I am faculty advisor on a truly unique MCFE opportunity that consists of a team of 6 Babson students. This MCFE consulting team was selected to work with business executives and the Rwandan Government to develop a business plan that will help to establish an English Language and Management Training Institute, initially to be established in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The goal of the business plan will be to have the institute profitable within three years.  While it was not required, the team decided to travel to Rwanda and present its recommendations in person.

The team visiting Rwanda as part of Babson’s Management Consulting Field Experience Program will be meeting with business and government leaders throughout the week to finalize the business plan that will help launch the Rwanda English Language Institute (RELI). The Rwandan government, under President Paul Kagame, has developed a plan to help the French-speaking country become more proficient in English to assist in its economic development. RELI will play an important part in achieving this goal by focusing on middle-level managers and other professional people.

The team is also slated to meet with a group of young Rwandan women entrepreneurs this week and present an overview of Babson College, the MCFE Program and the RELI business plan at the School for Finance and Business in Kigali.

Below is a photo from tonight’s meeting at the home of the Ambassador from the U.S. to Rwanda, Stuart Symington. Also in attendance was Nicholas Cannon, the Ambassador from Great Britain to Rwanda. At his invitation, the Babson team met with Ambassador Symington to talk about the current project we are working on with Alphonse Byusa, a Rwanda entrepreneur, on creating the Rwanda English Language Institute. We also discussed the prospects of Babson being more deeply involved in helping to develop entrepreneurship in Rwanda. The more than two-hour conversation opened the door to the possibility of Babson collaborating with several existing initiatives and developing new programs in Rwanda.

In the above picture, you will find front row: (left to right) Claudia Gutierrez ‘09, Ambassador Nicholas Cannon (Great Britain), Kristen Lang ‘10, Susan Symington (wife of US ambassador); second row: Alex Souza ‘09, Kathy Byusa, Dennis Hanno; third row: Max Owen ‘09, Chris Smith ‘09, Ambassador Stuart Symington (U.S.), and Alphonse Byusa.