Application Deadline: February 15th 2020
The Launch and Grow Fellowship program will bring together two distinct profiles of Kenyan businesswomen: emerging entrepreneurs and seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders. In each cohort, 14 women entrepreneurs, both early stage entrepreneurs and more experienced entrepreneurs/business leaders, will be grouped into teams and work together on building social and economic impact of their ventures. The structure of the participant mix creates a learning community reciprocity that benefits all. Bonds will form that last a lifetime.
The program will accept applications from these two groups of participants, both of whom must be founders/owners/CEOs/ or Managing Directors of registered companies. The maximum number of participants will be 14. All business women living in Kenya, regardless of their citizenship are eligible. It falls under the responsibility of the selected candidates to be in possession of a valid visa to travel to the United States in June 2020.
1. Emerging Women Entrepreneurs
Founder/owner/CEO or Managing Director of a company that has been in business for a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years, which has high potential to grow and scale, or successor with 3-5 years of leadership experience in an established family business with high potential to grow and scale. Successful candidates will express an interest in engaging in a mentoring relationship with senior business women. All business sectors are welcome. We encourage applications from leaders of companies with a strong social component.
2. Experienced Women Entrepreneurs
A minimum of 10 years of experience in running and growing a business or in a top executive/director/CEO/owner role at an existing business. The candidate can be an owner/director/CEO or a member of the company’s board. All business sectors are welcome. The successful candidate will have had extensive experience in leadership positions in at least one entrepreneurial company. Additionally, the successful candidate will have prior experience in coaching and mentoring others.
Program Objectives
The overarching goal of “Launch and Grow: The Kenyan Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program” is a bold one: to bridge career stage and status to create far greater opportunities for high potential women entrepreneurs in the country to create extraordinary economic and social value.
As a participating emerging business leader or entrepreneur, you will develop an opportunity-focused mindset and an appreciation for how Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® can be applied to your life and your work in a variety of contexts and environments. The program emphasizes learning by doing. Concepts and theories will be quickly applied through an action learning methodology.
The program offers the participants the opportunity to become member of a Network of Women Entrepreneurs who have lived the Launch & Grow experience and are willing to share their entrepreneurial skills and to create new business opportunities.
Curriculum
This blended learning program will feature a carefully designed mix of in-person and online lectures, interactive exercises, coaching and mentoring. Above all else, the focus is on applying learning so that new ideas can be immediately translated into action. A sampling of topic areas include:
• Entrepreneurial Thought and Action®
• Vision and values and building your culture
• Creativity and design thinking
• Business model development
• Building effective teams
• Financing
• Marketing and brand building
• Growing and scaling your ventures
• Learning and growing from Failure
• Strengths based power and influence
• Creating effective mentor relationships
• Building your networks and community
The concrete content of the program will be tailored to the particular needs of the selected group of participants and adjusted to their profiles.
Benefits:
he applicants awarded with the grant will receive a 845 euro Travel Allowance. The grant will cover the expenses related to the accommodation in Babson College during the one week intensive training as well as all the tuition fees concerning the training.
Instruction
Once the grant is approved you should:
- formally accept the grant by sending an email to [email protected]. Please do not use this email for queries regarding the application process.
- make sure that you have a valid visa to travel to the US in June 2020. In case you don´t have one, we advice you to start the visa application process as soon as possible.
- book your flight to Boston. Once the flight is booked you will receive the 845 Euro Travel Allowance.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Launch and Grow Fellowship 2020