Management executive with 10+ years of
experience providing effective communication
strategies, advice & support to middle management
& C-Suite executives in both public and private
sectors globally. Certified mediator, adept in all
phases of corporate and government
communications. Proven business advisory skills
with a track record of consulting for 121+ SMEs.
Excellent at managing multifaceted projects to
deliver robust bottom-line growth, generating
sustained multimillion shilling annual revenue
returns with a keen interest in Pan-African social
impact.
Specializations
1)Content Development
2)Serial Social Entrepreneur
3)Brand Strategy Development
4)Customer Insights & Research
5)Brand Architecture & positioning
6)Communication for Development
7)Commercial Strategy for ESG Programs
8)Campaign Strategy & Creative Development
9)Personnel Training & Coaching Management
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THEME : Supporting MSMEs by creating equitable opportunities for MSMEs across the country
MONTH : May 2020
Focus Areas :
CHAT TRANSCRIPT
Timestamp
Source
Message
2020-05-28 06:35:13
Good morning everyone!
2020-05-28 06:35:13
2020-05-28 06:38:51
What a beautiful day it is already! I have a feeling we will have an exciting session on today's topic
2020-05-28 06:38:51
2020-05-28 06:43:07
Good morning everyone
2020-05-28 06:43:07
2020-05-28 06:43:22
Looking forward to the discussions
2020-05-28 06:43:22
2020-05-28 06:43:26
Today's topic is Opportunities for Businesses during Covid-19 and our host is Mr. Waihiga Muturi
2020-05-28 06:43:26
2020-05-28 06:47:59
Waihiga is himself an entrepreneur and a Management executive with 10+ years of experience providing effective communication strategies, advice & support to middle management & C-Suite executives in both public and private sectors globally. We look forward to his insights and guidance as he unpacks the various opportunities businesses can leverage during this season
2020-05-28 06:47:59
2020-05-28 06:49:54
Glad to be here. First time. Looking forward to learning more as an SME.
2020-05-28 06:49:54
2020-05-28 06:50:29
I see a number of people have logged in already. We couldn't be happier to have you on board. ?
2020-05-28 06:50:29
2020-05-28 06:52:34
Welcome Fred, thank you for being an early bird and logging in early. We hope you find the session useful
2020-05-28 06:52:34
2020-05-28 06:52:58
My question is around the aspect of scaling up during such times. How does one cope with the emerging challenges at the same time building up?
2020-05-28 06:52:58
2020-05-28 06:54:48
Good news! David it's a pleasure to have you here and we look forward to your participation
2020-05-28 06:54:48
2020-05-28 06:55:07
Good morning everyone and thank you for joining the conversation. Kindly use the #InukaSMEchat when we share our tweets.
2020-05-28 06:55:07
2020-05-28 06:57:56
You are welcome to post messages and questions and and our host will take them as soon as he joins us
2020-05-28 06:57:56
2020-05-28 06:58:53
You're welcome Joy. Happy to have you here.
2020-05-28 06:58:53
2020-05-28 06:59:52
I love the subject under discussion today. During Covid-19, businesses have shut down. People have lost jobs. There is hopelessness everywhere. Anything that can help them find a lifeline is a savior.
2020-05-28 06:59:52
2020-05-28 07:00:31
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our host Mr Waihiga Muturi
2020-05-28 07:00:31
2020-05-28 07:01:44
Good Morning Everyone, welcome to another session of #InukaSME Chat. I am glad to be your host for this session. Looking forward to engaging with you all.
2020-05-28 07:01:44
2020-05-28 07:03:20
Hi David, Kindly clarify what aspect of your business would you like to scale? is it staff? is it capital relates? logistic or operations?
2020-05-28 07:03:20
2020-05-28 07:04:43
Karibu Waihiga, a quick one, how can small SMEs manage the coronavirus pandemic.
2020-05-28 07:04:43
2020-05-28 07:05:15
Operations would work best for me.
2020-05-28 07:05:15
2020-05-28 07:05:31
Karibu Waihiga. I would like to know some of the major challenges businesses are facing during this time of COVID?
2020-05-28 07:05:31
2020-05-28 07:08:02
Most small businesses are in crisis mode and it is hard to keep a positive outlook. What advice would you give on how to create a sense of stability in order to be able to look forward?
2020-05-28 07:08:02
2020-05-28 07:09:00
What mindset should an entrepreneur have during this crisis?
2020-05-28 07:09:00
2020-05-28 07:09:27
Today's theme is opportunity for businesses during COVID-19. According to a recent McKinsey Report, amid crisis disruption or when preparing for the next normal, quickly delivering practical, flexible learning can help shape a business recovery profile. 1. a company’s ability to quickly pivot to a new way of working will be critical for preparing for the next normal.
