Archive for the ‘Fellowship Experience’ Category

Discovering South Africa

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My experience with the Convergence Partners team was great. In month two, I had a better idea of the team dynamic and culture. I felt very welcomed; and integrated well with the diverse team. The level of humility displayed by the Chairman and Founding patterns amazed me as they treated everyone like equals and with respect. The work environment was professional, productive and fun at times. The team was young at heart and they all seemed very close, like a family. One of my observations that stood out the most was the passion expressed by the executive for ICT infrastructure development in Africa. I am very grateful for the knowledge they have imparted. Also, the firm offered me an opportunity to receive executive level training from SAVCA on PE and VC in Africa. The training was attended by private and public sector organizations.

Emma SocialSocially, I ventured out a little. I visited some places outside of ‘Sandton’ like 7th Street in Melville and the atmosphere reminded me of U St. in Washington DC. I also planned a short visit to Alexandria (Alex) Township. Prior to the visit, I heard intimidating stories about the place but once there,  I found that the people seemed peaceful and happy. Nevertheless, I was shocked by the disparity of wealth between Sandton and Alex; a short distance of less than 20min apart.

Another impactful experience occurred during a volunteer event with a portfolio company. Seacom held a Career Day at Tembisa Secondary High School, as part of its Corporate Social Investment program. Our goal was to provide information to Grades 8 – 12 students on career paths and give them advice on their éducation. Most of the students we spoke with had no plans for higher education mainly due to financial challenges and the disadvantages of living in a Township. Some students were determined to obtain a better éducation if and only they obtained scholarships. The only message that I could impart is my experience in the United States as a young immigrant child from a low-income household—no matter the obstacles, I didn’t give up and I often had to be creative to find opportunities for myself. However, I know I was fortunate to grow up in a country full of posibilities where student loans and employment were accessible. I told them the best decision I ever made was to take my studies seriously. I also advised the students that it takes lot of hard work, determination, and sacrifices to fulfill its dream; but they will see graduelle see results. There are many different paths to reach the same goalt; they just need to believe in themselves and have a solide plan. Finally, I advised students to reach out to people or programs that will connect them to professionals in their communities to learn  about their careers.

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Emma Fofanah

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The arrival in Nigeria

Arrival

The transition from working to the United States to Nigeria was quick. After going through the “experience” that is Lagos airport, I settled into my hotel accommodations. The place was very comfortable and had a lot of the amenities that I would expect from a quality hotel in the US – including high speed internet service. In the morning, I was greeted by Ayo – my Olashore International School liaison. It turns out that Ayo had spent most of his time in the UK and had recently returned to Nigeria. We chatted about his experiences returning to Nigeria and adjusting to the transition both professionally and personally. I got some good insights from his perspective.

A key point he mentioned was him balancing the need to incorporate certain best practices to his work environment without incurring negative feedback from colleagues. A reason for this could be that the proposed best practice did not work in Nigeria. Something that he experienced early on in his return. Another thing I gained from watching his interactions, was the noteworthy role age played in his professional exchanges. I knew that respect for your elders was an important culture value demonstrated socially in Nigeria. However, I had not thought of prior to my arrival how this would play out in the professional sphere. As me and Ayo were in the same age group, I recognized that this would be something that I would definitely needed to be mindful of during my tenure.

My second day in Lagos was spent going to a press conference on secondary and post-secondary marketing for schools in Nigeria. Then followed by attending an Association of International School Educators of Nigeria (AISEN) meeting. You can say I hit the ground running. Both events were informative and provided some needed context to the space in which I would be inhabiting for the next year. My next destination would be to the rural location of Olashore International School.

 

John-Ubong Silas

 

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Four Weeks in Maputo

It has been four weeks already since I arrived in Maputo, Mozambique, yet it feels like a week. There is a contrast between the dynamic at work and that in the city – the pace at work is fast, while that in the city is slow. So, I find myself in this paradox whereby I feel properly adjusted at work, but still need to readjust to the pace of the city and country. Work feels like it did back in the United States. Everyday life, on the other hand, runs a lot slower than it does in the United States. Incidentally, time also seems to move slower. In the United States, every glance at my watch revealed an hour gone by. In Maputo, every glance at my watch reveals five minutes gone by. To be fair, I have had the same impression in every other African country that I have been to.

I spent my first month at work acclimatizing myself to the work environment, my colleagues, the company’s operations, and its clients and partners. I also designed and drafted a five-year strategy document for the company, which should be presented to the Board of Directors at the next Board Meeting. For that assignment, I collaborated with the Managing Director and Investment Manager. The experience gave me insight on how they work, think, and structure their deliverables. I have been attending a number of meetings, related to various projects, during which my opinions were sought and I was prompted to present certain arguments that I held convictions about. Such experiences are valuable because they reveal that there exists multiple approaches to issues and that opting for a particular approach is not an implicit rejection of other options.

My most valuable experience of the month has been establishing a foundation of trust with my colleagues. With the management team, this implies ensuring as candid and effective communication with the managers as is possible. With the rest of the team, this means regular conversations about their personal backgrounds, interests, sports, and sharing lunch during lunch-breaks. The effort has been beyond worthwhile. I am confident that I am already forging solid understandings with my colleagues, especially those who are not in management. The reason I decided to do this is that I learned from my previous professional experiences that the most important thing in human relations is effective and constructive communication. This enhances the level of trust and understanding between individuals. Trust and understanding typically make for mutual progress.

I am all about mutual progress.

 

– Yana

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