12 Aug 2014

Some Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) assisted clients will receive free mentorship from Global Business Social Enterprise (GLOBASE), a graduate business programme designed and implemented by Kelly School of Business at the Indiana University to help advance their businesses.

Speaking at the LEA’s breakfast meeting in Gaborone on August 11, Indiana University Faculty Chair and Associate Clinical Professor of Business Economics, Professor Philip Powell said they chose Botswana because it was an inspiration for those of them watching African business in the United States. 

He said as the Sub-Sahara begins an African economic renaissance, Botswana could make itself a hub of regional economic growth because of the strong institutions it has built for itself, adding that Batswana transformed a neglected corner of British Africa into a strong independent state that is a “shining light” for the rest of the continent. 

Professor Powell said the country smartly transformed minerals in the ground to a growing economy that invests in its people and seeks to diversify itself and said because minerals do not last forever, though, the country must turn a corner to build a strong private sector. 

He said entrepreneurship is the fuel that will transform Botswana’s economy and said through LEA, the government must seed the aspiration of Batswana to start enterprises that will compete globally and grow employment. 

Professor Powell said through this experience for their students, they can, in their own small way, help transform Botswana for the better through ideas their students provide for their clients. 

He said in return, Botswana offers the ultimate classroom that teaches their postgraduate students to think creatively and learn the culture of business in Africa and said this wonderful partnership would not be possible without the well-managed orchestration of LEA and the stable national environment achieved by Botswana.

In his welcoming remarks the Chief Executive Officer of LEA, Dr Tebogo Matome said they are now in the second year of partnership of the GLOBASE programme for Botswana and said the impact of the program is remarkable given the results attained by last year’s participants.

Dr Matome said the skills and experience of Kelly School of Business post graduate students who carry out the relevant interventions on LEA clients have proven to be impeccable and stated that last year June five selected LEA clients went to United State of America where they had various meetings and interactions with people who have worked with multinationals companies.

He said the purpose of these meetings was to appreciate a comprehensive analytic evaluation of the LEA businesses, understand challenges the business faced, and their successes as well as how LEA has intervened in helping them to develop and be sustainable.

Dr Matome said LEA clients that will be working with Kelly School of Business team and encouraged them to be open and learn as much as they could during this week, and ensure implementation of all the advice and knowledge they will have acquired, so as to advance their businesses into competitive and sustainable enterprises that can contribute significantly in diversifying the economy of this country. ENDS