Empowering the Growth of African Food Industry Professionals Through Mentorship

Ronald Murungi Kamugisa is a production manager at Psalms Food Industries, a snack producer in Uganda. With the establishment of their new larger factory, Ronald was looking to gain insights on how to maintain production efficiency, ensure consistent product quality and manage an expanding workforce. He decided to join PFS’ mentorship program hoping to be paired with a mentor who could help him drive continuous improvement in the production processes. Through PFS, he was matched with Cristhian Ramirez, a senior program manager at Cargill Colombia. 

Cristhian’s background is in supply chain and operations processes, and he has spent the last decade of his professional career working in various capacities in Cargill. Cristhian, who has been a client lead in previous PFS projects, decided to be a mentor to help another professional with their development.  

“I am an empathy driven person who thrives on challenges and is constantly looking for new opportunities to learn and teach. The only way to have a better world is to grow together and I know I can help others through sharing knowledge.” 

Since the beginning of the year, Cristhian and Ronald have been meeting to discuss several aspects of production like process optimization, quality management, workforce development, production planning, resource management and inventory management. 

“Cristhian brought a wealth of experience in optimizing manufacturing processes and managing large-scale production operations to this mentorship. This mentorship has not only empowered me with the skills and confidence to lead my team to new heights but will also significantly contribute to the overall success of Psalms Food Industries. I am now better equipped to help the company navigate the challenges of a growing market while maintaining its commitment to quality and efficiency. I am forever grateful to my dear mentor Cristhian and wish him all the best in life,” said Ronald. 

The learning has not been one-sided. Cristhian also shared that he has also improved his communication skills in English and has updated his knowledge in some areas of supply chain and operations. Cristhian and Ronald’s mentorship ends in a few months and they both hope to make the most of the time they have left together.