Lydia, a Kenyan National is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Progression Capital Africa Ltd (PCAL). Prior to setting up PCAL she managed the establishment of a niche MFI focusing on the agriculture value chain in rural Kenya. Prior to this Lydia served as the Managing Director of Faulu Kenya Deposit Taking Microfinance Limited from Aug ‘05 until Mar ‘10. Under her leadership, Faulu became the first MFI to be licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya as a DTM.

She was instrumental in spearheading the M-Pesa mobile money transfer system pilot in Faulu Kenya and its utilization by Kenyan MFIs. She has served as the Chairperson of the Association of MFIs in Kenya, chaired the task force set up by AMFI to lobby for the passing of the Micro Finance Act and Regulations for Deposit-Taking MFIs as law. She successfully organized and chaired the Africa and Middle East Microcredit Summit held in Nairobi in April ‘10. Prior to entering the MFI sector, Lydia worked in Kenya Commercial Bank for over 18yrs in various capacities in the corporate and retail divisions of the Bank, including Head of Corporate Banking.

Lydia obtained her Bachelor of Commerce degree and an MBA degree in Strategic Management both from the University of Nairobi. She is an alumnus of both the Strathmore and the IESE Business schools.