GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FLY PROF. African Businesswoman-Public Sector

By Prof. Earl N. Caldwell II

Welcome to Global Conversations With The Fly Prof.  In this edition, I am excited to shine a spotlight on the remarkable leadership of two African businesswomen—one serving in the public sector and the other in the private sector. Both women are not only excelling in their respective fields but are also transforming lives, uplifting communities, and driving progress within their countries.

Susan Gatwiri Kirimi serves as a member of the Executive Team for the Governor of Kiambu County, the second-largest County in Kenya after the capital city of Nairobi. Kenya is divided into 47 Counties, each functioning as an independent governmental entity similar to U.S. states. Within this framework, Kiambu stands out as a powerhouse: it boasts the second-largest economy in the country and is home to the second most educated population of any county in Kenya.

Ms. Kirimi’s role places her at the heart of one of Kenya’s most dynamic and influential counties, where economic strength and human capital converge to drive both local and national progress.

The 14 Falls

Susan Gatwiri Kirimi is a seasoned finance, accounts, and management professional with over 18 years of progressive experience and cross-functional expertise spanning taxation, accountancy, finance, and banking. She has built an impressive career across both the private and public sectors, demonstrating consistent success in leadership and execution.

Her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Finance, Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Finance and being a Certified Public Accountant has led her career trajectory to include significant achievements in the banking sector, where she served as both a Bank Manager and a General Manager at several renowned financial institutions in Kenya. In these roles, she successfully guided teams, improved operational efficiency, and delivered measurable financial results.

Beyond her corporate career, Ms. Kirimi has also ventured into entrepreneurship, founding and leading start-ups to profitability—a testament to her business acumen and ability to drive growth in diverse contexts. She brings her wealth of private-sector expertise to public service, contributing to the economic and financial stewardship of one of Kenya’s most influential counties.

CECM (County Executive Committee Member), Trade, Industrialization, Tourism and Investment and Interim Minister of Housing

In her capacity as “TITI Waziri”—the Swahili term for County Executive Committee Member (CECM)—Ms. Kirimi has played a central role in driving a wide range of initiatives that advance Kiambu County’s economic, cultural, and social development. Her leadership spans across multiple sectors, reflecting both her versatility and her vision for inclusive growth.

She has been instrumental in the planning, regulation, and growth of open-air markets and trader ecosystems across all levels, ensuring inclusiveness for small-scale traders while providing opportunities for scaling up.

She has championed initiatives to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), recognizing their vital role in job creation, innovation, and the broader economic health of Kiambu County. Her portfolio includes fostering tourism development through cultural promotion and sports initiatives, as well as advancing national-level collaborations to position Kiambu as a key tourism destination.

Karunguru Coffee Estate

Ms. Kirimi has also been at the forefront of establishing innovative financial and investment platforms, including the proposed Kiambu People’s Bank, designed to empower local businesses and communities with accessible financial services and the proposed Kiambu Investment Development Corporation, to attract and manage investments that promote sustainable business growth and regional competitiveness.

These initiatives are currently moving through the governmental legislative process, which is designed to culminate in the passage of the necessary laws and regulations. Once enacted, these legal frameworks will formally authorize Kiambu County to fully engage in these programs and similar future initiatives.

The outcome will empower the County to pursue policies and partnerships that advance the betterment of Kiambu’s people, businesses, and investors—strengthening economic resilience, improving social infrastructure, and reinforcing the County’s role as a leader in Kenya’s development landscape.

These bold initiatives have been initiated through the vision and leadership of the Governor of Kiambu County, who has prioritized, among other things financial inclusion, investment attraction, and sustainable economic development.

H.E Dr Kimani Wamatangi

The Transformational Governor of Kiambu County

Kiambu People’s Bank is designed to empower individuals and businesses by providing access to small loans at affordable rates. It will create a formal financial structure for deploying and collecting capital, while establishing clear processes to manage the broader financial infrastructure of the county. This initiative will help unlock opportunities for traders, SMEs, and local entrepreneurs, strengthening the grassroots economy.

