Caroline Wawira
Senior Project Manager
Highest degree :
Masters
Field of study :
Project Management
Location :
Nairobi
Citizenships :
Kenyan
Experience :
10 Year(s)
Countries :
Kenya
Gender :
Female
Sectors :
Fintech
I am a results-driven professional with a clear, analytical mindset and a practical approach to problem-solving. With strong project management and technical expertise, complemented by excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, I am committed to delivering projects successfully from initiation to completion. My experience spans the Fintech, Technical, and Telecommunications industries, where I have consistently demonstrated the ability to lead, adapt, and drive outcomes in dynamic environments. I am eager to take on new challenges that foster continuous growth, particularly in enhancing my communication and professional leadership capabilities.
Senior Project Manager Digital banking
Nairobi
Cellulant
October 2021
-November 2022
Key Skills and Responsibilities: • Coached, mentored, and led cross-functional teams within a technical project environment, fostering collaboration and high performance. • Spearheaded the adoption and implementation of Agile methodologies, ensuring alignment with team and organizational goals. • Acted as Scrum Master when required, facilitating Agile ceremonies and removing team impediments. • Collaborated with Product Owners to refine backlog items and drive successful sprint planning and execution, maintaining alignment with time, cost, and scope targets. • Estimated project effort using setup fees, time and material models, and story points, while managing sprint budgets effectively. • Oversaw project financials and prepared portfolio-level financial reports. • Conducted detailed status reporting and planned feature delivery for upcoming sprints. • Ensured strong project governance across all project phases. • Identified resourcing gaps and led resolution or escalation processes to maintain project momentum. • Maintained active stakeholder communication and management, based on interest and impact assessments. • Managed risk and issue resolution, including escalation and removal of blockers to ensure project continuity. • Led change management efforts, from initiation of change requests through to successful implementation and benefits realization. • Ensured adherence to defined team processes, including artifacts, meetings, and documentation requirements. • Resolved or escalated unclear user stories, holding Product Owners accountable for backlog clarity and prioritization. • Shielded teams from external distractions and barriers, enabling focus and productivity. Achievements • Successfully implemented the Agile monitoring tool ClickUp, enhancing visibility and team collaboration. • Drove the successful adoption of Agile ceremonies, improving sprint cadence and team performance. • Secured approval for project budgets and costs, directly contributing to the organization’s annual revenue targets. • Achieved an OKR target score of 95, with 98% of projects completed successfully in Q1 and Q2 of 2022.
Senior Project Manager Core Platforms
Nairobi
Cellulant
October 2022
-Present
Key Skills and Responsibilities: • Led the Finance Transformation Program, overseeing automation of settlement and reconciliation processes and the implementation of a Treasury Management System. • Developed and implemented management and communication plans aligned with evolving organizational needs. • Mentored and managed junior project managers across various projects and operational workflows. • Handled end-to-end stakeholder communication, engaging both senior leadership and cross-functional project teams. • Created and maintained RAID logs, proactively identifying risks and defining mitigation strategies throughout the project lifecycle. • Oversaw project budgeting, including creation, ongoing management, and lifecycle reviews. • Delivered project and program updates to senior and executive-level stakeholders. • Championed the adoption and implementation of Agile methodologies, serving as Scrum Master when required. • Managed resource allocation, task tracking, and progress monitoring using tools such as Jira and Click Up. Achievements • Core Team Project of the Year 2023 – Successfully upgraded the core platform with enhanced security, settlement, and reconciliation capabilities. • Project of the Year 2024 – Led the seamless migration of services from legacy systems to modern platforms. • Spearheaded a cost-optimization initiative, reducing AWS infrastructure costs from $200K to $130K monthly. • Consistently achieved strong KPI scores as an Enterprise Project Manager, delivering high-impact, profitable projects in H2 2024 and H1 2025.
Masters in Project Management
Nairobi
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
December 2014
-December 2017
masters in project management
DEGREE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Nairobi
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
December 2010
-December 2013
Degree in information technology
Project management Professional
Nairobi
PMI Institute
2021
PMP certification
Générative AI for Project Managers
Nairobi
PMI institute
2024
Artificial Intelligence Certification
Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)
Nairobi
Oracle University
2012
Database Certificate
Emerging Leader of the year 2018
Nairobi
Celulant
2017
FABA Award Winner – Cellulant Awards
• Team and Person of the Month, October 2022
Nairobi
Cellulant
2021
FABA Award Winner – Cellulant Awards
Core Team Project of the Year 2023
Nairobi
Cellulant
2022
Upgrade of the core Platform with updated security, settlement and recon features.
Project of the Year 2024
Nairobi
Cellulant
2023
Migration of services from Legacy platforms to AWS, leading to increased throughput and TAT
Project Coordination
Project and Team Leadership
Project Implementation
Agile Methodology
Change management
Risk Management
Team Leadership
Team Management
Resource Management
Budgeting, Planning & Forecasting
6-10