I believe in customer satisfaction as my driving force enhanced by having a satisfied and well trained labor force that believes in a common culture based on the company vision, mission and core values.
Who is Paula Koros? Describe yourself as concisely as you may.
I’m a BSc Horticulture graduate from Egerton University currently working with Mzurrie Flowers as a production manager in Molo River Roses. I have an experience of over 13 years in the flower industry. I also hold an MBA from Kabarak University and a postgraduate diploma in Human resource besides others obtained in the course of my career growth. Over the years, i’ve progressed from a supervisor to senior management.
Ladies have a natural affinity for the world of flowers, and show much greater appreciation for it than men do. Even then, very few go about establishing their careers in the flower production industry, like you have done. What spurred you to do so? Any role model or someone who inspired you?
Joining the Horticulture industry was not my choice, I was encouraged by my dad. By then, there were few ladies due to negative thoughts about the industry and agrochemicals being used. I had a few female role models in the industry.
How long have you been working in the sector, kindly take us through your journey to your current position.
I’ve been in the flower industry for over 13 years and still looking for more successful years. After college, I joined Sian group as a trainee and started as a junior supervisor in Maji Mazuri Flowers under able mentor and trainer Mr. Raphael Mulinge as the farm manager and grew to the level of a production officer. I later joined Molo River Roses as a production manager working with a very able and strategic leadership of Mr. Andrew Wambua, the General manager, from 2012 until now where I oversee both production and pack house departments.
Briefly discuss the challenges you go through daily? What would you point out as your strongest attribute that has made you succeed? How do you rise up to the greatest challenge that your job presents?
Growing is a dynamic as every day has its own challenges ranging from unpredictable weathers, pests and disease, production volumes and market dynamics, unstable labor force and compliance requirements. To overcome some of these challenges has been through consultation with my seniors and peers in the sector, empowerment through trainings and field visits, research and development in liason with key players such as agrochemicals developers. On top, we encourage empowerment of our staffs through trainings and field exposure so as to appreciate and learn new ideas for productivity. My strongest attribute has been working as a team which has enabled us to accomplish our mission.
You have quite a lot of people looking up to you as a manager. Describe how you manage expectations, as well as go about goal-setting for your staff.
I believe in customer satisfaction as my driving force enhanced by having a satisfied and well trained labor force that believes in a common culture based on the company vision, mission and core values. This I’m able to achieve by motivating the employees through merits based on monthly assessments and annual rewards and the company taking care of their welfare. A clear communication channel and engagements has been key during setting of targets and implementation.
As a woman in a position of leadership, have you felt that at times, the scrutiny was much more intense during tougher times, just by virtue of being a woman? How do you respond to this? Also, do describe the challenges that you face as a woman in leadership.
Of course. I have experienced it not once or twice. When i joined the industry, people had an attitude that a degree is just a paper. There were also very few ladies in the managerial position and the field was dominated by men and semi-skilled workers who had acquired skills through experience. Generally, I can say the scrutiny is going down as I have grown and improved on my competence with time and looking forward to more challenges and growth opportunity.
Kenya is a major player in the global flower industry, what are the most prevalent challenges that get in the way of building the flower sector?
Besides Kenya being a key player in the global flower industry, compliance with legal and market requirements, freight cost and global economic dynamics have been a major constrain to the growth of the industry. Also many farms are struggling with water sustainability which is limiting future expansion and growth.
Despite the country being a major player in the global flower industry, do you get the notion that at times, the Kenyan government does not accord the industry with the requisite seriousness that an industry of its size and profitability should command? If so, what can the government do to improve and offer sufficient support?
Floriculture industry is a key source of foreign return and major employer in the agricultural sector after tea. Despite this, flower farms are viewed as business entities and lack full support of the government. There are many regulations and certifying bodies which need to be reduced. In addition, there are many levies on agricultural inputs leading to an overall increase in the cost of inputs.
To overcome the challenge of ever rising production cost, flower industries has to restructure their ways of operation and maybe move more toward organic and biological farming to complement conventional production system and learn to work with minimal production wastes to counter the diminishing return and encourage efficiency in the sector throughout the production and supply chain.
What makes your farm’s produce unique, and separates it from the rest?
We are more focused on producing high quality and unique flowers and adopting new varieties such as garden roses. There is also a vibrant research and development of new varieties from the field all the way to the market with high customer satisfaction. There is also a common culture among our staffs to strive toward customer satisfaction. We also strive to ensure a socially and environmentally responsible production system.
What are some of your choice teamworkenhancing strategies that you apply, as a team leader?
Enhancing team spirit is critical to performance improvement. Recognising and rewarding best performing teams on a monthly basis has been a success towards inculcating a team conscious mindset among our employees.
Five, ten years from now, how do you see the flower sector doing? Do you have any personal projections that you would like to share?
The flower industry will continue to bloom for those who will overcome the challenges facing the sector. However, in my opinion there is likelihood of reduced growth due to rising cost of production, strict market regulations, volatile market price, taxation, inflation and rising competition with upcoming production from other countries, climate change and emerging pests and diseases in the coming years.
There are some flower farms that insist on gender equality, with regard to employment opportunities, and this is perhaps easier to apply seeing as how women have a natural affinity for the flower world. Do you have a similar dynamic in place?
Yes. Mzurrie group,is an equal employer to all genders based on merits and so far it has the good number of women in management and semi-skilled level.
What is your preferred style of working or management? Does it in any way empower or affect the daily output of your team?
I believe in Kaizen principle of: “I do you see, you do I see”, we do together approach of doing things where everybody is empowered and involved rather than giving out pure instruction in achieving the company objectives.
I’m also open minded and have a soft spot to employees and they are able to freely interact and air their issues to the management without fear hence creating a conducive environment to work in.
Briefly detail how you maintain balance in your life, with regards to work versus personal living, especially as a holder of what must be, at the very least, an occasionally stressful position.
With the level of responsibilities that I have at work that requires a lot of time and personal inputs, hence this calls for a well planned Personal schedule so that I don’t miss out on both work and personal family life. To achieve this, I normally plan ahead before I close the day for timely job execution which allows me to meet my daily targets on time and give room for my personal time.
A few words of advice to young girls, and basically youths at large, who desire to eventually hold positions of leadership similar to yours when they become career people.
My advice to young girls is, nothing comes in a silver platter. You have to grow up the ladder of success through merit and hardwork. Most of all, you must have self respect for others to respect you and have patience in whatever you do.
What legacy do you want to leave behind in the agricultural sector?
I want to be remembered as one among women role models and mentors to young ladies and youths in the flower industry in building up their future careers.
Give your final comments
I believe in integrity in all my undertakings. For any one to be successful, you must exhibit high level of integrity with or without third eye to grow as an individual. Always believe in your yourself and never give up to criticism, rather make it a challenge to improve on yourself always.