Jambo!
Tuesday was another full day with my partners at Kenya Institute of Management, most of it spent at the campus south of Nairobi. Mrs. Leah Munyao, Director of the KIM School of Management and future Vice Chancellor of the University, briefed me on the degree programs and the plans to begin the Bachelor of Management and Leadership in January 2011. (The Master of Development Studies program is being finalized and will probably begin later in the year.) I got a tour of the very impressive campus and facilities, with fully equiped classrooms (with Smartboards!), a state-of-the-art library, study areas, cafeteria, and lots of open space for the expansion expected.
Ms. Munyao in front of the KIM campus adminstration offices
Ms. Bernadette Mutinda presented an overview of the current executive MBA program and then Mrs. Munyao arranged a lunch meeting with Ms. Selina Makokha, Chief Manager of Human Resources Development, and Edwin Gichangi, Manager of Communications & Public Relations, a wonderfully engaging personality. Ms. Gichhanga and I will be meeting again before I leave to discuss the options for guest faculty who wich to join me in this venture.
Ms. Bernadette Mutinda in front of one of the classroom SmartBoards
Working with Mrs. Leah Munyao
Today, Wednesday, Septemeber 29, was a “free day”, but I spent it preparting for two presentations http://..en-ligne.html. One next week on Managing Business in a Global Context and another tomorrow for the KIM management and consultancy teams on the Gazelles methodology and coachign certification process. In my research for the first presentation, I discovered Dr. Eileen Wibbeke’s Geoleadership Model, which will be the basis of my presentation. I plan to contact her to investigate her interest in sharing more details with KIM.
My excitement grow about being a part of KIM’s plans and spending half my time in Kenya. The only trepidation is having to drive in downtown Nairobi. Visualize the traffic in Manhattan, NY, but much more chaotic and driving on the left side of the street!
Rush hour traffic below the Panafric Hotel
Downtown Nairobi from the hotel balcony
Mr. Alfred Lenana, a KIM member and my “sponsor”, met Jesse and I for cocktails this evening. (For more about Alfred, see the blog post about the relationships developed during my second trip.) It was an opportunity to thank him for his role in creating this opportunity and to get his perspectives on the positive impact as well as the challenges of this relationship. I was pleased that our thoughts had much in common, further strengthening my resolve! He’s also hooked Jesse up for golf the rest of the week.
What an experience so far! I have high hopes for tapping my stateside relationships to join me in this venture. Thus far, it has been one of the must meaningful and fulfilling quests in my life. I am truly grateful to Life and where it has brought me!
