE KIIRU
 
As a young Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Carole Kariuki finds herself mingling with decisions makers at different levels of government and the private sector. Kariuki, 30 the CEO of Kenya Private Sector Association (Kepsa) is articulate when it comes to protecting the interests of business people and does not shy away from taking a firm stand. Her dream is to see the Kenya’s economy grow and intends on leaving a lasting legacy.
“It is a blessing where I am and I thank God for everything. With God everything is possible. He works miracles. I am where God wants me to be because there is a job to be done,” Kariuki says.
After her first degree, she became a Barclays bank teller for a short while before she realised that banking was not for her. Carole decided to be involved in economic development in a different way since she wanted to contribute to the country’s development, which has continued to lag behind.
The CEO says she has learnt that it is not so much about who a person is or what a person wants but what a person leaves behind. In her job she is tasked with the duty of creating an enabling environment for the private sector through creating partnerships and programmes with the government ,development partners and other business organisations regionally and internationally. Sometimes her small physique and youth work in her favour because people erroneously think she is too young to have any influence or negotiate for any deals.
She doesn’t get bullied around because the people she works with respect her and what she brings to the table. “I think the secret lies in how one presents themselves as an individual and more so as a woman; if one feels inferior it will definitely show and people will treat you likewise. It’s always good for a woman to hold up her head,” she elaborates. She is always amused by the reaction that people have the first time they step into her office only to see a small framed woman, contrary to the expectations.
“One day I walked into a meeting with some reputable international organisations and the chairman looked at me and said that they are still waiting for Carole. Their eyes bulged once I told them that I am the Carole they were expecting. They were shocked,” she narrates. She says it’s hard to juggle family and work so she try and fit them into her planned schedule. During weekends she likes travelling, reading books, hiking watching movies and doing creative activities.
She loves exercising and runs three or four times a week. She did Business Administration (BA) in Economics and Sociology and then did a Masters in Administration and Public Affairs. Carole also got a scholarship at the Bowling Green state university in Ohio United States of America and was later awarded another scholarship to pursue a PhD in policy.
She has had the privilege of living in a developed country and also in a third world country where she was brought up. In the US she worked with the Indianapolis based Sagamore institute for public policy and applied research. She worked to foster a relationship between the Rotary club of Indianapolis and other organisations interested in HIV and Aids in Kenya. During her work there, she developed a link with the largest HIV and Aids programme in Sub Saharan Africa, AMPATH based in Eldoret.