• 31May

  Demystifying the Dark Continent: Lessons learned on a two-week study abroad trip

  Category: Ivey McCloud  Posted by: Ivey McCloud at 11:17 pm   No Comments

  This is perhaps the hardest blog for me to write. How does one sum up one of the most life changing experiences in a few sentences? I keep trying to pick a profound moment or experience to focus on, but it’s truly hard to settle on just one. In two weeks, I experienced more than I ever thought I would. I visited a diamond mine and a gold mine. I went on a nocturnal game drive and was no more than 15 feet away from some of the most dangerous animals on the planet.  I visited the Apartheid Museum and the house where Nelson Mandela once lived.  I went to some of the most successful companies in South Africa such as Coca Cola South Africa and Old Mutual.  I visited an HIV/AIDS hospice.  Visiting Tapalogo was a very emotional trip for me.  Reading the names of the children on the memory tree who had succumbed to HIV/AIDS was heart wrenching.  It was sad to think that a small child died before he or she had a chance to play at the park or watch endless hours of cartoons on Saturday mornings.  I also spoke with local South Africans at every opportunity.  I even struck up a conversation with a girl from Jo’burg in the bathroom at Liberty Theatre where a few of us went to see Umoja.  I built relationships with other PMBA students from Georgia State University. It is hard to discuss everything that I experienced in South Africa.  I am so grateful for those experiences.  I know that I will be able to look back ten years from now and appreciate visiting South Africa.

  Prior to visiting South Africa, I did not know what to expect.  I knew it was a developed country, but I did not really think much past that.  On the surface, South Africa resembles the United States.  The fashions were very similar.  Skinny jeans and boots were popular.  (It is winter in the southern hemi!!)  The popular mode of transportation in the major cities included Mercedes Benz and BMWs.  The malls were just like American malls.  Canal Walk in Cape Town was like Atlantic Station on steroids.  (A fashionista’s dream!)  At times, I did not feel like I was in another country.

  It is impossible to understand business in South Africa without understanding its history.  Apartheid played such a critical role in the development of all businesses in South Africa. Its effect will linger on for many generations. Despite the divisive and discriminatory effects of apartheid, many South Africans remain hopeful. Some pretend that apartheid never existed; but one cannot simply forget.  I see the many parallels of the struggles of blacks in South Africa and the struggles of the blacks in the United States.  I admire South Africa for trying to rectify its past wrongdoing by implementing the Black Economic Empowerment program.  I hope that more than just 10 percent of corporations will be compliant in the future.  They are only hurting themselves and perhaps their bottom line by not investing in such a essential program.  I expect great things to emerge from South Africa in the future.

   

• 31May

  Final Thoughts…

  Category: Ana Fernandez  Posted by: Ana Maria Fernandez at 5:08 pm   No Comments

   

   

   

  

   

  What I expected …

   The South Africa trip turned out to be, as I anticipated, an awakening.  But the awakening went far beyond my expectations for the experience.  I was amazed by many of the things I saw and heard, so amazed that it’s been difficult to pull my thoughts together for the blog while extracting a succinct message.  My expectations were to see a country in social and economic transition, to learn from it, and to partake in some great conversations about it.

   

  What I saw …

   Everything was an incredible experience from the people in the cities, rural areas, country sides and jungles to the sites and sounds in these same areas.  From the businesses, restaurants, museums and homes we visited, to the buses that carried us most of the way, you could hear conversations about hope and despair, beauty and ugliness, death and life, wine and song, reconciliation and apartheid.   I did see a country in transition — transforming its financial markets to be globally competitive as well as transforming their laws to provide opportunity for the blacks to participate in business through the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).   I participated in great conversations about the contradiction of a nation riddled with extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS as well as a vibrant business system with huge conglomerates that run successful enterprises.   And within that contradiction is the underlying power of South Africa—the HOPE of its people.  What I learned from my experiences in South Africa I mostly learned from interacting with its people.   It is a country that has suffered great social distress, yet, has focused their recovery toward the future, and there is constructive participation, social and economic, from the people and businesses, as well as foreign investors that want to be part of South Africa’s success story.

