Dianne Dusaidi, appointed as AB Bank’s board chair, becomes one of the youngest and few women to chair a board in the banking sector in Rwanda. The new PCA joined the AB BANK board in September 2020.
AB Bank Rwanda is a socially responsible bank and the bank of choice for micro and small enterprises. It strives to be the leading provider of financial services in this market segment in Rwanda. Business loans, which are primarily based on the assessment of the borrower’s repayment capacity, are the core product of the Bank. ABR builds-up long-term business relationships with customers based on responsibility and mutual respect. In doing so, it promotes a savings culture and supports borrowers to build-up a sound credit history.
Program Manager and serial entrepreneur
Dianne Dusaidi is a Program Manager at the Mastercard Foundation where she plays a major role in developing strategic partnerships to promote youth employment in the tourism sector. She also work in Philanthropy with the Mastercard Foundation while serving on boards in microfinance & e-commerce.
Dianne Dusaidi is also a serial entrepreneur in fintech, media, and agriculture. In her spare time, she serves as a mentor for Google for Startups Accelerator and as a steering committee member to the African Women’s Leadership Network, an initiative of the African Union and UN Women.
Healthcare sector
After being the Country director, Dianne Dusaidi is also currently the chairperson of Kasha Global Inc, an innovative e-commerce platform based in East Africa, built for women’s health, personal care and beauty products accessibility within urban and rural areas. After raising over $3.65M of Series A funding from global investors such as SwedFund, FinnFund, DFC and a strategic investment from Mastercard Corporate, Kasha is an emerging leader in the rapidly expanding Femtech space. With custom technology that enables e-commerce without internet access over a basic mobile or smartphone, Kasha provides confidential order and delivery of key health and personal care products, such as contraceptives and menstrual care. Kasha aims to disrupt the way women in emerging markets receive the health and personal care products they need to live their best lives.
As Chaiperson of Kasha, Dianne Dusaidi provide strategic input for growing and expanding Kasha across Africa; engage with local networks and partners that can support Kasha’s mission; and support the CEO and management where needed.
Professional journey
Dianne Dusaidi received her undergraduate BA degree in Public Administration and Governance from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada in 2007. In 2011 she went on to receive a NUFFIC Scholarship which allowed her to pursue her master’s degree in the Netherlands-an MBA specializing in International Business from Maastricht School of Management in Netherlands. Diane Dusaidi always been intrigued by business. Her professional journey started at Rwanda Development Board (RDB), where she worked for the Investment Promotion department for a number of years as a Senior Investment Officer. At RDB, Dianne Dusaidi contributed to 94 million USD worth of investments in the tourism sector, contributed to marketing & communication for “Made in Rwanda” and “Brand Rwanda” campaigns and led on the development and implementation of international conferences, award shows, and festivals i.e Rwanda Investment Forum, Rwanda Day, RDB Awards, and the African Dance Festival (FESPAD with Lauryn Hill)
Her time at RDB sparked the entrepreneurship fire. She moved into the world of business by investing in the media and financial technology sector. She joined Kasha because she wanted to learn more about the Health sector and be part of a groundbreaking company thats championing access to women’s health care products across all socioeconomic levels in Rwanda.
Dianne has also worked with the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Investment and Trade departments respectively which contributed to her insights on the business world and need for investing in Africa.
