A First Of Many

YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE, CRITICAL THINKING AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ALMOST CONCEAL THE FACT THAT CATHERINE KARIMI HAS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OF SELLING PROMISES FOR 19 YEARS NOW. THESE FACTORS COMBINED WITH HER WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE GIVE CREDENCE TO HER SCALING OF THE HEIGHTS IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS.

- Mwamburi Maole

Nothing’s impossible’ is the mantra that the CEO at APA Insurance lives by. It’s no wonder then that some of her achievements have been unprecedented and her story is full of firsts.

Catherine Karimi rose from a pupil in a little-known school in rural Kenya to a First-Class Honors student of Mathematics and Chemistry. In similar fashion, the second born in a family of eight opted out of teaching and instead pursued a career she felt gave her more control over her destiny. This epoch-making decision led the 44-year-old mother of three to become the first female CEO of APA Insurance, arguably another feather in her cap.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO INSURANCE?

I graduated with First-Class Honors in Mathematics and Chemistry from Kenyatta University in 1997. Teachers were on strike that year so I decided against pursuing a career in teaching. I wanted a career that would be sufficiently rewarding without warranting me to go on strike. I was due to receive the Dean’s list award which I was to be given in cash when I met the university’s students’ accountant who advised that, with my grades, I could pursue Actuarial Science. Back then, no university in Kenya offered the course so one had to do it via correspondence. Mr. Gitahi, the accountant, advised that I had a better chance if I was with a company that could help me afford the course. That’s how I quickly got to work sending applications for employment specifically to banks and insurance companies.

HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LOOKING FOR WORK, ESPECIALLY IN AN AREA YOU HAD NO CERTIFICATION?