From Banking Trainee to Fintech Industry Leader | Esther Waititu

What does it take to move from traditional banking into shaping the future of financial inclusion across an entire continent? In this episode of Financially Incorrect, we sit down with Esther Waititu Chief Financial Services Officer at Safaricom to unpack a career that spans banking, international markets, and now fintech at scale through Safaricom. From earning between Ksh 9k - 15k a month earlier in her career to negotiating executive compensation structures, Esther shares the decisions that defined her trajectory, including the career step back that expanded her leadership capacity and the financial mistake she still reflects on today. We explore how Kenya’s financial ecosystem has evolved, the role of competition in forcing innovation, and how platforms like M-Pesa and new investment tools like Ziidi Trader are quietly reshaping access to wealth-building for millions. This conversation goes beyond personal finance. It is about strategy, discipline, and how institutions are redefining what participation in the financial system looks like. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Access all our links in one place: ⁠https://lnk.bio/Financially_Inc 💹 Ready to start trading? 🧑‍🏫 Learn how to trade: https://lnk.bio/fxpesa 📲 Open a demo trading account: https://bit.ly/DemoAccountYT 📈 Start live trading: https://bit.ly/LiveAccountYT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Episode Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:18 Meet Esther Waititu 03:42 Growing Up Firstborn 08:15 Early Money Lessons 14:27 Starting Career on Low Salary 20:54 Becoming CEO Minded Early 28:11 Career Risks That Paid Off 36:45 Marriage, Twins and Budgeting 44:03 Buying a Car Instead of Property 51:36 Saving Before Borrowing 58:12 Negotiating Executive Pay 01:06:41 South Africa and Zambia Lessons 01:15:20 Why Kenyan Banking Changed 01:24:07 Safaricom’s Financial Future 01:34:22 Ziidi Trader Investing for Everyday Kenyans 01:44:10 What Success Really Means 01:50:33 Final thoughts