A chat with Josephine N. Mukumbya

A CHAT WITH

JOSEPHINE N. MUKUMBYA

ASSOCIATE CERTIFIED COACH (ACC)

Josephine Mukumbya is the Group Chief Capacity Development, Coaching and working cross-
Executive Officer of the Agricultural Business culturally. Before joining aBi, I worked in five
Initiative (aBi), a social enterprise founded by financial institutions and one International
the Governments of Uganda and Denmark to Development Agency in varied roles as an Executive
promote Private Sector Agribusiness Director, Chief Credit Officer, Chief Risk Officer and
Development to enhance wealth creation in Senior Private Sector Development Advisor.
Uganda. In this interview with HCMA, she I am a member of the Board of Directors at Housing
shares her experiences as a leader and an Finance Bank, the premier mortgage financier in
employee. She also offers insight into how Uganda. I also chair the Female Future Association
businesses can survive post-COVID-19. Alumni Board, an entity established to mentor and
coach young women into leadership positions.
HCMA: Briefly tell us about yourself. My varied roles provide me with opportunities to
coach and mentor upcoming female executives
Josephine: Currently, I lead the team at aBi to across several sectors.
promote private sector investment in
Agribusinesses through Grant support for I hold a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance for
interventions designed to address specific Development from the Fondazione Giordano Dell
constraints identified in six priority agri-value ‘Amore in Italy. The International Coach Federation
chains. aBi also promotes access to agricultural has credentialed me as an Associate Certified Coach,
financing, through the use of varied financial and I am a member of the International Coach
instruments and inclusive strategies to the Federation body.
sustainable development of agribusinesses in
Uganda. My experience cuts across financial
Portfolio Management, Business Planning, Risk
Management,

HCMA: Briefly give us an idea of when your As fate would have it, one of our clients, who was In Uganda, we started out as a very small team Business development services are a key
leadership journey started and what key the MD of a larger bank, really appreciated my of coaches who are professionally trained; I requirement for establishing and sustaining
learnings you took along to get to where work and my approach to doing things. think today, we are forty. We established the businesses, which is why both development
you are now? International Coaching Federation in Uganda partners and even financial institutions are
One day, he said to me, “I need you to respond to and are now part of that international body. contributing to opening up the incubation
Josephine: I’d say my leadership journey the advert that would be published in the Working in collaboration with the Human space. The largest financial institution in the
commenced a few weeks after coming out newspaper because I need you to join my bank.” I Resources Managers Association we have country has incubation programs, and even a
of school when I met, whom I’d say, is the did and was offered more exposure and training succeeded in making it a requirement for HR few more have followed suit. In this incubation
greatest mentor in my life. She’s since opportunities which sharpened my skills and professionals to be coached and trained in space is the availing of the real and full package
passed on (may her soul rest in peace), but enabled me to perform better. Then the coaching. What this is doing is to cause a of business development, not just bits and
it was that helping hand she gave me which promotions followed. So, in summary, that’s how systemic change because having been through pieces of it.
set me on this path. She was the Head of my leadership journey started. professional coaching and training, the Human
Department of a financial institution which I Resource Managers are gradually impacting I find that one of the reasons for the frequent
joined a few weeks out of university. She HCMA: What key learning, did you take out of their organisations. So, the Association of collapse of enterprises could be that we were
saw how curious I was and my desire to this? Human Resource Managers is really giving us a not supporting them enough. If I am successful
learn, so she took me under her wings and push in terms of professionalising coaching in at business planning, market development and
introduced me to the intricacies of her work. Josephine: My main learning out of this is that Uganda, and soon, we will see more talent access to market, but then I’ve not looked at
Her department was the Credit Department mentorship is key. I have a degree in Finance; being developed. the other elements of financial management,
– and if you know anything about financial Banking and Investment were part of the courses the business may still collapse. So, these
institutions, especially in Africa, credit is the I read. However, the practical work was a whole HCMA: What has been Uganda’s experience incubation packages are taking on the whole
bread and butter of such institutions different ball game, especially having to deal with with business development? lot. The financial institutions are doing this
unsatisfied clients. So, I would say doing, actually because, in a way, they’re developing business.
So, she was actually the bread and butter of our helps to learn (Practice makes a man perfect as Josephine: As you may already have heard, Indeed, they’re developing their next level of
branch, and she was very good at it. She had a the cliché goes). Thus, an internship is critical to Uganda is one of the most entrepreneurial business because they would like to offer more
colleague who assisted. However, at the time I developing people/talents because we really countries on account of establishing many services like lending to them. They would like to
joined, her colleague had to go on maternity become curious as we’re working. Through this enterprises. Unfortunately, we keep losing see them grow for mutual benefit.
leave, and she had to manage the department process, whatever we’ve read or internalised in them such that they do not see their third
on her own although she wasn’t feeling very the classroom comes to life. birthday. I have forgotten the statistics, but by At aBi, we are actually in support of incubation.
well. So, she often asked me to help, and I did. the fifth birthday, I think as many as seventy We have a partnership with a particular
That got me my first promotion because out of So, I learnt a lot from my first boss, and that is why percent (70%) of them have failed. I have agribusiness incubator, targeting small youth
the blue, I knew things that at my level, I I’m keen on being a mentor, especially to young personally been involved in a business that has enterprises. This has been able to attract other
shouldn’t have known. That is because she ladies. I sometimes get feedback from my failed. So, in spite of the fact that the funders, including government bodies, and we
carried me along. Much as I made some colleagues that I’m giving too much to a new entrepreneurship spirit is there, we find that hope that these services can be replicated
mistakes, I learnt along the way. Things member of staff. But I have found that if they’re we’re losing these businesses. Although there across the country so that we will have more
happened so fast such that in no time, my curious and eager enough to learn, they learn are many reasons for this, I pin it down to lack participants
services were needed at the Head Office. Then quite quickly and give themselves the best of adequate business development support
I was on the way to more leadership opportunity to grow. So, I try my best to avail and strategies to grow the business.
opportunities. myself to be a mentor and a coach. One important
thing in coaching is “collaboration”.

