THE RACONTEUR: HOW TO ATTEND BUSINESS MASTERCLASS WITHOUT GOING TO HARVARD ~ MY ENTREPRENEURSHIP JOURNEY: SERIES 1 ~ EPISODE 9

Having strong business skills can make a big difference in the growth of your entrepreneurial venture and your overall economic empowerment. I've personally benefited from more than ten entrepreneurship training programs in the last two years, and they've equipped me with a wide range of skills like planning, managing finances, marketing, leadership, and adaptability. These skills have been incredibly valuable in helping me overcome the unique challenges I face as an entrepreneur.

There are numerous organizations that offer free programs specifically designed to empower female entrepreneurs in Kenya. These programs aim to help women make informed decisions, efficiently manage resources, access markets, and run their businesses effectively. Unfortunately, not all women who could benefit from these programs are taking advantage of them.

Some women might see these opportunities but never apply. Here's why every entrepreneur should consider applying to these programs:

√ Some programs require you to have certain legal documents like a registered business, Tax PIN & Compliance Certificates, bank accounts, and necessary business permits. If you've been running your business without these legal requirements, applying for these programs can serve as a motivation to get your business in proper legal shape for future opportunities.

√ Certain programs ask for specific business documents such as a Problem Statement Canvas, Customer/User Persona Template, Lean Canvas, Business Model Canvas, SWOT Analysis Template, Impact Statement, Capacity Assessment Tool, Psychometric Tool, Pitch Deck, Board Charter, Team Profile, and more. Preparing these documents can help you learn and improve your business as you research and practice.

√ Some programs, once you're accepted into a cohort, provide extensive training in various aspects of business practices, including strategy, innovation, planning, marketing, operations, finance, and talent management. After completion, they continue to support you through mentorship, networking events, and potential funding opportunities. They often connect you with other valuable opportunities from their organization or other partners.

If you're looking for business masterclass programs, follow social media handles of the following and be on the lookout when they announce openings:

1. SOMO Africa Entrepreneurship Bootcamp & Accelerator Programme

2. C8 Ignite Entrepreneurship Programme: Wadhwani Foundation/StartUp Savanna/GrowthAfrica

3. HerMeNow (HMN) 2023 Bootcamp: Bloom

4. RevUp Women Initiative 2023: WISE/Visa Foundation/AfriLabs

5. Building Resilience Against Climate and Environmental Shock (BRACE): African Food Changemakers

6. JAMII Femmes: Women in Africa & CocaCola Foundation

7. Grow Your Business (GYB): African Management Institute (AMI)

8. SHE Stars-See Her Empowered Program: Yunus Environment Hub/GiZ/Absa

9. Circular Economy Catalyst (CEC): Adelphi, IKEA, & SEED

10. Road 2 Growth (R2G): Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

11. XcelHERate Entrepreneurship Challenge: SNDBX International/ Bizell

12. Catalysing High-Impact Entrepreneurship in Africa: Jasiri

13. 2023 MEST Africa Challenge: VC4A

14. She Wins Africa: IFC/ World Bank

15. The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)

16. African Women Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP)

These programs can be game-changers for your entrepreneurial journey and help you unlock your business's full potential.

THE RACONTEUR: HOW TO GET THE MOST OF A MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME ~ MY ENTREPRENEURSHIP JOURNEY: SERIES 1 ~ EPISODE 6

In May this year, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (CBF) delighted me again, with another birthday gift ~ the Mentoring Women in Business Programme (my birthday falls on 20th May). This is the second birthday gift I was receiving from CBF after successfully completing and graduating from their Road2Growth and Road2Leadership programmes designed for Women Entrepreneurs.

The road of an entrepreneur can be lonely. It can feel as if you’re in this by yourself and there’s no one to help you, like you’re out there on your own. Therefore, a mentorship program provides entrepreneurs with a unique opportunity to learn from experienced individuals, accelerate their personal and professional growth, and increase their chances of success in the challenging world of entrepreneurship. The insights, guidance, and support offered by mentors can make a significant difference in an entrepreneur's journey.

