On Monday, I learned that, as much as I am a civic leader, I could incorporate entrepreneurial skills into my social ventures and generate income for the projects I run at home. We met with Matthew Meyer, the founder of the non-profit business Ecosandals, a project born in the Korogocho slums in Kenya. Ecosandals creates fashion forward sandals from recycled materials and empowers Kenyans through company ownership. (Check out the company’s website: http://www.ecosandals.com/index.php!) During the lecture, we had an opportunity to experience Matt’s passion and learn about his business practices. This was inspirational for dreamers like me to pursue our goals with zeal.
Participating in a role-play activity in which different groups acted as business investors and entrepreneurs, we gained a greater understanding about business and negotiation practices. My group was an entrepreneurial one called HealthyTech Company, which developed a mobile app that can cure the common cold. This activity enlightened me on negotiation skills useful for getting investors to support my cause, and I hope to implement some of these skills outside of the lecture room.
Meeting with Matt, hearing his lecture, and participating in the role-play, I learned great lessons, such as the following:
-Entrepreneurs never give up, because problems are opportunities. You can be the first to find their solutions.
-Young people have a lot in common with each other now across the globe—more than ever before.
-The sharpest dividing lines between the rich and the poor and between cultures is urban vs. rural, not between nations.
-I need to keep my organizational management focused on five things in order of their importance: people, people, people, product, and market.
Concerning negotiation skills, there are some crucial things that I, as an investor, need to be good at to enable me attract investors:
Pitching-This is bringing out my message in a short, precise, and convincing manner to my audience.
Selling your product-The aim is to target the customer of my product and impress them.
Strategy-The way I present the product in clear steps to achieve success.
Outcome-The product of the interactions. How do I learn from my mistakes?
Nice topic but your business plan was very alarming…… healing cold using a mobile phone…….