“I learnt a lot from my first boss and that is why I’m keen on This is very prevalent in the manufacturing entitlements and what is expected from them
being a mentor, especially to young ladies. I sometimes get sector, where a basic thing as having formal in return.When there is clarity of roles between
feedback from my colleagues that I’m giving too much to a contracts for low skilled jobs is sometimes not employer and employee, loyalty is built, and
new member of staff. but I have found that if they’re curious adhered to. the bond is strengthened.
and eager enough to learn, they learn quite quickly and give
themselves the best opportunity to grow.” Why? Because they find them easily HCMA: I believe that your involvement in the
replaceable. But as an employer, they have a Federation’s work is also helping to shape the
. By so doing, we will be ensuring that the HCMA: Given that people are the most duty to treat employees well to breed loyalty. outcomes?
businesses that are opening do not have the agile and indispensable resource, what Somehow, some employers lose sight of losses
same failure rate that we’re known for. would you describe as some of the that result when employees fall sick or resign, Josephine: Yes. This Federation was able to link
setbacks in people management? and they need to reskill others to take up their up with a similar Federation in Norway to
HCMA: Given that it’s a very tasks. This is due to the perception that these introduce what we call the Female Future
entrepreneurial environment, what has Josephine: Taking the employee people are easily replaceable. Program. This program is looking at how we
been the role of HR? perspective, I would say Work ethic. can support particularly ladies, who usually get
Somehow, this can be influenced by one’s There’s also the issue of lack of awareness, on stuck in middle management roles, to move up
Josephine: I would say HR is really the pivot. culture. For example, in East Africa, the part of employees, of their basic rights. This to their rightful leadership positions. This is to
We can have all the processes and policies, Ugandans are considered more friendly and makes it impossible for them to get the address a key finding in a survey carried out in
however, if we do not have the people, and laid back than some of their neighbours who treatment they deserve It also hinders their Norway a long time ago. The survey revealed
even if we had the people, but they are not are considered to have a better work ethic. ability to grow into new roles and deliver to the that in Norway, there were few women in
developed or suited to deliver the plans, best of their abilities. To address this situation, boardrooms and management positions. It
policies and work through the processes, Friendliness in itself is a good thing, but if it we have a Federation of Ugandan Employers also emerged that many of them were found in
then not much can be achieved. An affects my productivity as well as that of my that’s charging us as employers to create this middle management, and they are very willing
important observation I have made during teammates to the extent that we are unable awareness through our manuals and sessions to stay at that level. The program was then
this Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic, to grow in our careers, then we are not with our staff. Through these channels, we developed to tap into women’s leadership
especially considering the challenges we are professional enough. So being intentional educate, employees about their potential.
going through, is that the most agile of all about developing the work ethic is
our resources is still the people. something that we need to work on as a
country. And why is this so? Because it will
Processes and systems don’t change by help us become more productive. From the
themselves; it is people who have to change perspective of the employer: As a nation
them. It has been a real eye-opener. So, HR with very high unemployment and
plays a very critical role, hence the need for underemployment, you will find that an
business owners to appreciate and accord it employer will be hard-pressed to follow
the recognition it deserves. through with all of the obligations they have
towards an employee.

