When Sam Manua got his first job rejection, he did not retreat. Instead, he turned his gaze to the firm’s biggest partner and knocked on their door the very next day.
After completing his final university exam, Sam did not waste time. “The thing that you will pick up with me is I always try to get a competitive advantage, so I did not want to wait until I cleared school to start pursuing a lot of mentors.’’
One of those opportunities he pursued was with Cisco, a top networking company. However, the day after graduating, Sam got his first major rejection. “I was expecting a yes from them on that first day, but, for some reason, I was not successful, which was okay.”
When Cisco did not work out, he had to think again. “If I am not getting Cisco, who is Cisco’s biggest partner? Working with NTT Data (then Dimension Data) was the only way I would manage to work with them which will be after a few years of getting closer to their partners. It would make me level up.’’
"I am always a strong advocate of betting on self. No one is coming to save you. If you cannot bet on yourself, why would you rely on someone else to bet on you?"
That is how Sam ended up at NTT Data, knocking on their doors regularly. Alice, the then-office manager, he says, grew familiar with his visits.
‘‘One day, when HR gave Alice a list of candidates for a leadership programme, she saw an opportunity and requested the HR to place me somewhere. That was how I got into cyber security and that is how it started.’’
Sam’s early aspirations did not mirror his current career. Like many young minds, he dreamed of becoming a doctor, only to be admitted to study law at the University of Nairobi.
Did he become a lawyer? No!
He had two options and chose to join Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology to pursue a degree in Telecommunications Engineering where he forged a path uniquely his own.
At NTT Data, he pursued certifications. ‘‘I am always a strong advocate of betting on self. No one is coming to save you. If you cannot bet on yourself, why would you rely on someone else to bet on you?’’ At Dimension Data, Sam built a solid foundation in cybersecurity and network solutions.
But he strived for the next challenge, which led him to move to a Swiss fintech firm, NetGuardians.
The firm, he says, is not driven by performance for profits but performance for impact. They combat illicit transaction flows to protect banking customers from losing their hard-earned money and deposits as well as fostering a culture of trust.
Joining as a pre-sales consultant, Sam quickly distinguished himself with innovative ideas, even developing a licensing model that remains in use. In a few years, his responsibilities grew. Currently, as an Associate Director at NetGuardians, Sam manages 28 banks across Africa.
However, his accomplishments are not confined to the boardroom. A self-confessed “performance enthusiast,” he thrives on personal challenges.
Two years ago, he embarked on a 90-day mission to summit Mount Kenya, an achievement he is proud of, especially given his aversion to gyms. Recently, he has embraced golfing, adding it to his passion for Formula One, marvelling at the lengths the teams go for peak performance.
‘‘I love winning and it is only very recently that I have been pushed to acknowledge that it is okay for me to say that I love winning. I believe that coming second is never a part of the plan for me. Coming second will just mean that I am the first person to lose.’’
His leadership philosophy is led by a curious approach. In a crisis, he prioritises the opinions of junior team members, a practice he borrowed from aviation protocols.
“I always strive to be challenged by my younger peers. That is why even in the boardrooms, I ask members retaking a decision to seek the most junior person’s opinion first.’’
Sam’s results speak for themselves, yet, he remains rooted in continuous learning. Whether it’s through reading leadership audiobooks, pursuing additional certifications, or challenging industry norms, he is a believer in self-improvement. “What got you here is not the same thing that will get you to the next level.”
His ambition is to become a CEO, a role he is actively preparing for by mastering the nuances of business, technology, and leadership. With a firm belief that “the dots will surely connect,” he is laying the groundwork for what promises to be an extraordinary legacy.
-Marion Sitawa