2. These pivots will continue, compounded by the need to restart work in a dramatically changed context—and, increasingly, for workers facing new responsibilities.
2020-05-28 07:09:27
2020-05-28 07:10:03
Do we really have workable opportunities for businesses during this time?
2020-05-28 07:10:03
2020-05-28 07:10:44
Still others will experience full-scale job change as their roles take on ever-more essential meaning in public life. Small armies of people will be needed to clean public areas to a new standard of safety or trace the path of the virus, to produce testing kits, to administer and process tests, and to read and communicate test results to millions of people around the world. The pandemic is changing public life, and millions of workers will learn new skills, in new ways, in response to the changing landscape.
The challenge is even greater when speed is essential: many workers will need to take on new responsibilities or new jobs within a matter of days or weeks. But it is possible to make rapid-scale workforce transformations to meet new demands and needs. Businesses—of all sizes—that are able to convert employee skills in a practical, fast, and scalable way can find in this new approach a backbone of recovery from the crisis.
2020-05-28 07:10:44
2020-05-28 07:12:00
When it comes to operations, the best way to scale is to look at the; relevance.
2020-05-28 07:12:00
2020-05-28 07:12:24
Kindly expound
2020-05-28 07:12:24
2020-05-28 07:13:46
Morning everyone..a bit late but am finally here and ready to learn and share
2020-05-28 07:13:46
2020-05-28 07:14:04
What are some of the sectors do you think businesses should focus in during this time in order to survive?
2020-05-28 07:14:04
2020-05-28 07:17:01
The role of tecnology, kindly share some insights on how businesses can leverage on it
2020-05-28 07:17:01
2020-05-28 07:18:06
1. Relevance - Is your business operation meeting the exact need of your customers at their place of convenience? 2. Speed - Is your business operation attending to the exact need of your customer at the pace they want? 3. Profit - Is your business meeting the exact need at the place they want and at a cost that it still enables profit to your business? If these three things are answered right then you can use the revenue earned from this business to actually grow your internal operations to sustain these three things with this period. Truth be told at the moment the most relevant thing for your business is to survive the pandemic and if you're able to do so you can grow your business both in this period and post the pandemic. This will be a cheaper way to scale your operations rather than go for venture capital or loan options because then you can do it at your pace minus the limited obligations.
2020-05-28 07:18:06
2020-05-28 07:21:29
this is greatly appreciated
2020-05-28 07:21:29
2020-05-28 07:24:17
As an SME it is not up to you to manage the coronavirus pandemic but it is your duty as a business to manage your business meeting the customers needs amid the pandemic. So may be this is a different way to deal with the pandemic, and in light of this, i would offer the below obligations to you as a business: 1. Communicate 2. Deliver 3. Be the source of optimism to your clients 4. upskill/re-skill - use this time to train and re-train your workforce. 5. audit your organizational system and performance. 6. survive
2020-05-28 07:24:17
2020-05-28 07:24:35
Right now banks are slow in lending,How can I convince a lender to accept and fund my new business idea,
2020-05-28 07:24:35
2020-05-28 07:25:44
What are some of the opportunities available for businesses during this crisis?
2020-05-28 07:25:44
2020-05-28 07:27:24
Is this the best time to start a business?
2020-05-28 07:27:24
2020-05-28 07:29:03
This might depend on the scale of business. What Micro or Small enterprises might face might be different from large enterprises. But as an overall, 1. Capital/financing (working capital) 2. Broken value chain 3. health risks (depending on the nature of business) 4. drastic shift of customer preferences and needs 5. meeting shareholder obligations. In the least this will be my summation of challenges
2020-05-28 07:29:03
2020-05-28 07:37:23
Team, should you find a message insightful and wish to share it to your timeline, you may do that by clicking on the twitter icon and share it to your timeline so that other people may benefit from our chat session and join this discussion. The hashtag is #InukaSMEchat . Thanks!
2020-05-28 07:37:23
2020-05-28 07:38:48
This is a time to get rid of unproductive areas of a business, how can I go about this while also considering the impact it has on my employees?
2020-05-28 07:38:48
2020-05-28 07:38:55
I am involved in a sector that has not being negatively affected by the pandemic and on the contractly i have an urgent need to expand more so asset wise as my operations expand but accessing funds during this time is proving a challenge even though I am thoroughly prepared with a business plan..how can I counter this?..how do I access grants aimed towards my sector(environment)?
2020-05-28 07:38:55
2020-05-28 07:39:36
Thank you for this Mr. Waihiga. What about technology? Do you think the pandemic has enabled businesses to realize the power of technology? How?
