Weekend with the CEO
Annstella Mumbi, the closed-door violinist who is addicted to TikTok
Saturday 08 July 2023
Tala’s Interim General Manager, Anstella Mombi. file image | Swimming pool
The thing about Annstella Mumbi is that when she does something, she stays at it. For starters, it’s versatile (Google that). It has that grrr, that extra dose of charm.
She can do anything, as many people do, so she does it all, as most people don’t. Mechatronics engineer, serial technologist, globetrotter, fellow at YALI, producer with money chains venture capitalist, and now interim managing director at Tala, the global fintech company—she would have run out of papers on her accomplishments—no songs for albums here, just the greatest songs.
Talking to her is like watching a peacock fluff its feathers at the top of its feathers.
You’d be forgiven if you were jealous of her for winning the obvious merit of the talent, Harry Potter (ess?) of the works, who cast a spell of magic into her brains. Forgiveness, yes, but not a mistake.
“I just wish I could keep up the hobby!” Ah, there he is. hole in the wall. Trojans. Achilles’ heel. But even its strengths are matched by its weaknesses, which can feel like they were developed in a lab as a kind of personal kryptonite.
So, we get the character, and you realize that when it’s about to shock you with some deep thoughts, you’ll precede it with, “That’s interesting.”
Like the course of her career, her lyrics are sharp, elegant, and eye-catching. Listening to it is like watching an engineer confront a financier, like watching lightning go off at thunder. It’s, er, um, interesting.
Outside, the breeze is catching its breath – it’s Nairobi winter, July weather, sunshine crammed into snow bottles, the equivalent of waking up from a deep, restful, relaxing sleep at 5am for school on a cold Monday morning.
Are you a financial engineer or an engineer in finance?
Think of it as the engineering where it all began. I’ve always been a nerd. You were really good at math and science. It was a natural progression.
I have spent five years deeply immersed in the world of robotics and all the (cutting edge) technologies that we see, such as artificial intelligence. I did some engineering work and discovered that it wasn’t all that. I didn’t feel any connection, and it became a matter of how to focus on a straightforward task.
That’s how I ended up on the business side of things. Being an engineer helps me understand the artifacts. I have coded and still do till now.
Engineers are taught to be structured in their thinking, it’s all about formulas. Business strategy is about having a solid business plan. In other words, I’m an engineer, just without the title.
What did you know about money then that helped you now?
Respect money and it will respect you – be aware of how and where my money is spent. I rarely make decisions based on money – finance is my number three priority.
I need to be interested, aligned with a mission, and see what I’m doing before funding comes in.
What purchase under NIS 10,000 changed your life?
Oh interesting. I will say books. One was a recommendation from one of my senior colleagues at Tala, a book called Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup (Written by Bill Ouellette). He talks about the principles of how you think about building a business.
The other is the advantage: why organizational health trumps everything else in business (Written by Patrick Lencioni). Both books influenced how to build a business, build strong, cohesive teams, and develop clear team strategies.
interesting. What was your nickname growing up?
Mo, short form for mumbai. People were too lazy to call me Mumbai. My family still calls me Mo. At the office, it’s Mombi; But that depends.
Some of my colleagues who have known me for a long time call me Annstella.
When was the last time you felt like a mu?
Ah, that’s interesting. I say when I’m with family. Family is your foundation. With them, I am not a technical mumbai or a general manager mumbai. I am simply Mombi, Sister, Daughter, Cousin, Auntie.
If you ask me what mo means, it means family and foundation. I was reminded of this last weekend when I was around the family.
What’s the special thing you do just for Moe?
Interestingly, Eddie is that I get bored quickly. I take up a lot of hobbies and quit them just as quickly; Very few of them stick. I always go to a class to learn something new, like recently, it was a motorcycle.
Before that, it was golf, and before I fell in love with clubs and golf courses, I was into kickboxing. I even learned the violin.
I found that (learning new skills) helps me unplug. Either that or I’m traveling. I aim to visit every African country, I’m 15 so far. We are all very similar yet very different in our cultures.
Which of these countries really struck a chord?
