Dr. Jane Muchiku Kimemia is the CEO of Optiva Capital Partners with over 28 years of experience in financial services. She is a Pan-African leader specialising in wealth management, consumer banking, and commercial banking. Dr. Kimemia completed her primary and secondary education in Nairobi, Kenya and pursued tertiary studies at Jomo Kenyatta University. She also holds numerous international certifications including an Executive Education at INSEAD Singapore. In this interview, she speaks on her driving change and championing growth in Nigeria through Optiva Capital Partners.
Share your experiences growing up in Kenya and what led you to a career in wealth management.
I grew up in Kiambu, a small tea-growing village. My mother was a nurse, and my father worked at a bank, so we lived a modest but fulfilling life. Education and hard work were instilled in us from a young age. My mother ensured we worked hard in school and on the farm, picking tea and milking cows. One thing that shaped me was the belief that everything was possible. My mother taught us to value what we had and maintain a positive mindset. Despite not having much, we felt we had everything. My father’s annual reports from Kenya’s Commercial Bank also intrigued me. Part of my inspiration was seeing on the cover this girl standing at the staircase of a big bank or a big building. Honestly, I wanted to be that person. When I look inside, I see positions, the board of directors, and the annual reports. I was fascinated by the board of directors and dreamed of working in a bank one day. That early exposure to finance shaped my ambitions. After excelling in school, I attended one of the top national schools, which opened doors to university and further education, setting me on my path to banking and wealth management.
You have held senior roles across East, Southern, and Western Africa, focused on transactional banking, lending, and wealth management. How did it prepare you for Optiva Capital Partners?
My banking career began 28 years ago as a temporary employee in the foreign exchange department at Barclays Bank. I later became a teller in a bank in a small tea-growing town before moving into sales, prestige banking, and project management. My career evolved into regional roles, including scheme lending, premier banking, and priority international banking. Eventually, I became Executive Director and Head of Wealth Management at Standard Chartered, overseeing investment banking, bancassurance, and managing subsidiaries in the East African region, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, and managing director for two of the subsidiaries for the bank, Standard Chartered Investment Services and Standard Chartered Insurance Agencies Limited. Everything about my career prepared me. Honestly, I’ve had the most amazing career in the banking sector.
Each role prepared me for Optiva Capital Partners. I’ve been in charge of starting businesses from scratch and building sustainable, profitable businesses. I gained expertise in various financial segments, from retail banking to high-net-worth client management. I worked across different markets, leading teams and learning from top-tier professionals in Dubai, Singapore, and beyond. I was part of elite talent programme, receiving extensive leadership training in institutions like INSEAD in Singapore. I also underwent media training, mentorship, and coaching, which refined my skills.
A significant part of my experience was starting and scaling businesses. I built customer value propositions, hired teams, and worked with distribution channels to drive sales. This foundation made my transition into Optiva seamless, as I had spent my career serving clients, leading teams, and growing businesses.
What makes Optiva Capital Partners stand out in the wealth management and investment space?
Our deep market knowledge and understanding of client needs set us apart. Wealth management is often misunderstood in Africa. When you look at the numbers, only one percent of wealth in Africa is professionally managed. There is immense demand but few true experts in the field. Optiva bridges this gap by linking our clients in Nigeria and Africa to global investment opportunities. We collaborate with top-tier international partners across immigration, investment services, advisory, and real estate. Our value proposition addresses critical client needs: wealth retention, diversification, and global access. We focus on long-term solutions that create lasting financial security for our clients.
Take us through the impact at the grassroots of some of Optiva’s Corporate Social Responsibility Projects.
At Optiva, CSR isn’t a box-ticking exercise—it’s a way of life. Our key stakeholders include our staff, clients, partners, and the communities where we operate. First, we contribute by being a major employer. Each employee supports an average of four dependents, creating a multiplier effect in poverty reduction and economic stability, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. And what does that mean in terms of contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals? No poverty, opportunities to work and to make a living, etc. We could almost tick 11 out of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Beyond employment, we actively support communities. In Eastern Nigeria, particularly in Enugu, we provide food and palliative care to underprivileged families. I’m very proud of the project we’ll be launching soon on maternal health care, working with the Lagos state government. We are rehabilitating one of the busiest primary health care facilities by partnering with the Lagos State Ministry of Health. Nigeria contributes to nearly 10 percent of global maternal deaths, and we are rehabilitating a primary healthcare facility in the densely populated area of Ketu to improve prenatal and antenatal care. This project will increase bed capacity and restore the dignity of women seeking maternal healthcare. So, that agenda is important for us at Optiva Capital Partners to support reducing the maternal mortality rates in the country. This is a need, and I call on other corporates to contribute.
Another major initiative is ‘Now I Can See,’ which combats avoidable blindness. Many individuals suffer from treatable conditions like cataracts simply because they cannot afford surgery. We have facilitated numerous surgeries, restored sight, and transformed lives.