2020-05-28 07:39:36
2020-05-28 07:40:30
My answer would be a bit unusual. Most workforce, be it senior, middle or lower always do business and forget to deal with the mental stability of its workforce. with that said, it would be imperative for the senior management of any organization to take a keen and pratical approach towards the mental health of its workforce. how can this be done? 1. As an organization you can establish a hotline where employees can engage a counsellor 2. You can also have a wellness check meeting, where senior officials can check with their team members on their status 3. you can also set-up a wellness centre or point or person 4. Trust circle app can be employeed by organization. it provides a safe space to community members
2020-05-28 07:40:30
2020-05-28 07:41:20
Optimism!
2020-05-28 07:41:20
2020-05-28 07:47:24
Yes, this is an opportunity to leverage on technology to scale your business. 2. the crisis presents an opportunity to create new markets 3. Pivoting of your business value proposition 4. Job creation by taping to green and blue economies
2020-05-28 07:47:24
2020-05-28 07:50:06
Indeed mental health and personal wellness is something that is normally ignored or assumed. Thank you for highlighting this.
2020-05-28 07:50:06
2020-05-28 07:51:42
1. Cleaning Industry 2. Digital services 3. Business service firm (data services, social services etc) 4. Bio-tech and pharmaceuticals 5. Healthcare 6. Government and Non-profit (public health and public communication) 7. E-commerce and Distribution 8. Media and communication 9. Agriculture sector
2020-05-28 07:51:42
2020-05-28 07:53:23
Do you think banks have given SMEs in Kenya an opportunity to sail through Covid-19?
2020-05-28 07:53:23
2020-05-28 07:53:45
What’s the best way to form valuable collaborations and partnerships at this time?
2020-05-28 07:53:45
2020-05-28 07:57:48
1. communications - this will be using social media to create awareness and generate leads for your products 2. Value chain - you can now buy and sell virtually 3. Public safety - coming up and introducing innovative products and services to the general public. 4. Finance - inclusive of FinTechs and cryptocurrencies. Away from commodity driven avenues.
2020-05-28 07:57:48
2020-05-28 08:02:11
Banks need to see your financial records in order to determine whether your business is healthy and they are also keen to see your loan history to see if you have paid off previous loans to give them comfort that you will be able to repay their loan. there are other alternatives such as venture capital, angel investment Crowd funding, grants and donations
2020-05-28 08:02:11
2020-05-28 08:03:16
No. Unless it is very unique and directly relevant to addressing the current challenge caused by the pandemic.
2020-05-28 08:03:16
2020-05-28 08:05:08
To access grants you need to be able to network and also reach out to necessary parties to know what you're doing. better yet, the more people talk about what you're doing the easier it is to get investors
2020-05-28 08:05:08
2020-05-28 08:08:01
Make it clear as an organization and as an employer on the need for redundancy in lieu of the current times and current state of revenues.
2020-05-28 08:08:01
2020-05-28 08:11:40
Hello team, we are abit past time and will be wrapping up the session soon
2020-05-28 08:11:40
2020-05-28 08:13:06
Banks have restructured existing loans by extending loan repayment periods. Mobile fees have also been waived, and banks are also engaging with their clients on ways to further support them during this challenging period. However, there is more that can be done
2020-05-28 08:13:06
2020-05-28 08:17:35
Thank you sir.
2020-05-28 08:17:35
2020-05-28 08:19:12
Thank you so much Bwana. Waihiga for your insights today I believe as such I am on the right course networking wise
2020-05-28 08:19:12
2020-05-28 08:22:06
@joykoitisan communicate your interest to collaborate and partner with other organization 2. Promote remote collaboration 3. Keep your ongoing relationships healthy 4. Provide leadership and guidance to promote the relationship
2020-05-28 08:22:06
2020-05-28 08:24:38
Thank You, it was a pleasure to hear from other entrepreneurs and exchange ideas and solutions."Africa must change the way it tackles Poverty." Let Create Africa.
2020-05-28 08:24:38
2020-05-28 08:27:06
I would also encourage most of you to also use the Inuka platform as it has most of the tenets to deal with the current crisis. Courtesy of KBA and Farwell.
You are doing a great job.
2020-05-28 08:27:06
2020-05-28 08:31:25
Ladies and gentlemen, we thank you for your participation by way of questions, comments and presence in the chat today as it has contributed to a successful chat. We greatly thank our host Mr. Waihiga for his time and insights on today's topic.
2020-05-28 08:31:25
2020-05-28 08:37:53
For those who joined late, you will be able to find a transcript of today's conversation on the website even after we close the chat room. Separately, the training modules on Inuka such as Value chain and operations management, business and strategic planning, marketing and communications have got some key resources that you can access for free and build capacity during this time. Please take the training and develop skills in these areas
2020-05-28 08:37:53
2020-05-28 08:40:15
We wish you a great day and success in your business ventures!
2020-05-28 08:40:15
2020-05-28 08:51:23
I am glad to be here. its my first time and Looking forward to learning
2020-05-28 08:51:23
Exit
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