Erica William Mboya

Four HR leaders, I&M Bank Tanzania's Erica Mboya, Fresh Del Monte's Gedion Kimutai, Prudential Uganda's Susan Kabedha and IDI's Paul Rumanda Rugambwa speak with openness about fathers, the cultures that silence them and why the seeds planted at home grow far beyond the family.

Mental health in the workplace is no longer a once-a-year conversation. Across East Africa, HR executives are increasingly embedding wellbeing into everyday business strategy, recognising that employee performance and retention are closely linked to psychological health. HR leaders share the steps their teams are taking to destigmatise mental health and prioritise holistic wellbeing.

For HR leaders, the work week rarely ends at the office. Meetings, strategy sessions and people management stretch into long hours, leaving little space for personal time. 

The modern workplace spans four generations, each with distinct expectations about work-life balance, communication and career progression. Tres Infrastructure Rwanda HR manager Beatrice Uwera, WWF Kenya head of people and culture Bernard Atonga, I&M Bank Tanzania head of HR Erica Mboya, and NSSF Uganda chief people and culture officer Milton Owor share their approaches to navigating generational dynamics whilst maintaining organisational cohesion.

Years ago, HR was largely seen as an administrative function, handling payroll, recruitment, and disciplinary matters. Today, however, the role of HR executives has evolved into one of strategic influence, where people management is closely aligned with business outcomes.

As AI continues to redefine the modern workplace, it is increasingly becoming a powerful tool for enhancing decision-making, streamlining operations and generating deeper insights into workforce trends. But for Erica W. Mboya, head of HR at I&M Bank Tanzania, technology is only part of the story.