TWENTY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS were taken out of the classroom last week and given the opportunity to become fully immersed in the world of business for a week.
As part of the second Rotary Club of Barbados South/First Citizens Business Challenge, they were asked to come up with a solution to a real-life business challenge faced by telecommunications provider LIME.
The programme culminated with the students getting the opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of LIME senior executives in a formal boardroom setting.
Facilitator Derek Browne, who is the founder and chief executive officer of British-based consultancy Entrepreneurs in Action (EiA), said the initiative was a way of connecting what participants learn in school with a real business context.
“The students, I think, have really got a lot out the programme.
“What’s good to me is that we’ve got 20 schools represented on the programme and also quite a wide range of ages, from 13 to 17. That’s the way business works; you work with people of different ages,” he said.
Participant Gena Knight, who took on the role of “CEO”, told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY that while managing the group was challenging at times, the experience was a “life-changing” one.
Meanwhile John Williams, Rotarian and former area manager of human resources with Cable & Wireless, observed the programme and said it was an “incredible experience” to see the students form bonds and work in teams to solve the challenge.
“Some emerged as leaders immediately. Each one has his or her own special skill and they used their skills collectively to get the job done.
“Maybe out of this will be some future entrepreneurs for Barbados,” he said. (NB)
