January 2014
13
Another COYA feather
in Crown’s cap
The Company of the Year Awards (COYA) can be described as the
Oscars of Kenyan corporate scene. Which is why winning a COYA
award truly signifies business excellence in much the same way
clinching an Oscar is a mark of outstanding talent in the movie
industry. Crown has become a familiar name in COYA circles mostly
for the company’s innovativeness. This was even more so evident
at the COYA Gala Night held in September where Crown Paints
emerged winner in the Innovation, Information and Knowledge
Management category.
COYA is an initiative of the Kenya Institute of Management and
recognizes companies that excel in driving excellence. This time
round, Crown Paints was singled out for its unique approach to
innovation emphasizing collaboration. The company organizes
regular innovation workshops where stakeholders are encouraged
to come up with new product ideas and ways of improving business
processes. “Innovation is so central to our business that we have
even put in place a fully-fledged Innovation Core Team which is
tasked with implementing our innovation policy,” says Group
Marketing Manager Stanley Kipkoech, adding that the firm has a full-
time research and development team.
The company’s innovative use of ICT to capture real time data from
customers also caught the judges’ eye and contributed to its winning
in this category. COYA relies on an assessment tool known as the
Organisational Performance Index (OPI) to rate the performance of
participating companies against global benchmarks. OPI provides
a good roadmap for businesses seeking to compete with the best in
the global market. Kipkoech says the recognition by COYA underlines
the importance of innovation in steering business growth. “This is
a motivation for us to work even harder in developing new products
and improving our processes to sharpen our competitive edge,” he
explains. In 2012, Crown Paints was awarded the COYA Financial
Management Award.
Philip Lee of the English Painting Company demonstrates brush techniques to the trainees during the
Crown Paints Mathare Training Session at Mcedo Beijing School.
one better understands how to make things
prettier than a woman.” As the daughter
of a former painter, Edna describes the
painting experience as ‘amazing.’
Lilian Anyango had been working as a
painter for eight months before joining the
painters’ training program run by Crown
Paints. Her goal was to hone her expertise
so as to gain recognition in the industry.
She feels more confident now going about
her business. “Painting next to men is not
as daunting as it may have once appeared.
After all, we are doing the same work and
learning the same things. Good work does
not discriminate,” she says beaming.
Anyango was passionate about painting
right from an early age. “But as a woman in
this industry” she says, “one must become
accustomed to a working in a tough but
exciting environment.”
These women’s narratives continue to
develop as their expertise grows. Moreover,
they are a poignant reminder that women
can excel in any field just like men. All it
takes is courage and determination.
