Awesome AfriCAN Businesswoman: Gina Din-Kariuki

This week's inspiring business person is Gina Din-Kariuki. I met her at the Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum Conference in 2018. Gina is a respected businesswoman, philanthropist and the Founder and Executive Chair of the Gina Din Group (GDG), based in Kenya.  Gina has built a reputation as a leading authority in the communications field in Africa and has been named one of Africa's 100 Most Influential People by New African magazine.

1. Describe in eight words what it is that you do

I actively influence shaping of African conversations

2. What is the biggest myth that you would like to bust about your industry

I get really frustrated when people assume they only need PR in times of trouble. With media constantly evolving, brands need to make sure that their stories are a constant drumbeat in the media. So I hate it when we are only seen as a solution when brands are in trouble.

3. If you could go back in time, what is your biggest business lesson that you would share with yourself on day one of starting your business?

I would have learnt much earlier not to take everything so personally and to embrace success and failure in equal measure. I wish I had learnt to embrace uncertainty before now. Uncertainty comes with the territory when one is an entrepreneur.

4. What excites you most about Africa?

I am very excited for the future of the continent because there’s a new generation of Africans very proud to be African. We have so many Africans in the diaspora choosing to come home to contribute to the development of the continent. Whilst many Africans have faced incredible challenges, I feel we are a resilient people whose faith is stronger than our fears. We never lose hope and we believe that the future of Africa is bright. We see ourselves as equal players to any other country in the world and want to ensure we are playing on a level playing field. The young African does not want to depend on aid but wants to partner in trade.

5. What is the biggest lesson about money that you want to share with business owners?

Put the right people in the right seats.

Entrepreneurs need to be putting the right people in the right seats in their companies. Remember that you can only do so much on your own —often we start by trying to do everything ourselves. My first major hire was my finance person. It’s the one area entrepreneurs simply don't have the luxury of time to learn about particularly if you want to scale.

6. What is your favourite quote

“The worst thing that colonialism did was to cloud our view of our past.”

― Barack Obama, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

I think we have overcome our view of the past and are clearer on where we fit and are now more determined to take our seat at the table.