Consistency and Attitude

I am Judith Ojwang. I am a loan officer for Premier Credit, a Kenyan microfinance institution. Premier Credit is a subsidiary of Platcorp Holdings. BIO and the SDG Frontier Fund have invested Ascent Rift Valley Fund II, which has invested in Platcorp Holdings.

Before joining Premier Credit, I worked in marketing for a company specialised in import and distribution. However, the limited prospects for growth and the sporadic nature of the work made me want to leave. Since it was not a full-time opportunity, I often found myself with a lot of time on my hands, not doing anything.

Motivated and ambitious, I then transitioned to the role of a supervisor overseeing two teams.

As supervisor, I am also tasked to ensure that we get new business consistently. However, it is important that my team members engage with new clients and build a rapport and guide them through the process.

My journey has not been without challenges, but I remain determined in my pursuit of success. Although with most clients we succeed in building long-lasting trustful support to their businesses, confrontational or even violent clients occasionally make the collection of outstanding loan amounts difficult. In such instances, tact and strategic manoeuvring are essential.

When I joined the Limuru office, there was a client who had defaulted on a loan of KES 200,000 (around EUR 1,300). As he did not have the money to repay, he mobilised the community and said we were thieves. Unfortunately, we did not have any badges or tags to identify ourselves. Premier Credit was only one year old, so people did not know us, and they believed the man. We were chased away, and those who were not able to run were taken to the police station.

Now that Premier Credit is well known in the market, we don’t have experiences like that very often any more. Once, in Kagiri, we went to see a client to follow up on a balance of KES 40,000 (around EUR 260). When the client became confrontational, however, the neighbours came out to defend us.

Despite these incidents, we never waver. Premier Credit’s referral system, based on exceptional customer care, helps build client loyalty and trust, contributing to their ability to navigate challenging situations.

Hard work

My team and I follow a six-day work week, with the seventh day designated for rest. Achieving a weekly target of loan disbursements to over a hundred clients requires strategic planning and a commitment to success. On top of this, I have to ensure that reports are done and sent to managers to track the performance record of the team.

Looking ahead, I see myself as a fully-fledged branch manager within the next two to three years, leading a team and meeting targets independently. Premier Credit’s growth trajectory, proven track record, and recommendations from my superiors create a favourable environment for advancement. It’s not enough to just meet targets and have the right academic qualifications, it’s important to have leadership qualities and be a team player.

I firmly believe in my abilities and work ethic. Perseverance and determination are crucial attributes for surmounting the challenges of the financial sector. By working tirelessly and engaging with the right businesses, I can overcome all challenges that are thrown on my path.