The CEO Files — Issue 010
There are some leadership stories that are about arriving at the top. And then there are stories about what happens when you get there.
Mary-Ann Musangi’s story belongs to the second category.
Because inheriting responsibility is not the same as inheriting success.
In 2019, Mary-Ann took over the leadership of HACO Industries following the death of her father, the late businessman Chris Kirubi. But her relationship with the business did not begin on the day she became Managing Director. She had already been involved in the family businesses and had served on boards before his passing.
That distinction matters. Because leadership is not simply about succession. It is about stewardship.
It is about taking something that existed before you and asking a difficult question:
Mary-Ann’s leadership journey offers an interesting window into that tension.
She belongs to a generation of African business leaders increasingly being asked to think beyond simply running companies. They are being asked to:
- Build competitive African brands.
- Manufacture locally.
- Create jobs.
- Develop talent.
- Integrate sustainability into business.
- Open markets beyond national borders.
And to make African businesses capable of competing in an increasingly interconnected world.
Join the Discussion