Countless inspirational quotes speak to the value of partnerships, with the most notable being “unity is strength”. In this simple adage is a timeless message about the power of pulling resources and working together. Lina Ng’inja embodies this idea through her work in managing partnerships. Her career trajectory has been guided by her want to improve the lives of the people she encounters. This deep-seated desire traces back to her childhood when she found ways to lend a hand to those around her. Even at that young age, it was her hope that her input would leave an indelible mark on the lives of others. 

Lina carried this mentality throughout her education, and into the job world well after graduating from Catholic University of East Africa in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. She built robust experience through the years, starting out as a cashier at Barclays Bank (present day Absa Bank) in 2010, getting an MSc in Economics of International Business and Finance from University of Reading in 2015, and working her way up to being the Business Development and Commercial Director of the Nairobi Securities Exchange in 2017. Even as she scaled the corporate ladder, she kept her eyes peeled for the possibility to improve people’s lives through her work. 

 

The Knock of Fortune 

The window of opportunity swung open for Lina in 2017. GoodUp, a Dutch social enterprise that helps companies organize their workforce, was in search of a Business Developer. The organization was expanding into Eastern Africa and needed a professional to introduce and develop new partnerships in the region. Not only did this role align with Lina’s work experience, but it also presented a chance to work with businesses to improve their organizational purpose. This was Lina’s gateway into partnerships work, and it was in executing this role that Lina’s skills finally aligned with her passion. While it was rewarding for her to scale up local businesses, it was even more fulfilling to witness the positive change in the lives of entrepreneurs who could now utilize newfound partnerships to grow. 

 

Partnerships for Progress 

It has been a journey of going from strength to strength for Lina who has since worked for organizations including Nailab and Andela to build stakeholder relationships and maintain global partnerships. During her time in each of these organizations, she strengthened resource mobilization and built partnerships that improved the economic opportunities of African innovators. In 2021, Lina took up the role of Africa Regional Lead & Head of Partnerships at Seedstars, a Swiss-based company that implements capacity-building programs for entrepreneurs in emerging markets. In this position, Lina continues her work of ensuring that African business owners have access to the knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources needed for sustainable development.  

Through her work, Lina alters the business landscape in Africa, leveraging partnerships to improve investment and economic growth on the continent. We celebrate her resolve to impact lives and the enduring legacy she is building through her work. 

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