A Week in the Life of ALUSB MBA Students: Energy and Excitement at the MBA Intensive

Intensives are periodic week-long sessions where ALUSB MBA students meet in Kigali to learn directly from seasoned guest faculty. They also take the time to reconnect in person with their classmates. Here are some highlights of the recently-concluded October 2018 MBA intensive. 
SUNDAY, 28 OCTOBER

Kicking off with a schedule overview and course introductions, our MBA students geared up for the week ahead. The Class of 2019 engaged in Frontiers – a field adventure at the heart of the Leadership Lab course – which stretched their courage, grit, and resilience. Walking on high ropes and jumping off an adventure tower, they took practical leadership to the field.

MONDAY, 29 OCTOBER

The Class of 2019 had an engaging session in Communicating for Impact, a Mckinsey Management Programme facilitated by Alim Ladha, founder of Instill Education. The Class of 2020 had an immersive Corporate Finance class session taught by Gonzalo Chavez, Professor of Finance at Hult International Business School.

“There is no right or wrong answer, the wealth of experience is in this room, it’s not in my head” – Alim Ladha

To wrap up the day, both classes unplugged at a combined Open Mic Event with the African Leadership University (ALU), Rwanda. Connecting with their ALU undergraduate family over dance, music, poetry, and comedy, students unwound ahead of the intensive week.

TUESDAY, 30 OCTOBER

The third day of Intensive was very stimulating, alluding to a rich, signature ALUSB case study entitled “World Duty-Free Company Limited Versus The Republic of Kenya”, taught by Francis Daniels, Director of Africa Opportunity Partners and Professor Catherine Duggan, Vice Dean of ALUSB. The day ended with an interesting panel discussion on “China in Africa: A Benevolent Force or an Ulterior Motive”, organised by ALUSB in collaboration with Kigali Shapers, an arm of the Global Shapers Community.

WEDNESDAY, 31 OCTOBER

The atmosphere was tense in the morning ahead of the Class of 2020’s Corporate Finance examination. By the afternoon, it was filled with energy and excitement prior to the Amazing Race, a component of the Leadership Lab course, which took the Class of 2020 to the streets of Kigali. In teams, they completed challenges on their journey to the final destination. Upon completion of the amazing race, students reflected on the subtle traits of leadership that were brought to light through the experience.

THURSDAY, 1 NOVEMBER

The day started with the Business of Conservation Conference, hosted by the ALU School of Wildlife Conservation,  graced by President Paul Kagame, and attended by over 300 global delegates. ALUSB Conservation Leader Scholars were keynote presenters, sharing their conservation stories and inspiring a call to action for wildlife conservation on the African continent. It was a remarkable event which spurred commitment by various stakeholders to solve Africa’s conservation challenges.

FRIDAY, 2 NOVEMBER

With less than 111 days to graduation, the Class of 2019 were preoccupied with their Capstone Project sessions. These sessions comprised feedback rounds with supervisors, meetings with senior advisors and personal/group reflections. They also had Capstone Simulation sessions where they simulated real businesses with products, making decisions in different areas of the business and observing the effects of their decisions on the company. In teams, their companies competed for market share and revenue.

SATURDAY, 2 NOVEMBER

The last day of the intensive started with classroom sessions in Leadership Lab and Operations Management by the Class of 2020. The Class of 2019 continued their Capstone advisor insights/ peer coaching sessions. The day ended with a send-off presentation by David Wafula ’18, an alumnus from the MBA Class of 2018. David motivated the students to approach the new academic term with diligence and the pursuit of excellence. To the Class of 2020, he said, “you can’t be doing normal things and expecting extraordinary results.”

“Failure is a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you’re in it, you never stop”- David Wafula ’18

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