AFRICAN LEADERSHIP REDEFINED
BOLDLY
Dr Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi
Tanzania’s Industrial Pathfinder Building an Agro-Empire Rooted in Local Solutions and Global Vision.
Atjust33yearsold,DrJescaMhoja Nkwabistandsatthehelmofoneof Tanzania’smostdynamicindustrial conglomerates:theKOMGroupof Companies.
Fromitsearlyfocusonedibleoil processingtoadiversifiedportfolio spanninginfrastructurematerials,agroprocessing,andretail,KOMnow operatesacross26regions,employs morethan400staff,andmodelswhat
African-grownindustrialstrategycan looklikeinaction
ArmedwithaDoctorateinBusiness Administrationandgloballeadership credentials,DrNkwabihasusedher technicalinsight,commercialforesight, andpeople-firstethostorepositionKOM asaself-sustainingindustrial ecosystem Hermantra:“Expansion,yes Butcapacitybuildingisthetruemeasure ofoursuccess”
ROOTEDINLEGAC VISION
Raisedinafamilywh wasmorethanalive ofthinking,DrJesca’ wascultivated,notha
Observingherparent howtospotmarketg risks,andbuildwithl
Butshedidn’tmerely sharpenedit Heraca includeaDBAfromt WestofScotland,aM InternationalBusines DeMontfortUniversi leadershipprogramm Harvard
Eachsteppreparedh beyonditsorigins W executiveleadership, continuation,itwast restructuringthebus expandingitssectora introducingamindse
FROMMANUFACT MOVEMENT.KOM PAN-AFRICANVIS
UnderDrJescaNkwa Grouphasevolvedin diversifiedmanufact group.
Itscoreoperationssp processingfromcott sunflower,animalfee andHDPEpipeextru aluminiumroofing,a manufacturingofpla furnitureandhouseh
Complementingitsin alsooperatesretailo supermarkets,bakeri restaurants,position aproducerandprovi chainsacrossTanza
Herstrategicleaders integrationatthecor processingwithretai logistics,andenginee capitaldevelopment
This transformation wasn’t accidental, it was architected And today, KOM operates not just as a supplier, but as a national contributor to job creation, selfsufficiency, and East Africa’s industrial resilience
Our business is designed to respond to Tanzania’s needs, but it is built with Africa’s future in mind.
Dr
Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi - CEO of KOM Group of Companies
LEADERSHIPINACTION: STRUCTURE,INNOVATION, ANDSCALE
OneofDrNkwabi’sfirstimperativesas CEOwastorebuildtheorganisation’s backbone,upgradingoperationswith technicalexperts,skilledengineers,and state-of-the-artequipmentsourced globallybutlocalisedforTanzanian conditions.
Ratherthanscalingforvolumealone, herstrategyfocusedonquality, consistency,andtrust KOMinvested heavilyinpackagingtechnology,food safetysystems,andprocessefficiency tomeettheevolvingneedsofboth commercialandhouseholdclients
Asaleader,shebalancesdata-driven decision-makingwithapeople-centered managementstyle,creatinga workplaceculturethatnurtures ownership,continuousimprovement, andaccountability
GLOBALTHINKING,LOCAL IMPACT
DrNkwabi’svisionextendsfarbeyond Tanzanianborders Sheseestrade diplomacyandregionalintegrationas essentialleversforAfrican industrialisation
HerparticipationintheTürkiye, TanzaniaBusinessForuminApril2024 reinforcedherfocusoncross-border partnershipsinconstruction,agromanufacturing,andmining KOM’sgrowthroadmapincludes regionalexpansionintoZambiaand
Rwanda,withfutureambitionstocreate satelliteproductionhubsacrossthe continent
“Africacan’taffordtooutsourceits valuechains Ourfutureliesin producing,processing,packagingand distributingrighthere,withAfrican skills,brands,andownership”
LEGACYTHINKING:DEVELOPING AFRICA’SNEXTINDUSTRIALISTS
Truetoherbeliefininclusivegrowth,Dr Nkwabiisdeeplycommittedto mentorshipandyouthempowerment
ThroughplatformslikeLionessesof Africa,YoungWomenEntrepreneurs, andWomenEmpowermentNetwork, DearNewFounderandLetustalk businesswithDr.JescaNkwabishe sharesherjourneyandopensdoorsfor aspiringAfricanfounders.
Furthermore,sheisaneducationand businessconsultant.Throughher consultingbusinessFrazmo Consultancyshehelpsstudentstoget admissionabroadandsheoffers researchandbusinessadvisory services
Herideaoflegacyisnotdefinedby companysize,butbythemultiplier effectshecancreate
When a woman leads in manufacturing, she doesn’t just change her balance sheet, she changes her community.
Dr Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi - CEO of KOM Group of Companies
Herleadershipmodelcentreson systemsbuilding,successionplanning, andensuringthebusinessremains adaptable,relevant,andresilientinthe decadestocome
DrJescaMhojaNkwabiisnotmerelya CEO,sheisabuilderofindustries, institutions,andfutures Herleadership redefineswhatAfricanmanufacturing canbe:intelligent,inclusive, infrastructure-led,andunapologetically local
WITH PURPOSE.
AFRICAN-MADE, GLOBALLY RESPECTED
SECTORvsCOREOFFERING
Agro-Processing;Cookingoil,animal feedInfrastructureManufacturing:PVC &HDPEpiping,steeltubing,aluminium roofingConsumerPlastics:Basins, buckets,chairsRetail:Supermarket, bakery,restaurants,pharmacies.
StaffEmployed:400+ RegionalPresence:26regionsin Tanzania
RECENTACCOLADES
CO-winnerAfricanFemaleBusinessLeader OftheYear,ABLA2025
YoungAfricanBusinessLeaderoftheYear, ABLA2024
YoungBusinessLeaderoftheYear2024
ManufacturingGroupCEOoftheYear, Tanzania
Runner-Up,YoungAfricanLeaderoftheYear, ALMPOTY2024
WHATSETSDRNKWABIAPART?
TransformationalStrategy:Fromniche processingtocross-sector manufacturing
Evidence-BasedDecisions:Academic rigourmeetscommercialinsight CapacityDevelopment:Prioritising skilledteamsandknowledgetransfer. LocalisationwithScale:Regional production,global-qualitysystems MentorshipMindset:Investinginthe nextgenerationofAfricanleaders
Fromcottonfieldstoconstruction corridors,fromfoodsecuritytogender equity,DrNkwabiembodiesthekindof leadershipAfricaneeds,visionary, strategic,andboldlydefined ThisistrulyAfricanLeadershipBoldly Defined
