Paterson talks about Africa Matters management course
Kelly Paterson, account director for Kindred Edinburgh, recently returned from a management course in the middle of Kenya.
The course was run by Africa Matters, an independent consultancy which provides advice and assistance to companies initiating, developing, or growing their activities in Africa, held in Ol Gaboli lodge in Laikipia, Kenya.
She joined a group of 10 Scottish businesses who were both delegates and presenters. More than a dozen local business leaders also attended the three day learning hub which focused on how they can collaborate to meet the environmental and man-made challenges and use wildlife to bring prosperity to the region.
Paterson delivered a seminar on external communication focusing on identifying your audience and targeting them appropriately. Much used communication tools like e-newsletters, Twitter, Facebook and I-phone applications don’t apply, as most in the region don’t have electricity or access to newspapers.
“It was fascinating to hear how our Kenyan counterparts integrated their cultural traditions where appropriate but, when new practices proved more successful, that these would be adopted alongside. A great example was our learning hub at Ol Gaboli. Run by a group of five Maasi women (who traditionally are not allowed to earn money) – it is the only such lodge in the sub-Sahara.Now the Africa Matters team are hoping to use the lodge as a learning Centre for the region so that they local business community have somewhere to learn the business skills they need to help themselves. They do not want a hand-out more a hand up,” explained Paterson.
“There were so many highlights to the trip; from learning traditional dance with the Maasi women of our compound to seeing my first giraffe; hearing the lions roar at night as we slept under the stars or a watching a herd of zebra run right past you! How many other management courses offer views to Mount Kenya, roaming elephant, rhino and giraffe and cheeky monkeys stealing biscuits from the classroom?”
Africa Matters hope that they will be able to undertake two missions a year.
The next course is already being planned for early 2010.