Esther Mwaniki, Lapid Leaders Africa CEO, has a way of making it all look effortless, leaving a well-paying managerial role at PwC to build something entirely new.
But that is far from the reality. When Esther took that leap of faith, she had no idea how much the next decade would push her and test her resilience.
“It’s the hardest work I have ever done. And I’ve done hard work,” she says with clarity in her voice.
Before venturing into uncharted waters, Esther was already an exceptional figure in the financial sector, handling some of the most complex and high-stakes mergers in the world.
“I was part of the team in the UK that facilitated the merger of legacy Lloyds and legacy HOS, two of the largest banks in the UK,” she recalls. These were not just two major financial institutions, but pillars of the UK’s banking sector, merged in response to the 2008 global financial crisis.
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Why She Quit the PwC Job
So, why walk away from a career many would consider the pinnacle of professional success? Why trade boardrooms for the uncertainties of a start-up?
She founded Lapid Leaders Africa because she wanted to build purpose-driven leaders. Individuals who would be able to elevate conversations that say leadership at its heart is about serving the people.
However, one of the reasons why she stayed with Lapid was because it was important to show stories of women building big, successful things.
But the journey has not been easy. In her words, it has been ‘expensive, and hard.’
Esther did not just give up a coveted job, she gave up her financial security and the stability that came with it. She has poured everything she has, her time, energy, and even her pension, into keeping Lapid Leaders Africa alive.
“I had a good life. A good salary. I gave it all up. To keep Lapid afloat, I took my money, and everything I had, and poured it into the organization. The only reason we’ve survived these ten years is because of that sacrifice,” she explains.
Yet even with her commitment, Esther admits she underestimated just how difficult the journey would be.
“I remember thinking, ‘How hard can it be to build something that helps people get jobs?’ But by 2018, I hit a breaking point. The challenges I had faced were overwhelming.”
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It wasn’t just the financial hurdles or the monumental effort of building a youth leadership program from scratch. Esther also confronted societal barriers that women leaders face every day.
“Women don’t always extend grace to other women leaders,” she says. “And men often struggle with women in leadership, especially when challenges arise.”
This, she believes, is part of a larger issue, a society that still has not figured out how to balance the scales of opportunity and representation.
“Elevating women in leadership is not just about fairness, it creates a different kind of society, one where diverse perspectives lead to more just outcomes.”
Esther on Women in Kenyan Politics
Speaking on the challenges women face in Kenyan politics, Esther shared that the political system is built for the rich, and women are not often in those spaces.
Further, she explained that women in Kenyan history never had access to land, property, and financial resources, keeping them excluded from the political process from the start.
She believes that while the two-thirds gender rule was a step in the right direction, it alone cannot address the deeper issues of parliamentarians being greedy and selfish instead of serving the people.
“The real work is in reimagining the political system. It is not just about filling quotas; it’s about creating a system that genuinely serves the people.”
She pointed out that the political system, rooted in elitism and wealth, often leaves ordinary women at a disadvantage, unable to compete with those backed by money and influence.
“We need leaders who understand the needs of ordinary women and push for policies that truly benefit them.”
Awards and Accolades
Esther’s vision for Lapid Leaders Africa has blossomed training thousands of leaders and building a community of changemakers.
And her work has not gone unnoticed. Esther is both an Obama Foundation Fellow for Civic Innovation and an Oprah Winfrey Foundation Fellow, earning global recognition for her pursuit of social change. Also, Lapid has been celebrated as one of Africa’s top youth leadership organizations by the African Leadership Institute.
For Esther, the sacrifices have all been worth it.
“When you ask, ‘What does it take to build something that serves the next generation? that’s what keeps me going.”
A decade on, Lapid Leaders Africa stands as a testament to her dream, a powerful reminder of what purpose-driven leadership can achieve. To cement what she stands for, Esther will on December 12, host the Top Purpose-Driven Leaders Awards 2024.
The ceremony will highlight women breaking barriers in Kenya’s corporate world, honoring female leaders, who represent what an everyday woman stands for and fights for.
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