AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT, SHARE AND LEARN

Global market trends continually change and often times, force many businesses to either rethink their strategy in order to remain relevant or close down. In July 2011, EPTF held its 1^st Annual Business Conference with a special focus on running a business successfully in a down turn economy.

Guests were drawn from various business sectors and got an opportunity to learn from seasoned entrepreneurs who spotlighted the most innovative and resilient approaches to business growth. The participants were equipped to deal with challenges that come with business survival in a down turn economy and were also equipped with principles on how to deliver value as they grow their businesses.

Often times, entrepreneurs are forced to be aggressive and rough in order to overcome challenges, Dr. James Mageria, Chairman of the Karen Hospital urged participants to have hope in God and learn from Christ for He is gentle and humble in heart; this will allow them to experience inner rest.   

No organization is sure of survival in the market and there is need to keep checking the realized and unrealized strategies as it grows.  For an organization to survive it must keep on having some parts re-modified, anything for it to appear right in the society it serves.  Dr. Jonathan Ciano, the Chief Executive of Uchumi Supermarkets focused on Strategies to unlock potential for an organization.  With an excellent track record of drawing and implementing a successful rescue plan that led to the turnaround of the Uchumi Supermarkets; he underlined the  need for organizations to be dynamic at the best of times as well as incorporate new technologies routinely in order to altar competitive landscapes.

Haron Wachira, the Group Managing Director of Akili Holdings, an entire value chain intervention organization was speaking on growing your business while successfully delivering value. He pressed on the importance of recognizing unexploited opportunities in the local market and gave examples of how Kenyans have an advanced knowledge in value addition of products such as leather, milk, aloe Vera, animal feeds and bee products.  Value addition should increase market assurance, higher income through economies of scale, wealth creation through group accountability as well as have a focus on community improvement.

The guests realized solutions to organizations and the nation at large lie within Kenya. We take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended the conference and we are glad that we opened up an opportunity for you to connect, share and learn from business owners and investors.