Reflections on the Past Year

Not often enough to we take the time to sit back, take a deep breath, and really take in the big picture.  And as I did that yesterday, I was inspired by what has been accomplished.  I am very excited to greet the students on this trip because it is really a trip of milestones.  This trip will mark the one year anniversary of our first business seminar.  It will mark the first successful turnover of roles, with all original members passing on their responsibilites to first year leaders.  And it will also mark the most growth and innovation that we have seen. 
We are growing the project to two seminars, allowing us to work with 40 Nicaraguan business leaders.  We are launching two consulting pilot projects, allowing our students more intimate contact with Nicaraguan businesses.  These students will spend several days immersed in the business, truly learning its model.  Then, after the seminar, they will be able to work directly with the business leader in their business, applying key seminar principles and tools to their daily operation.  We are very proud of the impact we have had on these business leaders, however we desire to take it to the next level and really quantify  our efforts.  Along these lines we are looking to establish a video conference center in our partner organization's office here in Managua.  This will allow us more continual and direct contact with the network of businesses.  Student teams at Wake will be able to speak directly with their businesses and continue the 2-way learning and transfer of knowledge that takes place during the trips to Nicaragua.  Next, we are launching an exploratory project into the feasability of offering lending services to some of our seminar attendees.  We are sharing our education, we are sharing consulting wisdom, and now we are exploring the possibility of empowering our students to (through the consulting piece) identify a capital need in a business and directly meet that need and help grow the business.  Thus, we are broadening our ability to provide solutions.  And finally, we are launching our first children's activity day in La Chureca, which  will allow us to grow our relationships in this community. 

So this trip embodies one of the key principles of this project, constant innovation.  Each group that comes through the project leaves behind their own legacy.  And our hope is that each new group of students leaves behind an even greater legacy.  The first year student-leaders, Jayson, Chad, Cameron, and Sarah, have embraced this idea and really pushed the project to new levels.

I sat down with Roberto, our Nicaraguan partner is these seminars, earlier this week.  And, as we talked through the new form of the project, he was extremely excited at the advances being made in the model.  Wake Forest is quickly becoming a known brand in Nicaragua.  Our business seminars are in high demand and our growth potential is outstanding.  We have already been approached about growing our seminar to cities outside of Managua.  Furthermore, through local (Nicaraguan) and international publicity, we have been contacted by various local organizations asking to hear more about the project and wanting to find ways to have their communities involved.  As I shared the new pilot projects Roberto's face lit up even more.  When asked to pick two business to participate in the pilot project, he really struggled. "All of them would benefit from this type of work".  And perhaps one day they all will.

Various universities have participated in efforts like this in Nicaragua.  I have spoken to the organizations they have worked with.  But one thing that I have heard over and over again is this:  No other university has come to Nicaragua with the  institutional support present at Wake Forest.  And that makes a huge difference.  The support of the faculty and administration, their willingness to challenge themselves and the  current state of education, has moved  this project forward.  That, coupled with the talent of our students, has created a project of tremendous value that is and will continue to change lives.