CEO apprentices graduate

Graduates during the pass out ceremony. Below, MPL Sales Manager, Godfrey Mulengi (l) and Marketing Manager, Aaron Aguma who also graduated. PHOTO BY Abubaker Lubowa

What you need to know:

A new era. The class of CEOs-to-be learnt from tried and tested captains of industry in Uganda, drawing from practical examples. It is expected that they will succeed where the older ones made mistakes.

After a collaborative partnership between the CEO summit Uganda and Strathmore Business School year, 30 students of the pioneering class of 2013 graduated after undergoing 12 months of business managerial training .
The training platform, which was conducted by CEOs from mainly the business community in Uganda, aimed at integrating key management concepts and best practices to develop strategic thinking and leadership skills. Dynamic students
They also trained the cohort in gaining an integrated view of the business landscape in relation to market dynamics.
The initiative attracted young and dynamic students from energy, banking, telecommunications, manufacturing and media institutions in Uganda.

“I have a profound sense of joy to assert that through this relationship, we have advanced Strathmore Business School’s proud legacy of transformational educational experience. We are also happy to use this opportunity to build on the strong foundation of great Ugandan business leaders and visionaries,” said Dr George Njenga, the founder of Strathmore Business School.

In one of his key notes to the graduates, Mr Phillip Odera, the CEO Stanbic Bank, cautioned the CEOs- in- waiting to worry about having the right people in the right seats and right positions. “Do not be quick to judge your employees based on superficial information. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because the human mind learns a lot more from making mistakes; but do not make stupid and repeated mistakes,” said Mr Odera.

“The learning experience has been enlightening because there are so many things that you are not told on a job and get to learn them in such trainings. The training was able to equip me with knowledge of how to handle my team well and being an all-rounder to know every aspect in my line of duty,” said Ms Hope Ekudu, graduate and employee of Barclays bank.

Mr Julius Kakeeto, the new Executive Director of Orient Bank, thanked the various CEOs from various institutions for the 12 months mentoring process basing on the fact that it was done on a voluntary basis. “There are many business leaders in Uganda but all they need are such CEO initiatives. The answer lies within this programme,” noted Mr Kakeeto.

Different challenges
“There are many challenges in business and management but with challenges, there are always opportunities. Most of the CEOs have faced crisis moments and moments of glory but have managed to surpass trying times because of the ability to encounter such obstacles,” said Charles Malinga, a member of the graduating class an employee of Barclays Bank.