Even though I have had mentors over the years through the authors whose books I loved like Guy Kawasaki, Richard Branson, Seth Godin, Tim Ferris, Stephenie Meyer, Jack Canfield, Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Shonda Rhimes, Malcolm Gladwell, Dale Carnegie, Susan Baroncini-Moe, Napoleon Hills, and many others (because I’m a voracious reader), it is through the CBF Mentoring Women in Business Programme that I was having a mentor flesh and blood and it made a whole new difference!

Last year in May, the CBF Mentoring Women in Business Programme Team took great care matching me with a mentor known as Sharon Davies MBE, Sharon is a VP Regulatory and Public Affairs at DHL Express Europe with specific responsibility for the UK & Ireland. Sharon came in to help strengthen my skills on Marketing & Promotions for Techinva Kenya Limited. But she gave me more than I bargained for. During this duration, Sharon helped me move through a lot of “brain junk” like self-doubt, fear of failure, and self judgment. I was able to finally begin paying attention to my own voice and discovering my true ideas about the kind of a business I wanted to build. It was at this time that I created Techinva’s website (www.techinvakenya.org), designed Techinva’s Company Profile, and developed a marketing strategy.

I think I was a good mentee in the books of CBF Mentoring Women in Business Team, because this year in May, I was enrolled again in the CBF Mentoring Women Programme. I was matched with Ruth Stillman (whose photo appear here). Ruth is a Senior Internal HR Consultant at Marsh & McLennan in London. She works with wonderfully inspirational senior leaders, male and female across the globe, coaching them in their people strategy to enable them to be successful in their business goals. Fundamental to this is her desire for inlcusion and diversity and creating allies to enable equity of opportunity.

Ruth and I have so much in common. For example, she is a mother to 3 girls - 20 (2nd year university student), 18 (Year 13, university in September), and 14. I am a mother to 3 boys - 22 (4th year university student), 20 (1st year university student in September), and 15. We’re both super proud moms of our children, on how resilient, determined, kind they have become.

During our getting-to-know-each-other period, Ruth’s disclaimer was that she doesn't have all the answers but she knows how to find them and to her, CBF Mentoring Women in Business is a wonderful opportunity to enable others. Therefore, when our mentorship relationship started and despite the programmed 1-hour per month for the mentorship session, Ruth dedicated 2 days each week for an hour or so trying to understand my business and helping me wade through the bottlenecks that I was frequently facing, and by end of July, we had ironed out all the grey areas and set SMART goals to work with during the mentorship duration.

Ruth has taught me that goals help people keep their eyes on the vision. As a Senior HR Consultant, Ruth is helping me to develop an organisational structure that would attract a competent Team to help Techinva Kenya Limited achieve its Vision and Mission. But first, she’s guiding me to redefine Techinva’s purpose, work on pending regulatory and compliance issues that are impeding Techinva’s successful growth, as well as develop a new strategy and business plan for Techinva. More so, my weekly writing has been inspired by her and her firmness and focus in ensuring that I do it. As my accountability partner, she’s ‘killed’ my procrastination habits. Because of her, I am obliged to write and share an article like this one every Friday of the week, come rain or sunshine!

Even though our sessions have been virtual, it’s felt like sitting down in person with Ruth and drinking in her fountain of wisdom and wealth of knowledge. Her words are encouraging me, teaching me, leading me, and I feel bigger and bolder and ready to tackle my business and take control of my life with new zeal. We are only 4 months in and I can’t imagine the giant I’ll become at the end of this mentorship programme after standing on her shoulders.

Strengthening relationships in a mentorship program is essential for maximizing its benefits for both the mentor and the mentee. These past four months with Ruth have steered my business into new trajectory. Ruth delivers an entire college education on entrepreneurship, and through her, I’ve had business masterclass without sitting through classes and boring lectures. Best of all, with Ruth’s help, I’m on a path to creating a viable business doing what I love, and I’ve never been more excited about my future! I’m lucky to have a mentor who displays more wit, charm, erudition, loquaciousness, cleverness, and panache like Ruth.

I thank Ruth Stillman, and I thank Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and the Mentoring Women in Business Programme Team for this very rare opportunity and giving me ‘tough’ love while at it!

#mentorship #entrepeneurship #accountability #raconteurs #storytelling