Lillian Karuri is the Deputy Chairman of the Strategic Alliances and Advocacy Committee and serves as the Chief Operations Officer for Corporate and Investment Bank – Africa at Standard Bank Group Ltd. With over 16 years of international experience, Lillian is highly regarded for her expertise in Operations and Technology strategy, with a focus on managing large-scale commercial partnerships and transforming complex operations.
Lillian’s distinguished career includes leadership roles at several Fortune 50 organizations such as IBM, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Eskom, and Absa, culminating in her current position at Standard Bank Group Ltd. She also brings more than a decade of board-level experience, offering strategic guidance to private companies and non-profit organizations in execution strategy, stakeholder management, communications, and leadership development.
Passionate about enhancing literacy in Africa, Lillian chairs a charitable non-profit dedicated to equipping rural schools with digital programs that advance teachers’ development and improve curriculum standards, providing children with a future-ready educational experience.
A committed advocate for gender equality, Lillian is actively involved in initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive and diverse workplaces. As a Fellow of the International Women’s Forum (IWF), she mentors and coaches over 20 mid-career women from around the globe, supporting their professional and personal growth.
Lillian’s academic credentials include a BSc in Business Strategy and an MBA from the University of Maryland, as well as a Masters in Law (LLM) from the University of London. She is a Certified Master of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) and a Fellow of the International Women’s Forum Centre for Leadership. Her dedication to leadership, advocacy, and inclusion brings immense value to both the committee and the broader mission of IWFSA.