Farah Esmail

Farah Esmail is a strategic business advisor with 20 years’ experience in North America and Africa, and a special focus on social impact and social enterprise. Her strong background in senior management roles in corporate governance, legal, strategy and HR make her an invaluable resource to clients in developing strategies and recruiting leadership to drive sustainable growth and make an impact.

Professional Focus

20 years’ experience in senior leadership, corporate governance, human resources, consulting, and commercial/corporate law
Advises social enterprises and social impact organizations, as well as start-ups, family-run businesses and multinationals in a range of industries
Board services, including assessment, appointments and performance improvement
Deep expertise in business and human capital strategy, organizational change, compliance, risk management, business development, strategic partnerships, international best practices
Extensive international experience in North America and across Africa
Adept at working in multicultural teams and a vast demographic, with strong understanding of cultural, local, regional and international team dynamics
Fluent in English

Business Expertise

Head of Kenya at a global board consulting and search firm based in Nairobi, Kenya
HR and Legal Director, East Africa at KK Security (a GardaWorld company), Nairobi, Kenya
Group Head of Legal and Human Resources, East Africa Region at Orbit Chemical Industries, Nairobi, Kenya
VP and Senior Legal Counsel, Africa Region at Bridge International Academies, Nairobi, Kenya
Senior Manager of Board Services of the Toronto District School Board
Senior Legal Counsel at Connections Education LLC, Baltimore, U.S.
Civil Litigation Associate at Zeppieri and Associates, Toronto, Canada
Commercial Litigation Associate at Beard Winter LLP, Toronto, Canada

Practice Membership

Global Cross Sector Practices

Private Equity & Venture Capital

Additional Expertise

Corporate Governance/Board Services
Social Enterprise/Social Impact
Legal Services
Human Resources
Education
Professional Services
FMCG
Security
Technology

Education & Certifications

MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, Toronto, Canada
JD from Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Canada
BSc (Hons.) in environmental science from University of Toronto, Canada
Ontario Bar Admission, Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto
Harvard University Certificate Course: Entrepreneurship for Emerging Economies
Sirdar Applied Directorship Programme Certificate Course: Corporate Governance

Awards & Affiliations

CMO Asia Africa's Woman Leadership Award, Johannesburg, South Africa
Panellist, World Woman Leadership Congress, Mumbai, India
Advisory Board Member, Merican Limited
Board Director, Sohail Regency Management Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya
Board Director, Sports for Change, Nairobi, Kenya
Board member and various officer positions, Association of Corporate Counsel, U.S., Canada and Kenya
Judge, National Bodybuilding Championship (2018), Kenya Bodybuilding Federation, Nairobi, Kenya
Organizing Committee Member, Wild Charge animal conservation non-profit, Nairobi, Kenya
Trustee, The Mango Tree Trust education non-profit, Nairobi, Kenya
Board Member and Chair, Back on My Feet homeless assistance non-profit, Baltimore, U.S.

Featured Insights

Case Study

Strengthening Financial Leadership in Private Equity-Backed Manufacturing and Energy Logistics

In the complex landscape of energy logistics, our private equity client was seeking a visionary financial leader to steer its ambitious growth trajectory. Here, we explore how Boyden navigated this challenge, securing a strategic VP Finance and Accounting equipped to fortify financial foundations and drive operational excellence.