I am privileged to have attended this So, in the course of the pandemic it has Therefore, in many respects, what needs to be Josephine: I see an opportunity to be more
program. The first country in Africa to become apparent that if you’ve not added done is more value addition. Here, I’m speaking innovative. Things we thought were risky and
have benefitted from this program is value to growing bananas, for instance, you about areas of competitive advantage. So, if our could not be done, remotely or digitally, we
Uganda (I think Ghana has since come on can see the price drop by say two hundred main area of competitive advantage is Agriculture, now realise, are possible. So, we can
board) and there are about a hundred percent because of transport disruptions then we need to see more value addition and enhance our risk appetite and operate more
and eighty (180) women who have gone innovation there. I also have an example with efficiently We can make a case for process
through the program. Therefore, Government and development partner regard to manufacturing that really amazed me. mapping and process re-engineering. We
establishing an association of alumni of promotion of and support to value addition have been able to be creative with our
this program would be a very good forum has never been appreciated more than I must say that at such times you can actually see workload.
for addressing critical areas that need to now. the creativity and agility of people. So because
be improved in HR and to further their essential services were left open, even as we went We’ve had to work our schedules to bring
course. We had some rapid assessment done in the into lockdown, this particular manufacturing balance to it because even in the crises one
country in the very early days; March, April, company found a way to release some of its had to prepare reports and participate in
HCMA: Now let’s talk about COVID-19. May and the initial feedback was that the storage space to its employees for them to live on meetings while attending to the needs of the
Nobody really thought we would be here category of people mainly hit by the the premises because they couldn’t commute family because they’re also locked down. As I
today. What would you say has been the pandemic in terms of loss of total income is between work and home. Management actually said before, the key factor in all this is the
impact of COVID-19 on the business the urban low-class. For example, owners of created a kind of dormitory for them and ensured employee. They are pivotal in managing the
landscape in Uganda, particularly in your small restaurants and their waiters or that they continued processing produce change. They’ve been able to work on
field of endeavour? waitresses lost their sources of income. throughout the period. The reason is obvious, we guidelines quickly and use them to move
However, the ones we consider much all needed food which could be stocked to eat ahead of everything so that by the time we
Josephine: The effect on businesses is poorer up-country were not faced with the while we were locked down at home. For the first get back to full business, we are sure that we
drastic. Some of the impacts, especially in same crises that those of us in cities and time in the life of this company, they had more would have improved on our deficiencies in
the financial services space, are yet to be towns were faced with because they could orders than they had ever had before. The many ways.
fully felt. For sure, economies can’t shrink still go to their farms. So, in a way, the pandemic has, therefore enabled them to identify
this fast without having these ripple pandemic has given us a mixed bag. And a new and efficient way to operate. HCMA: You have had an awesome journey
effects across countries. However, there we, as an organisation, are trying to in leadership in organisations in Uganda.
is a bit of a mixed bag, and I’m going to intensify advocacy to solicit the support of So, it’s a mixed bag. We have responded well but How would you say African businesses
give two examples I came across, which more bodies, including Government how our economy recovers is the next big thing should position themselves for global
were quite fascinating, and they sit well Agencies, to leverage on this learning and that we’re all looking at. competition in the face of the COVID -19
within my space of interest. invest more and appropriately in disruptions?
agriculture. HCMA: I think you’ve spoken largely on how
I really feel that the pandemic has organisations could actually take advantage of Josephine: It goes back to the issue of
brought the contribution of the this situation, can we now shift focus to considering business development as a
agricultural sector in Uganda to the fore. employees? We all are employees of one package and embracing it. To date, African
We have always said that agriculture is organisation or another. So, while the businesses will only get into an incubator
the largest employer. organisation is trying to take advantage of COVID program or take on business development
-19, how in your view, do employees also take services that they are paying for. Why?
This narrative is still out there, but we advantage of the disruptions? Because they’ve not yet seen the value.
actually do not follow it up with a budget
that supports our view of its importance.