   

  What I felt …

  The paradox of emotions was draining at times.  For example when we traveled from the AIDS Hospice in Tapologo to the opulent Sun City in a matter of 20 minutes.  This emotional flux kept me concerned, interested, and yet hopeful at the end of the day…because of the people.   The people of South Africa are its saving grace.  Whether they are desperately poor (by our standards) or wealthy by the same, they all want South Africa to get better.   They all want South Africa to rise from the ashes of Apartheid…and I believe they can, will and are well on their way.   This is evident in their purpose, in their joy and in their diligence to move forward.

   

  What I hope for the future …

  I can’t help to think of Cuba in the middle of this emotional journey through South Africa.   I am filled both with ire and hope to someday be able to help Cuba recover from its years of oppression on its people; if the opportunity comes to fruition with the new Obama administration.   I can’t help to see the parallels and contrasts between the long years of Apartheid in South Africa and the 50-year Castro government in Cuba.  The parallels, the lack of political, economic and religious freedoms, make me hopeful that Cuba can join South Africa one day as an emerging market; that the lessons learned in South Africa can be shared with Cuba to help it climb back up to become, like South Africa, a country full of optimism, expectation, happiness and possibilities.  The contrasts, the education and racial caste systems, are the circumstances that require more diligence in South Africa’s recovery.   Again, I saw great hope to reconcile the socioeconomic disparities in the Bafokeng nation’s education program, Old Mutual’s financial idols that are trained work with and educate the poorest communities and make them self sufficeint farmers, the BEE, Clover Dairy’s Mama Africa project that provides a matriarchal role model per township to educate the people in those areas.  The program promotes child nutrition, health and safety, and, most importantly, self sufficiency through education.   Last but not least is Coca-Cola South Africa’s recycling promotion in the schools.  This program is not just about teaching kids to recycle; it educates the children regarding environmental and social responsibility at an early age.  It engages and challenges them to take care of their communities.  It is a catalyst for social change that the children can carry into their lives when they become adults and professionals.

    

• 29May

  VILLAGES VERSUS THE CORPORATE WORLD (05/22/09)

  Category: Ivy Horn-Scott, Uncategorized  Posted by: Ivy Scott at 8:26 am   No Comments

  Yesterday, we visited the ShangaanVillage.  We met the Chief who talked about how their tribe originally lived in the Kruger Park area and now are on the outskirts.  However, they feel pride in knowing that their homeland is now an internationally known area for all of Africa and the world.  The Chief described how he tries to instill the Shangaan heritage into the new generation, so that they have a foundation.  This does not mean the children are not a part of the new world, but they will have roots in their culture and still be active in other ways outside of their village.  The children performed several dances for us.  We also met the Chief’s heir, who is his little son.  He was so adorable and he had to perform a solo dance.  The Chief told us that his son will go to live somewhere else and be trained in the ways of being a chief.

  Today, we visited Coca Cola Africa and heard about their marketing strategy and brand plan.  The man who made the presentation is a very good sales person.  Basically, Coke markets their drinks to kids and then uses the kids to hook the adults.  However, they make it seem like they are providing access to a group who never was afforded the opportunity to buy Cokes.  But, it in all fairness to Coke, although they sell sugary drinks to kids, the company has a lot of environmental and community outreach programs.  For that, I can appreciate them more.

  Our last stop was the South African law firm Routledge Modise, which was of particular interest to me being an attorney.  It was so interesting to hear how similar law firms are around the world.  The same issues American attorneys deal with, South African attorneys deal with as well.  However, this particular law firm has fostered an environment where you can have quality of life.  The attorneys all came from different law firms and enjoyed working at Routledge Modise.

  Yesterday and today’s visits represent what South Africa is all about.  They have the old traditions and history represented by the Shangaan Tribe.  The Routledge Modise law firm, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and Coca Cola Africa represent the modern South Africa.  Right now, these two worlds are co-existing, which makes South Africa very unique.  Usually one washes away the other, but somehow, South Africa maintains both.

