In the latest episode of She Means Business, Waithera Ng’ang’a,now Group Director of Corporate Affairs at Bio Food Products,shares how ambition, bold choices, and the courage to voice her goals shaped her career.
Appointed CEO at just 30, Waithera credits her rise not only to vision but to grit: the discipline to chase opportunities, the humility to learn fast, and the boldness to take on roles that stretched her beyond what she thought possible. Her journey spans some of Kenya’s most competitive industries,from banking and insurance, to marketing and corporate affairs, and now leadership in the agricultural food sector.
Every turn in Waithera’s career came with an intentional push toward growth. She began in the financial sector, where she honed her analytical and communication skills. She later transitioned into marketing and corporate affairs, where her talent for brand positioning and stakeholder engagement earned her recognition as a strategic leader capable of elevating corporate reputation and customer trust.
Today at Bio Food Products Ltd, she plays a critical role shaping corporate strategy and championing sustainability, local sourcing, and innovation in Kenya’s food value chain. Her work contributes to strengthening farmer partnerships, enhancing product quality, and advancing local agribusiness competitiveness.
Entrepreneurship: Her Toughest Classroom
Despite corporate success, Waithera speaks openly about her entrepreneurial chapter,one filled with high hopes and harsh truths. She describes it as the most humbling season of her life, a period that forced her to redefine success beyond titles or applause. Quoting ICT thought leader Bitange Ndemo, she echoes a lesson many leaders learn the hard way:
“When you lose a prestigious title, the phone stops ringing.”
That moment challenged her identity, teaching her to root her confidence in personal purpose rather than the prestige of a business card.
Championing Audacity and Authentic Leadership
Through every pivot, Waithera has embraced reinvention as a strategic advantage. She believes that careers are not linear,and that transformation is a sign of courage, not instability. Her leadership philosophy is anchored in authenticity, curiosity, and the audacity to envision a future bigger than current circumstances.
She encourages young professionals,especially women to articulate their ambitions boldly, network intentionally, and build value before expecting recognition. Her story is not about early success alone; it is about choosing to dream loudly and working relentlessly until the dream becomes a job title.