However, as others come out They don’t appreciate having an infusion of skill So, it always baffles me because I’m thinking, this
of these incubator programs, and exposure into their businesses. The few who is the one skill that a CEO needs most.
which development partners, do, suddenly get access to say the Ghanaian
governments and financiers market. That’s because the company may have If we actually knew how to treat people better,
have paid for and start received the required exposure or the investor how to support them to work to the best of their
accessing markets in Europe introduced a governing board with some level of potential, then our work would be half done.
\ for instance, to sell products independence. Interestingly, some start-ups are
such as dried chilli and dried not able to separate what they consider to be their So, the tip I would give is that we need to bring
pineapples, then, even small personal money from the capital invested in the the HR management function to the fore of
enterprises, will be able to pay business. Meanwhile, something as simple as that Senior Management. What we can’t see in terms
for these services because of can start you on the path of being reputable, of numbers currently, is something that can
the value they see. thereby attracting more investments. So, you find happen if we have the HR management
that if we open up ourselves to embrace up-skilling associations work closely with say the Chief
Essentially, African businesses need to It is clear that once these and exposure through other partnerships, we Finance Officers to demonstrate the return on
embrace Business Development lessons trickle down and succeed. Otherwise, you have a situation where retaining staff in our organisations compared to
services as something worth paying for African businesses are willing the market wants our pineapples, but they don’t other institutions. So, my tip would be to
so that it has sustainability. The other to pay for Business know about them, and we don’t know how to get intentionally recognise the strategic importance
thing that I think African companies Development services so that our pineapples there (Ugandan pineapples are of the HR profession in our organisations.
need to do is to embrace up-skilling. It the people who offer these sweeter than Ghanaian ones by the way).
may be your family business that you are services can engage them HCMA: So finally, if you could describe the
running with your husband, uncle and directly, they will also enjoy HCMA: Wow! I think you really do justice to the future of work in one word, what would that be
child but do you have all the skills, the benefits. These include subject of business; shouldn’t we be inviting you and why?
structures and systems you need? access to markets, financial to Ghana to do a seminar?
management, and support Josephine: Agility, that’s the word. The reason is
from financial institutions and Josephine: I would be very happy to do that simple. We do have to be faster and more
better branding because you know what surprises me? I don’t creative than we’ve ever been if we want to stay
need a visa to come to Ghana! relevant. We have to find new ways because the
Another thing, I get some calls from impact ways that brought us here will not enable us to
investors asking for names of SMEs and or HCMA: What’s the one tip that you would give to stay here. We have to work for a while at some
start-up companies to support. When these leaders in relation to treating or managing our level of uncertainty. This uncertainty calls for the
companies are contacted, they usually people better? need to be agile because that business plan that
decline financing, which entails the ceding of was supposed to yield specified results in 2023
shares. They prefer to have a hundred Josephine: That’s a hard one, but I could start from requires some changes/shifts. If a business can’t
percent (100%) ownership of a business something that always surprises me. When I look deliver to remain relevant to its shareholders,
worth say a hundred million shillings to fifty at the profiles of most CEOs, I’m hard-pressed to what purpose will it serve? Business owners and
percent (50%) of a billion-shilling one. find a former HR management practitioner making managers have to think on their feet and be
They’re not looking that far yet. it there, not even at the international level.
nimble to stay relevant.