Kiambu Investment Development Corporation will serve as the county’s vehicle for investment facilitation, tasked with assisting, supporting, and partnering with both domestic and international investors. Its purpose is to position Kiambu as an attractive, well-managed destination for sustainable investment, driving job creation and industrial growth.

Recognizing the scale and complexity of these initiatives, the Governor identified the need for strong technical expertise and proven leadership. With her extensive banking experience, professional credibility, and track record of success in both the private and public sectors, Ms. Susan Gatwiri Kirimi was appointed to help guide Kiambu County through this phase of transformation and broader County development. Her stewardship ensures that the County’s economic evolution is backed by robust financial management, transparency, and strategic foresight.

Ms. Kirimi expressed with deep satisfaction and joy the progress made in establishing 16 new, modern markets across Kiambu County. These markets have been thoughtfully designed to go beyond traditional trading spaces, incorporating features that directly enhance community life and economic opportunity.

Each market includes:

• A cold room to preserve food quality and reduce post-harvest losses.
• A day care center to support working parents, especially mothers, by providing a safe space for children.
• An ICT Hub equipped with free Wi-Fi and computers, offering access to technology, digital learning, and online business opportunities.
• A social hall and meeting space, providing a venue for community dialogue and civic engagement.
• A County Trade Representative office, ensuring traders have a direct line to government support, dispute resolution, and policy updates.

These multipurpose markets embody Kiambu’s vision of economic growth paired with social development, empowering traders, fostering digital literacy, and building stronger community ties.

When asked to reflect on some of her highlights in Kiambu County, Ms. Kirimi shared an achievement that is both unique and transformative. As residents of any city, state, or country, paying taxes is something most of us do reluctantly. Yet in Kiambu County, under her tenure as TITI Waziri (CECM), a remarkable shift has occurred: residents are now paying their taxes with intention and purpose.

This change stems from the improved efficiency of the County’s revenue collection system—an initiative Ms. Kirimi has overseen. The results have been tangible: with streamlined systems in place, the County has been able to deliver more visible services to its people. In turn, residents now see the direct benefits of their contributions, fostering greater trust in local government.

The outcome has been extraordinary. The collective confidence of the community in the Kiambu County Government has led to a 197% increase in revenue collection. This is more than just a financial accomplishment—it is a cultural shift, showing that when people believe in the integrity and accountability of their government, they willingly contribute to its success.

Kiambethu Tea Farm

When asked what has contributed most to her professional journey, Ms. Susan Gatwiri Kirimi emphasized that she is deeply result-oriented, admitting that she becomes frustrated when positive outcomes are not achieved. This relentless focus on results has kept her driven and committed to excellence in every role she has taken on. She also described her strong sense of self-drive, explaining that she refuses to limit herself:

“Those challenges give me a more positive mind and give me the drive and confidence to go for it.”

For Ms. Kirimi, challenges are not deterrents—they are catalysts that inspire her to push further, grow stronger, and achieve more.

Beyond determination, she highlighted the importance of resilience—refusing to give up easily and not allowing discouragement to define her path. At the same time, she credits her ability to be a good listener as one of her greatest strengths, enabling her to understand people, build trust, and make better-informed decisions.

Together, these traits—focus on results, resilience, self-drive, and attentive listening—form the foundation of her leadership style and continue to propel her success in shaping Kiambu County’s development journey.

She closes by sharing a universal truth for all who embrace it: “There are no limits in life.”

African Businesswoman-Private Sector

Tsitsi Daka, a naturally shy and introverted woman from Seke, a town about 12.5 miles outside of Harare, has defied the odds to become a successful entrepreneur and community leader. Her quiet demeanor never limited her ambition or determination. Instead, it fueled her focus on building opportunities not just for herself, but for other women facing hardship.

