Imani Msesega appointed senior HR officer at Beach & Safari Holidays

Judy Njeri head of HR, administration and logistics at Malibu Pharmacy explains why true strategic leadership requires mastering company business models, understanding cost centres and treating profitability as a core people agenda.

Mukundiyukuri Ernestine has taken on the senior HR manager role at Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda, following more than a decade in human resources roles across the hospitality industry in Rwanda and the UAE.

Martin Githaiga says people should not hand their work to AI and walk away. He makes the case for a workforce that treats AI as a capable but inexperienced colleague, one that still needs a second pair of eyes before its work goes out the door.

HR is expected to contribute to business performance, but operational demands often leave little room for strategic work. Girmay Abrha, head of HR and organisational development at The Ultimate Insurance Broker in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, examines how HR can move beyond day-to-day demands and make people's practices work in the realities of the business.

Girmay Abrha, head of HR and organisational development at The Ultimate Insurance Broker in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, highlights how leadership behaviour shapes organisational culture and why HR must demonstrate its contribution to business performance through meaningful results.

Ozem Muriuki, head of HR & organisational development at Prudential Kenya and Maureen Juma, human resources and administration manager at Flex Money Transfer both in financial services make the case that the people function belongs at the centre of business strategy, not on the edges of it.

Anne Onege has taken on the role of people and culture manager at MOGO Kenya, following senior HR positions in sectors including financial services, agribusiness and media.

Susan Mataka has joined Airtel Uganda as HR director after nearly five years leading human resources at Kakira Sugar.

Paul Mathu has taken on the group HR manager role at Octagon Africa, following senior HR roles across manufacturing, retail and food production.

Philomenah Muthoni has joined Techpak Industries as general manager-human resources, after more than a decade working in HR across different sectors, including agriculture and logistics.

Grace Gathu of Branch International and Naftal Ndege of ARP Africa Travel believe a strong people function is central to a strong business. Their experiences show why HR must grow alongside the organisation, use data while keeping the human perspective, and prepare leaders before management gaps become business problems.

Lily Njagi, HR lead for East Africa at Unilever explains what HR owes the people it shows the door has spent her career moving towards things before she had a plan for them. She graduated in social work, moved into media and then HR, transitioning into  someone who believes the next level up is teaching.