Rita Becker
&
Diane de Saint Victor
Career Starter Week
TSIBA Business School, South Africa
October 28 - November 8, 2024
Pilot CSW at the Tertiary School in Business Administration TSIBA
It has been a while since experts from B360 were teaching at TSIBA in Cape Town – the last courses had to be stopped because of COVID. This year, B360 could finally resume the cooperation again. As a result, we were able to carry out two pilot Career Starter Weeks in 2024.
In Cape Town, we met very engaged people, the support of the team of TSIBA was magnificent. Being in South Africa, we got to learn about some struggles the students have: lack of public transportation to school, students living in townships with challenging paths and gang violence made it difficult for them to stick to our timetable.
During the CSW, we worked on Business Plans, prepared responses to job offers, did mock interviews and worked on different business cases. It was a real pleasure to see the development of the students during the week – from shy and quiet young people to confident and determined presenters.
We are leaving Cape Town much humbled even though full of hope. These TSIBA students are ready to roll up the sleeves to contribute to their generation, the South African economy and their society. If even only a tiny part of their dreams come true, it will already be a big way forward. They will take it from there and we cherish the memory of our time with them.
As we arrived in Cape Town, we decided to capture our key takeaways in the form of a daily journal. Please read our “diary” below the gallery and get to know in more detail what we experienced. The success story of one of our students who got a job contract just the week after the CSW is particularly rewarding, don’t miss it!
Oct 24, 2024
Preparation meeting. TSIBA CEO participating in a several hour introduction session with us. We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with a fairly extended team, a mix of internal and external participants, some of them participating in a face-to-face meeting while others joined online. The facilities are well suited to tertiary education, and we are impressed by the technology set up (large video screens, and very efficient IT support to get us properly set up). More importantly though, we are deeply touched by the level of engagement, the energy and smiles. We are off to a good start.
Oct 28 Week 1 - Day 1
It turns out most of the students in our workshop are studying media. We are getting the pulse. A very creative group of young people interested in design, technology in filming, colors etc. Well, they may not be big fans of the P&L exercise as a bunch of young artists. Interesting engagement on business etiquette and punctuality including but not limited for future content creators. We put a big smile on our faces and we will stick to the effort together.
Oct 29 Week 1 Day 2
Amongst other topics, we are discussing Business Planning and Project Management. We have the theory. They have the practice: TSIBA is not accessible by public transportation. Our students live in the townships. When everything goes all right (that cannot be taken for granted), it is a good full hour train or bus ride + 30’ walking distance. The young women in our group do not go alone. They walk in groups (amongst these young women, there is a future mom whose baby is due next week). We will stick to our punctuality discussion, but we’d better put things in perspective as well.
Oct 30 Week 1 Day 3
They are working hard on preparing a draft response to a real job offer they selected from themselves. One of the learnings for us is that most of them have had no other option but to take a variety of small jobs to sustain themselves throughout the years (as well as supporting their families very often). Starting washing cars at the age of 15, serving as a waitress, providing cleaning services etc.… Real life money in and out.
Oct 31 Week 1 Day 4
Mock interviews this morning. 3 outside HR professionals joining us for this exercise. An eye opener session for our students (for most of them, their first professional interview). Our gratitude goes to our local HR partners. They demonstrated an incredible level of engagement anchored into the harsh reality of South Africa job market. Turning to Entrepreneurship in the afternoon, we welcomed local entrepreneurs acting as role models for our students. Many ups and downs in this micro-businesses One can see that for young entrepreneurs who grew up in the townships, the natural trend is to create a small business in their own community. Still lots of barriers making it unrealistic for them to consider a broader playing field.
Nov 1 Week 1 Day 5
The power of teamwork. Our students, acting as self-organized teams presenting a business case to a panel of “potential investors” (a mix of South Africa entrepreneurs and TSIBA staff while our role is limited to moderating the panels). Setting up a sound financial business case in the short time was very challenging for the participants but as to passion and enthusiasm for their business ideas, our students are unbeatable. Nothing wrong for sure in being a dreamer as a 19/23 year old. If not now, then when? Seeing stars in their eyes as those who were so quiet earlier in the week stood up to the plate and addressed the group with confidence and determination. A true revelation for many.
Nov 4 Week 2 Day 1
A new group. Doing an Anchor Career test. A robust psychological test aimed at identifying skills and personality to help align professional career ambition with personal preferences. A discovery for all. Taking the time to explore their emotions? A luxury for sure. Never occurred to them that they may have options at some point in their lives. We were deeply impressed by their emotion level. “Yes, it’s me”. Being realistic and understanding they may have to take what will come their way (at least initially) but opening new avenues in their minds (and hearts).
Nov 5 Week 2 Day 2
The lunch (courtesy of B360) is an important slot in the daily routine. No one would be very talkative about it. We understand though that for some it may well be the meal of the day. The chef in the kitchen and the serving ladies acting as moms for these youngsters. Making sure there is enough, and they like it. Fish for all today. Shortly after lunch, it turns out one of our students does not feel well at all. Laying on a couch in the student area. Feeling very weak. We are concerned and even more so after learning the student is allergic to fish. Didn’t know of course. The student explained he did not touch the fish. Still, we are very concerned about potential touch points between his special meal and fish. After the student returned home, it took a few hours before we felt fully re-assured. Well, it was … the flu. We are not medical experts for sure!
Nov 6 Week 2 Day 3
The class is half empty this morning. Gangs turn into action in some neighborhoods. We receive videos on our phones. We can hear the bullets. A young man laying on the ground and lots of confusion in this community. Many students will stay home of course. We are safe on our campus (even though we would not walk over to TSIBA, no more than a 5’ ride from our guest house - - and in a privileged and safe environment ). Education vs. violence and crime. On the other hand, one of the students from last week stopped by (unannounced). He had an interview for a film technician position earlier this week and right after completing his interview training last week. He wants to let us know … that he’s got the job. He said he never thought he could possibly make it. Completely lacking self-confidence. Now he’s got an open-ended contract. Big hugs. Tears in his eyes (and ours). It’s not us. It’s him. The first hire we become aware of. Rejoicing. What a day! The worst and the best within just a few hours …
Nov 7 Week 2 Day 4
We are invited to participate in a late afternoon event (TSIBA Ignition) assembling TSIBA CEO, a number of faculty members, students and entrepreneurs. The focus is on Sustainability. Confirming what we could already see earlier. Young people in South Africa are just like their peers on other continents. They have deeply embraced the ESG agenda and their commitment to turning it into tangible results is just impressive. A strong governance model combined with doing good for the planet and their communities. Spot on.
Nov 8 Week 2 Day 5
Another business case presentation day. All these proposed businesses have a strong digital component. Our students are the social media generation - - just like their peers on other continents (except that they have to work hard to afford a mobile phone - - hoping the phone will not be robbed shortly thereafter though). We can see some solid progress in understanding the revenue and expenses line items on the P&L.
It is hard to believe but we are now closing the program. With emotion as many have opened up to share their personal ambition and sometimes their worst hassles on their personal journey. We can see how TSIBA staff have been acting as adult reference points and role models for them. Very often the only reference points for them. And it is probably where the difference is between these students and the many young people in their communities who have not had a chance to be offered a way forward for themselves.
We are leaving Cape Town much humbled even though full of hope. These TSIBA students are ready to roll up the sleeves to contribute to their generation, the South Africa economy and their society. If even only a tiny part of their dreams comes true, it will already be a big way forward. They will take it from there and we cherish the memory of our time with them.