RISING WOMAN 2025: Limitless opportunities: Fabiola Ssebuyoya's advice to aspiring women leaders

Women continue to make strides in male-dominated industries, and KPMG East Africa Tax Partner, Fabiola Ssebuyoya is among those leading the way.

With extensive experience in tax, telecommunications, and extractive industries, she shares insights on leadership, overcoming self-doubt, and the role of mentorship in professional growth.

For young women pursuing demanding careers, Fabiola underscores the importance of developing both technical and soft skills early on.

“The need to complement technical expertise with soft skills such as effective communication, visionary thinking, and decision-making becomes crucial as women advance into leadership roles,” she says.

She further emphasises that integrating these skills is essential for impactful leadership.

Reflecting on her career journey, Fabiola recalls overcoming self-doubt and acknowledging skill gaps she encountered.

“Whenever I was in doubt, I would consult my peers and/or those senior to me to see whether the ideas I had reflect the correct tax treatment of a given matter,” she says.

On mentorship and networking, Fabiola believes having a mentor is invaluable. “If mentorship is done effectively by setting clear career goals, it fosters both professional and personal growth,” she explains.

She cites a Harvard Business Review study, which found that 75 percent of executives credit their success to mentors, while 90 percent of employees with career mentors report greater job satisfaction.

To maximise mentorship and networking opportunities, she urges young women to be proactive.

“Raise your hand whenever opportunities arise, whether at the workplace or in other professional settings,” she advises.

For those working in highly specialised industries, Fabiola stresses the importance of continuous learning.

“While my experience has mainly been from a tax perspective, I believe young women should take advantage of technical and practical learning opportunities within and outside their organizations,” she says.

Maintaining integrity and authenticity is also crucial, she notes.

“Young women leaders should not rush to achieve career success to the extent of compromising their integrity and authenticity,” she warns.

She adds that there is no substitute for doing a great job and gaining practical experience.

“Sincere hard work, consistent effort, a willingness to learn, and resilience will ultimately lead us to success,” she says.

According to Fabiola, a common mistake women make when stepping into leadership roles is doubting their capabilities.

“Even when they have achieved great things, women sometimes question their abilities,” she observes.

She urges young female leaders to be courageous, believe in theelves, and own their achievements.

“The impact of these achievements should be communicated to relevant stakeholders to showcase one’s value,” she advises.

Having played a key role in policy reform and high-profile transactions, Fabiola encourages young women to develop a deep understanding of their industries.

“My advice for young women looking to have an impact in their industries is to understand their business or sectors - this will enable them to identify the needs and use their skillset to provide solutions within and outside their organizations,” she says.

She also highlights the importance of having a growth strategy.

“A clear career strategy helps in decision-making and identifying growth opportunities,” she explains.

For those seeking confidence and credibility in male-dominated industries,  Fabiola stresses the value of knowledge and consistency.

“On building confidence, the starting point is the mastery of the subject matter if you are knowledgeable then you are already ahead of some of your peers be it male or female,” she says.

She adds that complementing knowledge with strong soft skills enables women to become confident leaders.

On credibility, she emphasizes that consistency is key in delivering value to customers, upholding organizational values, and inspiring tea.

Looking ahead, Fabiola envisions a bright future for young women leaders.

“With increased focus on women’s empowerment and gender parity, the young women leaders are likely to be more equipped to take on opportunities and challenges that are ahead of them,” she says.

However, she notes that young leaders must prepare for industry changes, including technological advancements and generational shifts, which may require organisations to adapt their business models and cultures.

“For all young women out there, the opportunities for growth are limitless.

 All that is needed is the courage to take the first step and be ready to make a difference,” she concludes.

Supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation