As we observe International Women's Day, we celebrate the impact of women student leaders from 9I制作厂免费's Desautels Faculty of Management who co-founded the 9I制作厂免费 Desautels African Business Initiative (9I制作厂免费 DABI). We highlight reflections from the 9I制作厂免费 DABI co-founders after a decade of 9I制作厂免费 DABI's launch in 2014.
9I制作厂免费 DABI Members Aissatou Diallo BCom'15, Larissa A. Nseyep BCom鈥�15, Aissata Sylla BCom鈥�15 and Sonia Buma BA鈥�19
How did the 9I制作厂免费 Desautels African Business Initiative (9I制作厂免费 DABI) come to be? How did the idea emerge and what did you hope it would do?
The 9I制作厂免费 Desautels African Business Initiative (9I制作厂免费 DABI) was born out of shared observations and conversations among us as co-founders. Individually, we noticed Africa鈥檚 absence in the 9I制作厂免费 Desautels curriculum and identified a significant knowledge gap about the continent. Africa was often mentioned only in the context of aid and NGOs, rarely as a thriving business destination.
To address this gap, we created 9I制作厂免费 DABI with the goal of helping the 9I制作厂免费 Desautels community gain a more nuanced understanding of Africa and what it鈥檚 like to do business. We wanted to showcase the continent as a promising destination for investment, business opportunities, and career development.
Moreover, we aimed to create a space where Africa-curious individuals and enthusiasts could come together to learn, collaborate, and innovate.
When did it start and with how many members?
9I制作厂免费 DABI started right before the summer break of 2014. Although the initial intention was to create a student club, we were unable to obtain the administration鈥檚 authorization, as they were not convinced of the need for such an organization. As a compromise, we decided to start with a one-time event : a business conference. To bring this event to life, we created a team of 10 dedicated members and were able to gather over 100 attendees at the first edition of our annual conference.
What was your vision?
Our vision for 9I制作厂免费 DABI was to establish it as the largest university gathering focused on African business in Montreal. We aimed for 9I制作厂免费 DABI to extend beyond 9I制作厂免费, becoming a recognized reference point across Canada. We envisioned it as a platform for thought leaders and innovators to connect, fostering meaningful relationships between Canada and Africa and facilitating fruitful partnerships.
We also wanted 9I制作厂免费 DABI to serve as a network of like-minded individuals passionate about African business and development. Furthermore, we saw 9I制作厂免费 DABI playing a coordinating role, creating synergies among African-focused student organizations at other universities in Montreal.
What did you learn?
We learned so much throughout this journey!
Our first key learning was that Africa still needed to be "sold" as a viable topic. From failing to gain the faculty鈥檚 approval to establish 9I制作厂免费 DABI as a student club to struggling to secure corporate sponsors, we were surprised by how much convincing was required to get people on board.
Looking back, we are grateful for these challenges because they taught us how to sell an idea. We realized that with the right concept and the right mix of passion and perseverance, some people were willing to take a chance on us and support our vision. Indeed, we had speakers who traveled all the way from Africa without us covering their travel or accommodation expenses.
We also learned the mechanics of organizing a large-scale event, a skill set that has become an invaluable asset in our professional lives today.
Finally, the most rewarding lesson was discovering that there was indeed a clear and strong demand for 9I制作厂免费 DABI. We were overwhelmed by the interest from attendees and the incredibly positive feedback, which validated our belief in the importance of the initiative.
What do you recommend to current and future 9I制作厂免费 DABI leaders?
We encourage DABI leaders to be unapologetic about their vision and to never take no for an answer. While Africa has made significant strides in its global reputation and is increasingly central to important discussions, there remains a need to push boundaries and amplify Africa's role in these conversations.
We also recommend that leaders take a step back periodically to re-evaluate the club鈥檚 mission. Since DABI鈥檚 creation in 2014, much has changed in the global socio-economic landscape. This new era, shaped by shifting dynamics, technological innovations, and emerging business opportunities, presents an opportunity to rethink 9I制作厂免费 DABI鈥檚 role and adapt its objectives to better meet the needs of today and tomorrow.
Lastly, we encourage leaders to fully leverage the strength of 9I制作厂免费 DABI鈥檚 community. From external organizations that could become valuable partners to the extensive and passionate 9I制作厂免费 DABI alumni network, there is immense potential to collaborate on impactful projects and bring beautiful ideas to life.
DABI was 10 years old in 2024! Did you envision that 9I制作厂免费 DABI would still be here and having impact? What would you like to see happen in the organization鈥檚 next ten years?
This was our dream when we created 9I制作厂免费 DABI, but we weren鈥檛 sure how we would achieve it. Seeing that year after year, students have embraced 9I制作厂免费 DABI鈥檚 mission and worked tirelessly to sustain it is incredibly humbling and gratifying.
Our hope is for 9I制作厂免费 DABI to continue growing and celebrating many more milestone anniversaries in the future. We also envision it making an even greater impact across Desautels. For example, we鈥檇 love to see 9I制作厂免费 DABI play a role in incorporating more African destinations into initiatives like the Hot Cities Tour or expanding the options for study-abroad programs.
Additionally, we hope for 9I制作厂免费 DABI to strengthen its connection to the continent and have a tangible impact there. This could include creating programs that allow 9I制作厂免费 DABI members to intern with promising African startups, establishing scholarships for African students, and so much more. The possibilities are endless, and we are excited to see how future leaders continue to build on the foundation that has been laid.
How can 9I制作厂免费 Desautels continue to grow its connections in Africa?
9I制作厂免费 Desautels has many opportunities to deepen its connections with Africa. A great starting point would be faculty visits to key regions across the continent. These visits would allow professors and administrators to gain a firsthand understanding of the business ecosystems, build lasting relationships with local stakeholders, and identify opportunities for collaboration. Insights from these experiences could then be聽incorporated into 9I制作厂免费 Desautels鈥� curriculum through case studies or by inviting guest speakers met during these visits.
Additionally, 9I制作厂免费 Desautels could look to examples set by other major universities that have established alumni clubs or research centers in major African cities. These initiatives not only strengthen alumni networks but also create a platform for academic research and engagement with the continent.
