Zemedeneh Negatu (CEO, CBE Capital S.C.)

Sep 7 , 2025.

Fortune: If you were trapped in a desert, what are the two things you would take?

Zemedeneh: Drinking water and an iPhone with GPS.

Q: What was your first job and first paycheck?

My first job, where I actually earned a paycheck, was as a teenager working for a transportation company in Saudi Arabia.

Q: Do you recall an unforgettable milestone or a moment in your career that shaped your path?

What shaped my career was not a single milestone or moment, but the lifelong, unwavering support of my family, especially my parents and two sisters. They have stood by me through both successes and challenges. For that, I give them all the credit.

Q: What is the biggest part of your dream that you won’t ever compromise?

I am a born risk-taker and a big dreamer. I won’t compromise by settling for easy and low-risk goals. I am not afraid of failure, as I have stumbled a few times. But, I refuse to accept mediocrity or laziness, and I do not listen to naysayers.

Q: Do you know what it is like to fall in love? Have you ever been in love?

I loved my late wife, Julie Ricco, from the very first day we met, and that love endured through our 23 years of marriage until her passing seven years ago. She was a truly gifted and beautiful soul.

Q: What was the weirdest food you have tasted?

Several years ago, I tried escargot at a private business dinner in Paris. The taste was so unusual that I could not finish it. Afterwards, I headed straight to McDonald’s on the Champs-Élysées for a familiar meal.

Q: Do you recall that one unforgettable gift you received?

The greatest gift I have received is a healthy life. I beat cancer at a young age and have enjoyed perfect health for the past 35 years. That is why a few things faze me today.

Q: Would you rather speak all languages in the world or be the world’s most specialised in your field?

Since it is impossible to speak every language in the world, I prefer to speak a few fluently. For example, I speak English, Amharic, and Spanish, while for other languages, I rely on AI-enabled apps.

Q: From the financial world, what do you personally believe is useless?

Preachy and know-it-all pseudo-experts with lots of theories but no real-life experience.

Q: If you did not have your current job, what would your job be?

A pilot. I love travelling and exploring new places. So far, I have visited more than 115 countries and lived in eight.

PUBLISHED ON Sep 07,2025 [ VOL 26 , NO 1323]