On April 1st, 2021, Peter Ndegwa marked one year as the CEO of the largest Telecommunication company in Africa.
The Safaricom PLC boss took the mantle of leading the company after the demise of Bob Collymore who had served from 2010 to 2019.
On joining the company in 2020, Ndegwa was immediately met with a hard task; ensuring that the Telecom survives the COVID-19 pandemic.
And on his first anniversary, he shares what he has learnt along the way. In his recap, the CEO says that managing a major transition is a critical job for a leader and needs careful thoughts, a clear vision, and the ability to recover quickly from difficulties.
A leader should look back to their previous experiences but not wait for facts to guide them as they will not always be there.
According to him, in order to influence people to do their best, you need to communicate clear goals and install a sense of mission in a purposeful way to ensure that everyone actively works towards achieving it.
“We can always adapt to any change even if the situation seems tough, as long as we remain optimistic and dedicated to working for a better future,” Ndegwa says.
The CEO further recognizes the impact of social media on business and leadership. He says that one should listen to real feedback but learn to filter and depersonalize the ‘noise’.
Under the leadership of Ndegwa, the Telecom giant has made a progress in ensuring high internet connectivity through the launch of the 5G network in Nairobi and parts of Western Kenya.
