“Passion for sustainable investment drives impactful change.”
Herta von Stiegel’s journey into establishing Ariya Capital was inspired by her successful investment banking career in New York and London. She began to focus on Africa as the next big destination for growth and sustainable investment. The fundamental question she posed was: “What are the consumer-led growth industries we should invest in that are at the core of poverty alleviation?”
She concluded that energy was one of the key sectors that was severely underinvested in and, hence, presented a serious impediment to attracting manufacturing, sustainable mining, and growth in most commercial and industrial sectors. While her vision for the continent has not changed, it has evolved and become more realistic in terms of what is achievable on a continent where challenges and opportunities are experienced in equal measures. Herta’s journey reflects her commitment to making a significant impact on Africa’s development through strategic investments in the energy sector.
Herta recognized that Africa is an immense, underserved energy market requiring investment of over USD 25 billion annually. Ariya Capital differentiates itself by building businesses that address the needs of commercial and industrial clients, offering attractive alternative investment products to institutional investors, and having a team of execution-oriented finance, development, and asset management experts who live and work in Africa.
This approach has positioned Ariya Capital as a key player in the African energy market, driving growth and development through strategic investments. Herta’s leadership and vision have been instrumental in shaping the company’s success and impact.
Establishing Ariya Capital:
Herta’s journey into establishing Ariya Capital was inspired by her successful investment banking career in New York and London. She began to focus on Africa as the next big destination for growth and sustainable investment. The fundamental question she posed was: “What are the consumer-led growth industries we should invest in that are at the core of poverty alleviation?” She concluded that energy was one of the key sectors that was severely underinvested in and, hence, presented a serious impediment to attracting manufacturing, sustainable mining, and growth in most commercial and industrial sectors.
While her vision for the continent has not changed, it has become more realistic in terms of what is achievable on a continent where challenges and opportunities are experienced in equal measures. Herta’s journey reflects her commitment to making a significant impact on Africa’s development through strategic investments in the energy sector.
Differentiating Ariya Capital:
Herta recognized that Africa is an immense, underserved energy market requiring investment of over USD 25 billion annually. “Ariya Capital differentiates itself by building businesses that address the needs of commercial and industrial clients, offering attractive alternative investment products to institutional investors, and having a team of execution-oriented finance, development, and asset management experts who live and work in Africa.”
This approach has positioned Ariya Capital as a key player in the African energy market, driving growth and development through strategic investments. Herta’s leadership and vision have been instrumental in shaping the company’s success and impact. Her ability to identify and address the unique needs of the African market has set Ariya Capital apart from its competitors.
Defining Success:
For Herta, success means living an integrated, purposeful life, both personally and professionally. “I believe that everything rises and falls on leadership and my aim is to be an effective leader who brings out the best in my team, investors, and broader stakeholders.” Herta addresses several key principles in her book “The Mountain Within – Leadership Lessons and Inspiration for your Climb to the Top,” such as choosing to persevere, hanging on to your vision, dividing your journey into steps, investing in your legacy, not compromising on quality, placing mission before ego, and keeping your winning team strong. These principles guide her decision-making as the CEO of Ariya Capital and reflect her commitment to leading with integrity and purpose.
Adapting to Challenges:
Ariya Capital is dedicated to forging resilient and agile pathways toward a net-zero future for Africa, inspired by the speed, focus, and adaptation of the cheetah. Herta emphasizes the importance of speed and scale in a sector that has been very slow and fragmented. Ariya Capital aims to be the investment and power partner of choice for African and Western institutional investors and to build profitable businesses of scale to break the cycle of energy poverty.
Her forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation position Ariya Capital to adapt to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the financial industry. Her vision for the future is centered on creating sustainable and impactful solutions for Africa’s energy needs.
Measuring Impact:
Herta defines success for Ariya Capital beyond financial returns by measuring the company’s impact in terms of social, environmental, and community-driven outcomes. As developers of and investors in clean and renewable energy assets across Africa, Ariya Capital is committed to generating attractive risk-adjusted returns while making a positive impact on the environment.
The company adheres to well-established sustainability principles, including the Equator Principles and alignment with the NetZero Asset Managers Initiative. Ariya Capital’s corporate purpose aligns with five of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including strong female leadership, economic growth through lower energy costs, sustainable job creation, and positive environmental impact. Herta’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility is at the core of Ariya Capital’s mission.
Inspiring Future Leaders:
Herta is dedicated to inspiring future generations of business leaders, particularly women in finance. She believes “It is difficult to achieve what you cannot see and I aim to provide light along the path for younger generations by sharing my failures and successes. My goal is to encourage women to keep climbing and not give up, despite the challenges they may face.”
She emphasizes the importance of strong female leadership in creating a sustainable, peaceful future for the next generations. Herta’s dedication to mentorship and leadership development reflects her commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable business environment. Her efforts to inspire and support future leaders are a testament to her belief in the power of diversity and inclusion.
Personal and Professional Achievements:
Among Herta’s major personal achievements are her joyful marriage to her husband Hans, staying true to her beliefs and principles under challenging circumstances, and always being willing to lend a helping hand to her family, friends, and the wider community.
Professionally, she has reinvented herself from a corporate lawyer to an investment banker to an entrepreneur, built and led structured finance businesses in New York and London, moved to Nairobi to build Ariya Capital into an impactful energy business, earned doctoral and post-graduate degrees, and served on major boards of listed and unlisted companies in Europe, the US, and Africa. Herta would like to be remembered as a savvy, brave businesswoman who conducted her business affairs with joy, integrity, and resilience for the benefit of all her stakeholders.
Nurturing Future Leaders:
Herta strongly believes in leading by example. She understands that “People may forget what I said, but they will remember how I made them feel. I believe in finding the most talented people and incentivizing them through ownership stakes in various businesses to grow and create value. It’s a bit like finding eagles and then fly in formation.”
She encourages resilience, agility, and integrity as the key pillars for success. Herta’s approach to nurturing future leaders within Ariya Capital involves providing guidance, support, and opportunities for growth. Her mentorship and leadership advice are tailored to the needs of each individual, helping them develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in their careers.
Measuring Fulfillment:
Herta measures fulfillment based on the positive impact she makes. In business, she looks for return on equity but is equally focused on return on impact. She asks herself how many people she can touch in a positive way, whether she has eased someone’s load, offered a word of encouragement, and whether the people around her are better off because she is in their orbit.
This focus translates beautifully into her work at Ariya Capital and as a non-executive director. Herta aims to ensure that Ariya and the companies where she holds leadership roles serve their clients with integrity, return a meaningful profit to shareholders, and have a positive impact on society.
Leading with Purpose:
Herta advises others to lead with purpose and create a positive, long-lasting impact in their industries, to embrace resilience and courage. She emphasizes the importance of pacing oneself, as life often feels like a series of sprints rather than a marathon. Herta believes in surrounding oneself with positive people who encourage and hold them accountable.
Her advice reflects her belief in the power of resilience, integrity, and collaboration in achieving lasting success. Her journey and leadership philosophy serve as an inspiration for those seeking to make a meaningful impact in their industries and communities.
