Kerubo is at a point in her life where she is deliberate about giving herself enough grace to make mistakes. The biotech service lead of the Asia-Pacific market at Pall Corporation is also reflecting heavily on the chances people have taken on her.
She studied commerce at the University of Nairobi and is a holder of an Executive MBA from Harvard Business School and another from INSEAD.
She has always thrown her hat in the ring of whatever she believed in. ‘‘I am a risk-taker. I always go after big goals even when I am uncertain of the outcome. I do not let [fixation with] perfection get in the way of a good show because I believe there is room for continuous improvement in every engagement.”
"I do not let [fixation with] perfection get in the way of a good show because I believe there is room for continuous improvement in every engagement."
The certified public accountant has worked at Centum and interned at LG Electronics, Kenya Airways, and GlaxoSmithKline, collecting along the way diverse skills.
Pall provides biotech products, systems, and solutions used by pharmaceutical companies, its primary clients.
She started as a marketer but has evolved into a strategy leader and problem solver. Kerubo says she looks back at her life with gratitude, but also with a sense of obligation. ‘‘As long as I am doing my absolute best, I am proud of myself.’’
At 25, she established the marketing department at Centum. ‘‘I am driven by creating value in the things I do. It is through marketing that I can express myself better. I am creative and strategic.’’
Kerubo looks up to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her humility. ‘‘The Germans call her ‘mutti’ which means mum. She is humane and dependable. She handled the European migrant crisis decisively and admirably, sometimes at the expense of her popularity.’’
In the Asia-Pacific region, Kerubo leads a team of 30 associates. To her, there is no leadership without empathy and understanding.
A leader at work, an observer at home. Kerubo says she enjoys a close relationship with her partner, parents, and siblings.
James Kahongeh