When you see things like this daily, it changes your perspective of life. This is a family man who a week ago had a wife and three sons but in a week had no family. The wife died two days after the evacuation, the son a week after. The wife had 90 percent burns, the other son 70 percent. He was in a gas explosion at his home with his wife and three sons. Two weeks ago, we evacuated a guy from Yemen to South Africa. Never take for granted the fact that you woke up today. It’s made me appreciate the gift of life and good health. Has doing what you do changed your sense of compassion?Ībsolutely. I later joined Amref as chief financial officer and the rest is history. For seven years, I was the finance manager.

My first job after university was with KPMG, in audit, for about four years before I left and joined TNT Express. I’m an economist by training who also did CPAs. He spoke to Jackson Biko,ĭid you ever see yourself where you are in life? Steve Gitau is the CEO of the leading provider of fixed-wing air ambulance services in Africa but he is just Steve. Later in his frill-free office At Wilson Airport, he shows the writer his WhatsApp messages where his team – a gaggle of pilots, doctors, radio room people, and senior management – reports and monitors the status of their rescue missions. At Amref Flying Doctors, it is not a typical workplace bonhomie, the kind that balances respect and camaraderie on the delicate fulcrum of leadership. It is a paradox of sorts they all rise to their feet when he walks into a room, but call him Steve.

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