Samantha Muna
CEO, CO-Founder: Trianum
Me and my two sisters stated this company when we were all young, first time moms. It was difficult to find a job in the hospitality industry that enabled us to be with our children to any reasonable extent. We therefore set out to start a company that would hold space for us as mothers. Against this backdrop, we have incorporated the care of mothers in our ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy.
Most of our workforce and leadership are mothers, particularly single mothers. Myself, I am a single mother and thriving business leader. I take pride in seeing mothers growing within the hospitality industry. One of my most remarkable stories is of Anne Jazzi, who started out as a housekeeper, and is now running her own housekeeping business, which she started because she realized that her services were in high demand. Today she can attest to it, that we are her longest standing client, and we have enjoyed working with her.
GATHONI WATHIGA
HR Trianum
Gathoni Wathiga is part of the Trianum HR team, and together they manage the 7 properties from an HR perspective. She is a mum of one 7 year old son.
According to the Law, a pregnant woman is not required to disclose her pregnancy at the interview stage, to protect mothers-to-be from unfair disqualification. For her, she disclosed at her previous work place out of personal conviction, but she ended up getting the job anyway.
When she got her baby, all her colleagues came to visit her with flowers. When she went back to work, the management allowed her to be clocking out of work at 2 or 3 pm. This empathy shaped how she treats mothers in her current capacity and her attitude towards mothers at the workplace.
Coincidentally in her new job, she interviewed a pregnant woman and because the lady was the best qualified candidate, she and the management gave her the job, and when the time for her leave came, they gave her the full 90 days, uninterrupted. Gathoni leads with empathy, understanding the struggles of motherhood and creating a conducive environment for every mother to feel seen and appreciated not just for what they do for the company but for who they are to their children.
She believes that one reason why trianum mums have such a conducive environment for growth is because the company is led by not just women, but mothers. Things surely turn around when mothers support and raise fellow mothers at the workplace.
IRENE KIROKO
RECEPTIONIST: ELSIE RIDGE
Irene Kiroko is a receptionist at Elsie Ridge, a property managed by Trianum. Additionally she is a first-time mum to a handsome boy who is now 6 months old.
The pregnancy days were not so difficult, she recounts. Apart from difficulty making the early mornings, the team was very supportive. She was not quick to disclose her pregnancy, but when she finally did, she recalls that her GM, Irene Nyanumba, was very gracious and would faithfully check in on her wellbeing.
The time came for her maternity leave, and she handed over, left and had a successful delivery. The baby came a few days past the due date and she had to go in for an elective surgery. Her supervisor came to see the baby at the hospital and congratulate her. Recovery was not easy but she had the support of her husband and parents.
When she came back to work, The first day, she was received with open arms and warm hugs from the management and the team. the first few months were the toughest. “I would often go to the mirror in the bathroom and talk to myself, trying to reassure myself that all will be well,” a teary Irene recalls. “I kept calling my mom to check on the baby every few minutes. My husband would call to check on me because he knew I was having post-baby back problems”
She had a nanny whose phone had a problem. She had been hearing stories of how some evil nannies would run away with the baby. So one day at work when she was trying to call the nanny and she was not picking up, she really panicked, and as soon as her shift was over at 12pm, she took a boda boda from work to home at high speed. She was relieved that all was well.
ALICE WANGARI
RESTAURANT CAPTAIN: ULWAZI PLACE
As the head of the waiters and the kitchen, Alice says that their workplace has been a wonderfl environment for her as a working mum. Recently, she needed to attend her son’s sports Day. Knowing it was a full day, all she had to do was to inform her GM, who allowed her to get a replacement to stand in for her on her off day. Since she already had overtime hours she had worked on public holidays, she did not need to make up for the day off.
Mothers day for her usually looks like: the waitresses cut cake and are given chocolates to celebrate them from management.
The way the company treats the staff is enough motivation for them to serve the moms attending the restaurant on mothers day with utmost joy and appreciation.
ALICE JEROTICH
HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR: COZY RESIDENCES
Alice Jerotich is 1 month pregnant, and excited to be a mom. The team is very supportive, knowing how difficult the first trimester can be. Her GM Mary Njoroge chats comfortably with her, making fun of how sleepy she often looks in the mornings. Knowing that she is going through this delicate time of her life has helped the team to give her utmost support and love. Previously, she was able to support one of her junior staff who got pregnant with twins and lost one baby. The stress and grief caused her CS wound to open up, meaning she has had to be away for much longer than expected. The empathy Alice observed from her superiors helped her to be very understanding of this situation. She has been able to realign her team to ensure that nothing falls through while their colleague recovers and nurses her baby simultaneously.
Mothers day at her workplace is usually spent having lunch or dinner together and encouraging each other as moms.
AURELIA WAMBUA
GM: Ulwazi Place
Auralia Wambua is a mother of twins, and the GM of Ulwazi Place. She started in a five star hotel and later took a break to raise her new born twins. After looking for different jobs she settled on Trianum because the environment there was good for mums.
She has been there for more than a decade. The empathy she has received from her superiors has shaped her style of leadership.
Some of the common challenges she has gone through herself, and been able to support other women through include: Having mothers admitted to hospital with their children, mothers schedules and mental health being disrupted when they are having problems with their nannies or a mother having to attend to a child’s emergency.
To celebrate mothers, Aurelia and the management colleagues have occasionally organized team buildings where the moms are allowed to come with their children. They ensure that the moms get a treat on mother’s Day, from flowers, to chocolates, to cake-cutting. Mother’s Day at Ulwazi Place is always a day of celebration and joy.
IRENE NYANUMBA
GM: Fedha+ Elsie Ridge
Irene Nyanumba is a mother of a 20-year old daughter. As a woman in leadership she cannot help but draw parallels between some of her younger staff with her own daughter. She is able to, not just guide them professionally, but also show personalized care to her staff. This motivates them to show up as the best versions of themselves at work.
Recently, she was on a date with her daughter, which they had planned for a long time, when she was called for a work emergency. Their date had to end abruptly, and locking in another date to make up for it was not easy. This, among other such experiences helps her to appreciate the sacrifices that mums have to make in order to meet their obligations at work. It has helped her to have compassion and create a conducive environment for mothers to thrive both personally and professionally.
Mary Njoroge
MD: Cozy Residences
Being a mum of two boys and a leader at her workplace has not been easy, but it has been very fulfilling. Mary is very comfortable with her staff and has mastered the art of leading not just with empathy and compassion, but I noticed humor in the way she was relating with some of her staff that were on location on the day of this conversation.
From nanny drama, to health-related emergencies, to child-loss, and everything in-between, Mary has seen it all. She is keen to visit new moms in hospital whenever she can. When one of the collegues developed complications after delivery, she realized that the employee needed an extra month of leave to recover. Mary was able to quickly cover this gap by hiring an external service provider until the employee is ready to return.
Knowing how easy it is for mums to be forgotten on mother’s day, she ensures that the staff get a note from the company that reminds them they are seen and appreciated.