A G A Presentation

Ellen LebokoSocial Entrepreneur

With acknowledgement to to many people who played a leading role in the

development of the Micro-MBA course

Ellen Leboko lives in Sebokeng, near Vereeniging. Her husband was retrenched in 1994.

Since that time, she has educated her 5 children. 3 are teachers, one is an electrician and the other, a beautician.

She has also trained more than 200 men &

women from all over southern Africa (including Lesotho), in various aspects of catering, including baking, flower-arranging, cake-icing and running a restaurant.

• Ms Leboko is one of the true heroes of the South African economy who have decided to reject victimhood in favour of taking responsibility for their own economic destinies.

• According to a number of researchers about 80% of them fail within the first year.1

• Lack of basic business skills is the primary reason for this dour picture.2

1. The Business Plan, Small Business development Centre, Bradle7y University, Peoria IL.2. African Studies Quarterly: Causes of Small Business Failure in Uganda, Charles Tushabomwe-Kazooba

• According to Adam Smith1 and numerous others, job-creation depends on the stimulation of entrepreneurship.

• 1.2m small businesses in California account for 80% of the GDP of this 7th-largest economy in the world.2

• Ellen Leboko and the greater majority (>65%) of 165 000 graduates of the Micro-MBA basic business course have gloriously defied the odds.

• With support from organisations like FSAA, people who have previously been unable to afford it, have been given access to an understanding of how to run a business.

1. The Wealth of Nations & The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Adam Smith2. SB-Cal, Small Business California, on-line e-zine.

With acknowledgement to to many people who played a leading role in the

development of the Micro-MBA course

• Our success with a broad spectrum of individuals (over 170 thousand), many with minimal education and/or training, has proved that almost anyone can be taught to do enterprise in order to take responsibility for their own economic destiny.

• This agrees with research done by UWC that Training in entrepreneurial skills is highly possible.– “Important research finding:

• Entrepreneurs can be trained!1”

• Many illiterate rural women have successfully completed the Micro-MBA course by bringing somebody who is literate with them to the course.

1. S A Entrepreneurship, Education & Training, Chapters 5-8. Prof D J Visser U.W.C.

With acknowledgement to to many people who played a leading role in the

development of the Micro-MBA course

Nomthandazo Cynthia Mdletye started Qhayiya Designs (named after her son and heir) in 2006, because she loved sewing.

She says the Micro-MBA transformed her ability to do her costing, selling and cash-flow management.

Today she is a Micro-MBA trainer and mentor for other aspiring entrepreneurs in the Greater Stellenbosch District.

From: “Hit the Ground Running” Published by the Finland-South Africa Association in 2009 

• The Micro-MBA course is a learner-driven, outcomes-based programme.

• It starts with 5 days of classroom experience, during which learners work through 8 simple workbooks.

• This is followed by three months of mentored application and feedback meetings.

Micro-MBA : Course

Micro-MBA : Structure

Trainers TrainersTrainers

A SmallHead Office

Emerging Entrepreneurs(170 000 in 21 years)

?Sponsorship?

Time to Grow!

• At Micro-MBA, we have been paying our dues since 1987.• We have learned what does not work in economic

development. • We have something that works at grassroots level, as well as

higher up the economic ladder!

With acknowledgement to to many people who played a leading role in the

development of the Micro-MBA course

The one type of co-operative that works!!

With acknowledgement to to many people who played a leading role in the

development of the Micro-MBA course

Nonasile Tshaka from Lady FrereShe was selling amagwinya (“Vet-koek”) in survivalist-mode.

After completing the Micro-MBA, during the mentorship period, Samela suggested that she use her property more creatively. . . . . . . . She now supplies the local traders

and school feeding-scheme!!

With acknowledgement to to many people who played a leading role in the

development of the Micro-MBA course

Micro-MBA: Future

• EXPAND throughout South Africa;• EXPAND further into Africa;• EXPAND through a web-based version of the

course.

We would like to:

To achieve this, we need: PARTNERS!