• 29May

  LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS….OH MY!!!!!! – PART TWO (05/20/09)

  Category: Ivy Horn-Scott, Uncategorized  Posted by: Ivy Scott at 8:25 am   No Comments

  Today, we had a new tour guide named Frankie.  Frankie was supposed to be the least experienced of the other guides; however, our truck saw the most animals and most of all…we were the only ones to see the leopard!!!!  I believe my group is magical….we see everything.  (LOL) 

  This morning’s tour was not a disappointment.  I tried to figure out how we could top last night’s adventure.  Kruger Park did not disappoint.  We came across this enormous elephant crossing the road.  I have it on video.  He was already agitated before he saw us and apparently our presence irked him even more.  He started turning towards us and walking like he was about to charge us.  We all got kind of scared.  Frankie did not want to start the engine and make the elephant charge us, so he let the car roll backwards a distance from the elephant and told us to be still and not make any sudden movements.  Ana was telling Frankie, “Okay, okay, we need to move.”  It is funny when I think how panicked we all were, but it was not so funny at the time.

  I had so much fun seeing all the different animals, like zebras, water buffalos, impalas, giraffes, kudus, hippos, alligators, birds, monkeys, baboons, lions, and most of all the elephants.  This was a true representation of Animal Kingdom.

• 29May

  Lessons Learned …

  Category: Shirley Manning  Posted by: Shirley Manning at 12:56 am   1 Comment

  My head is still in South Africa. The challenges at work seem small now. I am still grappling with the contradictions of what we saw – sophisticated savvy businesses and widespread poverty in peaceful co-existence.

   

  I learned a lot about strategy and financial service firms. I was very impressed by how sophisticated South African businesses like Old Mutual, Sanlam, Standard Bank, and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange – they knew a lot about the U.S. economy, and it was interesting to see how savvy they were. It was clear that many of these companies were better positioned than U.S. companies to invest in emerging markets like India and Brazil having the financial resources and the capabilities and confidence to manage the risk and opportunities there. It made sense what the U.S. Commercial Service said – U.S. companies underestimate the competition. I learned that in emerging markets you have to bring all your business analysis and sophistication to the table – don’t assume that they are less sophisticated and you won’t need to bring all that to bear. I also more fully appreciated how the position of the U.S. in the world can shift as these emerging markets grow and these companies expand their global presence.

   

  I learned a lot about leadership and leading large-scale change. I am still pondering about Mandela. I am impressed by his self-awareness, self-control I am sensing what lies behind his self-control is a deep commitment to the collective, to his people and a larger goal. Based on what was shared of the community at Robben Island, and in seeing the attitudes and behaviors of key people we have met (e.g. the ex-prisoner who guided us at Robben Island) it seems that there was a team and community that chose self-awareness and self-control as the path forward to their goal of reconciliation. I am so inspired by Mandela as a leader and in how effective the transition from pre- to post-Apartheid was in South Africa. Given the history, I am impressed by how a nation was led peacefully through this process to a state where there seems to be little resentment borne, and mutual respect. There’s a lot to learn from this country!

   

  I was also inspired by the king of the Bafokeng Nation, another great visionary leader. So forward-thinking with the ability to put real plans in place to fundamentally change his community through education.  I am impressed by his stance in using the wealth from the mineral resouces for the beneift of his people.

   

  It was also a surprise to discover that many of the South Africans I hear sound like Aussies! I learned that this is the accent of South Africans that speak Afrikaans as their first language. Other South Africans sound very British – I could be in London! I can hear the legacy of teachers that taught them to annunciate English in that proper British way! I had expected to see signs in multiple languages like Hong Kong – however nearly all the signs for the stores and businesses we saw were in English.

   

  South Africa has changed me – I was confronted by the faces of poverty, lack of education and HIV/Aids that we saw and the sheer scale of it all. Even more so than in India. It is more confronting to me because these problems are clearly human creations – the deliberate exclusion of math and science from education, the resulting lack of skills among generations, the spread of HIV.  This poverty and these challenges are not due to lack of resources, or over-population.  I learned a lot from seeing Soweto and visiting a township. I am so glad that we got to not just be in a bubble.

   

  I also learned a lot about Africa’s hopes for the World Cup. I expect and hope it will open doors for South Africa and that visitors will be as impressed, touched, and amazed as I was.

   

   

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