Thank you for joining my post! I will attempt to update this site regularly with pictures and stories about my time in Africa.
For those of you who thought I was going to Germany… there was a change of plans. The whole AFRICOM position did not materialize and the MBA Enterprise Corps reassigned me to a project in Nairobi, Kenya with a former IFC/World Bank fund. Somehow, I managed to squeeze in four months of vacation in Colorado during this “transition” period. Thanks to all of you who facilitated my 14 days of fly fishing, 24 rounds of golf and the 5 summits on Colorado 14ers.
Background
The MBAEC approach is similar to the concept of the Peace Corps. They send professionals to developing areas of the world to work “on the ground” with local communities, NGOs and governments. The MBAEC believes they can leverage the talents of recent MBA graduates to improve the lives of small businesses owners around the world. The participants this year will be traveling to places like Angola, Mali, Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea to work on projects such as rural tourism development and microfinance.
In 2007, I graduated from the Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt University with plenty of academic idealism fueled by a graduation speech from the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus. The MBAEC provided me with a venue to turn my passion for global poverty alleviation into action through a project with a social venture capital firm called the Grassroots Business Fund. I will be helping a local microfinance bank called K-Rep on a due diligence process to qualify them for a new financing package. My most recent employer, Accenture, has graciously granted me a leave of absence to spend a year overseas to partake in this endeavor. Thanks again.
My MBAEC contract lasts until July and I anticipate being able to explore much of Kenya and Africa in that time.
Please check back to find out more.
5 comments:
Way to go, Nat! Looks like a fantastic gig. I'm sure it's very challenging work, but you're the right man for the job. Enjoy your time in Kenya and I look forward to reading more of your blog. Cheers, buddy!
Best of luck Nat--looking forward to reading your blog!
Susan
wow. fighting global poverty. i guess that's a little bit different than what you did at accenture?! we'll miss you around here, but you better provide lots of pictures! How was the flight? did you get some rest on the way out there, hopefully we didn't keep you up too late the night before! Peace out brother!
Nat... so impressed. I look forward to reading your blog!
Congratulations Nat!
I just found your Blog, I will definitely try to keep up with your adventures. Hopefully, this experience will help you in guiding us with the Model Village project. I look forward to reading more.
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