By Winnie Tewendi

On August 1, the Alumni Relations Department, in partnership with Jubilee Insurance, hosted a high-impact CEO Roundtable at the Jubilee Headquarters in Nairobi. This engagement brought together 25 students from various programs for a leadership inspiration session and an afternoon plenary on career insights from USIU-Africa alumni and industry leaders.

The morning session featured an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Julius Kipng’etich, Group CEO, Jubilee Holdings Limited. Dr. Kipng’etich challenged students to view their university education as a tool for solving societal problems. He passionately called on USIU-Africa and its community to “build Kenya’s own Silicon Valley,” a space where innovation, ethics, and local solutions converge. “Integrity is the currency of leadership,” he stated. “Without it, nothing lasts,” he emphasized.

The afternoon plenary session was a vibrant, interactive experience led by USIU-Africa alumni and senior Jubilee executives who generously shared their journeys and professional insights. This powerful panel, comprising alumna Ann Karanu, Group Head of HR; alumna Catherine Ng’ang’a, Chief Finance Officer at Jubilee Life Insurance; alumna Monica Chege, Head of Marketing at Jubilee Health Insurance; and Julius Oraio, Group Chief Information Technology Officer, focused on career growth, personal branding, and professional discipline. Students were urged to own their craft, grow their networks with intention, and cultivate both an online presence and an authentic personal brand.

Ann Karanu advised that every step, no matter how small, shapes the leader you become, while the panelists reinforced the value of resilience, consistency, and curiosity in the journey to leadership.

The CEO Roundtable is a signature initiative of the Alumni Relations Office, aimed at strengthening alumni-student linkages while providing students with direct access to industry thought leaders and real-world career preparation.

As the students departed, it was clear that they left not only with new perspectives but also with renewed purpose and confidence. The event once again demonstrated the powerful impact of USIU-Africa alumni giving back by investing in the next generation of leaders through mentorship.