SHE MEANS BUSINESS: Tourism CS Rebecca Miano's journey to the top

From being the first female CEO of Kenya's leading electric power generation company - KenGen since the 1950s - to leading the EAC then Trade dockets as Cabinet secretary, Rebecca Miano is now in charge of positioning Kenya as a premiere destination for business and travel as the Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet secretary.

 What does it take to rise up the career ladder and stay there? 

 She Means Business sat down with Miano for her first one-on-one interview since taking the helm of the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to find out.

"There's no elevator to the top, and if there is, for me it broke down and never started working again as I've had to take the stairs throughout my career to get to where I am," Miano says.

She says there is no such thing as a job for men or for women, adding that women should be confident in their abilities and step up to the plate to take on leadership.

On mentorship, Miano says she is intentional about raising the next generation of women leaders, acknowledging that they are bolder and more confident than those of yesteryears.

A few months ago, at the height of the then anti-Finance Bill protests across the country, President William Ruto dissolved his Cabinet, which at the time Miano was serving as Trade Cabinet Secretary.

When the President announced a new line up of nominees, Miano's name was on the list as the proposed Attorney General (AG).

Her confirmation would have made her Kenya's first AG, another first.

However, she eventually took up the Tourism docket as Cabinet Secretary, sparking speculation.

What was going through her mind at that time?

Miano says,  “When rumour mills are rolling, the well-advised stay still."

Watch the full episode of She Means Business for more.