I serve as Managing Director leading Business Development for Trianum Hospitality, East Africa’s leading third-party hospitality management firm specializing in the extended stay, aparthotels and holiday homes segments. I lead the development of hospitality projects across East Africa due to my exceptional skills in handling intricate projects, negotiations outstanding outcomes and her knack for spotting market opportunities. My 32-year career in hospitality has taken her across three continents – USA, Europe, and Africa – holding various key roles in development, operations, management, consulting, and advisory. My track record includes employment with both global giants like TUI, Hilton, HVS, and Walt Disney World, as well as regional firms such as the Tamarind Group.
Leadership is the courage to build what does not yet exist, and the discipline to lift others as you rise.
Thirty-two years across three continents, and now leading one of East Africa’s top hospitality management firms. What has that journey looked like?
As Managing Director at Trianum Hospitality, I oversee high‑stakes development initiatives across multiple asset classes, guiding projects from feasibility and underwriting through design coordination, stakeholder alignment, and execution oversight. I have led complex capital projects, repositioning, and new‑build developments, making decisions through rigorous financial modeling, market intelligence, and brand strategy. My work requires synthesizing technical, financial, and operational inputs into clear, actionable recommendations for boards, investors, and ownership groups. I have successfully delivered turnaround strategies for underperforming assets, managed architectural competitions for new developments, and built scalable F&B and guest‑experience concepts that elevate brand equity and long‑term asset value. What distinguishes my leadership is my ability to assess project viability, cultivate strong stakeholder engagements, build trust‑based relationships with owners, developers, government agencies, and design partners and motivate my team at Trianum to achieve above market performance.
What impact are you proudest of?
I am transformation leader who reshapes hospitality assets and organisations by building disciplined systems, strengthening commercial engines, and driving cross‑functional execution. I have the ability to develop new concepts or turnaround underperforming properties, introduce structure and accountability, and align diverse stakeholders around clear strategic priorities. I blend architectural and development expertise with operational and commercial acumen, enabling me to elevate asset value from concept through design, pre‑opening, and full operational maturity. I build revenue growth by strengthening sales structures, embedding data‑driven decision‑making, and driving brand and F&B expansion. My governance discipline, analytical clarity, and ability to synthesise complex information into actionable, board‑ready recommendations make you a trusted problem‑solver for high‑stakes, politically sensitive, or ambiguous assignments. Above all, I leave organisations stronger, more capable, and more aligned, with systems and teams that continue to perform long after my intervention.
What’s the achievement you hold closest?
My biggest achievement to date is founding and growing Trianum into East Africa’s leading women‑led hospitality management company, built on disciplined governance, commercial excellence, and a deep commitment to empowering women in leadership. With my co-founders and sisters, we created Trianum sixteen years ago from the ground up, shaping it into a high‑performing organisation that consistently outperforms the market, delivers strong returns for owners, and sets new standards for operational and service excellence. Under my leadership, Trianum has become a platform for developing female talent, elevating women into decision‑making roles across operations, finance, sales, and asset management. You have built a resilient, values‑driven company that blends strategic clarity with execution discipline, transforming hospitality assets while proving that women‑led organisations can scale, innovate, and lead the industry. Trianum, and the properties we manage, stand as a testament to my vision, courage, and ability to build something enduring and impactful.
What makes your leadership distinct in hospitality?
My leadership impact is meaningful and unique because I have built an organisation that is both high‑performing and deeply human. Early in my career, I broke barriers and sat in boardrooms where I was often the only woman—an experience that ignited my conviction to nurture and train other women to join me in the hotel development space. Over time, I have become strategic, focused, and unwavering in my mission to achieve my goals while lifting others. I am intentional about building pathways for women to step into leadership roles and equally committed to creating opportunities for youth to grow their careers in hospitality. My ability to integrate strategy, execution, and empowerment is the hallmark of my leadership style. More than transform organisations, I strive to transform lives, expand access, and ensure that the next generation of women and young professionals can claim their place in the industry.
What advice would you give future women leaders?
Future women leaders should trust the power of their voice, their intuition, and their lived experience, because leadership is strongest when it is authentic. Build competence relentlessly, but do not wait for perfection before stepping forward—men don’t, and neither should you. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, champion you, and hold you accountable. Lead with clarity, fairness, and courage, especially when decisions are uncomfortable. Claim space in rooms where women have historically been absent, and bring other women with you as you rise. Invest in continuous learning, financial literacy, and strategic thinking; these are the tools that protect your independence and amplify your influence. Most importantly, lead with integrity and empathy, combining your feminine strength with humanity because your leadership is not just about your success—it is about shifting the landscape for the women who will come after you.
