Everyone runs when a company is failing
Everyone runs when a company is failing,” says Mas Group Africa CEO Masaba
Published: August 8, 2025 · ENS | Business & Leadership
Yunus Masaba—widely known as “Mas”—is the founder and CEO of Mas Group Africa, a fast-growing business conglomerate in Uganda with interests in manufacturing, renewable energy, real estate, sports, and more. His leadership journey—rooted in failure, resilience, and vision—speaks volumes.({{cite}})
On leadership and failure:
“Because everyone runs when a company is failing. Yet those are the people boards should be hiring instead of textbook CEOs with no scars.” Masaba stressed the need for leaders forged through adversity, not just polished resumes.({{cite}})
On mindset and risk:
“Ugandans want to own 100% of a Shs1m idea instead of 10% of a Shs1b idea,” he remarked, calling for a shift in thinking toward shared success funded by collective trust—similar to Somali clan-based support.({{cite}})
On mentorship and business ecosystems:
Masaba urged universities and boards to evolve: “Most boards just sign off money. They choose members based on names—not strategic strength or digital relevance. Business schools should be ecosystems—take students to real-world hubs like Kikuubo and let entrepreneurs share their failures.”({{cite}})
On failure as fuel:
Reflecting on his early venture, Transporter, which failed due to overexpansion and poor asset control, Masaba said, “It gave birth to Track24.” The GPS tracking platform remains a core pillar of the group today, born from lean operations and smart iteration.({{cite}})
Source: ENS Live — Trusted news, daily.
