Who We Are - Inkomoko

INKOMOKO VISION

Thriving Communities for All

Inkomoko’s vision is an Africa with thriving communities where young people and forcibly displaced persons are engaged, communities have access to relevant innovations for self-determination, and where African solutions are unleashed to solve African problems.

Founded in 2012, Inkomoko has provided business advisory and access to finance for thousands of entrepreneurs across East Africa. As the largest lender to refugees in on the continent, we have disbursed more than $13.2M in capital to more than 59,000 clients. This affordable finance for Inkomoko entrepreneurs helps them grow their businesses, create jobs, and improve their livelihoods.

As we look forward, Inkomoko is developing new ways to engage communities to thrive. Creating meaningful market linkages, expanding to secondary cities, and advocating for economic inclusion, Inkomoko has added these community-based approaches to our enterprise development work.

By 2030, Inkomoko will be in 8 countries, serving more than half a million small businesses, creating a positive impact for more than 7 million people across the Continent.

INKOMOKO CULTURE

A Diverse Team with Shared Values

By 2030, Inkomoko will grow to more than 1,000 staff in 8 countries. With a mix of perspectives and experiences, we are connected by a shared set of values that guides our work and pushes us to achieve more for our clients.

INKOMOKO VALUES

Bravery

“The brave rise together.” This organisation was founded in 2012 by social entrepreneurs Julienne Oyler and Sara Leedom, whose experience living and working in Africa highlighted that supporting entrepreneurs is the most sustainable way to create wealth and improve livelihoods across the Continent.

Achievement

“We reach beyond what we think is possible.” We set ambitious goals, and we push our entrepreneurs and our staff to achieve these goals. Together, we do the impossible.

Purpose

“All the problems on the Continent have solutions that already exist on the Continent.” The Continent's people are its greatest resource. Our entrepreneurs are an integral part of the phenomenon of Africa Rising.

Improvement

“We are committed to continuous learning and growing.” We recognize our limitations, challenge our entrepreneurs, staff, and entrepreneurs to improve, and seek out opportunities to share our learnings and commit to hearing from others.

Turikumwe

“We eat goat.” We are together, we celebrate our success. We take time to appreciate one another and hold each other up in hard times.

INKOMOKO TEAM

Leadership Team

With more than 400 staff in 30 offices across Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, the Inkomoko leadership team supports a thriving group that is deeply embedded in the communities we serve. Our leadership listens, ensuring that the perspectives, needs, and cultures of our clients and partners are reflected in the decisions we make every day.

Michelle Wandera

Director of Financial Planning and Analysis

Olive Ashimwe

Regional Director of Business Growth Services

Nick Daniels

Director of Development

Henok Laike

Director of BGS Ethiopia

Sara Leedom

COO

Claude Mazimpaka

Regional Portfolio Director

Emmanuel Mugabo

Managing Director, Rwanda

Barbara Mutoni

Director of People & Culture

Mary Mwangi

Chief Program Officer (CPO)

Makena Mworia

Managing Director, Kenya

Cynthia Ndeti

Director of BGS Kenya

Linda Ndungutse

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Dawit Tilahun

Managing Director, Ethiopia

Eng. William Ngabonziza

Managing Director, South Sudan

Cyrus Mwangi Njuguna

IT Director

George Osina

Finance Director & Controller

Rohin Otieno

Regional Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

Julienne Oyler

CEO

Helle Dahl Rasmussen

Director of BGS Rwanda

Kathryn Rendon

Chief of Staff to COO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Florence Gatome NIRAS Africa
Shipra Kayan Miro
Sara Leedom INKOMOKO
Marion Ntiru ELMA Philanthropies
Julienne Oyler INKOMOKO
Michael Payne Board Chair
Lauren Rawlings Palladium
Tom Ryan Century Equity Partners
Kampeta Sayinzoga Development Bank of Rwanda
Julie Taft International Planned Parenthood Federation
Marieve Uaboi-Gauthier Citibank
Bior L. Ajak RBC Bank

INVESTMENT COUNCIL

Michelle Brauner Ares Management, LLC
Harrison Chilton The Carlyle Group
Alex Darden EQT Partners
Chris Durbin Vestar Capital Partners
Paul Kaboub Old Ironsides Energy
Osman Nur Revolution
Tom Ryan Century Equity Partners
Irene Wang Falcon Investments

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Jeff Aludo Aludo Group
Feza Diane Self-Employed
Dominic Mureithi Polucon Group
Carmen Nibigira MasterCard Foundation
Yves Bernard Ningabire Crystal Ventures
Obinna Ukwani Bank of Kigali
Denise Umunyana Right Seat Ltd
Roselyne Uwamahoro UN Capital Development Fund
Anataria Uwamariya TradeMark East Africa

INKOMOKO BRAND

Inclusive Growth for Thriving Communities

A brand is more than its individual parts. It’s the collection of all the impressions we create and the feelings we evoke.

In 2022, Inkomoko re-branded, unifying the company name and images across our various locations. The new logo design and brand images are bold, crisp, and energetic -- exactly how we think of our commitment to our clients’ progress.

"Inkomoko" is a Kinyarwanda word meaning "the origin." Honoring our origins in Rwanda, even as we grow across Africa, we're bringing the lessons learned at the origin of our work into new locations. As many of our clients are also forcibly displaced people, the notion of "origin" also honors clients' paths in rebuilding their lives in new locations.

Together #WeAreInkomoko.