Susan Situma is Director of Programs at AECF, overseeing programs focused on enterprise development, economic inclusion, resilience, and catalytic investments in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her work sits at the intersection of private-sector development and impact; supporting enterprises, partnerships, and ecosystems that expand opportunities for women, youth, and underserved communities, including those in fragile contexts. The focus is on the agriculture and renewable energy sectors, as well as financial inclusion through financial intermediaries.
Before joining AECF, she spent close to two decades in the financial sector, leading SME and business banking divisions across some of Kenya’s leading banks, where she worked extensively with entrepreneurs and growing businesses. One of the initiatives she is proud of was leading the launch of the She Business proposition at Absa Bank Kenya, which focused on accelerating women-owned enterprises by providing financing and mentorship.
She is inspired by seeing how catalytic capital, partnerships, policy engagement, and enterprise support can unlock transformation at the household, community, and market levels. Women and underserved entrepreneurs move from the margins of economic systems into positions of leadership, resilience, and long-term economic participation and inclusive economic growth.
Susan holds a certificate in leading sustainable business transformation from IMD Business School, Switzerland (2023), complementing her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from USIU. Her leadership and contributions have been widely recognized; she was honored as a positive role model in the financial services sector at the Accenture East Africa Business Awards in 2023.
