New knowledge

Kurt Vonnegut wrote “new knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become.”

Rwanda’s entrepreneurial community is yearning to be richer. Three cases in point welcomed us to our first day in Kigali.

Finding the WOW.

Case One: Customer service is a vacuum waiting to be filled in this country which aims to be a major tourist center. Our Bpeace Associates know it and demanded more knowledge to fill it. Bpeace delivered. Steve returned to provide part two of customer service training to our Associates and their staff. Our day kicked off at Jeanne’s salon where the staff of New Generation and Genesis salons gathered. It was all about creating WOW moments of service. Our map? The customer’s trail of experience during her time of escape in the salons. There were several AHA moments . . .some which brought home the real need for human resource management and team building to establish the foundation for great service. So next mission . . .human resources training . . .like we said . . .Rwanda yearns to be richer. Steve spent the afternoon with Soline at Saint Paulia with two of her key staff members. All of them were wearing their Saint Paulia branded shirts! They defined how to REALLY listen and create the BIG WOW moments at each of the 5 most important stops along the customer experience trail . . .tomorrow they begin implementing them.

Role playing to find the fun in the WOW.

Case Two: One year ago Bpeace and FINA Bank established a partnership to help our Associates gain access to capital. For those not in the know: In short Bpeace helps bridge loan guarantee gaps. FINA loans the needed cash. Over the past few months we have begun to see the needed capital get in the hands of our Associates. Today we met with key FINA bank management and discussed ways in which Bpeace training can help spread knowledge to small businesses all over Rwanda. A new level of our partnership may be underway, one which will help Rwanda get richer.

Smiling is service too.

Case Three: This Wednesday the first major conference for over 250 Rwandan women entrepreneurs opens. Co-sponsored by the IFC and Private Sector Federation, featured speakers include Lina Mukashyaka, head of SME programs at FINA bank who will be talking about their partnership with Bpeace, providing some tips for new entrepreneurs which came from their work with us. And most wonderfully the program includes three Bpeace Associates ; Sylvie (owner of an amusement park), Languida (owner of a funeral services company) and Symprose (owner of a boutique hotel) who are noted on the program as business “WINNERS." They will be sharing their knowledge and helping other Rwandans get richer.

Sharing the knowledge. Isn’t that the real case in point?