Eunice Mangana

A cost consultant for MaceYMR since 2018, Eunice is putting her keen problem-solving skills to use as an integral part of the Kenyan team. Her passion for female leadership and cross-functional collaboration is helping to drive successful delivery of new projects across the rapidly growing Sub-Saharan region.

How did you end up working as a cost consultant?

It wasn’t an obvious path. I’m from a town in south-western Kenya called Kisii, where knowledge about career choices was limited during the time of my upbringing. After graduating from high school, most people from my village studied to become nurses, teachers or accountants, but I knew early on that I wanted to work in engineering. I was fascinated by the road developments in my area and learned that cost consultancy was an important function of the construction process. I’ve always loved mathematics, so it seemed like a natural choice for me to pursue a degree in quantity surveying at the University of Nairobi.

Why Mace?

I worked as a cost consultant for a local quantity surveying company straight out of university. After five years, I felt like I needed a change and I wanted an opportunity for personal growth. A friend of mine, who works at MaceYMR, told me about a job opening and I decided to apply. The supportive culture and knowledge-sharing at Mace appealed to me hugely. I started in October of 2018 and I’m very happy that I joined.

What’s the best part of your job?

I love problem-solving and the people element of this role. We benefit from a constant influx of new ideas from a global community, which means that I’m always broadening my horizon and expanding my area of expertise.

What’s your proudest achievement so far?

It was an honour to be nominated for the Mace Women of the Future programme [which promotes female leadership and is a central part of Mace’s gender diversity approach]. I feel passionate about encouraging my female colleagues to pursue growth, both on a personal level and in their careers, and to not let their gender limit or define them. The gender balance at Mace allows everyone the opportunity to take up senior roles. It’s a forward-thinking mindset for a developing country like Kenya.

What career advice would you offer?

The most important thing is to be confident about career progression and to have a strong mindset. You must be passionate about what you do and enjoy collaborating with others. It takes a sociable personality to successfully work as a team and deliver on big projects. 

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I’m an avid dancer and I have a strong affinity for Latin music. I dance salsa, bachata, merengue and kizomba three times per week. My plan is to start taking Spanish lessons so that I can begin to understand the music that I dance to. It’s my favourite hobby.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

In addition to dancing, I love to travel. Having a sense of adventure gives me energy and motivation. My favourite place to go and unwind is Diani Beach on the coast of Kenya. If you haven’t been, you should visit. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.