“I was really impressed by the rapid results. It was our first time running the program and it went off better than we could have planned,” said Peter Kraan, the lecturer and facilitator of the Micro-MBA course. Kraan is also Manager of the TSiBA Entrepreneurship Centre, which provides business consulting and mentoring to budding entrepreneurs. Its mission is to encourage the creation and growth of businesses within the townships.
Since its conception two years ago, the Entrepreneurship Centre has already mentored 78 clients and now sees the Micro-MBA program as a means of rapidly expanding its impact. The centre is part of the Tertiary School of Business Administration (TSiBA). The Micro-MBA Program is structured around a series of workbooks, each targeting a specific topic vital to starting and running a small business. The workbooks cover topics ranging from market demand analysis to financial management to drafting business plan. In addition, the course included discussions on gaining financial support, and expanding business networks.
Participants in the program represented a wide array of businesses; hair styling, catering, shoe making, and IT services just to name a few. Some of the entrepreneurs were in the planning stages of their business, while others already had small businesses and wanted to learn how to grow them and operate more efficiently. Thanks to this diverse mix, not only did participants learn from the course materials, but they also learned from each other as they discussed the challenges they have faced in starting up and running a business. “As small businesses owners they are facing many of the same issues,” states Kraan. “The programme really helped them to grow their business networks and find some wonderful synergies.” Although the initial week of training has ended, the learning for these entrepreneurs has just begun. As some take their business plans and turn them into reality while others continue to grow their existing businesses, they will no doubt face many unforeseen obstacles. Taking this into consideration, the course includes a three month follow up period, wherein participants will implement the new skills they have acquired with consultation support from the TSiBA Entrepreneurship Centre.
The success of the program so far has only prompted further interest. According to Kraan, the Entrepreneurship Centre will begin hosting the Micro-MBA on a regular basis. With the continuation of the Micro-MBA Program the Entrepreneurship Centre and TSiBA as a whole further strengthens its bonds with the community and reaffirms its commitment to igniting opportunity. For more information regarding the TSiBA Entrepreneurship Centre, please contact Peter Kraan at Peter@TSiBA.org.za or 27 21 532 2750 (ext 125).Contact Details:Juliet MdluliThe Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA)Phone: 021 532 2750 x 104Email: juliet@tsiba.org.zawww.tsiba.org.za