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.
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?
Denne historien er fra August 2017-utgaven av DRUM Magazine East Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra August 2017-utgaven av DRUM Magazine East Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Relationship Goals
WE ALL HAVE THAT ONE CELEBRITY COUPLE THAT WE LOVE BECAUSE THEY LOOK GOOD TOGETHER AND ARE WINNING AT LIFE. HERE ARE SIX AFRICAN CELEBRITY COUPLES THAT WE ADMIRE.
Unshackled
SISTERS ERICA AND TINA CAMPBELL WHO FORM THE GOSPEL DUO MARY MARY WERE IN TOWN RECENTLY AND SPOKE TO DRUM ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF SINGING TOGETHER, GOING SOLO AND THEIR LONGEVITY IN THE INDUSTRY.
Taking The Spotlight
HAVING BEEN DIAMOND PLATNUMZ’S BACK UP SINGER FOR YEARS, LAVA LAVA IS NOW STEPPING OUT ON HIS OWN AS A SOLO ARTISTE UNDER WASAFI RECORDS.
The Wondrous Woman
GAL GADOT, 32, IS EVERYTHING YOU EXPECT HER TO BE IN HER LATEST MOVIE, WONDER WOMAN. HERE ARE A FEW TIDBITS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT HER.
For The Love Of Film
MWANIKI MAGERIA IS AN MC, AN EVENTS ORGANISER AND A FILM DISTRIBUTOR WHO’S ABOUT TO ADD ANOTHER NOTCH ON HIS BELT. DRUM CAUGHT UP WITH THE FOUNDER OF KALASHA AWARDS AND TALKED MATTERS FILM, FAMILY AND THE FUTURE.
Know Your Beer
JEAN WANDIMI GIVES YOU A CRASH COURSE THAT WILL MOVE YOU FROM AMATEUR TO BEER CONNOISSEUR IN A JIFFY.
Right At Home
NASEEM OMAR, FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NASIMI INTERIORS, TOOK THE BOLD STEP OF CHANGING THE LOOK AND FEEL OF FURNITURE SHOWROOMS IN KENYA, AND IT IS PAYING OFF.
The Spicw Girl
MELLOW-VOICED SONGSTRESS AND CHERIE HITMAKER LYDIA JAZMINE WAS CATAPULTED TO INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM AFTER HER PERFORMANCE ON COKE STUDIO AFRICA LAST YEAR. THE SEXY 25-YEAR-OLD UGANDAN RNB SINGER TALKS TO US ABOUT STAKING HER CLAIM TO FAME.
The Classic Man
NIGERIAN AMERICAN ARTISTE JIDENNA THEODORE MOBISSON IS KNOWN FOR HIS UNIQUE SOUND AND HIS IMPECCABLE SENSE OF STYLE. WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE 32 YEAR OLD WHO IS THE EMBODIMENT OF A CLASSIC MAN.
Sugar, Spice And Everything In Between
CHEF ALFRED MULAVI’S CAREER IS ON THE UP AND UP. WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AND TALKED LATEST TRENDS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY, MENU DEVELOPMENT, PET PEEVES AND SO MUCH MORE.
