Sunday, September 28, 2025
23.5 C
Lagos

Stanford University Business Program Takes Root in East Africa

Building on the success of its program in West Africa, Stanford Seed, the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies has announced the launch of the Seed Transformation Program in East Africa.

In May, the first group of promising business leaders selected by Stanford Seed will gather in Nairobi to begin a 12-month transformational process led by world-renowned faculty from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Aimed at driving sustainable growth in the East African regional economy through private-sector-led development, Seed will train these established entrepreneurs from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Ethiopia, in a yearlong, interactive, educational journey based out of Seed’s new regional center in Nairobi, Kenya.

Seed’s expansion into East Africa is intended to boost and scale established businesses in the region. Thirty-one CEOs, founders, and executives have been chosen to participate in the pioneering program. Each member of the cohort was selected based on their leadership capacity and the growth potential of their business. The mission of the initiative is to leverage the innovative and entrepreneurial mindset that is fostered at Stanford to help businesses in developing economies create new jobs, and ultimately, end the cycle of poverty.

Jesper Sørensen Robert A. and Elizabeth R. Jeffe Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford GSB and Executive Director of Seed, states: “At Stanford we believe that some of the most pressing problems we face today can be addressed through leadership and innovation in the private sector.”

The Seed Transformation Program will address specific regional challenges such as leadership, strategy, value-chain innovation, and most importantly, will deliver an invaluable network of like-minded individuals from the Silicon Valley to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Bécaye Sidy Diop, CEO of Delvic Sanitation Initiatives and past participant from the West Africa program says: “Before coming to the Seed program, our objective was to expand in Senegal and Senegal only. Now we have a big ambition to expand in West Africa. That’s why I say Seed has really transformed our company.”

Drawing on what he learned at Seed, Dr. Diop subsequently signed three separate contracts with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to facilitate a two-stage expansion plan. Within the next two years, Delvic plans to expand into Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Tanzania and Uganda.

As Seed East Africa welcomes its first cohort, Seed West Africa is accepting applications for their next session (cohort seven) which begins in September 2016. Open to business owners based in West Africa, the deadline for submission is May 31, 2016.

Information sessions will be held in Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Nigeria, Benin and Ghana throughout the month of May.

Stanford University, located between San Francisco and San Jose in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, is one of the world’s leading teaching and research universities. Since its opening in 1891, Stanford has been dedicated to finding solutions to big challenges and to preparing students for leadership in a complex world.

One of seven world-renowned schools within Stanford University, the Graduate School of Business delivers innovative, hands-on management education that pairs best practice with advanced theory drawn from rigorous research.

Graduates of the business school have founded such companies as Nike, Victoria’s Secret, and Electronic Arts, and lead global organisations such as General Motors, Warner Brothers, General Mills, Pfizer, and AmBev.

Based on the belief that business is one of the most powerful engines of change, Seed is committed to changing lives, changing organizations, and ultimately, changing the world.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

AIICO Deepens Bond with Retirees, Holds Annuity Forum in Lagos, PH

Mr. Gbenga Ilori, Head, Retail Business at AIICO, in...

Sovereign Trust Insurance Holds 30th AGM

L-R: Eric Balogun, Independent Director, Emi Faloughi, Director, Kayode Adigun,...

Unity Bank Shareholders Approve Merger with Providus Bank

  EGM: From left: Mr. Usman Abdulkadir, Executive Director, Risk...

NNPCL: Ogoni Re-entry is a Beacon of Reconciliation through Collaboration

The re-entry into Ogoniland marks a historic turning point...

NLNG, NCDMB Celebrate 122 Graduates of Train 7 HCD Training Program

NLNG in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and...

Topics

Leadway Assurance Emerges ‘Insurance Company of the Year’ at 2024 BAFI Awards

One of Nigeria's leading insurance service providers, Leadway Assurance,...

Financial Inclusion: FG Targets 36.6m Nigerians with Micro Financial Plans

Following plans to meet its financial inclusion target, the...

Allianz Safety & Shipping Review 2O16

· Piracy - Progress continues in Africa with incidents...

El-Rufai Commends Olam on Agric Investment, Reforms

El-Rufai Commends Olam on Agric Investment, Reform Olam Nigeria,...

Linkage Assurance Reports N11bn Premium in 2021 as Shareholders Applaud Growth

Shareholders of Linkage Assurance Plc have applauded growth of...

Women in Insurance Seeks Gender Parity to Boost Africa’s Economy

L-R: Bunmi Adeleye, Corporate Services, Leadway Assurance, Moderator; Seyi...

Local Content, NCDMB on the Spotlight at 2025 NOG Conference

The recently held 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG)...

Niger Insurance Plans Strategic Transformation, Injection of Capital

Niger Insurance Plc is set to restructure its Board,...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img