Stanbic Bank Kenya CEO Michael Mutiga on Leadership and Humility

Michael Mutiga, CEO of Stanbic Bank Kenya, reflects on his journey to leadership, shaped by his childhood experiences. As the firstborn in his family, Mutiga traveled extensively with his professor father, living in Australia, Addis Ababa, and South Africa. This exposure to different cultures and uncomfortable situations taught him to navigate and find his way. Mutiga's parents enrolled him at Visa Oshwal Primary School in Kenya, which was a departure from the norm, but they wanted him to experience different cultures and situations.

Mutiga's father, a professor at Kabete, was a significant influence on his life. He was a brilliant and clever man who never carried his titles or tried to show off his intelligence. Mutiga recalls his father's humility and ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. This upbringing has helped Mutiga navigate life as an adult, making him comfortable with unknowns, taking risks, and being around people of different cultures and backgrounds.

As a banker, Mutiga has had a distinguished career, collecting five Corporate Banker of the Year awards. He worked at Barclays and Citi before joining Safaricom, where he built strategy for a machine serving 50 million people. Mutiga admits that he enjoyed his time at Safaricom, but now he is back in banking, conducting the orchestra as the CEO of Stanbic Bank Kenya. At 50, Mutiga reflects on his legacy and what he wants to achieve in his current role.

Mutiga's approach to leadership emphasizes humility and making an impact. He hopes that when he leaves Stanbic, people will describe him as someone who made a positive impact on shareholders and employees' careers. He aims to shape Stanbic into the best bank, providing consistent excellence in service, product, and ideas. Mutiga's goal is to build better and move things along further.

When it comes to challenges, Mutiga has learned to approach things with a level head. He doesn't get angry or fazed easily, but he struggles with bad faith and malicious behavior. Mutiga believes that people don't have to undermine others to get ahead and that winning shouldn't come at the expense of others losing. He finds it difficult to understand why people engage in corrupt or dishonest behavior.

As Mutiga celebrates his 50th birthday, he reflects on his life and career. He acknowledges that it's a strange place to be, with a desire to continue growing and having ambition, but also being mindful of his legacy. Mutiga's lessons in humility and leadership are shaped by his experiences, and he hopes to pass them on to others.

Mutiga's story serves as an inspiration to leaders and aspiring professionals. His emphasis on humility, hard work, and making a positive impact is a valuable takeaway. As he continues to lead Stanbic Bank Kenya, Mutiga's focus on building better and moving things along further will likely have a lasting impact on the institution and its people.

Key points

• Michael Mutiga's leadership approach emphasizes humility and making a positive impact.