Rwanda. I fall in love with the country every time. It feels like an African example and center of excellence under good leadership how everything is organized and safe.
This, or South Africa, where I work quite a bit. This level of development, despite the challenges, is amazing. I found Togo to be very interesting.
You know what, let’s throw Benin in there, too. They have a unique feel and are deeply rooted in art and music, with a lot more twist than I could have expected. It was amazing.
Why the violin?
Let’s start with the fact that I’m no expert. You started it, say, in 2018? I went to classes, bought my lessons, and sometimes played for my guests. (lucky for them). But I haven’t played publicly yet.
Does it have a special meaning?
not necessarily. I love music, and it was a hobby I just picked up. I tried to play the guitar in university, but I found the violin an elegant and interesting instrument.
Hand-eye coordination is quite tricky, but you can still recreate modern music with its classic feel. this is the reason.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Back to hobbies. When you have a lot to do, the only way to relax is to really disconnect, but not next to your phone or laptop, tempting you to do something else.
For three hours on the golf course, I was feeling really tight. Kickboxing also forces me to disconnect. I’ve tried going to the gym, but that didn’t help. Exercise and sports have my number.
Is this your weekend lifestyle?
To some extent. I would play golf with my mom or a colleague and then spend the rest of the time with family. Occasionally I watch a good movie, but I’m not the most avid Netflix person.
When you think of the weekend, what food comes to mind?
Mostly steak or burger. But if I feel down to earth, I love Swahili food, biryani and viazi karais.
If you are with family bring nyama chomas haha! There is no need to eat healthy but don’t quote me on this, haha!
What is an unusual habit or silly thing that you love?
I have a TikTok addiction. I wasn’t a fan until my team wanted to be on TikTok and then the TikTok algorithm did wonders for me. But I’m trying to recover.
I have a certain limit on the amount of time I can spend on the platform per day. Weekends are the worst, especially if you’re indoors, because where did all that time go?
What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever spent money on?
Awesome investments? I felt smart at university and wanted to get into the shoe shine business. We (with a partner) bought a shoe stand and set it up on the matatu stage in Juja. We spent about 30,000 shillings without doing any research.
The theater “owners” kept breaking it – and our hearts. It was a great lesson.
Understand your customer base, do your research, and understand the environment in which you operate. I was shut out by a stage cartel because I lived in my head and wanted to solve a problem without research. haha!
What do you have that money can’t buy?
Loving people in my life. One of the things I am most grateful for is the inner circle of my parents, my family, and of course my partner. It’s amazing to have a support center that never fails. I don’t take it for granted.
What is something you wish you could be better at?
Stick to the hobby haha! Seeing things through to the end and not getting bored so quickly!
What is the most painful thing you’ve been told?
Being a young woman detracts from your leadership success. Being black, female, and young raises many questions about your ability.
Sometimes it’s not about your ability to get the job done but how people view you… Will you get your job done? Will people respect you? You have to constantly prove yourself.
In return, what was the best compliment you ever received?
It’s strange, but one of my former bosses called me a “strategic prankster.” I didn’t understand what he meant then, but I was working on expanding between Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, and Ghana.
I later realized that this is one of the best ways for someone to highlight my strengths because I get the job done hence the cheater, but I act very tactical and organized in prioritizing my time, and therefore strategic.
This is my superpower. To put my head in the clouds and my feet in the ground.
Who is that person you trade with for a day?
What a day in the life of a chief like haha! Or a day in the life of a pop star? I understand the executive side of business, but how is it in the arts? Or a public service?
Lately, what have you become so good at saying no to?
Things that do leave me high energy. If it does not add value to me or the people I work with or diminish my energy, I am very reckless to say no.
Do you have a secret talent that no one knows about?
haha no! You know all my secrets now.
What’s your soundtrack for the weekend?
I’m an old soul so I mostly listen to something from the 80’s, 90’s or early 2000’s.
What’s on your bucket list?
Flying a Cessna or a slingshot. Growing up, I always thought I would be a pilot and this is a goal I still want to reach in life.
What is the weekend hack that makes your weekends better?
Resting hard and doing activities that get you out of your usual routine, for me is getting out and going into spaces full of nature.
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