We also support the Future Leaders Association, an initiative started by Moshe, a young Canadian student. Through our collaboration, we provide education, training, and mentorship to underprivileged children living in the Makoko area of Lagos, helping them unlock their potential and shift their mindsets toward success. Our joint effort created a transformative programme, providing a day or two of learning, training, and motivation. By shifting their mindset, we inspire these young individuals to recognise their potential, take control of their lives, and unlock their dreams. This initiative embodies our values and commitment to positively impacting future generations.
Have you faced gender barriers on your road to the top in your 28-year career path?
Absolutely. Although organisations focus on gender balance, roles are earned through competence, not gender. Women must prove themselves in male-dominated boardrooms, especially in financial services. The organisations I’ve worked for would always be very conscious about gender balance. But, you see, it’s not about affirmative action. You know, people think, oh, I’m going to get this role because I’m a woman. No, you will not get the role because you’re a woman. You will get the role because you have the competencies, are capable, have the track record, and can deliver. Nobody’s going to hand you a job just because you’re a woman. So, even as you get to the corporate boardroom, especially in the financial services, there are more men than women.
Early in my career, as a project manager in Mauritius, I walked into a room of men who doubted my capabilities. Biases exist—not just as a woman but also as an African woman. I had to overcome preconceptions through performance and results. So, have I faced gender biases? Yes, absolutely, but I have always let my work speak for itself. My promotions at Barclays Bank were based on merit, and I was headhunted for senior roles at Standard Chartered due to my track record. The boardroom can be scary. You have to have the right track record. You have to have the ability to speak and to present yourself. You overcome that by your performance and your track record.
What would you say are the biggest challenges women in leadership face today?
One major challenge is mindset. Many women anticipate barriers before even attempting to break them. There’s an anticipation there’s going to be a ceiling. It’s like you settle before you’ve even taken on the challenge. What is your mindset empowering you or disempowering you? Because as a man thinketh, so he is. The biggest obstacle is the mindset and perception that the boardroom is a challenging, male-dominated space. However, I firmly disagree with this notion. The real challenge lies in overcoming biases and stereotypes that perpetuate the idea that women are overly emotional, unbalanced, or less capable.
Biases persist, including the stereotype that women are overly emotional or less capable. In reality, women bring unique strengths such as empathy, attention to detail, and strategic finesse. Women also juggle multiple roles—leaders, mothers, wives, sisters—which can be overwhelming without adequate support. The key is to shift focus from perceived limitations to strengths. Women should embrace their unique perspectives and leverage them as assets.
What drives you to succeed?
Earlier in my career, I wanted to succeed and make it big. I wanted to be in the boardrooms of the world. I had this aspiration, and that drove me from one level to another. I never want to fail. I never want to be average. I always wanted to stand out through my performance and contribution. What drives me now is purpose. I talk about success and significance; the stage I am in my life is about purpose. When you’re younger, you want success, and it’s important to rise through the ranks from one level to the other. Then you get to a level where it’s more aligned to purpose.
Over time, my motivation shifted to purpose. Success is important, but significance matters more. Today, I am driven by impact. Am I touching lives? Am I making a difference? I have been mentored and supported throughout my journey, and I want to do the same for others. Purpose keeps me focused. I want to inspire people to believe in themselves and reach their full potential. Every day, I strive to serve others and create lasting impact. How can I use the platforms I have to influence people to do better, to the best of their potential, to believe in themselves and that they have the God-given capabilities and capacity to be everything they’re meant to be? That is what drives me: purpose, impact, and significance.
As a recognised Pan-African leader specialising in wealth management and consumer and commercial banking, what advice do you have for female leaders looking to make a similar impact in a male-dominated field?
Understand your ‘why.’ What drives you? What motivates you to excel? Clarity on your purpose fuels resilience and focus. Don’t be in a rush. Career growth takes time, and building credibility is a journey. Invest in continuous learning, develop expertise, and establish a solid track record. Don’t let life’s challenges hold you back. Instead, use them as stepping stones to propel you forward. Remember, what doesn’t break you makes you stronger. You emerge from adversity like pure gold.
My message to women is simple: love your life, embrace your story, and take charge. Get into the driver’s seat and own your power. Don’t let anyone or anything diminish your worth. You are capable of achieving greatness. Accelerate your journey to becoming the best version of yourself. Use your experiences, skills, and talents to propel you forward. Remember, your power is not despite your circumstances but because of them. Embrace your story, and let it fuel your success.
What is your life mantra?
I live by the principle: “Serve life, and life will serve you right back.” True greatness lies in service. When you align your work with a purpose greater than yourself, success follows naturally. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great, and greatness comes from service.” Finding your area of service is the key to fulfillment and impact. I apply this mindset in everything I do, striving to serve others and contribute meaningfully to the world.
