The Sponsor

Wairimu

The days had galloped fast, Wairimu had been immaculate with the COO position. She looked at the calendar on the wall and she couldn't believe that over six months had passed since her tenure began. She couldn't believe that their cash flows were steady and they were now registering profits. Well, most of the cash was going into paying creditors but that would only be for a time.

At first Wairimu and Kitana seemed to have ran out of ideas. Every bank was turning them down. Until it finally hit Wairimu. She could sell her 25% stake of the company to the public. That way they would have enough cash flow coming in and the company would still be family owned with her dad, her brother and sister with majority of the shares. She didn't trust her brother but she believed she could trust her sister and dad.

Together with Kitana, they had started by vetting the stake holders. They did not want ironclad shareholders. They wanted people who shared their vision. They divided the shares into class A and B. Wairimu and Kitana both took a 5% stake of class A shares that allowed them to be board members with voting rights and they divided another 10% to heavy hitters and the other 5% to the public. 

After the offering Kenya commercial bank approached them. Placing on the table the same offer they had refused Mzee Ajabu. An offer of being the company's bank of choice. With a package of eighty million initial equity and operational cost a month. But there were other offers as well. 

Wairimu found herself going with the leaner offer of fifty million a month from Commercial Bank of Africa believing in her gut that a time would come when cash flows would not be an issue. She had set this in motion by opening a contingent account for the company. She looked at the account on her MacBook it now had twenty million Kenya shillings and growing. She had made up her mind that 30% of the contingent account would pay employees bonuses for the year. 

Employees were another thorny issue. They had sat down with Kitana and combed through the employees. Even though majority had toxic tendencies they agreed that that was not who they were at their chore and they decided to give them a chance. They did this by opening a training wing in the top most floor of their offices. Where the HR department went through their chore values and what needed to be done to achieve their long term goals. Departments would no longer be departments but teams. With a team leader. 

They started by giving a grace period of three months. Those who didn't follow through were given warning letters and after that dismissal letters. She was astonished that after, the turnover was less than 1%.

She steadied herself now and smiled. She looked every way a CEO. Settled and confident. She was especially looking forward to the afternoon boardroom meeting. She looked at her Burberry watch. It read 10:00AM. The meeting was set for 10:15AM. She picked her iPad pro and apple pencil and headed to the boardroom. All the directors were present with the exception of Olivia, Mzee Ajabu and Fred. 

She started by taking them through operation. Where the company was and where it was headed. The Chief Financial Officer took over and went through the numbers. HR went through a new wing that they were opening dubbed, 'Talent Management' where employees would work in posts according to their strength. Kitana finally got up. 

"It is good to see the company going in the right direction. This is something we dreamt of with Mzee Ajabu without really knowing that we would get here." The room was rapturous in applause.

"I do not deserve an ounce of that praise. It should all go to Wairimu." Wairimu nodded her head and mouthed, "It was a team effort." 

Kitana paused and smiled.

"As you know I have been interim CEO for some time now and I feel it's time for someone deserving to fill those shoes. Wairimu has gotten to a place where she is more than capable to fill those shoes and I can go back to my COO position. I'm not sure what I will be doing exactly since she has been managing everything meticulously. Maybe I will make her coffer, eh Wairimu, will you let me do that?"

Wairimu chuckled wondering what he was saying. The whole company knew they would be lost without Kitana. Mzee Ajabu had gotten to a place where he had become more aesthetics than management and it was Kitana who took up the job. 

If there are no objections. I would like the board members who are here to sign the papers in front of you confirming her as chief executive officer of Ajabu Digital. They had not had a second glance at the papers when the door flew open. Behind it Fred and his mother.