The boot camp provides a platform wherein experts provide participants with handy knowledge about the various skills and tools essential for successfully running an enterprise. [break]
Besides, the vibrant interactions and discussions amongst the participants, and with the experts, also motivate these budding entrepreneurs to endeavor for the better in their business.
Yuki Poudyal, the founder member of the Cuppas (a popular coffee shop at Putalisadak) and a frequent boot camp participant shares that her learning from the experts and fellow entrepreneurs during these interactive programs has played a major role in building her confidence to start her venture.
The boot camp, held last on March 10, boasted the theme of “Entrepreneurial leadership – How to lead in your business”.
I was delighted to see an eclectic group of participants coming from diverse backgrounds - like the apparel business, INGO, ICT & software enterprises; coffee shop; travel and tours and the field of pharmacy marketing, myself being one.
In the first half of the session, Ashutosh Tiwari, a regular facilitator of the camp and currently the country director at WaterAid, emphasized on how being influential was much more important than having power or higher institutional ranks in becoming a better leader.
He also elaborated on the ways that help develop positive influence in one’s area of work.
“Social proofing” was one of the tools discussed. One has to be involved or associated with like-minded people which, along with enhancing the business credibility, also create a synergistic environment wherein better ideas can germinate.
Participants discussed on various ways like collaboration, corporate social responsibility, conferences and event organization/participation, to strengthen their social presence.
Tiwari, at many instances, shared his real-life experiences on how and why he practiced these leadership developing skills over the years which the participants found very useful.
Sanjib Subba from NBTI (National Banking and Training Institute) put forth an interesting session with games and presentation that helped the participants understand more about the leadership that works.
He stressed on the fact that customer satisfaction is the ultimate key to success for any business and our country now needs to focus on customer-based and quality-based enterprises.
What I liked the most about the boot camp was its free-spirited interactions, and the openness it offered to its participants. E4N welcomes suggestions for the topics of such boot camps.
So, if you are an entrepreneur and you are facing problems in your business you can suggest E4N about it via its Facebook page- Entrepreneurs for Nepal.
All the details about the camp are posted in Facebook by E4N and its related blogs/ pages/members. One could simply sign up online with the signing up charge being Rs1, 500.
To me, the best part about attending boot camp was meeting young , self- motivated and aspiring entrepreneurs, all sharing a common dream of becoming exemplary leaders in their respective business.
At the end of the session, I had a little chit-chat with Ujwal Thapa, co-founder of E4N. He expressed that entrepreneurs, especially those who have just started out or are in the process of commencing their business, need to work on building a good network of like-minded colleagues, as entrepreneurship cannot thrive in isolation.
Besides, leadership, which is a must-have quality in a successful entrepreneur, cannot be learnt from textbooks; it can only be developed by observing and interacting with leaders, experts and enthusiasts.
(Malakar was a participant in the boot camp held on March 10 at NBTI’s office in Thamel, Kathmandu.)
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