What does it take to lead in today’s global commodity trade and supply networks?
This question brought a diverse group of senior professionals to the Strathmore Business School in Nairobi from 8th to 12th June for the Africa Module of the Executive Programme in Leadership in Commodity Trade and Supply Networks, an international executive education programme delivered by Erasmus University Rotterdam in partnership with academic institutions across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The cohort of 18 delegates came from different organisations and industries, representing middle- to senior-level managers taking executive leadership roles. Over five days, they worked through an intensive programme that combined expert lectures, panel discussions, practical simulations, industry visits, and personal reflection.
The week, coordinated by the Strathmore Programme Manager Elizabeth Makali and Erasmus program manager Reinette Sluijk, assembled faculty from Strathmore and guest speakers from business, government and industry to guide participants through the many forces reshaping global trade.
Navigating a Changing World
Welcoming delegates, Professors Gilbert Kokwaro and Francis Wafula challenged participants to think beyond the day-to-day demands of their organisations and consider the wider forces changing global markets.
Prof. Jonathan Annan (Strathmore) built on that by examining Africa’s place in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, while Lewis Mwenda (Stone Africa – Alamaya Group) explored what those shifts mean for organisations operating across the continent. Later, participants worked through their scenario-planning exercises with Dr. Wouter Jacobs (Erasmus, Program Lead), reflecting how different geopolitical futures could influence business decisions.
A panel discussion featuring Loise Thuge (Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority – EPRA), Oliver Bunting (MAERSK) and Nick Kwolek (KULEA) reinforced a key message: resilience has become just as important as efficiency. As global supply chains become more unpredictable, organisations must be ready to adapt rather than simply optimise.
Breaking down the Silos
Prof. Vincent Omwenga (Strathmore) explored how artificial intelligence is changing supply chains, from forecasting demand to improving operational decision-making. But his message went beyond technology itself. Artificial Intelligence, he argued, creates value only when organisations have the leadership and governance endorsement to use it responsibly.
Victor Ngumo of Safaricom illustrated this point by walking delegates through the journey of M-PESA, arguably Kenya’s leading example of innovation, showing how continuous innovation and a deep understanding of consumer needs can transform a single product into an entire value-adding ecosystem.
Participants applied systems thinking in practice through the internationally recognized Friday Night at the ER management simulation, facilitated by Prof. Francis Wafula, which challenged them to break down siloed approaches and strengthen collaborative decision-making. Working together to manage a busy hospital, participants quickly discovered how decisions in one part of an organisation affect every other part, and the importance of collaboration to solve organisation-wide challenges. For many, it became one of the week’s most memorable learning experiences.
Driving Sustainable Transformation
Having explored geopolitics, technology, and organisational complexity, participants turned to sustainability as a strategic driver of long-term competitiveness.
Dr. Mary Aming’a (Strathmore) encouraged participants to see the circular economy as a business opportunity rather than simply an environmental obligation, on public-private partnerships. Ayub Macharia (National Environment Management Authority – NEMA) highlighted the importance of creating more sustainable commodity systems. The session urged participants to weigh feasibility, viability, and desirability when designing circular interventions.
Dr. Caesar Mwangi (Strathmore) shifted the focus from organisations to people, reminding delegates that leadership is not defined by position but by purpose, integrity, and the ability to create opportunities for others.
In a panel moderated by Prof. David Chiawo (Strathmore), Martin Ochieng (Sasini Limited), Rebecca Mincy (Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund), and Eric Cunji (Cargill) discussed the future of commodity value chains. Their discussion explored climate adaptation, resilient agricultural value chains and sustainable finance, highlighting that environmental responsibility is increasingly inseparable from commercial strategy.
Turning Strategy into Action
Classroom discussions then gave way to practical experience.
A panel moderated by Levi Injedi (Kenya Private Sector Alliance – KEPSA) featuring Tobias Alando (Kenya Association of Manufacturers – KAM), Dr. Geoffrey Muriira (Kenya Bureau of Standards – KEBS), and Dr. Francis Kissinger (Public Procurement Regulatory Authority – PPRA) echoed how compliance and responsible sourcing have become strategic priorities for organisations operating in global markets.
Participants then visited East African Breweries Limited (EABL) for a structured field immersion that showcased one of East Africa’s largest sustainable biomass projects. Group Managing Director and CEO Jane Karuku led an authentic leadership conversation on guiding one of Kenya’s most prominent manufacturing enterprises through market volatility, regulatory change, and organisational transformation. The visit concluded with a high-level overview of the company’s operations.
Leadership Through Self-Reflection
Away from the classroom, participants travelled to Lerruat Log Resort in Kajiado for a reflective leadership experience facilitated by Prof. Dr. Hannes Leroy of Erasmus University. Through a guided hike and personal reflection exercises, delegates were invited to consider leadership beyond strategy and operations, focusing instead on self-awareness, purpose, and the human dimensions of leading others.
In a deeply personal exercise called “Letters from Home,” participants reflected on messages from family or colleagues to examine their leadership identity and values. The exercise served as a powerful reminder that leadership is measured, not only by business performance, but also by the impact leaders have on the people around them.
Reflecting Ahead
The week concluded with a certificate award ceremony, where Prof. Kokwaro thanked the delegates, faculty and Erasmus team, and encouraged participants to apply their learning with purpose.
The 2026 Africa Module of the Executive Programme in Leadership in Commodity Trade and Supply Networks gave participants a deeper understanding of the forces shaping global and African commodity markets. It reinforced the importance of adaptive leadership, resilience, innovation and collaboration in building future-ready commodity trade and supply networks.