Through her entrepreneurial ventures, Ms. Daka has trained and hired women from less fortunate backgrounds, creating pathways for financial independence and dignity. Recognizing the greater need for sustainable empowerment, she went further by founding a school dedicated to equipping Zimbabwean women with practical skills—helping them prepare for meaningful careers and long-term self-sufficiency.

Her journey reflects the power of resilience, purpose, and quiet strength. Her work demonstrates that leadership is not about personality type, but about vision, courage, and the will to uplift others.

Entrepreneurial Journey: 

After completing her degree in Political Science at the University of Zimbabwe, Tsitsi Daka and her husband, Anesu, made a deliberate family decision: their children would not be raised by maids or nannies. With that commitment in mind, she focused on activities that allowed her to stay close to home during her children’s early years while still contributing economically.

She began with informal selling, finding creative ways to support her family while remaining present for her children. By 2012, she discovered a niche in sewing, producing and selling curtains to neighboring communities. This early venture laid the groundwork for something much larger.

A decade later, in February 2022, her small sewing endeavor officially transformed into Fit It Tailoring. The business was not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the strong community foundation her husband had nurtured and shared with her. With Fit It Tailoring, Ms. Daka sought to give back to the community, providing access to tailoring services while creating opportunities for others to experience the same sense of community support that had benefited her.

EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH VOCATIONAL TRAINING

In sharing the heart behind her work, Ms. Daka explains that Fit It Tailoring is not simply a business, but a mission deeply rooted in her values of community, empowerment, and opportunity.

“Vocational training can lift a community. While we wanted men, we were mainly focused on women because they experience more hardships because they take care of the family. So, women need to be empowered. It was about educating them so they can take care of their family.”

Her passion reflects a belief that entrepreneurship must extend beyond profit to uplift people and strengthen communities. By turning her talent into a platform for training and employment, she has transformed Fit It Tailoring into both a livelihood and a legacy.

Elevating Lives, One Stitch At A Time
Our hands-on training programs equip underprivileged individuals with the technical skills and practical knowledge to become skilled tailors.

FIT IT TAILORING ACADEMY

In July 2023, Ms. Daka took a bold step forward by expanding her business to include the Fit It Tailoring Academy—a training initiative designed to empower women with practical, marketable skills. The academy focuses on teaching women how to design, cut, and sew, offering them a pathway to independence and opportunity in the tailoring industry.

The first cohort of students came from the Center for Total Transformation, a local organization supporting women in need of new beginnings. Over the course of six months, these women participated in a structured training program:

• Phase One (3 months): Introduction to basic tailoring skills, building a strong foundation in sewing and garment construction.
• Phase Two (3 months): Specialization, where each student selected a preferred area of focus—whether fashion design, custom tailoring, or related skills—allowing them to develop niche expertise for future careers.

Through the academy, Ms. Daka has not only expanded her business footprint but also created a platform for social transformation, equipping women with the tools to generate income, support their families, and contribute positively to their communities. There have been a number of graduating classes and most are using the skills they learned in entrepreneurial businesses.

Ms. Tsitsi Daka, along with Fit It Tailoring and the Fit It Tailoring Academy, represent a true Zimbabwean entrepreneurial success story—one rooted in community, empowerment, and compassion.

What began as a small, home-based effort to balance family and livelihood has grown into a thriving business and training academy that equips women with practical skills, meaningful employment, and the confidence to build sustainable futures. Guided by her quiet strength and deep commitment to giving back, Ms. Daka has transformed her vision into a vehicle for economic empowerment and social change.

Her journey demonstrates that entrepreneurship, when anchored in values of service and inclusivity, has the power to uplift entire communities. Through her work, Ms. Daka has shown that success is not measured by profit alone, but by the lives touched, the opportunities created, and the legacy built for generations to come.

If you have comments, suggestions, or ideas for future topics or individuals to feature in the upcoming editions of Global Conversations, I’d love to hear from you.

Prof. Earl N. Caldwell II
The Fly Prof.
 theflyprof5@gmail.com

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