Arnolda Shiundu is the Sustainability Lead Africa at Diageo.
Arnolda has a critical role in supporting the development and delivery of Diageo’s sustainability strategy in Africa.
In this role since 2022, Arnolda brings the value of more than ten years’ experience in sustainability, public affairs, government relations, public relations and strategic communications gained while providing advisory and support to government, government agencies, private sector companies and non-profit organizations.
In her previous role as Head of Sustainability and Community Engagement at Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), Arnolda was responsible for developing and implementing the company’s pioneering sustainability agenda, which is also a blueprint for Diageo Africa and Diageo Global. Arnolda’s outcome-focused orientation to internally mainstreaming and externally positioning sustainability is evidenced in accolades that KBL has earned, under her stewardship, on a national, regional and global scale.
KBL was Private Sector Winner of the 2020 SDGs Kenya Award and, most recently, winner of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, at the Reuters Responsible Business Awards 2021. KBL leads by example, championing inclusion and diversity through robust policies and programs, tailored to ensure equal opportunity throughout its value chain.
She led KBL to win gold in the Shared Value Category at the Loeries Awards 2021; The Loeries are Africa’s and the Middle East’s premier award that recognises, rewards, inspires, and fosters creative excellence in the advertising and brand communication industry. Winning a Loerie represents the highest accolade for creativity and innovation across Africa, positioning winners as industry leaders in their various categories. This was KBL’s first gold and the only gold award given to a Kenyan business at the event.
Arnolda’s media relations prowess has seen KBL and East African Breweries Limited (EABL) platformed prominently in national and regional media, articulating the opportunity to shape the future by advancing Diageo’s sustainability agenda and, most importantly, actively being able to inspire through its purpose.
A five -time winner of the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) Industry Excellence Awards, in different categories for outstanding delivery of effective communication campaigns over the course of her career, including at KBL, Arnolda steered EABL’s award winning inaugural Sustainability Report in August 2021. The report was awarded Corporate Publication Of The Year at the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) awards 2021, Outstanding CSR/Sustainability Report at the PR News Online Social Impact Awards 2022, and a certificate of excellence at the SABRE awards 2022.
Most recently, Arnolda was recognised as the 2021 Top 40 under 40 women in Kenya, by the Business Daily ( Kenya’s leading business publication) as well as the 2021 Meaningful Business 100 (MB100). MB100 recognises leaders across the world combining profit and purpose to help achieve the UN Global Goals. This third edition of the MB100 was judged by a global panel of 21 experts, whoassessed over 500 nominations from 75 countries, selecting from an outstanding and diverse set of leaders including corporate CEOs, entrepreneurs, sustainability leaders and impact investors.
In 2022 Arnolda was recognised by The Business Monthly Magazine (Kenya) as one of the Top 25 Influential Women In Marketing Impacting Business. Arnolda holds a Bachelor of Arts Communications (Public Relations Major and Business Minor) and Master of Arts in Public Relations and Corporate Communications and is a member of the Public Relations Society of Kenya.
Prior to her current role, Arnolda worked as Communications Advisor in Kenya’s Ministry for Devolution & Planning. She went on to work with Kenya Red Cross Society as the Public Relations & Communications Manager and, finally, as Group Account Manager at Redhouse Public Relations (a Magna Carta affiliate agency). Arnolda’s professional commitment to corporate sustainability mirrors her personal appreciation for nature and enjoyment of the outdoors. A recreational runner and hiker, Arnolda is a Berlin Marathon finisher and has summitted Mt. Kenya ( Kenya’s highest mountain) twice in 12 months between March 2021 and February 2022. Her personal mantra is “Live on purpose.”
This year Arnolda is on a quest to conquer the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.
