Opportunities and entrepreneurial spirit Looking at Africas role in the global economy

Entrepreneurship, innovation,  sustainability, and business for social good  are themes embedded into all degree programs at Hult International Business School. Hult graduates go on to use the lessons learned in the classroom to reorient and transform their careers. And for graduates returning home to or doing business in Africa, these themes have a particular resonance in 2018. Professor of Global Economics, Dr. Mark Esposito, co-edited and contributed to the recently published book  Africa’s Competitiveness in the Global Economy, with Ifedapo Adeleye. The book highlights the key opportunities and challenges facing African firms, industries, and nations in their quest to compete successfully in the global economy. Africa is going through a period of some of its most substantiated growth, Mark explains. These days, Africa is what Asia used to be back in the 90s. According to Mark, there are growing opportunities in an exciting range of sectors and industries across the continent. Several pockets are developing in the region, which are promising, says Mark. From the special economic zones of Morocco, to the fresh and democratic rise of a young Tunisia, to the strength of Lagos, and the digitalization of Rwanda—many areas are booming as part of the next big wave of global economic development. In his own chapter of the book, Mark focuses on the importance of renewable energy in South Africa.  Renewables are our future and Africa has understood this at an early stage of its development, Mark notes. Fostering sustainable energy sources and green business models is playing an increasingly important role globally, and the African continent has made impressive strides in just a short space of time. Renewables are our future, and Africa has understood this at an early stage of its development. North Africa is testing the possibilities around solar power, while south of the African horn is venturing into hydro-power and distributed household to household energy, says Mark. Its quite something for a region of the world that, just a few years back, was severely affected by civil wars and famine. When asked about opportunities for students who may be interested in working in the African market, Mark is confident that a Hult degree can equip them with the skills and mindset to go far.   The emphasis on entrepreneurship that every Hultian possesses is key to understanding how Africa will develop, Mark explains. From open innovation to social entrepreneurship, the continent is buzzing with potential for Hult graduates to enter this market and use their talent to trigger large-scale opportunities. The continent is buzzing with potential for Hult graduates to enter this market and use their talent. Meet two Hult alumni who have found opportunities to do business—and do good—in Africa. Jolly Ndikumana Burundian Grants Intern, International Rescue Committee Bachelor of Business Administration, Class of 2017 Tell us about your current role at the International Rescue Committee I assist  the grants coordinator with tasks including writing and submitting new funding proposals for IRC Burundi, managing active grants, and sending regular reports to the donors. My role is based in Burundi, however the grants team has regular interactions with the IRC Regional Offices based in Nairobi and the international headquarters in New York and London. What was your career goal when you came to Hult? In all honesty, I had little idea what I wanted to become when I joined Hult. But I knew attending such an international school in a global city like London would give me great exposure. Its at Hult that I discovered the world of finance. My interest in NGOs came from meeting expatriates in London when I was preparing to move back to Burundi. Where do you see yourself working in the future? The two things I enjoy the most are finance and development work. I dont have a concrete idea yet of what role would suit me best. However, I would love to engage in work that covers the African continent. In the near-term future, I plan to join Barclays Corporate Banking graduate program in London this August, after completing my internship at IRC. What opportunities are there for business-minded, entrepreneurial graduates in your home country? Business in Burundi is in a very rudimentary stage. Given the economic restrictions and slow progress, very few businesses truly survive. However, the economic stress, low employment rates, and high level of poverty mean that many are forced to become creative and entrepreneurial. What advice would you give to students in Burundi who might be interested in studying business? My biggest advice to Burundian students wanting to study business is to keep an open mind and learn as much as you can. Whether you want to become a professional or a business owner and entrepreneur, its up to you to bring all your newly acquired knowledge back home (or practice it abroad). You never know what you can become if you are willing to learn. Keep an open mind and learn as much as you can while you can.  You never know what you can become if you are willing to learn. Oluwaseun Oyinsan Nigerian Vice President Investments, Ingressive Capital MBA, Class of 2015 What was your career path after your MBA? Right after graduation at Hult, I went to work in consulting at Forrester, in their Total Economic Impact (TEI) Practice. I later moved to Silicon Valley Bank, working in the Early Stage Practice. My plan was to work for a while in the U.S. and then do something that would move me back to Africa permanently or occasionally—which is what I currently do. Tell us about your role at Ingressive Capital Ingressive is an early-stage venture capital fund that backs tech startups in Sub-saharan Africa. Our four major markets are Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. The company is constantly scouting for founders and entrepreneurs with big visions who want to use technology to solve African problems. Im the VP of Investments, where I lead deal origination and due diligence for selecting the companies that we back. What’s exciting about the startup scene in Sub-saharan Africa?   The continent is at a critical intersection of an extremely young population, rising mobile and internet penetration, and falling data costs. This presents a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs who are using technology to solve big problems. With a population of over 1 billion, there is a significant consumer market opportunity. What specific challenges do African entrepreneurs have? Like any other space where the opportunity is significant, there are a myriad of challenges. Ill say that the most common challenges entrepreneurs on the continent face are a lack of access to mentors and the difficulty of accessing capital. How did your Hult MBA help prepare you for your current career? The experiential learning approach that Hult uses is a great advantage. The fact that we are exposed to instructors who have real-world experience in the fields they were teaching went a long way in preparing me for the challenges of life after Hult. What advice do you have for a Nigerian student with entrepreneurial ambitions? The most relevant advice I would give an up-and-coming Nigerian entrepreneur is to dream big. Dream big in terms of markets, mentors, and impact. And realize that you are just as smart and capable as entrepreneurs anywhere else in the world. Dream big in terms of markets, mentors, and impact—you are just as smart and capable as entrepreneurs anywhere else in the world.   Curious to learn more? Africa’s Competitiveness in the Global Economy  is now available on Amazon.   If youd like to hear more from Dr. Mark Esposito, please join us for an upcoming Experience Hult  event in Asia. Mark will be delivering masterclasses throughout May in cities including Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Manila, Jakarta, and Bangkok. Register for your place here.   About Mark Esposito Dr. Mark Esposito teaches Global Economics and Business Global Society on Hult’s MBA, EMBA, and Masters in International Business programs.   He consults in the areas of corporate sustainability, complexity, and competitiveness worldwide, including advising to the United Nations Global Compact, national banks and governments, and NATO. Mark holds a PhD in Business and Economics from the International School of Management. Follow Mark on Twitter: @Exp_Mark Grow your leadership capabilities with an MBA in international business at Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Why every leader needs a growth mindset, or give your career a boost with our Masters in International Business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .