Spotlighting Visionary Women in Travel: Sheila Kyarisiima Elevates East African Luxury with The Pinnacle Kigali
- Alexandra Avila
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 22
At REYA Communications, we believe the future of travel is being shaped by women whose vision transcends borders. Our ongoing series, Spotlighting Visionary Women in Travel, celebrates leaders who are redefining hospitality through creativity, authenticity, and purpose.
Among these trailblazers is Sheila Kyarisiima, the founder of The Pinnacle Kigali and one of the few Black women leading in Africa’s luxury hospitality space. Her story is one of both vision and representation — a reminder that excellence, when grounded in identity and purpose, can expand what is possible for an entire industry.
More than a hotel, The Pinnacle Kigali opening January 2026, is a love letter to Rwanda. It is a statement of elegance, creativity, and belonging. At its heart stands Kyarisiima, whose journey reflects what we at REYA champion: the power of women to shape the future of travel and to lead with both confidence and care.
From Global Foundations to African Futures
Born in Uganda to a Rwandan mother and Ugandan father, Sheila’s roots are woven across East Africa. Today she calls Nairobi home, yet her life and career have spanned continents, from Ivy League lecture halls to the boardrooms of global finance.
A graduate of Brown University, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Kennedy School, Kyarisiima began her career in civil engineering before joining Goldman Sachs’ Corporate Real Estate division in New York and New Jersey. That experience combined structure with innovation and set the stage for her next chapters, from advising Rwanda’s government on investment strategy as Advisor to the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, to co-founding ventures in finance, real estate, and development.
Today she chairs Spelman Estates, is a Partner at NISK Capital, and sits on the boards of leading financial institutions across Kenya and Rwanda. Despite her success in the corporate world, her newest chapter in hospitality may be her most personal and creative yet.
The Pinnacle Kigali: A Love Letter to Rwanda
What began as a family retreat has blossomed into one of Kigali’s most exciting luxury hotels. Conceived and built with her life and business partner, Irene Ndikumwenayo, The Pinnacle Kigali reflects their shared vision that African luxury can be intimate, intentional, and deeply local.
In a space where women of color have long been underrepresented, Kyarisiima’s presence feels both quietly revolutionary and deeply grounding. She stands as proof that excellence needs no permission, and that representation, when it arrives with grace and purpose, has the power to transform an entire industry.
Every design choice tells a story of heritage, artistry, and belonging. Beyond offering world-class hospitality, The Pinnacle invites travelers to experience Rwanda through a lens of sophistication and soul. It represents a new generation of African entrepreneurship that prioritizes narrative, nuance, and pride of place.
Leading with Vision
Recently accepted into the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), Sheila Kyarisiima’s leadership is gaining global recognition. Yet her greatest influence lies in what she represents: a reimagining of who leads and what leadership looks like in African hospitality.
Her journey, which spans continents, industries, and communities, is a reminder that the future of travel will be shaped by those who bridge worlds. For young women especially, her path offers both inspiration and invitation to come home, dream boldly, and create something lasting.
At REYA, We Celebrate the Women Defining the Future of Travel
Sheila Kyarisiima is not just building a hotel. She is building a legacy that redefines African luxury from the inside out. At REYA Communications, we are proud to stand alongside leaders like Sheila who elevate travel through authenticity, creativity, and heart.
Discover The Pinnacle Kigali:
For any inquiries contact Alexandra Avila at alexandra@reyacommunications.com
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