Muthoni Laibuta, 35

Haleon

Business Unit Director for Oral Care, South East Asia And Taiwan

Currently learning how to deejay, and having done at least three gigs, Muthoni is keen on living a purposeful life and leaving a mark among women in the diaspora.

While not providing smiles and oral care for millions of Southeast Asians and Taiwanese nationals through the British multinational consumer healthcare company Haleon, she is busy thinking about the company’s bottom line.

“My biggest achievement is when I see people grow. When I see someone I worked with as an intern becoming a manager, I am fulfilled,” says Muthoni.

Muthoni does not believe in multitasking, but in neuroplasticity and learning new things. “I am an ambivert, I love purpose and this drives what projects I take, what roles I take up, and what areas I lead,” she says.

"I would much rather be the smallest person in the room, the person who doesn't know or the one who is underestimated because that gives you a platform to learn and ask questions."

Being one of the young black women in various rooms she walks in, imposter syndrome and doubt have set in more times than she remembers, but that has never deterred her from her goals. “I would say nine in 10 cases, I’m the black person or youngest in the room, so I have learnt to accept that I have earned the right to be there and I have value to deliver,” she adds.

“I would much rather be the smallest person in the room, the person who doesn’t know or the one who is underestimated because that gives you a platform to learn and ask questions,” the Alliance Girls’ alumna, says.

Muthoni graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resources from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and also completed online courses at Harvard Business School and the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership.

She previously worked at KPMG, Diageo and Unilever before joining Haleon. “I looking forward to deejaying on my 36th birthday in the next few months,” she chuckles.

– By Edna Mwenda