Meshack Miyogo is the managing director for CIC Insurance, a company that offers financial and insurance services in East Africa.
Born and raised in Majengo, Mombasa, Miyogo rose against the odds to become the CEO of one of the biggest financial companies in East Africa.
He is an alumnus of the Nairobi School and Egerton University.
Recently, he gave an account of his life journey on Business Daily.
This is his journey as told by WOA:
Early Beginnings
Meshack’s early dreams were set on becoming a doctor, a career path many in his generation aspired to.
Growing up in Mombasa, he had a deep desire for success and wanted to make a difference, but life had different plans.
“I think it’s both. I’m very ambitious. When I was growing up in Mombasa, I wanted to be a doctor. I had that mindset of wanting more,” Meshack recalls.
However, his journey took a turn when he didn’t achieve the grades needed to enter medical school.
Instead, Meshack adapted, choosing a degree in education, economics, and business studies. “I knew that I wasn’t going to teach,” he admits, recognizing early on that his true passion lay elsewhere.
He therefore set his sights on the financial industry and worked tirelessly to carve out a space for himself.
A Defining Moment
Meshack’s desire to be a CEO was bred by an early experience during years at Nairobi School.
In Form Three, he participated in a program called “job shadow,” where he spent time at Alico Insurance, now part of CFC Life.
“I had an opportunity to interact with the then-chief executive officer (CEO) Erwin Brewster; I spent the whole day with him in his office. We went for lunch at the Serena Hotel. That was my first time going to a five-star hotel and the first time I used elaborate cutlery. I wanted that.”
The life of a CEO—someone with influence, power, and respect—was something he aspired to.
Consequently, becoming a CEO of a well-established financial company became his dream.
Rising Through the Ranks
After completing his degree, Meshack knew where he wanted to go.
“The first place I went to was Alico Insurance, then Barclays, where I was the top salesman of some 5,000 salespeople, then my career started taking shape.”
He credits several key figures for guiding him on his journey:
“I was mentored by the likes of Stella Njunge, my former boss who’s the CEO for AIG. George Kuria, CEO of Sanlam… so many people have mentored me in this journey.”
These relationships were instrumental in developing his leadership skills and understanding the dynamics of the industry.
Overcoming Challenges
Meshack’s upbringing in Mombasa wasn’t easy.
Raised in a polygamous family with a father who was largely absent, life presented its fair share of obstacles.
“My dad was a Muslim, but I’m SDA – from my mom’s side. My dad was mostly absent during my childhood,” he shares.
Mombasa itself posed challenges, with the prevalence of drugs and peer pressure.
“My classmates in primary school were already indulging in some of these things so early,” Meshack recalls.
However, his mother, who worked for Car and General, made sure he stayed on the right path.
She was keen on ensuring that he attended church regularly, which, in turn, helped him avoid the distractions around him.
“The church helped me,” he says. “My mom was very keen on us attending church, which I did on Saturdays and even on Sundays. This meant that I didn’t have time for the things my friends had time for.”
Despite the difficult environment, Meshack’s focus on hard work and discipline earned him a spot at a national school, the prestigious Nairobi School.
A Complex Relationship with His Father
When asked about his relationship with his father, Meshack acknowledges the absence but doesn’t seem burdened by it.
“Not really. He would come around once in a while during a birthday and bring me a gift. I remember him buying me shoes.”
While his father wasn’t a constant presence, Meshack found the guidance he needed from his mother and his late elder brother, whom he saw as a father figure.
Balancing work and family
As a CEO, Meshack says that office life can be overwhelming.
“You are always managing competition, regulators, stakeholders, internal and external…it’s endless the demands it has on you”.
However, he has learned to create time for his family, dropping off his four children for school every morning and creating time for them from his busy schedule.
His eldest daughter is 16 years old.
Meshack, who is now 42 years old, spends his free time working out and traveling. He is also the treasurer for the Mwamba Rugby Football Club, which helps keep him busy.
“Managing the club helps me to unwind. I don’t drink alcohol, but I have friends who drink, and I enjoy socializing with them. Lastly, I play golf on Sunday evenings when I have time.”
