CfC Stanbic CEO Greg Blackenridge (right) with Eunie Nyakundi, Rising Star Awards winner in the Banking and Financial Services sector, during a ceremony held in Nairobi last week. Photo/Annie Njanja
The inaugural Rising Star Awards aimed at recognising local talent was held last Tuesday. The event, organised by BlackBark Productions and which will be held annually, is designed to appreciate entrepreneurs and other professionals who have made remarkable efforts in growing both the private and public sector.
The awards, which appreciate individuals under the age of 40, will raise awareness on available local talent, trigger competition among youths, and draw young entrepreneurs and other professionals together to network.
“Many talented individuals often go unnoticed as they either have not been given the opportunity to showcase their skills or demonstrate their capabilities.
The awards, therefore, aim to provide an opportunity for organisations to engage directly with their employees and for entrepreneurs to reach out to the market and provide them with a platform to present their abilities and strengths,” said Alister Swart, co-founder of the awards.
Feted individuals
He added: “The feted individuals of the first Rising Star awards not only demonstrate technical abilities, achievement and success, but also contribute in an inspirational manner to the future of Kenya.”
Commenting on the maiden awards, Laura Barker, BlackBark Productions MD, said that the talent revealed this year, in terms of skill sets and roles, was encouraging as it confirms the existence of talent across Kenya’s business sectors.
The awards create an intellectual platform for support and education on current business models and management practices.
For the awards, each of the 43 finalists was exposed to a vigorous judging process which resulted in the identification of a Rising Star for each of the 11 business sectors.
Depth of character
“The standard of the entries was commendable, and the talented young people who made it to the 2014 finals have all demonstrated the strength and depth of character that typifies talented individuals.
What we saw was genuine social and global awareness, qualities that are critical to effective leadership in the 21st century,” said Mr Swart.
Levis Maina of Sullivan Marketing emerged the winner in the Entrepreneur sector, while Mary Waceke Muia of the Central Bank of Kenya was feted for her influence in service provision in both the public and private sector.
Austine Adoyo Odhiambo of Engen Kenya Ltd took home the Construction, Energy and Chemicals sector award, while Daniel Nyange of Deepa Industries topped the Manufacturing, Retail & FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) sector.
Mahesh Acharya of Kaplan and Stratton Associates bagged the Business Services award.
Eunie Khimulu Nyakundi, head of marketing at Resolution Insurance, won the Banking and Financial Services award, while Anicoh Nathaniel of Best Western Premier bagged the Hospitality and Tourism Sector award.
George Namisi Wafula of Airtel and Abdallah Ali Were of DHL Kenya completed the winners’ list, bagging the ICT sector and Logistics and Supply Chain sector awards respectively.
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