Today was the first day of the Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition.
Teams began arriving at noon, I spent the early afternoon meeting the other teams from around the globe.
My current favorite: Do you have a male (or perhaps female) friend who spends way too much time playing World of Warcraft or the Sims? I have a new friend from South Africa who is seeking to capitalize on that addiction by creating a new computer "game" in realtime. For details, ask me....
My other new friend is seeking to start a network of sunflower oil farmers in Kenya. Asked her how the political situation is affecting her chances; she and I are going to be discussing ways to maximize her return, and also will be working to connect her with my own contacts.
As for the ILAE, got connected with several judges with high powered connections to people who have built schools in worldwide developing countries. One of them has experience in spearheading the development of 22 different schools. Will be pinging a couple of them within the next 24 hours.
Some things I learned at these competitions/trade shows:
1. Hard questions are good. If the judges really grill you with difficult questions, it's a sign that they see your business as a viable one and they really want you to succeed. I spent half an hour talking face to face with a woman who was asking me some of the most difficult questions regarding the current political state of certain regions of Ethiopia. She started off easy, then really started grilling me. I started answering, "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know...." I was beginning to think she hated my idea and thought I was stupid. Turns out she's the founder of over 22 schools in developing countries around the world. She told me in the end that she thinks the idea is brilliant, and that it was the reason she came to my booth first out of all the competitors. She also has done work in Ethiopia before, and told me some insider knowledge on my target market that I never would have even thought to consider.
2. Help your competitors "win." One thing that really weirded out some of my competitors in the present and the past is the fact that I kept approaching each competitor and asking them about their business, and trying to get them to think out loud about their individual companies and how they think they could improve. Then I go through the list of people I think could be able to help them succeed (for many, it meant getting them connected with the African Chamber of Commerce, or the Columbia Tower Club). The most money I could possibly "get" out of this competition is $5,000. Maybe $10,000. Building valuable international relationships with like-minded innovators who could eventually get my team connected with people who can help me with our own business infrastructure is worth far more than a few grand won at a single event.
3. Having fun. I'm having a blast! There is much to be learned, but I'm having a great time!
Practice round is tomorrow! Gotta get up early for that one!
Laura Umetsu
Project Manager
International Leadership Academy of Ethiopia
