Alumni profile: My international career journey

Carlotta Dal Lago (Executive MBA 2019) describes herself as “driven by curiosity, craving for learning and passion”. And this is evidently clear in her CV which sites many impressive higher education institutions including Harvard Business School, Cambridge University and LSE. She has travelled the world and lived in Latin America, Africa, Europe and the UK , and is currently Head of Business Development, Marketing and Communication for Anjarwalla & Kanna (ALN Kenya) one of the largest corporate law firms in East Africa and ALN, an alliance of law firms, present in 15 countries in Africa.

As well as this she is the founder of a Community Forest Association in Nairobi, The Nairobi Arboretum Conservancy (NACCFA), a business mentor for the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and a mother of twins. We spoke to Carlotta about her life, career and how she manages to juggle all her many roles and responsibilities.

Tell us about your current role

I am currently Head of Business Development, Marketing and Communication for ALN Kenya and ALN. It is an extremely busy role as we seek to provide an integrated service for clients doing business across Africa. Working with 15 different law firms, as well as leading the team at ALN Kenya, my role is complex and rewarding, navigating geography and culture, a matrix organisation, and internal and external stakeholders’ dynamics.

It is an incredible experience. The culture of the company is very similar to companies I have worked for in the past, particularly Bain&Company. Self-driven and entrepreneurial with a long-term vision. Committed to the advancement of the continent and future generations by improving the rule of law and supporting the education of lawyers. We’re deeply rooted locally but with international networks and connections.

I enjoy having the space to think like an ‘Intrepreneur’ - being given the financial resources and autonomy to proactively introduce new ideas, develop new structures and processes. It is rewarding to watch the transformation of the culture of the team, to witness growth and to empower members of my team to take responsibility and ownership. And this in turn enables the company to grow and succeed.

I am also the founder and Chairperson of a community forest association, NACCFA, which is working to restore and maintain the main urban park in Nairobi, the Nairobi Arboretum, together with Kenya Forest Service (KFS). The aim is to manage the park without having to rely on government funds by generating strong partnerships with the private sector and communities. I am developing a new management format which involves many revenue generation activities. We have become the centre of excellence for urban greenification in Kenya, a project that KFS and UNEP will launch on 5 June on World Environmental Day.

Tell us about your role as business mentor for the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

Women’s economic abuse is more widespread than we think, and economic empowerment is an important topic to me since it is connected to a woman’s freedom to make the right choices and decisions.

The Cherie Blair Foundation helps women to release the entrepreneurial potential in low- and middle-income countries and empowers them to create better futures for themselves and their families. When women are economically empowered, everyone benefits.

I am currently mentoring an entrepreneur in Malaysia to help build her cheese business. She has everything she needs: intuition, determination, passion and she knows how to run her business. But sometimes it’s simply an encouraging word that helps to move things ahead.