Nancy Njau: The Woman Driving Family Bank’s Success And Social Impact

• With over 22 years of experience, Nancy Njau has led Family Bank through agile business transformation, significantly impacting growth and customer satisfaction
• Under Nancy’s leadership, Family Bank has invested over KSh 300 million in education, benefiting more than 1,200 students through the Tufuzu na Elimu programme among other initiatives
• Before her appointment as Family Bank's Chief Executive Officer, replacing Rebecca Mbithi, Nancy served as the chief commercial officer

Muyela Roberto is a business journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 9 years of experience in the digital media, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Nancy Njau is a seasoned banker with over 22 years of extensive experience in strategic leadership, agile business transformation, and building high-performance teams.

Nancy Njau's leadership impact

Her expertise spans client solutions innovation, growth acceleration, asset and liability management, credit management, sales, customer service, coaching, training, and mentorship.

Before her appointment as Family Bank's Chief Executive Officer, Nancy served as the Chief Commercial Officer.

Her career at the bank began as a Management Trainee, and she has since held several key positions, including Chief Officer for Public Sector Banking, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Head of Retail Banking, and Regional Manager for Rift and Western Kenya.

Nancy has earned numerous certifications, reflecting her deep expertise. She is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya and a Certified Executive Leadership Coach through CDI Africa.

She is also an alumna of the Advanced Management Program from Strathmore University Business School, CEIBS Business School in Accra, Ghana, and IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.

Her diverse qualifications include certifications in coaching, customer experience, and performance management.

Nancy Njau's commitment to education

Her dedication to excellence is evident in her academic achievements as well. Nancy holds a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option) from Kenyatta University, and a Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management.

She is an active member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM), and the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM).

“As a Group, our focus in the first half of the year has been on prudent financial management by strengthening our liquidity position while working on satisfying customer needs,” Nancy noted, emphasizing the bank's strategic direction during the announcement of its H1 results.

“The performance of this first half is a testament to the bank’s agility and resilience in the face of enduring market uncertainties. We continue to prioritize building scalable infrastructure to support the significant balance sheet growth we have experienced over the last few years.”

Beyond her role in banking, Nancy is passionate about creating a positive societal impact.

“Over the last 12 years, we have been intentional in ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all by impacting the very society we operate in,” she said, highlighting the success of the Tufuzu na Elimu programme.

The initiative has benefited over 1,200 students across the country, with the bank investing more than KSh 300 million in the education sector.

Youth empowerment through ICT

Nancy is also committed to empowering the next generation. “

This partnership seeks to instill entrepreneurship and a growth mindset to create the next generation of innovators and promote resilience among our youth, transforming dreams as we create a safe, secure, and inclusive digital future for the African continent,” she shared in November 2023, announcing that 250 youth were set to benefit from software development training through the Family Group Foundation ICT Project.

Her leadership has been instrumental in fostering a customer-centric culture at Family Bank, driving business growth, profitability, and exceptional customer experiences.